38. I’m a Little Late, Honey
“What do I do… I can’t understand any of this at all.”
Scoring full marks on the written exam was clearly thanks to Arpeggio, the top graduate of Horizon Academy.
It was hard to fully grasp the material after hearing it just once. Maybe it was because it was an advanced course based on the Academy’s ten-year curriculum? After only a month of cramming, it was nearly impossible to understand 100% of the lecture.
This is bad. At this rate, failing is almost guaranteed.
Maybe I’ll end up caught in the endless graduation cycle, like the horror stories about Horizon Academy, or I won’t be able to handle it and end up dropping out.
“No… I can’t let that happen.”
Gibnen was covering the enormous tuition and generous allowance.
I couldn’t just sit around and rely on him while he was spending so much, and I definitely couldn’t embarrass myself by failing and being unable to graduate.
“I’ll have to ask Arpeggio if he can continue tutoring me.”
After the lecture ended, Riley, feeling a little hungry, headed alone to the shopping district.
Hilla had gone her own way, claiming she had business to attend to, but added that next time they should definitely eat together.
The shopping district, accessible only to current academy students, was lined with countless restaurants and shops.
“Wow.”
Riley was impressed by the variety of stores.
There were not just restaurants but shops selling all kinds of goods—and even convenience facilities. The scale rivaled that of a typical busy city street.
Riley picked a shop that seemed particularly crowded. She didn’t usually like busy places, but a large crowd usually meant good food.
Luckily, she snagged the last empty table. It was a table for two, and only after receiving the menu did she realize she was the only one eating alone. She ordered a steak and sat down, watching as a line started forming outside the restaurant.
The line grew long enough to be intimidating. At this point, she still didn’t think much of it.
That is, until a couple approached her table.
They were strikingly flashy. Their clothes were extravagant, and each wore at least three pieces of jewelry. So colorful and ornate that they reminded Riley of a pair of peacocks.
“Hey.”
“?”
“Mind moving over a bit?”
Riley stared at the couple, wondering if she’d done something wrong.
The man sighed, tapping the table impatiently.
“I said, move over.”
“Why?”
“You shouldn’t be taking up a table for two all by yourself. Go somewhere else.”
“Is there a rule against using a two-person table alone? The owner didn’t kick me out, and there was no notice beforehand.”
“You could just give it up and the two of us could sit. Don’t you feel bad hogging a table by yourself? There are plenty of places for solo diners, so who even comes here alone?”
Riley froze.
The restaurant hadn’t refused her, so why would eating alone be a problem? If it were truly a problem, they wouldn’t have seated her here. She couldn’t understand why this couple was taking it out on her.
Still, she hesitated to answer because no one else in the restaurant was eating alone. Was it a local custom that solo diners didn’t sit at tables for two?
There wasn’t a rule against eating alone, but if it was socially unacceptable to take a table for two by yourself, maybe she should just move.
Riley blinked dumbly, unsure if she was truly in the right.
“Look at you, clueless—definitely an outsider.”
“Figures. That’s why you’re so oblivious, huh?”
The couple laughed together.
Riley glanced around. Everyone else was keeping their heads down, minding their own business.
Flashy outfits, commanding attitude, and a gaze that made people avoid them—these were not ordinary people. Could they be nobles from Blestige?
“Don’t get it? No ears? I said get out. Not enough money? Oh, right… looks like you might be. This place is expensive, after all. You’re splurging. Here.”
The man pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and placed it on the table.
“I’ll pay double for your meal if you move. Let’s keep it nice and easy.”
Riley stared, dumbfounded.
She would have moved if they’d asked politely. But thrusting money at her out of nowhere was insulting.
“No, I won’t.”
“What?”
“This is my seat. You have no right to kick me out. So line up like everyone else.”
“You’ve got some nerve. I told you nicely. Don’t you see you’re the only one eating alone here?”
Should she really leave? She flinched—but then suddenly:
“Been waiting long?”
Someone had slipped up beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Riley looked up.
A tall man with pale silver hair tied back casually, strikingly handsome, was looking down at her.
His face was so handsome that Riley instinctively let out a small gasp. Not as shocking as Gibnen, but still enough to make her heart skip.
Who is he?
This man was handsome enough to stand out. Aside from Gibnen, she had never seen a man like this, and even if she had, she wouldn’t have forgotten his face.
He smiled at her.
“I’m a little late, honey.”
…Excuse me?
Riley could only gape, stunned. Then he turned slightly toward the couple who had been harassing her.
“My girlfriend’s got a problem with that?”
The man’s intimidating presence silenced them immediately.
His sharp glare and fierce expression were unnerving. His elegant clothes didn’t match the raw intensity of his face. Strangely, despite being handsome, his eyes were sharp and dangerous. Eventually, he looked away and walked off.
“There are always jerks like that,” he muttered.
The couple disappeared, and Riley looked up at the handsome man.
Who is he, really?
For Riley, the only person she could call a “boyfriend” was Gibnen Lianster, her fiancé, albeit by contract. Yet this stranger had confidently claimed that title and wrapped an arm around her.
Just as Riley was about to ask, the couple muttered in protest and returned to their original spots. With the focus on her being a solo diner, they had no reason to continue arguing.
The stranger sat across from her naturally, as if he belonged there.
“What are you looking at?”
He grinned, leaning his chin on his hand.
“If you helped me, at least buy me a meal, right?”
“…Ah.”
It was awkward at first, but Riley realized he had saved her from the troublemakers. He was the hero who dealt with the annoying couple.
Oh, he’s pretending to be my boyfriend! Finally understanding the situation, Riley nodded with a smile.
“Thank you.”
“You’re buying, though. Don’t try to get a free meal.”
“Of course not. I’ll pay.”
“You speak well. At first, I thought you were a dumb little fish just opening your mouth.”
“Fish…?”
“Yeah, lips sticking out, looking clueless.”
“Ah… okay…”
He seemed as awkward in speech as Arpeggio, but less intense. Arpeggio always seemed angry, while this man was genuinely cold and composed. Like red and blue flames—similar yet very different.
“You’re paying, so order whatever you want.”
“Ah? Okay, as much as I like.”
He immediately ordered three extra dishes, assuming Riley was paying. Luckily, her allowance was sufficient, so she had nothing to worry about.
“If jerks keep bothering you, don’t just stand there—report them.”
“Report them where?”
“To the student council.”
“What happens then?”
“They get demerit points.”
“Is that bad?”
“If someone accumulates 20 points, they get expelled. Nobody wants to leave Horizon Academy without a degree.”
Riley decided that if anyone tried to steal her seat again, she’d report them.
“You got into trouble because you’re too naive. You look like a new student.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Even if you try to roll with it, you still look like a rookie.”
“Well, I am a new student.”
“Then be smart about it. Don’t advertise that you’re easy prey.”
“Aren’t you a new student too?”
“Do I look like one?”
“No, you look like a senior. Are you a senior?”
“You’ll see.”
The dishes arrived, filling the table. He ate elegantly, despite his crude way of speaking.
Impressive.
Some people exude class no matter what they do. He may speak harshly, but his posture and manners reflected his upbringing.
“Why are you staring?”
“Just… you look impressive when you eat.”
He frowned.
“Don’t get any ideas.”
“I’m not.”
“Then eat. Stop staring at my face.”
“Okay.”
Riley and the stranger ate quietly.
After finishing, he stood, turned abruptly, and looked back at her.
“Keep your wits about you.”
“?”
“If you act clueless, you’ll get picked on.”
He clicked his tongue and walked away. Riley blinked dumbly, then awkwardly smiled and touched her face.
Do I really look that naive?
“Yeah, it shows. Didn’t you notice?”
Arpeggio’s firm answer made Riley frown.
“How can I look smarter?”
“Well, your face naturally looks a bit clueless, so it won’t be easy.”
“I see…”
Arpeggio sighed, watching her sulk.
“Why do you need to look smart to others? You are smart.”
“Only because I don’t feel smart.”
“Exactly. You’re too naive. Your face makes it easy for people to scam you.”
“Is it really that bad?”
Riley felt slightly stung. After getting into trouble twice on the first day, she realized her naive, foolish expression made her an easy target.
But she also felt it was unfair.
Anyone would feel tense in an unfamiliar place. Riley’s tension was simply higher than most. She had hardly experienced social life among many people before.
Academy life hadn’t prepared her; Horizon Academy was her first real experience. She couldn’t help being a rookie.
Yet here, even being a rookie made people pick on you. She wondered how many more unreasonable people she’d have to deal with.
“Why the long face?”
“I just want to live quietly at the Academy… and make friends.”
“Your face looks blank and dumb, but that’s not the whole problem.”
“Then what else is the problem? What should I fix?”
“It’s not about you. The problem is with those guys.”
“?”
“The ones who started nonsense with you—do you think they were right? It’s just their level that caused the problem. Why blame yourself?”
“They ignore me because I look easy to ignore.”
“Who?”
“Some guy.”
“Hmm, not sure who, but yeah, you have sharp eyes. Still, it’s not your fault. Just because someone looks easy to ignore doesn’t mean they should be ignored. The jerk is the one at fault.”
“I know. It’s not my fault.”
Arpeggio continued, wondering why he was giving advice to this naive rookie.
“Many wizards are full of privilege and pride. Nobles, Blestige graduates—they think they’re inherently special. Only people like them understand each other.”
“…”
“Horizon Academy has a lot of Blestige nobles. Especially in the magic department, they’re arrogant and high-handed. It’s always been that way. So you either don’t associate with them or just ignore them.”
“So I should just ignore them? But what if they keep bothering me? Should I just endure it?”
“Enduring is fine, but is it easy?”
Riley nodded. She was used to being bullied at her uncle’s house, but it still left scars.
“Why worry so much? If it gets bad, just use your husband.”
“?”
“You’re going to be the lady of the Lianster family soon. Why let them intimidate you?”
“We’re not married yet.”
“You will be. No reason to hide it. Tell Gibnen to announce the marriage. Nobody will mess with you. You’ll get attention, sure, but it’ll be the good kind.”
Riley shook her head.
“I want to live quietly at the Academy. Marriage is not my concern. Gibnen will handle it.”
“So you’re just letting yourself be used.”
“Used?”
Arpeggio sighed, exasperated at the little rookie. He ruffled her hair.
“You can use him if you need to. No one else, but you can. Seriously, just use him.”
At that moment:
“Teaching well, huh?”
A familiar voice came from behind.
Riley turned to see Gibnen waving and smirking. Then teasingly asked:
“What’s my wife doing having such a deep conversation, just the two of you?”
