46 — Chapter 46

“Excuse me,” I said, attempting to flee the Student Council office, only to be stopped by Prince Keith.

“Patience, it would be lonely to wander the Aoba Festival by yourself. Let’s go together.”

I suppose he thought I was a poor thing because I’m usually with Princess Margaret and was now on my own, but it was really none of his business.

“No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t be modest. Now, where shall we start?”

It wasn’t modesty; I was declining from the bottom of my heart, but Prince Keith has no ears for listening.

“Come to think of it, Sister Margaret said the Music Club’s recital was splendid. Let’s head to the auditorium.”

He was likely trying to be considerate in his own way, but I had a premonition that the third recital would end in a spat with the Chorus Club, and I didn’t want to go anywhere near it.

“Prince Keith, please feel free to head to the Music Club. I’ve heard the pieces countless times during practice, so I shall explore elsewhere.”

In my head, Patience was shouting, ‘How rude!’ but I wanted to keep my distance from any trouble.

I have no desire to “pull chestnuts out of the fire” for someone else. Though, roasted chestnuts do sound delicious… I found myself escaping reality because Prince Keith, exercising his chivalrous spirit, was following right behind me.

“Which presentation are you going to see?”

I hated how much we stood out, with Prince Keith and his entourage trailing along, but since it had come to this, I at least wanted to achieve my goal.

“The Alchemy Club’s presentation.”

Prince Keith made a strange face. He likely imagined I’d pick the Art Club or the Needlework Club.

“You really are peculiar. Besides, you’re skipping to Middle School next year to take the Brideship and Civil Servant courses, right? Surely you aren’t taking the Mage Course too?”

Ralph and Hugo looked shocked; apparently, they hadn’t heard about me skipping a grade or choosing two courses. Seriously, Prince Keith, stop running your mouth.

“Of course not. I’m merely interested in alchemy.”

Prince Keith muttered something rude about me being a “strange woman” again.

“Patience, taking two courses… is such a thing even possible?” Hugo asked, sounding genuinely worried.

“What are you saying? My brother is taking the Knight and Civil Servant courses. I intend to follow his example.”

Ralph and Hugo immediately turned on the Prince, asking, “Are you serious?” The realization hit them that they might be forced to take two courses as well. They no longer had the luxury of worrying about me.

“Oh, here is the Alchemy Club.”

There were no other visitors, which made it a bit awkward to enter.

“Let’s make this quick, then head to the dance hall.”

The dance hall? I was planning to skip that entirely…

“Ah, visitors!”

I was spotted by an Alchemy Club member. I mean, I did want to visit, but now I felt a sudden urge to run away. They wore white lab coats over their Royal Academy uniforms, but the coats were incredibly dirty—at a level where I wanted to use Household Magic on them immediately.

Oh, Ralph and Hugo have moved in front of Prince Keith into a defensive stance.

“Yes, we’re here to see the presentation.”

I ignored the looks the three boys sent me, which clearly said, ‘Are you seriously going in there?’ Even if the members looked like mad scientists, I was genuinely interested in the exhibits.

“Is this… perhaps a fan?”

Inside a box, three blades were spinning, creating a slight breeze.

“That’s right! You’ve got a sharp eye. Don’t tell me you want to join the Alchemy Club?”

One of them lunged forward and grabbed both my hands. Hugo jumped in to help, shouting “Let go!”

“I’ve already joined the Music Club, and I haven’t even learned alchemy yet, so I’m afraid it’s impossible.”

“If you’re interested in alchemy, we can teach you. Practice is more important than lectures!”

The club members who had been sitting in the corner of the room flocked over to recruit me.

“Exactly! No club contributes more to society than Alchemy. Besides, if you develop a new magic tool, you can get a patent!”

Patents! That means making money.

“Can a complete amateur really do alchemy?”

I was starting to feel seriously tempted.

“Hey, are you serious? You should consult my sister before deciding. This place is a den of eccentrics,” Prince Keith warned, which helped me cool my head a little. My weakness for money is definitely a character flaw. It’s not like patents are that easy to get.

“If you feel like joining, come find us. We’re in the Alchemy Club every day after school from Monday to Friday. I’m Caesar Burns, the President.”

The exhibits were mostly just different versions of the fan, so we finished our tour and stepped back into the hallway.

“If you join a club like that, you’ll never find a husband,” Prince Keith said, looking exasperated.

“I have no intention of getting married, so that’s perfectly fine.”

All three of them stared at me in disbelief. Ah, they’re quite cute. Ten-year-olds are exactly my type as a “shota-con.” No, I won’t touch them!

“No intention of getting married? Are you becoming a nun? Can you even become a nun with only Household Magic?”

Prince Keith actually sounded worried.

“I have no intention of becoming a nun either. I plan to work.”

Prince Keith reached his own conclusion: “Well, you are my sister’s lady-in-waiting, after all.” I wanted to tell him I’d like to pass on that being a lifelong career.

“Are you going to serve Princess Margaret forever? What will you do if she gets married?” Ralph asked, also concerned. A prince remains a member of the royalty even if the King abdicates, but a princess’s life changes depending on where she marries.

“There’s even a possibility she’ll marry abroad,” Hugo added.

You guys don’t need to worry so much about my lifelong service; I have no intention of doing it.

“No, I plan to work—not as a lady-in-waiting.”

They looked appalled yet again.

“You really are strange. But don’t join the Alchemy Club, it’ll only make you weirder. Come on, let’s go to the dance hall.”

I called out to their retreating backs as they started walking away.

“I think I’ll skip the dancing.”

I had intended to spend the time before dinner doing my side job of tatting lace onto handkerchiefs in the dorm, but I was dragged along anyway.

“It’s fine even if you don’t have a partner.”

Wait, does everyone else have a partner? I’ve been so busy with studying and serving Princess Margaret that I had no idea. I really don’t want to go.