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Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
It was the first day of school after Mikage was assigned as her escort.
On the way to school, Mia was attracting all kinds of attention, but it was different from usual.
Her brother was to her right, as usual, but Mikage was walking with her on her left.
People were looking at them, curious. They were wondering who Mikage was.
Mikage kept her usual expressionless face, regardless of the stares.
Incidentally, Mikage was walking next to Mia because she insisted that she had to do so.
Mia said that it would be better for them to walk beside her. That way, they would be able to deal with attacks from both sides, and she would be able to solidify the front and back.
Upon hearing this, Mikage pondered for a moment, but eventually accepted it and walked next to Mia.
As they walked, the attention of others surrounded them. However, there was no usual ‘attack’ on them on their way to school in the morning.
The fact that Towa was walking next to the two probably had the greatest effect.
Mia would appreciate it if they could always go to and from school together, but that was not possible because there were times when they just couldn’t be together due to school related affairs.
It was for this reason Mikage was assigned as Mia’s escort.
When they arrived at school in the morning, Mia was able to enter the classroom without attracting attention.
In the classroom, classmates who had become good friends with her since she entered the school asked about Mikage. However, Mia dodged the question, saying that the teacher would explain everything to them.
There was no need to hide it. However, she believes it would be better to hear an explanation from an adult teacher rather than from herself.
When the teacher formally introduced Mikage as Mia’s attendant to her classmates during the morning greeting, the atmosphere in the classroom became one of understanding.
Everyone had sensed that it was strange for royalty to be wandering around without an attendant. This was especially true for her classmates who knew about Mia’s recent troubles.
Though, Towa, who had been in school for a year without an escort, at least on the surface. He was in fact the one who was strange to the noble students.
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“Mia-sama, I am surprised. You were given an escort.”
A month had passed since Mia and her classmates entered the school, yet their classmates still haven’t changed their distant attitudes.
In Towa’s class, they were acclimated earlier, but this was not Mia’s fault, but rather because of the troublesome dynamics that were ongoing.
For classmates of the same sex, it was difficult to get close to Mia, who was continuously being courted, even though only less than a month had passed.
The girl who came to talk to her was one of her classmates, who Mia got along somewhat better than the rest.
“Yes. I decided to accept having one after speaking with my Mother, as I thought it would be better that way. I am sorry if this may have offended you.”
Mia said as she glanced at Mikage.
At those words, the classmate in front of her waved her hand as if in a panic.
“No, that’s not it, I was not uncomfortable at all! I was just talking to everyone about what we could do to help when I saw Mia-sama looking confused.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Since you have an escort, our plans would have gone to waste.”
Mia stared at her classmate who said this with a smile. She was trying to determine whether she was being sarcastic or not.
The classmate seemed to be sincerely thinking so.
“Calling it a waste is outrageous. It is enough that everyone has been so thoughtful of me.”
“Oh my! Thank you.”
Mia’s words made not only the classmate, but also some of the people around he,r who were listening in on their conversation, happy.
They, too, had joined the discussion.
Quickly turning her gaze, Mia did not forget to check their expressions.
As the class proceeded peacefully, the situation changed during lunch break.
Mia and Mikage were on their way to the cafeteria to have lunch when a male student stopped them.
The school did not have uniforms, so it was impossible to tell which grade he was in.
Unfortunately, Mia had an idea who the person was.
He was one of those who had been courting her for some time, and he was a student one grade above Mia.
He was a handsome boy, but Mia had never been attracted to him nor his words.
She never developed any feelings for him, and she considered him to be in the same league as the other male students who courted her.
“Please wait, Mia-sama.”
Mia let out a sigh at the sound of his voice, trying not to be seen by those around her. However, Mikage, who was standing nearby, could see her reaction clearly.
Witnessing Mia’s attitude had raised her level of alertness.
“… Yes? I’m about to have lunch, so I’d appreciate it if you could make it quick.”
“Oh, that’s just fine. I’m about to have lunch, too. Let’s have lunch together.”
Mia had no idea why in the world she would want to have lunch with him. She was not the least bit interested.
She knew what his intent was, but she just did not wish it to be so blatant. Thankfully, Mia’s need not worry over this for long since Mikage had made her move.
“I’m sure you don’t have an appointment with Master Mia. When did you have an appointment with her?”
“Who are you?”
The boy frowned at Mikage, who interrupted him.
“I am Mia-sama’s bodyguard.”
“Hmmm… a bodyguard, huh? Don’t interrupt our talk then, escort.”
Mia was curious to know what was going on in that brain of his when the boy said such a thing.
Thanks to Mikage’s presence, Mia seemed to have more time to think things through. It reminded her that it was a bad idea to forcibly inject into their conversation.
“Mikage is my escort, officially recognized by Mother. Are you questioning her assignment as my escort?”
“Ah, no…”
The boy flinched at Mia’s unexpected retort.
Mia did not expect that he was going to flinch at this small rebuff.
“Anyway, I’m going to have dinner with Mikage today. If you don’t have anything else to say to me, farewell.”
Having been turned down in an unprecedented manner, the boy could do nothing but stare in dismay at Mia, who bowed her head and left after saying so.
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“Was that unnecessary?”
Mia shook her head from side to side at Mikage, who asked in a concerned tone without changing her expression.
“It was helpful. Thanks to you, I was able to release some of my frustrations. I also now have a reason to refuse them.”
Thanks to the boy denigrating Mikage as ‘just an escort’, Mia was able to refuse him because she felt uncomfortable with his shallow thoughts.
She had nothing but gratitude for Mikage.
While it was true that she used Mikage as a reason for her refusal, it was also true that Mia was uncomfortable with the boy.
Most of the people who have courted and asked for Mia’s hand have behaved in a way that suggests they looked down on others but Mia.
This was why she did not like to be around them, but Mikage would be a good shield for her from now on.
Later, during the practical training, Mikage demonstrated her ability against the teacher and showed some unexpected brilliance. But that was for another story.
With Mikage by her side, no one dared approach Mia carelessly. Mia’s attitude, which had been rigid for a while, had started to loosen up.
As a result, Mia started being able to have friends like Towa.
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