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“Have you noticed? Christoff’s been acting strangely ever since he came back from vacation.”

The news began as a quiet murmur during recess, shortly after lectures resumed post-vacation. It quickly escalated, spreading through the entire grade, and by the end of the day, it had reached every corner of the military academy. It didn’t stop there—word soon filtered into the nearby Magic Academy, catching the ears of the female students.

“He seems distracted, doesn’t he? Like his body’s here, but his mind is somewhere else.”
“I know, right? It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him zone out during lectures or practical drills.”
“Even the teachers seem worried. Though, of course, he still aces every question they throw at him.”
“I caught him grinning a few times too. Ugh, he’s always been handsome, but seeing him smile like that? It’s almost too much to handle!”
“I tried asking him if something was wrong, but he didn’t say a word.”
“Was it just me, or did he actually seem like he was in a good mood? Like he was walking on air.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too! He was so polite—more than usual, even—when I spoke to him.”

His dreamy demeanor sparked endless speculation, but eventually, all the theories boiled down to one conclusion.

“Those are definitely the eyes of a man… well, let’s just say, a man in love.”

The rumor swept through the academy—and the neighboring schools—with the speed of wildfire. The revelation left many of Christoff’s fangirls fainting dramatically, while a few male students could be heard groaning in dismay.

◆◇◆◇

“So that’s the whole story. Naturally, we decided it’s time to uncover the truth.”
“Exactly. The people deserve to know. Isn’t it a noble’s duty—what do they call it?—Noblesse oblige?”

As Christoff’s two closest friends—or rather, his most persistent nuisances—cornered him in his dorm room (a space more like a noble’s vacation villa than a typical dormitory), his expression darkened, his elegantly arched brows furrowing in irritation.

“What’s gotten into you two all of a sudden?”
“Oh, nothing much. We’re just here to clear up a little rumor, that’s all.”

With a knowing smirk, Lucas—a red-haired, slender young man with a perpetually casual demeanor—pressed on. As a relative of Marquis Lahtinen, whose family had served as political advisors to the Graviol Empire for generations, Lucas and Christoff had been friends since childhood.

“Rumors? What rumors?” Christoff asked, his confusion seeming entirely genuine.

“Ha! You’re playing dumb, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re unaware—rumors about you have spread through the entire Military Academy! Heck, they’ve even reached the Magic Academy, the affiliated schools, and even the rookie Sisters at the theological seminary. Oh, the poor maidens torn apart by your sinful charms!”

Lucas launched into his performance like a character straight out of a soap opera, complete with exaggerated theatrics as though narrating a tragic tale. Unfortunately, his acting left much to be desired—‘deplorable’ was putting it kindly.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. What rumors?”

Clearly tired of their vague chatter, Christoff’s tone took on a sharper edge, moving away from his usual polite demeanor.

“The rumors say you met a young lady during your last holiday and fell head over heels in love. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about this?”

Elmer, a sharp-looking young man with dark blond hair, wasted no time cutting to the heart of the matter. As the grandson of the reigning king of the Windfause Kingdom—a vassal state of the Graviol Empire—Elmer was technically royalty. Ordinarily, their statuses would dictate a more formal relationship. However, the three of them had clicked early on as students and chose to set aside the constraints of rank, allowing them to interact more casually than most.

The Graviol Empire’s peerage was strictly ranked: Emperor ＞ King ≧ Archduke ＞ Duke ＞ Marquis ＞ Earl ＞ Viscount ＞ Baron ＞ Quasi-Baron ＞ Knight. While there were also honorary titles and distinctions for the imperial family, this hierarchy set the standard. In most cases, friendships—even in an academy—mirrored these ranks, with students grouping into cliques of high nobles, lesser nobles, and heirs of distinguished families. The trio of Christoff, Lucas, and Elmer, however, defied this norm, forging a bond that disregarded the weight of their statuses.

“Ah, so it’s those rumors…”

Christoff let out a sigh, his expression a mix of exhaustion and exasperation at the question.

“Bingo! I knew you’d heard about it.”
“Not that I wanted to,” Christoff replied flatly.
“Oof, that must’ve been rough,” Elmer said with a sympathetic smile.
“You have no idea,” Christoff replied, offering a wry grin of his own.
“Wait a minute—are you not denying the rumors?!”

Lucas, who had been the one to start this conversation and had assumed the rumors were mere idle gossip, now looked genuinely shocked. His eyes widened like saucers, and he half-jumped out of his seat.

“Of course not,” Christoff replied smoothly. “It’d be too much of a hassle to address each rumor individually, so I’ve just stayed quiet.”

Lucas sighed in relief at Christoff’s denial and was just about to settle back onto the sofa—until Christoff casually added, “Though at least half of them aren’t nonsense.” Lucas nearly tripped over himself.

“Whoa, hold on! Are you telling me that at least some of the rumors are true?!”
“Which ones are true?!” Elmer added, leaning forward urgently.

The revelation was too shocking to let go, and both Lucas and Elmer immediately leaned in, bombarding Christoff with questions.

‘Crap,’ Christoff realized his slip of tongue and quickly averted his eyes.

“Does it really matter which one? At the end of the day, who I like is my personal business!”

Lucas and Elmer were momentarily speechless at Christoff’s offhand remark. They exchanged glances, as if silently asking each other, ‘Is this guy for real?’

“…So, does that mean…”
“…You actually have someone you like, huh?”

The two paused for dramatic effect, then, as if they’d rehearsed it, shouted in unison:

““Who’s the girl?!””

In stark contrast to their excitement, the crease on Christoff’s brow deepened.

“Why do you care so much?” Christoff asked, exasperation evident in his voice. “It’s not even surprising. Nobles usually have a fiancée back home or someone they’re interested in.”

Lucas nodded, conceding the point. “True, but only if this were a typical situation. You seem to forget that you’re the son of the Empire’s Archduke. You’re famous for being completely unattainable—not a single rumor about an affair, let alone a fiancée! Who wouldn’t want to know about the woman who managed to melt the immovable iceberg?”

“Do I need to jog your memory? Have you forgotten how many young ladies—and even a few madams—have looked at you with such flirtatious eyes? Don’t tell me you don’t remember. Maybe it’s time to be honest for once and stop being so vague. You’re giving them false hope!” Even Elmer wore a serious expression as he offered his advice in a straightforward manner.

Christoff seemed momentarily convinced, but something about the conversation felt off. His gaze hardened as he noticed the eager anticipation written all over his friends’ faces.

“I don’t think it’s something I need to announce to the whole world. It’s my personal business, after all.”
“Tch. And here I thought we could trick you into spilling her name,” Lucas muttered, disappointed.

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