Lindblum University Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

After finally finishing the noble name list for preparation, Garnet sighed in relief.
"Are you tired?"
Jader asked with concern.
"No, I am fine."
Garnet beamed.
"Because of you most of my work are done. Thank you."
"No, my wish is to assist you as much as your command."
"You were very helpful. I appreciate it."
The smile that belonged to the most beautiful royalty was glimmering more than the finest jewelries themselves.
........No one would not fall for it.
Suddenly.
"Queen Garnet."
Jader called with a sombre expression.
"Yes."
Garnet tilted her head, listening.
"If you wish,"
He paused to observe her bewildered face.
"I would like be the one to assist you the most, from now on."
Garnet could not quite grasp the meaning of those words for a while.

* * *

This type of news always goes around in an eminent efficiency.
As Alexandria was still making decisions about it, the news was already all over Lindblum.
The Lindblum reporter surrounded the castle in order to get the latest scoop.
It was of course, the thief that flinched when the youthful girls gossiped around the marriage subject.
"The Queen's wedding would be so fantastic!"
"Isn't the groom a noble?"
"Yes yes. He was born in a famous noble family. According to my father, the groom was one of the farmiliar faces that would show up in difficult political meetings."
"Did your infamous tutor tell you that?"
"Yeah~The Queen would be satisfied."
"But doesn't the Queen have a lover?"
"Ah, do you know did you hear? She is going to wear those traditional wedding dress!"
Just as the most important topic was about to come up, it took into another direction that was about wedding dress and bouquet.
Zidane reached the Lindblum gate with a temporarily unconscious mind.

"Welcome back, darlin'. ....What's wrong?"
Ruby examined his expression.
"What happened? H~ey, Zidane?"
Although she waved her hand in front of him, there was no reaction.
"Hey, Blank! Zidane's kinda weird."
"Hm?"
Replying in one syllable, Blank approached them.
"What? What happened?"
"I dunno. No reactio' what'o ever."
"Maybe his grade point average dropped."
"Wow~that'll be a shock."
"That is not good. He will take extra time to graduate."
Marcus joined the conversation.
"I told him that studying with classmates is not made for him. He should've stopped."
"Even when yer say that, he has to do it or he won't be marryin' the darn pretty Queen."
The tail stiffened for a second. But the group, neglecting his reaction, continued to talk.
"Well, it's actually pretty easy on him, you only have to graduate to marry the Princess."
"Yeah duh! It should be a piece of cake for Zidane."
"Oh, there's a rumor going around that the Princess is going to marry a noble."
Cinna abruptly interjected as he carried a box of tools into the room.
The entire atmosphere went silent.
"Well, people say that the money ar' not enough."
"But that's not true..."
"Bro, you don't know anything."
"But still, there are a lot of rumors like this and they're all fake. Right?"
"Yeah, you shouldn't believe in'em rumors."
"I think so too."
Zidane went upstair soundlessly after a hostile glower at the 4 people.
"You! Cinna it's all because of you talkin' about this! Yer bad at timin'!"
"But..."
"Maybe we just upset him even more..."
"No change o' plans. I'll make Zidane's favourite dinner tonight."
"Zidane loves food. He'll be okay in no time."
"Ruby, I'll help you cook."
The three people randomly made out a plan and went their separate ways.
Blank, crossing his arms, cocked his head.
".....Is he okay?"

* * *

Like anticipated, Zidane was inside the blanket, curled like a ball.
Come of think of it, he was always there like that whenever he was upset.
"You didn't change at all."
Blank exaggerated a sigh and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Don't believe a rumor like that."
"I don't."
The response came from the blanket, all muffled and blurred.
"Then you should be fine with it. Why you so bummed?"
"....Because."
Zidane revealed half of his face and frowned.
"He is a noble."
"How should I know? I didn't hear the rumor."
"I heard that he is a very smart person."
"Really~?"
"Maybe he would be more helpful to Dagger when they get married........better than me."
"You are helpful to her too. Like the journey you guys took."
"But that was a journey. Once she goes back to the castle, she is not a normal girl anymore. She is the Queen."
Zidane mumbled without confidence while shrinking back into the blanket.
"I can't do anything for her.....I suck at politics."
Blank almost did a spit take.
"Are Dagger and politics even related?"
"Her job is all about politics."
"Do you think anybody can be a fine king as long as he has good grades?"
"......Maybe."
"You, did your GPA drop?"
".......No."
"Boss would be pissed and yell 'did you forget how to be a Tantalus?!'"
"......I want to forget."
"You...."
Blank rose his voice in an impatient lilt.
Zidane pumped up his cheeks with air.
"Then why isn't she replying me? ...This never happened before."
"There are no letters?"
"They didn't come since that rumor started to spread."
"Since the rumor started....how long exactly is that?"
"3 days."
"Hey.....3 days is very reasonable. The Princess is busy."
Blank hopped off bed after a slight sigh.
"Think about this rationally. Stop thinking about these stupid things."
When Blank paced back to the living room, Ruby questioned him with worried eyes.
"He is impossible."
"Are yer serious?! ...I even prepared a cold pack...."