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Cecil Soladin.

If I had to summarize this character in one word, it would be “cancerous.”

The kind that uses their status and power to bully others, only to be taken down later, bringing a sense of satisfaction.

Why?

Because their personality is trash.

Maybe it’s because they lost everything to the First Prince and lived, but their possessiveness is off the charts. And because they were constantly compared in terms of intellect to their younger sibling, they have a complex about knowledge, even though they pretend not to. On top of that, their belief in might makes right is so severe; they always argue that military officials are superior to civil officials. They often bring up the saying that fists are closer than laws. They are the epitome of preying on the weak and respecting the strong. Ordinary nobles might do this, but a prince acting like this is commonplace for him.

When you embark on the personal story of a noble NPC, Cecil appears as an obstacle in most cases. But once you dive into the personal stories related to the Third Prince or the First Prince, he becomes the main enemy. If you help him repent through his personal story, he becomes a somewhat decent human, but until then, he’s closer to a beast than a person. Due to the countless blunders he commits, his nickname among users was “Idiot Prince.” In fact, the word “Prince” was rarely attached to it. You can tell how he was evaluated by the fact that simply posting Cecil’s picture behind the title “Idiot” on the bulletin board would routinely get upvotes.

Personally, I didn’t dislike the character. After all, his strength was incredible. Who cares about his personality or his terrible actions? From a user’s perspective, character performance was everything.

But it’s different when the game becomes reality. In reality, personality comes before performance. When he was a madman behind the monitor, it didn’t matter how much he acted out, as I could just ignore him. But not anymore. If this bastard throws a tantrum, the impact is direct. Moreover, my situation is even more complicated. Based on past precedents, the Mesugaki skill will undoubtedly call Cecil the “Idiot Prince.” How will Cecil react when he hears that? He won’t react well. If he were a great person who could laugh it off, he wouldn’t have been called an idiot in the first place!

“I am speaking to you because I have taken notice of your talent.”

What should I do? How can I escape this situation?

While Cecil is rambling with his self-admiration, let me think. Firstly, speaking is out of the question. No matter how carefully I speak, the Mesugaki skill will definitely utter the word “idiot.” That’s based on my experience dealing with Arthur.

“The fact that you, who carries the bloodline of the great Alrun Family, possess such martial prowess that it is insufficient to command the continent, and that your brain surpasses that of your own younger brother, how can I not notice such talent?”

I appreciate the compliments, but I don’t want to be involved with you at all, you know? If I keep you by my side, I’ll definitely be called the Idiot Prince, and I want to avoid such a disaster! So, please, don’t tell me to be your subordinate!

“Therefore, I offer you a proposal. Do you have any intention of coming under me?”

Gyaaaak!

I’m doomed! Absolutely doomed!

<Yeo-a. Why are you like that?>

Perhaps sensing the rolling of my eyes, Grandpa asked in a soft voice. Ah, right! Grandpa was here.

‘Grandpa. Help. Help!’

<What is it.>

‘You know my blessing doesn’t address people by name, right?! This Prince is about to call me an idiot! How can I keep my mouth shut and get away?!’

If Agra was the one forcing cards on me, I could somehow escape using my game knowledge, but this is impossible from my current perspective! I really don’t want my head to be chopped off for treason!

<That’s quite a predicament.>

As I asked urgently, Grandpa replied in a leisurely tone, as if it were someone else’s problem.

This is not the time! I’m in a hurry here! Answer! Quickly!

<Yeo-a. Is it okay to earn his hatred?>

‘No problem!’

Actually, it would be better to earn his hatred. That way, he won’t try to involve himself with me. If it means avoiding the disaster of being called the Idiot Prince, I’ll gladly earn his hatred!

<Then, just keep quiet, give a greeting, and leave. Ignore him even if he grabs you from behind.>

‘Can I really do that?’

<It's fine. If you act that way, he will misunderstand your intentions on his own.>

Huh? What does that mean? You’re saying he’ll misunderstand on his own?

It was difficult to understand, but nothing Grandpa had said so far had been wrong. I bowed my head to Cecil, who was extending his hand, and turned my back. Does this look like a firm rejection?

“Hey!”

As soon as I took a step, Cecil reached out his hand from behind, but avoiding him wasn’t difficult. The Iron Wall skill warned me of the danger, so all I had to do was avoid him. Ignoring Cecil’s shouts from behind, I pushed through the crowd and fled quickly. He won’t follow me, right? Please, just give up on me! Do you really need to have a bad-tempered Mesugaki under you? You Masochistic Prince!

***

“How audacious.”

Cecil, who had been openly rejected in front of many students, looked at his empty hand and clenched his fist.

“Hm? Quite audacious.”

He had already expected to be rejected. Cecil was well aware of Lucy Alrun’s temper. Would someone who committed disrespect even in front of her father be mindful of his eyes? She’s someone who acts as if she owns the world, not looking out for anyone. She wouldn’t even consider going under someone else. He had expected it, but he couldn’t help but get angry. If an ordinary person had rejected him like this, Cecil would have flown into a rage. “How dare someone like you refuse my proposal!” But Lucy Alrun was different. To Cecil, who divides everything in the world into strong and weak, Lucy Alrun, with her incredible martial talent, was someone worthy of respect. Even if his insides are boiling from the humiliation in front of so many people, it was worth enduring.

“Holden.”

Cecil, gritting his teeth in displeasure, left the square and reached a place where no one else’s gaze could reach him before calling out to his subordinate.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What do you think about Lucy Alrun’s reaction?”

Holden, who had the highest strategic insight among Cecil’s subordinates, didn’t answer immediately to Cecil’s question, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

“I don’t think it’s completely negative.”

“Why? I was humiliated in front of everyone.”

“Because she is Lucy Alrun.”

If an ordinary person had refused with silence, it would signify decisiveness. However, Lucy Alrun is not an ordinary person. She’s a person who speaks her mind no matter who is in front of her. If she truly disliked Cecil’s offer, she would have spat out venom without hesitation. The fact that she remained silent and showed courtesy meant she acknowledged Cecil to some extent.

“It’s evident from the fact that she called the Third Prince the ‘Pitiful Prince.’ She’s not someone who keeps complaints to herself.”

As Holden explained this conjecture, Cecil raised one eyebrow.

“Did Lucy Alrun consider that?”

“If she were the simple delinquent she used to be, perhaps. But the current Lucy Alrun, who has proven her intellect, is capable of such things.”

Indeed. It’s persuasive. Cecil, pleased with his subordinate’s sweet words, nodded and urged him to continue.

“Let’s say what you say is true. Then why did she leave in silence?”

“Isn’t it a request for time to think? She asked for a postponement, not a refusal.”

Ask for time to think? Weighing herself against someone else? It’s an act of utter audacity, but Lucy Alrun has the right to do so. Her talent is like the stars after all.

“Good. Then I guess I’ll have to wait a while.”

However, my patience is not that long. Lucy Alrun. You must make your decision quickly. Otherwise, this messenger will come to claim you as prey.

***

Fortunately, Cecil did not pursue me after that. As expected of Grandpa-emong! He’s so reliable for this kind of thing! If only he nagged less, he’d be much better! Having managed to overcome a great crisis, I headed to the training ground to find Joy and Frey, but only Frey was there. What? Did Joy also oversleep today like me? When I curiously asked Frey about it, he replied that she came here with Arthur and then headed somewhere else.

“She said she was going to compare exam papers.”

Exam papers? The exam scores are already out, so what’s the point of comparing them? Is something strange going on? It’s possible. Joy took second place in the Academy exam. The Idiot Young Lady I know is a fool who makes ridiculous mistakes and usually ranks from 9th to 10th. She’s not a meticulous person capable of ranking second. Arthur must have brought Joy along with a similar thought, right? I was curious how Joy got second place anyway, so it worked out well. Driven by curiosity, I bid farewell to Frey and went searching for the two of them. After asking around for about ten minutes, I heard Arthur’s voice in shock, “You’re telling me you scored higher than me on a test like this?!”

“I made a mistake here! And here! And this entire calculation is wrong!”

“Uh, is that so?”

“It’s not ‘is that so,’ Idiot Young Lady!”

“Then what is it? We have the same total score.”

“Ugh. Uggggh!”

Why is Arthur so worked up? As I approached, puzzled, Joy, unusually cheerful, greeted me.

“Young Lady Alrun. Did you see? I came in second place in the Academy exam.”

‘I saw. It was surprising.’

“I saw. For the idiot, idiot young lady to come in second. What kind of losers are the people below her?”

It wasn’t Joy, but Arthur who reacted to the Mesugaki’s translation. With his face flushed and teeth clenched, he fully displayed his anger.

‘Arthur. Why are you so angry?’

“Pitiful Prince. Are you feeling inferior? It’s understandable since you lost to an idiot young lady. Heheh. Loser~ Nerd~”

“Shut up. Lucy Alrun! I cannot accept this defeat! How can this idiot, who has made so many idiotic mistakes, be the one to have me defeated!”

Huh? What is this? I thought she got second place because she made fewer idiotic mistakes? No, that’s strange. How did the Idiot Young Lady get second place when she acted so idiotically? As I tilted my head, Joy, who had been smiling at Arthur’s outburst, said,

“It’s all thanks to you, Young Lady Alrun.”

Thanks to me? Why? Can you explain it so I can understand?

 

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