The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Entrance Ceremony and Reunion (Lili's Perspective)

***

The atmosphere in the auditorium shifted. The Princess felt every eye on her.

Yet, she walked towards the stage with unwavering composure.

She was used to the leering gazes of men, their lustful desires barely concealed.

The boys, still immature, couldn't hide the avarice in their eyes, a mixture of lust, ambition, and a desire to possess her, now more mature and desirable than ever.

'Disgusting little monkeys…'

She clicked her tongue, unfazed by their blatant stares.

As she reached the stage, even the headmaster, a man who had seen countless women in his life, stumbled over his words, captivated by her presence.

She possessed an aura that was difficult to describe, an aura that even he, experienced as he was, found mesmerizing.

"N-Next, Knight Department…! Joint top scorers!!"

'…Joint top scorers?'

Had there ever been joint top scorers in the Solus Academy Knight Department?

She shook her head.

'This isn't the General Studies Department, where scores are based on written exams. This is the Knight Department, where scores are determined by combat.'

It meant that these two individuals were perfectly matched in skill.

That their duel had ended in a stalemate, with neither gaining an advantage, even after fighting until exhaustion.

It was surprising enough, but then the headmaster's next words, amplified by the magic tool, made her lose her composure.

"Ian Cedric…"

She, who hadn't shown any emotion since her attendant's death a year ago…

"And Berry!!"

"…Huh?"

…was clearly flustered.

…And she wasn't the only one.

Everyone in the auditorium, except for the Knight Department students who had witnessed the exam, craned their necks, trying to identify this "Berry."

The same thought running through everyone's minds.

'A commoner… top scorer of the Knight Department?'

The name "Berry" sounded common, and there was no mention of a family name… clearly a commoner.

A commoner, among the top scorers of Solus Academy, a place where only those who received rigorous training from renowned knights since childhood could even hope to enter.

Just like when she had walked onto the stage, all eyes were now on the boy.

Not with admiration for his grace and elegance, like they had looked at her…

But with shock and disbelief. How could a mere commoner possess such exceptional talent?

-Thump thump thump.

But the boy, just like her, ignored their stares and walked towards the stage.

As if he belonged there, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

'Well, even for a commoner, being a top scorer and receiving a boutonniere from the academy… is a lifetime achievement, even if it's just for this one time.'

She assumed he was too excited about the boutonniere to care about anything else.

But she was wrong.

"Ian."

"…What is it, Berry?"

"Don't look at me, and don't talk to me during the ceremony. If you do, I'll kill you."

"…Did you eat something weird? Why are you suddenly…"

He clearly didn't care what others thought of him.

"Just answer."

"Ha… I knew you were weird ever since the finals… Fine, fine. I won't even look at you until the ceremony is over."

'Even within the academy… to act like that towards a fellow top scorer, a noble…?'

He was treating the noble boy as if he were a longtime friend.

***

-Thump thump thump.

The boy reached the stage, walking closer and closer to her.

She could see his features clearly now.

Auburn hair, a color usually associated with women's fashion. And odd eyes, one gold, one red.

A strange warmth emanated from his mismatched eyes, a shimmering blend of gold and red, like an aurora, making her feel uneasy.

Only one person had ever looked at her that way.

Her deceased attendant, Finn.

But her unease quickly turned into outright bewilderment.

She could have dismissed the gaze as a case of love at first sight…

But the boy's first words, the way he addressed her…

Were too familiar, too reminiscent of the attendant she missed so dearly.

The boy looked at the Princess, her sadness and vulnerability evident despite her attempts to hide them, and said,

With the same unwavering determination to protect her from all hardships, as always.

With the same hope of repaying even a fraction of the love she had given him.

…And now, with the added devotion of a knight pledging his life to his liege.

"Your Highness, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

"…"

Your Highness.

He had addressed her as "Your Highness," not "Your Imperial Highness."

A slightly disrespectful, or rather, informal address, considering the setting. She flinched.

"I don't know why you're calling me 'Your Highness' when we've never met…"

She was about to rebuke him, her guard up, when the boy, as always, smiled warmly and said,

"But Your Highness, you dislike being called 'Your Imperial Highness,' don't you?"

He knew her secret.

He understood her feelings, just like her former attendant.

"How…"

How do you know that? I've never met you before.

She was about to ask, but the boy, as if anticipating her question, cut her off.

"Your Highness might not know me, but I know you. It would be strange not to know someone as renowned as you. Besides… I saw you before coming up here."

"…I saw your lips twitch slightly when you were called 'Your Imperial Highness'."

"…"

Her lips trembled slightly as she stared at him, dumbfounded.

Because she realized he was lying?

Or because she was creeped out that he had been observing her from a distance without her noticing?

Neither.

She had always been addressed as "Your Imperial Highness," and she hadn't paid attention to how others addressed her. She simply assumed someone must have used that title.

And she had no reason to remember a random boy, especially not one who wasn't her attendant. She hadn't even noticed him before.

'He's saying the same things… as Finn…'

She was simply lost in memories of her former attendant, as she listened to the boy echo his words, his gaze mirroring Finn's. A boy who had somehow discerned her innermost feelings, just like Finn.

-Your Imperial Highness…! If it's alright with you, may I call you 'Your Highness' instead?-

'Your Highness…? It's fine, but why?-

-Because Your Highness's lips twitch slightly whenever you're called 'Your Imperial Highness.' It seems like you dislike the title.-

'…You noticed that? That's amazing… No one else has said anything…'-

-I wouldn't be Your Highness's dedicated attendant if I didn't notice such things! But why do you dislike the title? It sounds very respectful and prestigious…'-

'Because…'-

-Yes?-

'I'm terminally ill and frail, aren't I?'-

-…Yes… for now.-

'Heh… you say that as if it won't always be the case.'-

-…Because I want to change that for you.-

'That's kind of you… Anyway, that's why. Because I'm sick.'-

-Why does that…'-

'I'm destined to die without being able to properly lead the country. Do I deserve to be called by such a respectful title…? I feel like I'm just a burden to Mother and Father… a burden to the Empire…'-

-…Then, what if you're cured?-

'Cured? Hmm… I still don't think so.'-

-Why… why not, even if you're cured…?-

'I've already caused so much trouble. I don't want to be called by such a grand title even if I'm cured.'

"…"

She stared at the boy, echoing her former attendant's words.

"…Your Highness?"

A boy who acted like her attendant, who looked at her with the same eyes… but whose appearance was completely different.

His build, his frame, his hair color, his eye color, even his name… everything was different.

'…Even if you know my secret, you're not Finn… You're not the one I gave permission to…'

…Only Finn can call me "Your Highness."

So, she said,

"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me 'Your Highness'."

"…Yes?"

She couldn't betray the man who had loved her so selflessly.

"And don't act familiar with me. I'm not interested in getting close to any man other than my fiancé."

"………Y-Yes?"

She raised her left hand, showing him the ring on her ring finger… a ring adorned with a violet jewel, the same color as her eyes.

"I'm taken. So back off."

She had someone already.

"…"

A fiancé. And a ring.

The boy's cheerful expression crumbled. He stared at her in disbelief.

And to him, on the verge of a breakdown, she delivered the final blow.

…Hoping that this boy, who somehow stirred her emotions, would stay away from her.

"I don't want to upset my fiancé, who is far more amazing and kind than a nobody like you, who starts calling me 'Your Highness' the moment we meet. So don't ever bother me again."

'…I've decided to live for Finn, and Finn alone.'

She turned away from the boy, who was staring at her blankly, as if she had no further use for him.

"…………"

The boy.

Now known as Berry.

Once known as Finn.

The joy and warmth of their reunion faded from his eyes, replaced by emptiness and rage.

As he wondered which bastard had seduced his Princess during his absence.

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