I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 55

After all the exams were over, the final exam results were announced.

I ranked seventh.

“Just like during the entrance exam.”

“Maintaining the status quo was difficult for me too.”

I honestly replied to Reina’s comment.

To be frank, I was prepared for the possibility of dropping out of the top ten.

To my relief, I had scored nearly full marks in my major.

The scores in the liberal arts courses were just slightly disappointing if I were to say they were all in the upper tier.

“The top scorer is Crown Prince Leon.”

Sofia exclaimed as she looked at the ranking chart posted on the wall.

Of course, the Crown Prince’s name was at the very top.

No need to mention, his scores were perfect.

According to the professors, they said the scope of the exams had expanded too much, leading to an overall decline in scores.

I heard he was the only one who received a perfect score across all grades.

“Reina, you’re second place. That’s impressive.”

Reina maintained her second position with a score of 843.

The seven-point deduction was due to her defeat in the practical exam of martial arts against me.

This meant that if Reina had won against me, she could have tied for first with the Crown Prince.

…Somehow, I felt sorry.

“Don’t apologize, Aike. Exam results are meant to be competitive.”

As if she sensed my thoughts, Reina quietly spoke up.

I slowly nodded and shifted my gaze downward.

Third place was Atal. Fourth place was Helen.

The rankings within the top ten hadn’t changed for anyone else.

Except for one person.

“I’m in ninth place.”

“Congratulations, Miss Sophia. All your hard work paid off.”

“Thank you, Reina.”

Perhaps still trying to grasp the reality of the rankings, Sophia had her gaze blank.

Sophia had placed thirteenth in the entrance exam.

She had risen a remarkable four spots.

“Hehe.”

Sophia was genuinely happy, covering her mouth as she giggled.

Reina smiled softly at sight of Sophia.

In the original story, these two had trouble understanding each other until the very end, yet here they both laughed together.

I fervently wished for such days to continue.

“Do you all have plans for the break?”

While we were gathered in the Misty Garden enjoying snacks, Helen spoke up.

“I think I’ll be dealing with government duties in Heros during the break.”

“I’ll probably help my mother in Rainus before returning to Arcana.”

Helen pouted slightly, feeling disheartened by the fact that everyone had their own things to do.

“It seems we’ll only be able to gather after the break.”

“Looks like that’s the case.”

Perhaps we might see each other once, but as Helen said, coming together as a group would be nearly impossible.

Even if we wanted to set a separate promise, some people couldn’t accommodate that due to their circumstances.

“Well, everyone has their own concerns, so it can’t be helped.”

“Right. It’s not like we won’t see each other again for a lifetime.”

The Crown Prince and Atal helped to lighten the slightly gloomy atmosphere.

“Rather, let’s talk about something important right now.”

“Something important, you say?”

Sophia tilted her head at the Crown Prince’s words.

“Oh, Miss Sophia might not know.”

“After the final exams and before summer break, there will be a ball at Arcana.”

“It’s being held at the banquet hall we used during Aike’s birthday party last time.”

A ball before the summer break.

In fact, this was the most important event in the original series.

It was during this ball that the Crown Prince began to have feelings for Sophia.

But there was one problem.

“Miss Sophia, have you prepared a dress?”

“Ah, yes. I brought an old dress I used to wear.”

That dress I just mentioned.

Sophia’s dress will be found torn on the day of the ball.

The culprits were Reina’s followers.

Of course, Reina never instructed them to do so.

It was simply something they did, knowing that the two were at odds.

Fortunately, Helen managed to get a new one, so Sophia wouldn’t miss the ball.

However, this incident would completely sour the relationship between Reina and the Crown Prince.

Reina did not punish her followers for this incident.

Well, it was evident that she wasn’t involved, so it made sense.

But later on, the Crown Prince would learn the truth and condemn Reina for it.

After all, they were people who followed her.

He believed it was Reina who should be punished for their wrongdoings.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Miss Sophia’s dress since I’ve never seen it before.”

Of course, with Reina and Sophia now getting along, such an incident would not occur.

And the Crown Prince would likely not fall for Sophia.

It was a decent flow of events.

“By the way, has everyone decided on a partner for the ball?”

With Atal’s follow-up question, the topic smoothly shifted to the ball during summer break.

“I haven’t yet. It’s a bit tricky since it doesn’t have to be a partner.”

It was okay to not have a partner at the Arcana ball.

Problems could arise if the fiancé wasn’t studying together at Arcana.

Of course, this meant that if the fiancé was present, it was almost as if a partner was already decided.

“I haven’t decided either.”

Here, only Reina and the Crown Prince had fiancés.

And personally, I had no intention of choosing a partner at all.

“I’m also in the middle of deciding.”

But suddenly, the Crown Prince’s words had everyone, including myself, in shock.

“Your Highness?”

Yet the Crown Prince continued casually, seemingly unfazed.

“Why are you all so surprised? At Arcana, students are responsible for finding their own partners for the ball. It’s fine not to bring any social ties.”

“But Your Highness has Reina…”

“Helen, I just said it’s okay not to bring social ties. Sure, it’s a tradition to choose a fiancé as a partner, but I’m not inclined to follow that.”

The Crown Prince seemed resolute in his stance.

He hadn’t chosen a partner for the ball in the original story either.

He only danced with Sophia after realizing his feelings for her when he saw her in her new dress.

“Is Reina fine with that though?”

Helen looked at Reina with concern in her eyes.

Not being able to partner with one’s fiancé was almost a scandal in noble society.

Considering that, the Crown Prince’s decision felt selfish.

Yet, Reina enjoyed the snacks nonchalantly, her expression just as impassive as usual.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. As Your Highness said, choosing a fiancé as a partner is merely a tradition.”

With their relationship now not strained, I naturally presumed they would become partners at the ball.

In my mind, the Crown Prince’s previous lack of a partner stemmed from him not thinking well of Reina.

But why was it different now?

It was an incomprehensible flow of events.

★

“Miss Sophia.”

As Sophia was returning to the dormitory, someone called out from behind her.

“Oh, Your Highness.”

When she turned around, she saw Leon approaching with a slight jog.

“I have a favor to ask.”

Hearing those words, Sophia recalled Leon’s previous request.

It was the one asking her to help Reina and Aike get closer.

While it had a good outcome, I had worried so much about potential problems back then.

It was only natural for anxiety to swell within her heart.

“Um, can I hear it first?”

However, a mere commoner like Sophia couldn’t ignore the words of the Imperial Crown Prince.

“Could you be my partner for the ball?”

“…What?”

In that instant, Sophia’s mind froze.

A partner for the ball?

What does that mean?

“Me, m-my, my partner, Your Highness?”

“Yes. You helped me out last time. It’s only fair to repay you, although it won’t be the same.”

“Y-but Your Highness has Reina…”

“I already mentioned that part, right?”

Could she refuse the offer?

No matter how much Reina had granted permission, it was another matter for Sophia to accept that.

But he was the Crown Prince.

Turning down such an offer felt burdensome to Sophia.

“…I’m sorry.”

Seeing Sophia trembling at that truth, Leon lowered his head and apologized.

“I thought simply deciding on a partner would be fine with you, and I didn’t consider it would be burdensome.”

“Uh, that, um.”

“I’m truly sorry. Just act like you didn’t hear this.”

Leon slowly turned away.

He could have easily been furious for being refused by a commoner like Sophia, yet he said nothing further.

Seeing that made it hard for Sophia to say anything.

“Y-your Highness!”

Chasing after Leon, the place she found him was in front of the men’s dormitory.

Fortunately, there was nobody else around.

“Miss Sophia?”

“Um, about that offer you made earlier, I’m afraid I can’t accept.”

“…You really came all the way here just to tell me that? It kinda hurts.”

“N-no. That’s not it.”

How should she put it?

Having lived her entire life as a commoner until coming to Arcana, Sophia couldn’t quite find the words.

“I-I’ve lived my whole life as a commoner. Sometimes, just being here with everyone, including you, feels like a dream. There are moments where I wonder if I deserve to be here.”

And so, she decided to sincerely express her true feelings.

“But I know that you considered my feelings earlier, Your Highness. So, thank you.”

As Sophia said, it didn’t make sense for Leon to read her feelings and withdraw on his own.

Even if she were to refuse, Sophia had to give him an answer.

The Crown Prince’s requests carried weight.

“I can’t accept that offer.”

Seeing Sophia bow her head, Leon smiled.

“It’s truly fine, Miss Sophia. The truth is, I didn’t think of your position from the start.”

“Thank you.”

Even though he said it was all right, Sophia’s heart felt heavy.

Asking her to be his partner must have been something Leon had thought long and hard about.

“Okay then…”

Seeing through Sophia’s thoughts, Leon grinned and spoke again.

“Could we at least dance together once at the ball?”

Leon’s considerate words meant it was fine not to create any burden.

Sophia could immediately understand that feeling.

“Yes, gladly!”

So this time she could answer with a smile.

★

Before she knew it, the day of the ball before the summer break had arrived.

We had promised to gather and head to the banquet hall together.

But that promise could not be kept.

“…I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

In front of us stood Sophia, bowing her head and trembling as she apologized.

In her hands was—

“When I opened my wardrobe today, I found this…”

The thoroughly torn light green dress was being held up.