The Defeated Heroine I Married Cannot Forget The Protagonist

༺ 𓆩 Chapter 9 𓆪 ༻ 

「Translator — Creator」

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

At Lumeris Academy, power dictated the hierarchy.

Unless one hailed from royalty or wielded the formidable backing of a ducal family, weakness alone could relegate you to scorn.

In this regard, Yuren had risen to become a celebrity.

His status was intimidating — the top student of the Swordsmanship Department and the eldest son of a Duke's family.

His beauty — often remarked as surpassing even the academy’s fairest maidens — cemented his reputation. Once, his kindness had been cited as another virtue — a patronizing footnote, like muttering, “Spineless and naive, but at least the boy’s gentle.”

Though now, nobody thought of him that way anymore.

"Look over here, please! Just once!"

"Kyaaah! What should I do! It's my first time seeing him in person!"

The banquet hall stood empty of Headmaster Celes and the professors.

Lumeris Academy actively encouraged fellowship among its students.

Thus, each year, they rushed through the entrance ceremony, leaving the remaining time for students to build relationships; they left only the freshmen in the banquet hall while the faculty departed.

Some students welcomed this system, while others did not.

While there were outgoing and sociable students,

There were also quiet and timid ones.

Over there, individuals of high status or exceptional ability, like Yuren Stardust, basked in the praise of countless students.

It was only natural for crowds to gather around such figures.

"Holy Maiden! It's such an honor to meet you!"

"Do you remember me? I'm Rim from the Viscountess Sheilin's family. Thank you so much for healing my illness three years ago!"

Shirai was no exception.

She garnered even more attention than Judith, who shared a similar position.

In the world, there were two ducal families, and counting heads, there were over ten people with ducal status.

But there was only one Holy Maiden; the value of such rarity operated on a different level, so it was natural that more people flocked to Shirai.

'How consistent.'

Then and now, I remained the inconsequential bystander.

Standing isolated at the banquet hall’s periphery, I wondered what onlookers might think. Not that they’d notice. I wasn’t this world’s protagonist after all.

"Yuren, you're having fun surrounded by all these girls, aren't you?"

“I—I’m sorry. I wasn’t moving, but they just... swarmed.”

They really looked like characters from a romantic comedy manga.

Yuren and Judith.

Whispers of their recent engagement — unconfirmed, yet pervasive — lingered.

"..............."

During the month after turning back time, I’d pondered endlessly.

Had I torn up the Regression Tome needlessly?

Could words have resolved this?

But seeing how happy they were together, I had to acknowledge it.

That I’d been the irredeemable interloper.

They were undeniably a well-matched pair.

So much so that it felt like this was how things were meant to be.

Judith was far happier now than she had ever been with me.

Looking back,

The Stardust and Moondust families had always maintained close ties.

In the game, Judith’s route was the simplest precisely because they were childhood friends. ‘As long as you’re happy.’ At least tearing up the Regression Tome had been worth it.

Live well and be happy, my beloved heroine.

𓆩♱𓆪

I fell into deep thought while pulling out the student ID from my pocket.

Lumeris Academy was so ruthlessly meritocratic that even our class rankings were stamped beside our names. Mine, glaringly, read [Class-C].

Sia Stella in Class-C?

She was someone who would revive at the last place she slept, no matter how many times she died.

Install an underwater prison at her revival point to make her drown repeatedly? Her revival location would change automatically even without her conscious effort.

A cheat-like ability, yet she was relegated to Class-C?

I could understand Shirai's case since she was blind, but had Headmaster Celes become this gullible?

Muse was nowhere to be seen — perhaps skipping the entrance ceremony — and Sia had vanished immediately after it ended.

The social gathering was still ongoing.

There wouldn't be any issues leaving the banquet hall after the entrance ceremony. Probably.

Wandering near the fountain, breathing fresh air, beat being trapped in that sweltering crowd.

"There are only two Class-A students among the freshmen this year."

"Only two? How lacking in talent must they be? The second years have three!"

"The academy's future looks bleak. So bleak."

"Kekek. We've got something to tease the first years about."

"What did they do wrong to deserve being teased?"

"I just don't like how they look. Too many handsome ones."

"Weren't they called the Golden Generation when the first-year roster was released?"

"For good reason. Duke's son Yuren, Duke's daughter Judith, Holy Maiden Shirai, the owner of Frey Trading Company, and that genius mage too. All those amazing people happened to be the same age."

"Then why are there only two in Class-A?"

"They must've taken the red pill after seeing their real abilities. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen frauds exposed."

Had rumors spread already? They sure travel fast.

Even my head's spinning from these unexpected changes.

Only two in Class A? Were this year’s freshmen that incompetent?

I understand why they think the first years are trash.

The original five Class-A first-years reduced to just two.

Still, I doubted it would derail the overarching plot.

Celes already knows Sia was Class A material. Otherwise, she wouldn't tolerate a delinquent student who not only arrives late but speaks informally without even apologizing.

It was clear that Headmaster Celes overlooked Sia Stella's transgressions because she considered her a talent that couldn't be lost.

The same went for Shirai and Muse.

While students might dismiss them as overrated, Headmaster Celeste knew their true worth.

The proof was in how Shirai and Muse were in Class-A during the previous iteration.

After all, Shirai had confessed long ago — “I was supposed to be in Class-A, but I chose-C.”

Moreover, the first-year Swordsmanship Department top seat, Yuren Stardust, and the first-year Magic Department top seat, Elfin de Hertha, remained strong as ever.

Therefore, the possibility of the first years' standing diminishing was zero.

Unless Headmaster Celes had developed dementia, this incident wouldn't alter the flow of the scenario.

After all, she still considered this year's first years to be the Golden Generation.

So there was probably no need to think too deeply about it.

The reason for the change in Class A's composition from five members?

With no evidence at present, only one possibility came to mind.

"Hey there!"

"?"

Cat-like fangs that some found annoying and others found cute. Hands hidden behind her back, like a girl playing coy. While her front bangs were neat, she had what people called "twisted bread" braids resting evenly on both shoulders.

Could that even be considered twin tails?

A tomboy-ish impression full of mischief, snow-white skin, and golden hair far more vivid than an alchemy failure like me.

Sky-blue eyes that held a hint of madness.

Though not quite at the level of a heroine, she was still quite beautiful.

"You're a first-year, right?"

With a bright expression showing her fangs,

"I heard your year is historically low-level? Amazing."

She was Niphia Solaris, the Third Imperial Princess.

𓆩♱𓆪

Niphia Solaris.

A sub-heroine from Romance at the Academy.

This tomboyish princess's trauma keyword was rebellion — not something like overthrowing the imperial family, but surpassing her elder sisters, the First and Second Princesses, both brilliant and backed by vast support. Her goal, in essence, was to seize the imperial throne.

"Why aren't you enjoying the social gathering as a freshman?"

Niphia was already sneering as she spoke.

Covering her mouth with her left hand; deliberately spreading her fingers to show her mocking smile.

Every single gesture was calculated to provoke me further.

"Don't tell me you came out because you have no friends to play with? You don't look like someone who should be wandering around alone."

"You flatter me, Your Highness."

Calmness was key when dealing with Princess Niphia.

Keep answers short. Let your tongue slip, and she’d pounce.

"Honestly, don't you think this year's freshmen are trash too? You can be honest since I won't tell anyone."

Princess Niphia draped herself over my shoulder, pretending to be friendly.

This was the most dangerous moment.

"I won't tell your classmates, okay? It'll be our little secret. Isn't it romantic, like something from a comic?"

The sweet fragrance of a young woman assaulted my nose as she pressed close. Cleavage subtly visible through her partially unbuttoned shirt.

This was her technique – getting physically close to lower male students' guards, encouraging them to treat her as an equal once they dropped their defenses.

"Call me Senior Niphia. Casually."

This was Princess Niphia's crude hobby.

"How curious."

"Hmm?"

"With so many people around, it's strange that no one seems alarmed by Princess Niphia getting so close to a commoner like me."

One must never forget the overwhelming difference in status just because Princess Niphia approaches familiarly.

If I actually called the noble Third Imperial Princess 'senior'? Every student here would become a witness, turning the rest of my academy life into hell.

"Hmm~"

The right hand she'd kept hidden behind her back since approaching — something that had bothered me — finally came forward.

"Ta-da!"

A recording device whirred in her palm.

“Look what slithered in—a snake.”

"You flatter me."

"How is being called a snake flattery?"

"What greater honor could there be than receiving any evaluation from Princess Niphia? Whatever you compare me to is equally a reward."

Princess Niphia's weakness — natural flattery.

"..............."

Silence hung.

Then her gaze raked over me — head to toe — slow, assessing.

A peculiar tension thickened the air—until Niphia’s cherry-red lips parted.

“I want to break you.”

...?

For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard.

"Kneel down right here and say, 'I am Princess Niphia's dog.'"

Demanding I degrade myself—here, in front of everyone?

"............"

I clung to composure, but her audacity defied restraint.

"Why should I?"

I brushed back my hair, only to sweep it up again.

Princess Niphia's following response had crossed a line.

"If our junior puts on airs here, your classmates might have a really hard time later, you know?"

I understood what she meant.

In this meritocratic academy, having only two students in Class-A...

She seemed to be suggesting she'd use this to diminish the first years' standing.

'As if that would work.'

Look at the first-year lineup.

You might dismiss them as overrated, but they're truly in a different league.

"I refuse."

The words snapped out.

I stepped past her, heading toward the banquet hall.

What could a princess do? Yuren Stardust, top swordsman, and Elfin de Hertha, the genius mage, anchored our year.

Niphia, with her scant influence, couldn’t topple that.

Or so I thought.

I was gravely mistaken. My naivety knew no bounds.

Yuren Stardust and Elfin de Hertha could have withstood Niphia’s pressure. My assumption wasn’t wrong — but I’d overlooked a critical variable.

END of CHAPTER

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