Chapter 13: The protagonist got rejected!

At the end of class, I tried talking to Maxine again. No luck.

"Just stop. I just want to get through this Academy in peace until I can leave."

"O-okay."

I was about to walk away, accept my defeat with some shred of dignity, when a shrill voice cut through the air like a broken whistle.

"So a commoner like you thinks she’s too good for Libelling Academy… and by extension, for us? Did I hear that right? The audacity of the small-minded is unbelievable."

A girl—blonde, obviously—slid in beside me, jabbing her elbow into my ribs with all the unnecessary force of her presence. She planted herself right in front of Maxine, who was still sitting, bored, like the whole thing couldn’t matter less. Same. I didn’t even know who this NPC was supposed to be.

Three others joined her little tirade, like pathetic shadows stuck to her heels.

"That’s right! You should be grateful they even let you stay here."

Those words…

Déjà vu.

No, wait! Not the time for stupid thoughts!

I know this scene!

It’s exactly the part of the visual novel where Kathryn—me—steps in to help Maxine against one of these idiots. The MC was always torn between interfering or staying quiet, and depending on the route, she leaned on one of the heroes to get the courage to act. After that, Maxine would warm up to her.

"...Can I leave now?" asked Maxine, her voice so cold it made even me shiver. She had that power—the kind of tone that froze a room.

Of course, the wannabe noble wasn’t about to shut up.

"So you can speak—"

"Obviously. But I’m not wasting my breath on the likes of you. Unlike you, I don’t have time for nonsense."

BOOM. Divine-level burn.

The girl pretended to hold her composure, but her eyebrow twitched. The smile plastered on her face was so fake it hurt to look at.

"And what could those oh-so-important matters be? Finding a decent trash can for your food?"

"Maybe. Care to join me, or why are you so obsessed with me?" Maxine rose calmly to her feet.

Everything about her was controlled, restrained elegance. Until the noble laid a hand on her shoulder.

"We’re not done. So I’m not giving you permission to leave. But I can help you find your next meal."

Wait… that line. That look on her face.

If I remember right, this bitch, after seeing her insults bounce off Maxine, threw a drink at her—no clue where she even pulled it from—soaking and humiliating her with one last jab. That’s what triggered the whole sequence. But no way I’m letting that happen. Even if it means breaking the script and losing that bonding moment with Maxine. I refuse to leave her hanging!

So I did what any sane person would do.

"Just leave her alone."

"Oh-oh! So now the Nen joins in? Don’t think that just because Prince Kaelvarion shows you a little interest, it makes you special."

Again with that. Why the hell does everything have to circle back to that idiot?

I need to drop his affinity stat.

And that cheap NPC grin, that wannabe manipulative tone like she’s the protagonist… Ugh, I’d had enough.

"Are you even lis—? Blugh!"

I cut her off without thinking.

I shoved the tip of my tail into her mouth.

It was… insanely satisfying. Her eyes snapped shut like little indignant slits. A masterpiece in the moment.

Didn’t last long, though.

She came back with a furious glare, face burning red with shame and rage.

"Blugh! Blugh!"

"Sorry? I don’t speak dumb. Try again, babes," I mocked, watching her useless attempts to talk.

My tail was still blocking her tongue, which just made her turn even redder. Literally.

Her jaw tightened. Ohh, that stray-dog look—she was about to bite.

Pure logic: I pulled back before she could.

Clack. A sharp crack—the sound of teeth slamming together. Ouch.

"You filthy mutt! How dare you—"

"Blah, blah. Girl, quit it already. You don’t even qualify as a side character. Stop forcing it. You’re just cringe. Shoo-shoo."

I waved my hand like I was shooing away a bug, my tail flicking in clear contempt.

Didn’t work. In one swift, almost reflexive move, the blonde grabbed me by the collar, raising her other hand high. The threat was burning in her eyes, sparking like she was about to explode.

A slap.

But I wasn’t scared. After being hunted by Clementine’s claws and shot at by Carlotta, this? This felt like child’s play. The adrenaline burned warmer than fear.

The second she threw it, I’d block and counter. Three years of kickboxing, honey—get ready.

"You little—! How dare y—?!"

"Enough! That’s enough."

The voice sliced the air like a blade of ice. Sweet, but razor sharp.

We all froze.

I didn’t need to look. The presence behind me was as unmistakable as it was suffocating. Carlotta.

I felt her shadow stretch over my back like a frozen hand. I stayed still. Not out of fear, but instinct. Turning to look at her would’ve been suicide—like locking eyes with a lioness before she pounced.

"B-but…" someone whispered. I couldn’t tell who.

"I said that’s enough."

Her tone was clear as crystal, firm as a queen’s judgment.

"This is a classroom, not some alley full of thugs," she added, calm in a way that stung worse than yelling.

The silence turned into a taut rope ready to snap at the smallest breath.

Carlotta took a single step forward. The click of her heels against the marble was like a gunshot.

"Enough. Grow up. Like it or not," she paused right behind me, "if it’s Director Herz’s decision, there’s nothing we can do. That’s final."

She pointed at both of us with the perfectly polished nail of her index finger.

"And as for you two—show some prudence."

What the hell does that even mean?! We weren’t even doing anything!

Another version of me would’ve shouted that.

Not this one. Not with Carlotta sniffing blood before she even walked into the room.

So I just nodded. Like a champ who knows when to retreat.

I took Maxine gently by the wrist and pulled her out of there with me. In my head, there was only one command left: Ignore Carlotta’s dark aura. IGNORE THE KILLER AURA.

***

"Fuaaaah! Finally! Freedom from all those idiots!"

I shouted with my arms wide open, inhaling the air of the Academy’s secondary courtyard. The place had a small forest off to the side, with tall trees forming a kind of natural bubble. A mini oasis in the middle of marble and the elegant machinery of the campus. A forest inside a school. Weird. But hey, this is a medieval steampunk otome, so… it’s not like I’m that surprised. Extravagance was the daily bread.

I turned to Maxine.
"Just breathe this air. Feels great, right?"

She didn’t answer. She only shook my hand off her wrist, glaring at me with an expression as sharp as glass. Her eyes were clouded with anger, but not blind rage. It was disappointment.

"Why did you help me?" she finally asked, breaking the silence with a voice trembling between suspicion and contempt.

Her frown looked like armor. Her clenched teeth, a trench. And that little twitch in her left eyelid… God, why is she so pissed at me?

I stayed quiet. The breeze rustled the leaves above our heads. A couple of birds flitted by, oblivious to the drama brewing in this hidden clearing.

Okay, I do remember she had a bit of a rough personality, but nothing like this… Maybe it’s because I’m not the real Kathryn. Damn. If you think about it, since I got here I’ve been changing things up, haven’t I? Maybe this is the consequence of me trying to get close to her in my way instead of how the game dictates?

"Why? … Well… I thought you needed help. Y-you know, I get it! Those jerks are real pains for us who got elevated to nobles."

"You get it? What exactly do you get, huh?"

The way she asked sent shivers straight down to the tip of my tail. There was no anger in her tone, but something worse: distrust. I shifted nervously, a stupid smile hanging from my lips.

"Eh… I get what it’s like to be… erm…" I thought about how to phrase it for a few seconds. "I get what it’s like when your parents force you to do something you don’t want!"

That was true. Not about my real parents. But about Kathryn’s. They were greedy and ambitious, so much so that when they discovered they could climb the social ladder if their daughter went to an academy, they didn’t hesitate to force her into it.

Maxine frowned, her face twisting into something between irritation and exhaustion. Her eyes, once cold and distant, now felt like they were cutting me down.

"Force? What the hell are you talking about?"

…Ugh… I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that detail.

"You think I’m some kind of victim whose parents dragged her here? Look… I don’t know who you are or what you think, but I’m here because I chose to be. I love my parents a lot, and if it’s for them, I don’t mind putting up with this crap."

"Still, it’s not right that—"

"Stop! Seriously, I don’t know what you’ve got against your parents, but mine didn’t force me. I chose to come. And now, thanks to you, things are going to get way more complicated! I just had to put up with those jerks a little longer and eventually they would’ve gotten bored. But now? Thanks to you, my life’s going to be a living hell."

Her words hit me like ice water. My voice died in my throat.

T-That’s not right, that’s not how the story went in the game… or was it? Maybe I actually fell asleep and now I’m just remembering random stuff. A mix of my dream and the actual story?

I-if that’s true… then I just screwed everything up.

"…Was I wrong? I… I only wanted to help."

"Argh," she groaned, looking away. "Look, I know you didn’t mean any harm. I get that. But stay out of my life. I don’t know you. I’ve barely said two words to you. From an objective point of view, we’re nothing more than strangers. We’re nothing."

"Well… that’s true. But it doesn’t mean—"

Once again, Maxine cut me off.

"So honestly, I find your attention on me creepy. You act like you know me, like you care about me. What, are you some kind of stalker? You disgust me."

Disgust. Stalker.

Those words set something off inside me. A hollow emptiness in my stomach.

I looked down instinctively, which was a mistake. Maxine took my silence and posture as proof she was right.

"See? I figured you out. I know what you are."

I lifted my eyes a little, and there they were—her cold eyes.

Eyes so distant. So void of warmth… just like… just like…

A face appeared in my mind.

A twelve-year-old girl, who, despite being a child, made me feel so… small.

Her… What the hell is she doing here?

I thought I had forgotten her a long time ago.

But a tide of memories came crashing back, flooding the dark place inside me.

Screams, tears. Anxiety. Fear.

All those sensations from back then hit me again. Feelings I’d have preferred to leave buried in the deepest, darkest corners of my mind.

She was surrounded by a black mist, so thick I couldn’t see her face. But I didn’t need to. I already knew her expression.

The only thing visible on that twelve-year-old girl were her lips. Moving slowly, almost savoring the words.

"You disgust me, Julia."

My legs gave out, dropping the weight of my body to the ground.

My chest hurt. I couldn’t breathe.

"Now, please leave me alone."

She turned, giving me her back. Her hair swayed with each step that took her further away. And I… I just stayed there. Alone. Clenching my fists, forcing a broken smile to stop the tears. I couldn’t cry. I shouldn’t.

"Thanks… and goodbye," were the last words she left me.

And even though her footsteps faded, her words stayed. Like a silent echo in my chest.