What happens when a commoner becomes a noble’s romantic rival?
No matter how much the Academy claims that talent knows no rank, the outcome is all too predictable.
With good luck, it might end with a little humiliation before everyone.
If not, it’s not uncommon for one to lose their eyes, go missing, or end up in suspicious circumstances.
All for the simple reason of having loved a nobleman.
The gap between nobles and commoners was that clear.
No matter how hard they tried, it was impossible for a commoner to overcome the difference in status. A very small number of commoners might achieve merit and become nobles, but that story was far from Emma’s reality.
And Emma dared to covet the man targeted by a high-ranking noble.
No, she did more than covet; she had even kissed him.
Moreover, the target in question was none other than the notoriously foul-tempered “Elsi Rainelle.”
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid.
Nevertheless, Emma tried to calm her pounding heart. She kept telling herself that she had to be brave, over and over in her mind.
She couldn’t rely on I-an’s shadow forever.
Nor did she want to lie to herself about her feelings.
No matter what insults were thrown her way, she would patiently endure.
Isn’t it a small price to pay for a commoner to have an unsuitable love?
But Elsi’s actions far surpassed Emma’s imagination.
“Calculate everything for me.”
That was the first thing Elsi said after taking Emma out.
Before that, they hadn’t exchanged a single word. Not even the most mundane greetings had been offered.
In the long silence, Emma’s tension reached its peak.
Could it be that she was given a chance to apologize first?
Nobles dislike arguing with commoners. It primarily affects their appearance.
So they sometimes offered a “merciful” option to commoners to preserve their pride.
To confess one’s sins and wait for the noble’s leniency.
Then most nobles would forgive the commoner’s sins with just a generous disposition. This was partly for the sake of their dignity, and partly because it avoided unnecessary trouble.
To think they would have to get their hands dirty over just one commoner.
It was a waste and an inefficient choice.
In just a few minutes, Emma’s hands became damp with cold sweat.
It was not an exaggeration to say that a commoner’s life was dependent on a noble’s mood.
Experiences and instincts amassed since childhood constantly urged Emma.
She could kneel at any moment.
Why was Elsi leading Emma into the city? If she were to apologize in such a crowded place, she would have no choice but to forgive Emma for the sake of her family’s honor.
Yes, that was the right choice.
Yet Emma couldn’t bring herself to speak.
The thought of a life without I-an brought tears to her eyes just at the imagination.
It was then that Elsi stepped into a luxurious clothing store.
At first, Emma thought she might just be made to run errands, but Elsi merely reached for whatever clothing she found.
Most were sizes far too large for Elsi’s frame. Emma could only watch in a daze as Elsi picked items out.
Then came those words.
“Calculate everything for me.”
Emma, hesitant about the intention behind that request, was struck by a thunderous sound.
“Which person should I tailor it to?”
“Her.”
The person Elsi casually pointed to was none other than Emma herself.
Being in such an upscale store for the first time, Emma couldn’t even comprehend that conversation. In the midst of her confusion, as a tailor came with a measuring tape, she unwittingly entrusted her body to him.
Elsi gave the clerk an amount that presumably covered the clothing expenses.
A platinum coin, worth a staggering 100 gold.
As soon as Emma witnessed that noble shine, she was jolted back to reality.
It felt like currency from another world had appeared unexpectedly.
Instinctively, Emma shook her head in refusal.
“L-Lady Rainelle! These clothes are too much for me…”
“That’s for me to decide.”
The tone was firm.
In her voice lay a unique arrogance and confidence typical of nobles. No matter what a commoner thought, Elsi was convinced that her decision was absolutely correct.
In the end, Emma had no choice but to remain silent.
The clothes Elsi chose were all luxurious. Not only the styles, but even the fabric seemed different.
Emma had barely bought any clothes in the city.
She didn’t have the luxury to go to the city when she struggled just to cover food expenses. The only decent clothes she had were the academy uniforms distributed to commoners at enrollment.
Even those she had been saving to wear.
She couldn’t believe she was suddenly receiving bespoke clothing as a gift.
Was this some plan to burden her with an unmanageable debt?
But Elsi didn’t seem to care about the expense of 100 gold coins at all.
“Just make sure it fits well enough, and when it’s done, send it to the dormitory.”
“Yes, understood.”
After that, Elsi continued her strange behavior.
She took Emma to an expensive restaurant, bought her rare alchemical materials.
By the end of the day, they were sitting side by side on a bench, drinking beverages.
Emma found her behavior utterly incomprehensible.
It was her first taste of luxury, but not knowing the reason made Emma uncomfortable.
When she had a meal costing over 1 gold, it felt like her stomach froze, and when she received rare magical materials, she was left nervously guessing how to respond.
It was the same even now.
While sipping the expensive drink, she couldn’t savor the taste at all.
She was too busy contemplating what Elsi’s intentions were.
But no matter how much she wracked her brain, she couldn’t come up with a satisfying answer.
Unable to hold back any longer, Emma carefully decided to speak.
“Um, Lady Rainelle…”
“Yes? What is it?”
Sipping her drink through a straw as though it were usual, Elsi turned her blue eyes towards Emma.
Her expression was still inscrutable.
Sitting on an excessively large chair for her small frame, with her legs stretched out, she resembled a girl out on a day trip.
What nonsense it was.
Why would Elsi, of all people, come out on an outing with a commoner?
Emma tried hard to suppress her anxious feelings and asked in a timid voice.
“Why did you call for me…?”
That was the signal.
Elsi’s expression stiffened again, and at that moment, Emma’s heart sank.
Did she make a mistake?
As Emma hesitated, Elsi began to sigh and groan hesitantly.
After what felt like a long time.
Elsi finally, seemingly resolved, asked in a low voice.
“Hey, commoner. You’ve been close with the master lately, haven’t you?”
It was as expected.
Emma felt relieved even at Elsi’s cold tone. Now, it seemed she could finally present the answer she had been preparing.
She was already ready for this.
With a determined face, Emma nodded.
“Yes.”
Though it was just a single syllable, there was a strong conviction in her answer.
A declaration that she wouldn’t back down no matter the external pressure.
Confronted with that, Elsi began to chew on her lip.
She hesitated again, finally managing to utter.
“…How?”
In that instant, Emma’s mind went completely blank.
How, you ask?
Even Emma didn’t know. She had kissed him when she least expected it, and ever since, she had been living with a feeling that felt like a dream every day.
But Elsi looked more desperate than Emma had imagined.
After wetting her lips with moisture, the girl pressed Emma again.
“So, how did you get close? There must have been a trigger! A trigger! Don’t get me wrong?”
And at the same time, her little shoulders puffed up as if trying to act proud.
Though it could hardly overcome her petite size, her intention to show off was well communicated.
Elsi, putting on a brave front, raised her index finger.
“It’s not that my relationship with the master is particularly bad. It’s just… how should I put it? It feels like I can’t get any closer than a certain level. Haha… So, it’s just a bit of a dilemma. Otherwise, I wouldn’t seek advice from a commoner, would I?”
By the time it reached the end, her true feelings were exposed.
Seeking advice from a commoner.
For someone raised as a high-ranking noble like Elsi, that was close to a disgrace.
Suddenly, Emma recalled the expression Elsi had shown today.
That stiff expression and low voice; at first, she thought Elsi was angry.
But that wasn’t it.
Elsi simply wanted to hide her embarrassment.
As soon as Emma realized that, all her previous anxiety faded away as if it were a lie.
On the contrary, she even felt a strange sense of familiarity towards Elsi.
Even if she was a lady of the Rainelle Clan, a woman was still a woman.
Suffering in love was the same for both Emma and Elsi.
So, without meaning to, Emma burst into laughter.
It was a rudeness unimaginable under ordinary circumstances.
She herself was surprised and felt the need to gauge the situation again. Yet, Elsi didn’t seem particularly angry.
She simply trembled as she couldn’t overcome her embarrassment.
“D-Don’t laugh…?”
“N-No! How could I laugh in front of Lady Rainelle… I just remembered having similar worries before.”
Oh no, Emma thought she had made another mistake.
To say she had experienced “similar worries” in front of a proud noble.
If Elsi were to get angry, she would have no way to respond.
That was how nobles were.
Selfish and uncontrollable beings.
However, surprisingly, Elsi didn’t blame Emma. Instead, her eyes shimmered with interest.
“Similar worries?”
“Yes, yes… Until I got close to I-an, I had many worries.”
Emma instinctively felt how to phrase her words so as not to offend Elsi’s feelings and to guide her intentions.
Living as a commoner in the Academy was no easy thing.
That long experience was now opening paths for Emma.
Elsi made a strange sound as she lowered her voice.
“Then, can you help me?”
“Huh? How could I dare to assist Lady Rainelle…?”
“You said you wanted to be a concubine.”
Elsi casually threw that phrase, not even considering it might be an insult.
And it was indeed a fact.
When a noble and a commoner paired up, the commoner usually became the concubine. Only nobles could become wives.
Emma was well aware of this, so she wasn’t particularly hurt.
“Do you know how hard it is to be a concubine? The main wife’s scrutiny is not to be taken lightly… But what if I become the main wife?”
Honestly speaking, it wasn’t a very realistic scenario.
Marriage felt like something far off in the future for Emma.
But the expression on Elsi’s face indicated that she was dead serious. She truly intended to compete for the position of I-an’s wife.
Emma had no choice but to smile awkwardly.
Noble life certainly sounded exhausting.
That was all she could feel about it.
“I don’t do this just because I think you’re pretty. It’s just that if you want to stay by the master’s side… you have to get used to the dignity of nobles. I believe the clothes I bought you today have that significance. Take off that shabby uniform.”
“Ah, yes. Yes! I’ll keep that in mind….”
Though Emma hesitated, she nodded her head.
Deep down, she felt embarrassed by Elsi’s point.
The dignity of nobles; upon reflection, I-an was also a noble.
He would certainly care about honor and dignity.
Yet the girl trailing behind him went around starving and dressed in rags.
Others might have pointed fingers at her.
Emma found herself somewhat gloomy and lowered her head slightly.
Seeing that, Elsi clicked her tongue.
“Be careful from now on. I might let it slide sometimes, but….”
Pretending not to show it, she meant to help Emma.
Even though Emma hadn’t yet agreed to Elsi’s proposal.
After talking for a while, Emma thought.
Maybe she had misunderstood Elsi.
Being someone who led a group, Elsi was surprisingly easy-going and had pleasant social skills. At least she wasn’t the type to pick on the tiniest flaws of her own people.
As her assessment changed, so did Emma’s attitude naturally lighten.
By the end, they even came to the point of exchanging playful banter.
“What if I end up having a good atmosphere with I-an first….”
“Hey.”
It was then.
Boom! Suddenly, Emma found herself leaning back awkwardly. Without realizing what had happened, she was now face to face with Elsi.
Elsi was smiling.
Yes, at least her lips were forming a curve.
But the light was absent from her eyes.
“Don’t cross the line? You’re the concubine, and I’m the main wife. Let’s make this clear.”
In the end, Emma had no choice but to respond, teary-eyed.
“Yes, yes….”
Nobles were indeed intimidating.
Especially Elsi Rainelle.
That day, a new alliance was born.
A peculiar combination of an arrogant noble and an understanding commoner.
