The Princess Sitting Next to Me is a Sweet Girlfriend Only in Front of Me
Compared to the mandatory practical skills that are nothing but a hassle, the elective lectures are much easier.
The magic academy has a lot of students, so if I just blend in, there aren’t many who look down on me.
Although, there are some lectures where I coincidentally end up in the same class as Gourie and his entourage, forcing me to reluctantly give up on earning credits for those courses this year.
Well, I can always retake them next year.
For now, I’ll focus on today’s elective lecture: Archaeological Magic.
There are only two students in this class: me and Fia.
Fia always arrives so early for this lecture that it’s almost like she’s waiting for it to start. Naturally, when I arrive later, her gaze turns toward me.
Today, she gave me a very sulky look.
“Heim, I’m angry with you.”
“Uh, what’s wrong all of a sudden…?”
Her gaze is somewhat different from the ones I get from the rest of the class, but it’s still unsettling.
“You always slack off during practical skills, don’t you?”
“Well… yeah, of course I do.”
To be honest, my practical skills are good enough that I could easily get a perfect score if I tried. After all, I came to this academy as a scholarship student, so it’s only natural. Fia knows that. Unlike Gourie.
“There’s no need to crush Gourie’s pride in front of him. It’ll just cause trouble.”
“But I can’t stand seeing someone as talented as you, Heim, not being recognized for your abilities!”
“The instructors understand the situation, so it’s fine. I take the exams individually, and that’s where I show my true skills.”
The teachers at this academy are, in principle, fair to all students. That’s why they can speak their minds even to high-ranking nobles like Gourie, and Gourie doesn’t protest against it. However, they tend to avoid getting involved in the complicated emotions between students. The principle of fairness exists to protect both the students and the teachers. Noble society is a tricky thing.
Anyway, that’s why the instructors understand my situation. There’s no need for me to go all out during practical skills.
“Besides, I only slack off during practical skills. The written exams don’t have public scores, so I don’t hold back there.”
“Hmm, but still!”
Even after explaining, Fia still seems dissatisfied.
“Heim, you’re amazing! You’re a scholarship student, so you should act and be recognized as one!”
“Even so, I’m a commoner before I’m a scholarship student. So, I have to act like a commoner should.”
“Ugh, ugh!”
Fia is being stubborn as usual. Of course, I know she’s concerned about me, but still.
It’s rare to see Fia, who usually doesn’t act like a typical spoiled noble, show this side of her. I can’t help but feel a bit of a gap.
…In the end, we settled things by agreeing to have lunch together today.
Please ignore the last authors note part.
Author’s Note
This chapter explores the dynamics of magic academy life, where commoner scholarship students navigate the challenges of noble-dominated hierarchies. Themes of arcane education, archaeological magic, and social stratification are woven into the interactions between Heim and Fia. For fans of academy-based fantasy and medieval magical societies, stay tuned for more!
Glossary of Terms
- Archaeological Magic: A branch of arcane study focused on uncovering ancient magical artifacts and lost spells from bygone eras.
- Scholarship Student: A commoner admitted to the academy based on merit, often facing noble prejudice and social challenges.
- Practical Skills: Hands-on training in combat magic, enchantment crafting, and ritual casting, essential for magic academy graduates.
- Noble Hierarchy: The rigid social structure of the academy, where high-ranking nobles like Guolie wield influence over commoner students.
Recommended for Fans Of
- Magic academy sagas with commoner protagonists rising above noble oppression.
- Medieval fantasy featuring arcane archaeology and ancient magical secrets.
- Stories of underdogs navigating rigid social hierarchies in magical societies.
Keywords Integrated
- Magic academy life
- Commoner scholarship students
- Noble-dominated hierarchies
- Arcane education
- Archaeological magic
- Social stratification
- Ancient magical artifacts
- Combat magic
- Enchantment crafting
- Ritual casting
