Hulim Heyerar looked up and saw a girl with waist-length golden hair and ruby-like eyes standing across from her, holding the cafeteria’s most luxurious meal set.

  "Huh? Sure, of course! Please sit down!"

  Miko Kedar immediately agreed to Alicia Serions’s request, even looking visibly relieved—as if she was thanking Alicia for saving her from an awkward spot.

  "Of course you can. You don’t even need to ask—just sit down whenever you want, Alicia."

  "Thank you."

  Alicia took a seat across from Hulim.

  Hulim glanced at her curiously.

  "Alicia, I didn’t know you came to the academy cafeteria too."

  "Yeah, occasionally. After all, I’m a student at Manacos Magic Academy now. It’s only normal for a student to eat in the cafeteria, isn’t it~?"

  As she said this, for some reason, Alicia glanced specifically at Miko.

  "That’s true......"

  It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

  At that moment, Miko beside her was eyeing Alicia’s lunch.

  It was the most expensive meal set in the academy cafeteria—pricier than almost anyone would ever splurge on. Unsurprisingly, it was also extremely lavish and abundant.

  "......Want some?"

  Seemingly noticing Miko’s gaze, Alicia said with a smile.

  "Huh? Can I really——!"

  Miko’s ears perked up instantly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  "Help yourself. Feel free to pick whatever you like."

  Alicia pushed her tray to the center of the table.

  "Then——, I won’t hold back!"

  Miko raised her fork high and stabbed it toward a piece of translucent meat she couldn’t identify—but judging by the mana radiating from it, it must have come from some powerful magical creature.

  "This meal set is quite large. Can you finish all this, Alicia?"

  "Well——, I don’t really have a choice. I’d love to order something more ordinary, but given my position, I can’t. It would put a lot of people in an awkward spot."

  Hulim understood what she meant. As a princess, if she ate the same level of food as ordinary students, it would be seen as disrespectful by those who clung rigidly to noble etiquette. Those people would then feel compelled to eat even more humble meals, which would not only affect the students but also cause trouble for the academy cafeteria......

  "Speaking of which, there’s something I want to apologize to you for in advance."

  Alicia suddenly said.

  "Apologize?"

  "Yes. I won’t be able to go to the dungeon with you for the next few days......"

  Hulim looked up at Alicia across the table.

  "Another royal event?"

  "Yes. Given my status, I have no way to refuse these events. So I’m really sorry......"

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Alicia’s true enemies weren’t just the monsters in the dungeon. Those lofty, elaborately dressed nobles were her greatest foes—and their battlefield was the banquets and events, where battles were fought not with swords, but with words, schemes, and intrigue.

  "You really have it tough, Alicia...... Alright, I get it."

  "Thank you for understanding."

  Alicia apologized, looking a little guilty.

  Miko glanced back and forth between the two of them, a confused question mark floating above her head.

  "?"

  What are these two talking about? I don’t understand a word.

  After finishing their meal, Alicia excused herself and left first. She had barely touched her luxurious meal set—most of it had been devoured by Miko.

  "Let’s go too."

  Hulim called out to Miko, gesturing for her to leave.

  "Ah, that fancy meal set was so delicious! Do you think that girl will come to the cafeteria again?"

  Miko rubbed her stuffed belly, saying with lingering satisfaction.

  Don’t refer to your own classmate as "that girl"...... Did you even forget her name?

  Also, you really shouldn’t say things that make you sound like you’re using her as a free meal ticket—you’ll get punched for that......

  Hulim dragged the slightly punchable Miko and quickly left the cafeteria, completely ignoring the piercing stares that had been directed at them ever since Alicia sat down at their table.

  ......

  The next day.

  "......Do you even know what you’re doing?!"

  "......Are you trying to make enemies of us?!"

  Hulim had anticipated that someone might come to pick a fight with her—but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

  Staring at the two chattering noble girls in front of her, Hulim felt nothing but boredom.

  "Hey! Are you even listening to us?! What’s with that expression on your face?!"

  "Huh? Oh——, sorry, sorry. By the way, who are you two again?"

  "......"

  An awkward silence fell over the scene.

  "You weren’t listening at all——!!?"

  "Didn’t we already introduce ourselves at the beginning?!!?"

  The two noble girls were so angry they were practically foaming at the mouth, on the verge of exploding with rage.

  Huh? Did they introduce themselves? I don’t remember...... Wait, maybe a little......

  What were their names again? Something about a Viscount......?

  "......Sorry, could you introduce yourselves again?"

  "......"

  The two noble girls trembled with fury.

  "You, you, you—listen carefully to us, you brat!"

  One of the noble girls puffed out her chest and declared loudly: "I am the daughter of Viscount Lane—Lucy Lane!"

  The other noble girl also announced loudly: "I am the eldest daughter of Viscount Sion—Haley Sion! Burn these names into your stupid brain!!!"

  Now that she thought about it, these two names had appeared on the guest list for Djelte’s tea party that day.

  So that’s why they’re picking a fight with me. But there’s only two of them—did they come here on their own, without permission?

  "Alright, I guess I remember now......"

  "Huh? ‘Guess’? What do you mean by ‘guess’?! Are you looking down on us?!"

  "Damn it, we really need to teach you a lesson! Make you learn what you shouldn’t say, and who you shouldn’t get close to!"

  As she spoke, the girl named Haley actually pulled out her wand.

  "Yeah, I can’t stand this girl anymore either——!"

  The noble girl named Lucy pulled out her wand as well.

  Hulim glanced around. Good, no one else was here. They’d certainly picked a secluded spot. But still......

  "......Are you two serious?"

  "Huh?! What do you think?! Get ready to regret your actions!"

  With that, the two girls actually began reciting incantations, and light glowed at the tips of their wands.

  "......"

  These two...... Putting aside their actual strength, do they even understand the difference between Special Class students and regular students......

  "Sigh——"

  Hulim sighed helplessly, still not bothering to take out her own wand.

  "Haha! You idiot! You’re not even going to draw your wand now? Have you lost your mind?"

  "Just lie down and take it!"

  Haley and Lucy finished their incantations and laughed as they hurled their spells at Hulim.

  Finally done with their incantations? That took forever......

  Hulim thought calmly, at the same time reaching her right hand behind her back to grasp the hilt of her sword.

  As the Fireball and Rock Pellet hurtled toward Hulim, the two noble girls already wore triumphant smiles on their faces. They hadn’t expected their target to be so stupid as to stand there and take the attack—or maybe she’d finally realized her mistake and was too scared to fight back?

  Boom!

  The spells exploded on impact, sending up a cloud of smoke and dust.

  "Haha~! How do you like that?! Still think you can talk to us like that~!"

  "Feel the pain! Let it sink in~!"

  The two noble girls said triumphantly.

  "Pain? What pain are you talking about——"

  Hulim’s calm voice echoed from within the smoke and dust.