“…I’m sorry, because of me, even Lithia got reprimanded.”

Under the tree with falling petals, Geo apologized to Lithia, seemingly depressed.

Even though he just wanted his friend to appreciate the beauty of her white and gold colors, the security officer patrolling the dormitory grounds spotted them. As a result, they were reprimanded for altering the tree without permission. They, because Lithia, who simply watched and didn’t stop Geo, was also considered guilty.

“It’s all right. Even if I could turn back time, I still wouldn’t stop you. Therefore, it’s a joint-responsibility.”

Luckily, Lithia didn’t seem to particularly mind. As a side note, she was still holding the flower she’d caught earlier.

“Is there anything I can do to make up for it?”

“There’s no need—no, actually… In that case, I have a request for you.”

“—I’ll do whatever it takes! Of course, as long as it’s within my capability. Well, even if it isn’t, I’ll still do my utmost!”

“This is something that only you can do.”

Even if he wanted to make up for it, Geo doubted that a commoner like him would be of use to a noble lady like Lithia.

However, Lithia had a different idea. Geo was suddenly filled with motivation.

“You… You seem to be okay with me. You can even bear looking at me from up close and remain by my side…”

“What are you talking about? ‘Okay’, as in, my physical condition, or? Either way, there’s no way I’m okay!”

“Huh? I-I see… As I thought, I apologize for jumping into conclusion—”

“—Exactly. I’m far from okay because I’ve never been this excited in my whole life. Yesterday, I was in shock because I thought I’d met a Moon Fairy. Today, I found out said Moon Fairy was human all along! Talk about the biggest shock of my life! Right now, I’m having a conversation with a girl who’s as beautiful and cute as a moon fairy. My heart is thumping wildly, it’s driving me insane!”

“Huh!?”

Geo’s joy was short-lived. When he saw how shocked Lithia became, he thought he had disappointed her somehow and became crestfallen.

After all, him acting casual when he was with Lithia was impossible. Whenever he was with her, he’d feel uplifted and happy for no reason. As a result, he couldn’t help but be self-conscious.

“I may look calm, but that’s not the case at all. Before I was enrolled in the academy, a friend of mine once told me, ‘You aren’t the type to show what you think on your face—you’re the type to blabber it out loud.’”

“I-I see, so that’s what your friend said…”

“So, if the requirement for this apology is for me to remain calm in front of you, that’ll be quite a challenge—or maybe even impossible. Of course, I’ll try, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to do it.”

It’d be an endless journey. By the time he might have managed to pull it off, his life might be near its completion.

“No, uhm, that’s not it. As long as you’re okay with it—as long as you don’t loathe the sight of me, everything is fine. Actually, it’s about next week…”

Lithia went on, but Geo felt a sense of hopelessness when she casually said that the deadline was next week.

—Next week? I have to get accustomed to her by next week? How about by my next life?

“I want you to be my partner in dance class next week!”

“What?”

Your dance partner.

…That thing where a man and a woman held hands and spent time together in close proximity?

At the unexpected request, Geo was… visibly unfazed, yet his joy soared through into Heaven.

◆◆◆

Among the textbooks provided to him, there was a book for dance class. After making a promise with Lithia, Geo cast aside all his other studies and drilled the contents of the dance textbook into his head. Even during lessons, he’d be reviewing his steps.

Despite knowing it was just an apology, he couldn’t help but feel excited. After all, he had the honor of being the dance partner of the prettiest girl in the academy! He was the luckiest man ever!

He was really looking forward to it!

Thus, the day of the dance class arrived.

“Hey, you! Did you hear me!? Let go of her hand!”

“Huh? Don’t wanna.”

When Geo held the hand of a person as angelic as Lithia, he felt like he was about to grow a pair of wings and soar to Heaven as well. But suddenly, a guy tried to insert himself between them and Geo was on alert.

“Where did you come from? I promised to be her partner today. Please don’t bother us?”

Geo was unfazed. In fact, he’d expected such.

Other male students who wanted to dance with Lithia would try to interrupt them. Afterwards, they’d get impatient and try to forcefully separate the two.

This senior is one of them.

However, Geo had promised Lithia that he’d be her partner until the end. Of course, even without that, he had no intention of surrendering his role.

“I’m not. Like I said, I feel sorry for you. Now, you don’t have to deal with that ugly hag anymore. I’ll do it for you.”

“? Wrong person.”

Geo was about to do his damnedest to hold on to his position, but the senior’s words threw him for a loop.

Maybe he just mistook her for someone else.

Although Geo was a bit concerned about the senior, considering how rude he was, Geo didn’t feel the need to be considerate.

“You—! What are you talking about…! Of course I’m referring to you! Who else would it be!”

“You got the wrong guy. To be invited by the prettiest girl in school, I’m the luckiest man ever. As for this ‘ugly hag’, who’re you referring to…? Also, why are you feeling sorry for me…?”

This senior—or rather, his eyes—have serious issues…

Geo was beginning to entertain the possibility that the upperclassman was hallucinating.

However, considering that the senior was enrolled in such a prestigious academy, his status was probably high. As proven by the fact that he was accompanied by two seemingly high-ranking noble ladies.

Even if the senior indeed was hallucinating, the other students might not dare to point it out.

“You, you dare behave in such a way to me—!?”

But Geo had no reason to act like the other students.

“Pardon me, Your Highness, thank you for your concern. As you can see, this guy is a bit special. But as he doesn’t seem to feel burdened with the role of being my dance partner, please let this matter go…”

“!”

However, just as Geo was about to retort, Lydia spoke to the senior herself.

The senior who was about to grab Geo by his collar fell silent for a while, visibly taken aback.

“…Hmph, is that so? I hope you don’t regret it.”

Is it just me, or was he about to say something?

Nevertheless, the man turned on his heels.

“Eh? Your Highness, please wait! Dance with me!”

“No, with me!”

The senior even left the two young ladies he had brought along to show off.

“I’m sorry, Lithia. You had to cover for me…”

“That’s not true. Geo, you were the one who protected me.”

After the three of them had vanished from his sight, Geo apologized to Lithia. She turned around to face him.

…Instead of protecting her from that delusional man, he was the one who got protected.

“—I’m sure no one has ever pointed out to him that he was hallucinating… Still, I have to admire his confidence. Even though you were right in front of him, he insisted that he was seeing someone else…”

“Hold on.”

The two ladies from before seemed to be quite supportive of that senior. Even when the man left, they were still crying out, ‘Please wait, Your Highness—’

Oh, so his name is ‘His Highness’…

But then, Geo realized that name was somewhat odd.

“Oh, so that’s the prince with the loose screw!”

“Geo, you made another mistake! Hey, why don’t we start over? I’ll teach you!”

So that senior is the prince!

For ten years now, a crazy/ blind prince had been badmouthing Lithia’s appearance.

“…Ah, my bad, I was distracted. Even though you are right in front of me, I was thinking of something else.”

“Y-you don’t have to say that…!”

After all, even though the hindrance was gone, he got distracted and neglected the dance. Talk about putting the cart before the horse.

Immediately shifting his focus to dancing with Lithia, Geo took Lithia’s hand which was slipping away and gripped it firmly once more.

---

***T/N: They thought he’s a commoner… We thought he’s the rare light magic-user… But he’s the [Rizz God] all along.

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