How to Survive at the Academy
Chapter 251

TL: TangSanFan

ED/PR: Tanthus

『Side Story』 Blossoms of the Wind (1)

The people of the Frulan region called the pansies blossoming along the mountain ridges “wind flowers.”

From a certain point in time, as all villagers began calling them that, Yenika as a child naturally referred to the beautiful flowers by the same name without any doubt.

The wide-open mountainous area. As one walked along the ridge, under the occasional clouds floating amidst the blue sky, showered by the warm sunlight, it was easy to fall into the illusion that time had stood still.

Clutching her picnic bag tightly and briskly walking the open ridge, young Yenika accepted the caressing wind on her cheeks with pleasure.

The wind, that delightfully swept across her skin, soon made her lustrous, light-pink hair flutter. Surrendering her body to the moderately warm wind of early spring brought an indefinable freshness that enveloped her heart.

Looking up, she could see the highlands, their summits lightly brushed with perpetual snow.

Across the opposite ridge, cows grazed in the pasture and nearby, a few butterflies fluttered before settling on the grass for a brief respite. The pleasant chirpings of birds and the ever-clear sky caught her attention once more.

Observing such peaceful, bucolic scenes typical of Frulan, it’s as though one lives in a world devoid of worry and strife.

Yenika Faelover grew up amidst such fairy-tale landscapes.

Though she may not have realized the magnitude of her blessing, she was aware of the joy that each day brought her.

The thought of sharing this path with someone dear crossed her mind, yet she quickly shook the idea away… What meaning would that hold?

To young Yenika, the world was far too small. The so-called dear ones were limited to her family and villagers.

With all her cherished ones living happily together in Frulan, the idea of introducing this scenery to someone else seemed hardly meaningful.

Everyone was well-acquainted with the stunning view offered by the ridges, after all.

Gathering her prettily braided hair, she reached out aimlessly towards the sky.

The sunlight that crept through her fingers tickled the corners of her eyes.

Yenika was soon to depart for the Sylvania Academy.

Leaving behind the cradle-like Toren Village to face a new world. Considering she was too young to stick to a rural village forever and the life ahead was far too lengthy, it’d be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. However, the prospect of encountering new places and connections made her heart flutter, a sensation she couldn’t have felt while bound to the ranch chores in Frulan.

A deep breath of the refreshing air calmed her heart.

Then, what lay in sight was still the wide expanse of Frulan’s mountain range.

This serene fairy-tale world was both the starting point and the terminal for the girl named Yenika Faelover.

No matter the multitude of people she’d meet or experiences she’d face after venturing into the vast world, Frulan would be the last nest she’d settle in, where her journey would come round full circle.

Leaning against a fence erected by the roadside, she closed her eyes tightly.

The lovely flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

Following the ridges, the pansies swayed in the direction of the seasonal winds.

That was why people called them “wind flowers.”

* * *

“I need to visit Frulan this week.”

Ed Rothtaylor’s voice fell like a bolt from the blue on the afternoon of Yenika’s return to the baronial manor.

Yenika, who was still not accustomed to her noble status despite receiving grand treatment as the lady of the manor, was overwhelmed.

Even after two years, it was hard for the girl from a small village to get used to giving orders.

Expecting Ed’s visit to be yet another assistance in estate management, she was taken aback by his unexpected remark and had to momentarily set her teacup down.

“…. What?”

For a moment, Yenika doubted her ears.

Ed Rothtaylor is visiting Frulan. That short and simple sentence somehow didn’t register at once, prompting her to ask again.

“I need to finalize the research work before the study break ends. To close the case on the highest-order wind spirit reported in Frulan, it seems I’ll have to go there myself.”

“Uh, yes… I see. Ed. But… are you going near Toren Village too?”

“I’d say that’s why I’m here. If I’m going to that part of the country, it makes more sense to go with a local. You know Frulan quite well, don’t you? It’s your homeland, after all.”

Yenika swallowed dryly.

It had been nearly six years since she left her home. Four years at the Sylvania Academy, two in the Rothtaylor Duchy.

Although she visited her family every now and then, she had never accompanied Ed Rothtaylor on a visit to Frulan… the thought alone was enough to bring a cold sweat.

And for a good reason.

The malevolent rose-tinted gazes of the people of Frulan are indiscriminately penetrating, regardless of one’s status.

Already last year, when she visited, rumors about Ed and Yenika were already beyond her reach.

Starting from the markets and bazaars, those rumors rolled like snowballs, growing uncontrollably large.

In their midst, Ed and Yenika had become an item. Labelled as a perfect match, a divine pairing predestined by the heavens, once-in-a-lifetime soulmates.

Rumors can be terrifying. Especially after Kadan and Silla personally visited Arken Island to confirm the relationship with Ed, the rumors had inflated even more.

Yenika had noted the exaggerated rumors when she visited the previous year…

But Yenika… did not actively deny or discourage them…! Nor did she affirm!

Because… truthfully, she wasn’t entirely displeased with them…!

Though she couldn’t share with anyone, she found her lips curling upwards unwillingly, listening to those rumors…!

Even knowing they were nothing but tall tales…! Despite being complicit in inflating unnecessary rumors wasn’t honorable…! Yet, feelings don’t always follow one’s will!

It feels good to feel good!

Afterall, Ed Rothtaylor was incredibly busy managing the duchy and combining academic duties.

A nobleman of the continent’s most elite lineage wouldn’t have the luxury to bother with small-town gossip in distant Frulan nor need to.

Thusly, Yenika Faelover rationalized her own complacency.

“The carriage has been arranged; let’s go together next week. Just leave the manor management to Belle.”

The time of reckoning had come…

Yenika forcibly gathered herself, managing to smile and respond with difficulty.

“Ah, Ed… So you’re coming to Frulan. Haha… It’s your first time, right? You’ll be surprised. It’s truly like something out of a fairy-tale. Beautiful landscapes… Hehe…. Hehehehe….”

She couldn’t possibly tell him to stay away!

Outwardly, they may have interacted comfortably, but fundamentally, Yenika Faelover was the vassal to Duke Ed Rothtaylor. They were bound by a clear hierarchical relationship, with Ed as her superior.

Their ability to converse freely like now was solely thanks to Ed Rothtaylor’s consideration. The barrier he chose not to erect against Yenika enabled her to engage in lively conversations.

However, they could never step outside the essence of this hierarchical bond. Yenika was, after all, bound to serve Ed.

While Ed never imposed tasks that caused discomfort or hardship, academic obligations were a matter of professional duty, something Yenika could not avoid.

Thus, Ed was bound for Frulan… and there was nothing Yenika could do to prevent it.

The only remaining option was clear.

“Ed… I’m sorry!!! I’m really sorry! Toren Village right now… it’s…!”

At Yenika’s sudden apology with her head bowed, Ed, rather unusually, furrowed his brow, showing a puzzled expression.

* * *

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The silence that followed was unbearably heavy.

Yenika, who closed her eyes tight and bowed her head, sat facing Ed, who after hearing her explanations, pulled on the edge of his mage robe and pondered for a moment, then finally broke the silence.

“So, to sum it up, Toren Village already believes we’re an item… is that it?”

A spark of electricity seemed to run down Yenika’s spine at that single sentence.

Gasping for air, she had to fan her face with her hand for some time. Such meek reactions never seemed to change, no matter the years she went through. After all, how could one simply change their fundamental nature?

“How could things have come to this…?”

“Ed, you’ve met my parents… you know… they just love scandals… somehow rumors started snowballing… I’m sorry… I was powerless to stop it..”

But more precisely, she hadn’t tried to stop it, although Yenika could not admit it fully.

Even if there’s a certain level of embarrassment, there’s a limit to everything. No matter how close they’ve grown, directly saying ‘I want to be more than friends with you!’ amounts to the same thing.

From Yenika’s point of view, she indeed wished to cross that line with Ed, but a definite barrier seemed to be in place between them.

The most apparent barrier was, ultimately, one of social status.

With Yenika starting as a commoner and only recently inheriting a small barony, in contrast to Ed, who was born into the protective embrace of the ducal line and the royal family, there was an insurmountable gap.

Who Ed’s partner could be was a political matter of great impact on the ducal family as a whole, meaning Yenika could not casually aspire to that position.

Ed was also aware of the burden Yenika felt about this divide and refrained from forcing her into unnecessary duties.

Yet, Yenika had no intention of remaining the protected baroness forever.

Perhaps seizing this chance to clear out the rumors could be an opportunity to cross the line.

Considering the strange possibility she wouldn’t have entertained otherwise, Yenika gulped down a nervous swallow.

“The rumor… it has spread as much as it could… and now, if I say ‘It isn’t true…! It’s not like that!’, having not actively denied it earlier, I might become something akin to a liar…”

“And is that what would happen?”

“Yes… Sort of… I simply couldn’t bear it anymore… I never imagined that letting it slide would lead to this uncontrollable snowball…”

“So what if now I declare ‘We are merely lord and vassal. Do not misunderstand.’ What would that result in?”

“… I guess… the villagers might not say anything outright, but they would pity me inside…”

Thinking up to that point, Yenika felt a shiver of dread.

Ah, perhaps, our Yenika has been so lonely… having such thoughts…

Well, with Ed being such a splendid and reliable gentleman… it’s understandable to harbor such feelings…

I’m sorry… Yenika…! For not recognizing your solitude…!

You must have felt so lonely! At such an age!

But you’re still young, there’s no need to worry about being an old maid yet! With beauty and abilities like…

A noblewoman, distressed by the whirlwind of rumors, Yenika frantically pondered amidst the villagers’ sympathetic gazes.

“Just kill me,” she pleaded.

Ed watched her quietly, his face growing pale, then sighed deeply and tossed the documents onto the desk.

“Anyway, I just have to play along a little, right?”

“What do you mean, Ed?”

“Act like the rumors are somewhat true. It’s connected to your authority as a Baron, after all… I’ll oblige a little.”

One shouldn’t entertain baseless gossip, but Ed held a special regard for Yenika.

“Just this once, I’ll act along with the rumors. After that, you’ll need to slowly start clearing up these misunderstandings that don’t diminish your authority.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. It’s not that hard. Just show the townspeople we get along, like we always do.”

The mere fact that a newly titled Baroness from the frontier socializes with the son of the prestigious Duchess Rothtaylor is extraordinary.

“So… what exactly are the rumors? I’ll act accordingly, just tell me.”

This compassion from Ed Rothtaylor—an otherwise merciless man—is reserved only for Yenika Faelover.

Knowing this, Yenika felt tears of gratitude well up as Ed extended his cooperation.

Yet to verbalize the rumors was akin to torture for her. With flushed cheeks and fidgeting fingers, Yenika lowered her head, unable to speak.

The nature of these rumors was unknown, but their impact was clear—so much so that even mentioning them was enough to make Yenika blush furiously.

Ed could only wait patiently.

“They say we always walk arm in arm, exchange forehead kisses upon eye contact…”

Yenika hesitated, her face turning bright red.

“How on earth do such rumors even start…?”

“Rumors aren’t always logical…”

“And you didn’t actively deny them?”

“I’m so sorry! I have sinned enough to die!”

Ed ran his fingers through his hair with an incredulous look, then washed his face without water to collect his thoughts.

“So, keep going.”

“Sorry… I think I need a rest, my head’s getting hot…”

“Take your time. It’s fine.”

“Well… most are similar. Holding hands wherever we go, kissing when no one is watching… And at night… um…”

“…”

“… Sorry, the rest enters the realm of lewdness.”

These rumors, though hurtful, surprisingly inspired Yenika’s imagination, leading her to secretly indulge in fantasies, though she dared not admit it.

“Anyway, I’ve got the gist. Even if I can’t completely play along, I can at least show we get along well enough to lend credence to some of the rumors.”

“That would… be good…”

“But won’t this approach just fan the flames of gossip, potentially making things worse?”

“Not at all! If we show we’re close, it doesn’t make the rumors entirely false. If part of them seems true, people will assume the rest is just exaggerated.”

Even Yenika’s parents, Kadan and Silla, knew she and Ed got along well. If their interaction matched the rumors, at least the friendship element would be believed to be true.

This could save Yenika from the disgrace of seeming to indulge in the spread of false rumors by affirming only a part of them.

“Alright… I understand,” Ed sighed but showed empathy for Yenika’s situation.

“Just support me in my research work, that’s all I ask.”

“Uh… I’m not sure how much I can help with research…”

“You’d be surprised. Merilda thinks so too…”

Yenika glanced at the research papers spread out by Ed. They detailed the High Wind Spirit, telkalaqs, whose traces have merged with nature, leaving their marks in the highlands of Phlan—a story Ed was deeply engrossed in.

As she reflected, Yenika recalled the warm and comforting winds of Phlan, where she had grown up. This made the notes in Ed’s research journal feel especially significant.

“But considering the rumors… it sounds like it’ll actually be more troublesome for you.”

“Me? No, you’ll endure more, Ed… What would I have to suffer?”

“If you keep acting skittish, won’t it just fuel more suspicion?”

Yenika lacked resistance to men, particularly to Ed Rothtaylor, even the slightest touch causing her to instinctively shrink away…

Becoming accustomed to physical touch seemed to be the answer. Despite this resolution, the idea was an immense hurdle for the innocent Yenika.

Ed, a hardened man of the world, unfazed by contact with women, approached her with a dutiful sense of support, reaching out to touch her face without hesitation.

Blushing to her limits and on the verge of a nosebleed, Yenika was far from ready, yet she couldn’t help but feel an unexpected yearning in the moment.

In that tense and hopeful moment, as she anticipated the soft warmth of a touch upon her forehead—

– Knock, knock.

“Excuse me, my lord. While Miss Yenika has stepped out, there are matters concerning the management of the Baron’s estate to discuss…”

Stopping short upon entering the room, the servant Belle Mayar noticed the scene and fell silent.

“I shall return in 30 minutes, my lord.”

After a polite bow, Belle left the room and shut the door behind her.

Left in an awkward silence, Ed and Yenika slowly regained their composure.

Belle Mayar, a dedicated maid of 17 years, regretted her untimely interruption during her lord’s rare moment of tenderness towards Yenika.

Now, with an upcoming journey to Phlan alongside Ed, Yenika had plenty more chances to advance their relationship, a reassuring thought for Belle.

Yet, with Lady Tanya Rothtaylor intent on grooming Ed’s prestigious network for the prosperity of the Rothtaylor Duchy, the prospects were complicated.

Belle’s duty as a maid was clear: to support her lord and lady, irrespective of the heart’s desires.

And so, she gathered herself, exited down the hallway, and prepared to bid farewell to Ed and Yenika as they set off for Phlan.