"Why? Isn't it obvious? Our feelings are mutual, dear cousin. Well… maybe not.. I mean… I can't imagine you hating me more than I hate you."
"!!!"
Rotsard snorted and revealed mockingly, still without turning around, causing Saria to flinch and shiver.
The shame of the Vallhall family was the only person who ever said something like that to the little princess of the Vallhall family, and she had no idea how to deal with it.
"Haaa… what did you want to tell me? Or did you actually try to assassinate me?"
"...eh… Ah…!"
Even though it seemed that he didn't say everything that bothered him, Rotsard breathed out and changed the subject, causing a momentary confusion in the already troubled girl.
"I… I wanted to ask you whether you warned the teachers what might happen when you try to summon something..."
Saria swallowed her saliva and stuttered, but eventually said her piece.
"Huh? That? It's highly doubtful that anything will happen."
For a moment, Rotsard's eyes widened as he did not expect that it would be the reason for Saria's looking for him, but he regained his composure almost immediately and lied.
Something was going to happen.
And it was something that was supposed to make Justin be wary of him and his potential connection to a deafol.
But it wasn't something that Saria should bother herself about.
She should hate him.
Nothing more, and nothing less.
And for once, Rotsard didn't find it difficult to accomplish.
"But it already happened twice! First, during your offering ceremony, and the second time when you tried to summon something after seeing me summon and make a contract with Spite! That's two for two!"
Unsurprisingly, Saria didn't believe him, although what was surprising was that she tried to reason with him.
"If you said what you wanted to say, then be on your way. Since you're bothered by my presence, this is the worst spot to enjoy the show."
"...what…?"
Rotsard shrugged his shoulders and said, causing Saria, who was not used to being ignored, to let out a low, angered growl.
"Piss off, Vallhall's princess."
"!!!"
The hostile words, followed by a pet name that she was so used to hear, but spoken with disgust and mockery, pushed Saria past the limits of her patience.
"Snowball!"
The next moment, she was already chanting an incantation, and unlike Rotsard, who would just send the spell flying with a move of his finger, Saria ended up actually putting her whole body into a throw.
The thing was, not only the way of sending out their spell differed. The spell itself did too.
Even putting aside the circle and ephemeral wings of light that did not show for Saria, her snowball… seemed actually like a snowball and not a ball of pure-white light.
*thunk*
The spell hit the bleached-blond-haired youth square between the shoulder blades. It even created a hollow sound... a proof that there was quite a bit of force behind it… but…
"...was that it…? That's your version of the Joy of First Snow…?"
"...eh…?"
Rotsard didn't even budge, instead limiting himself to a disappointed sigh, causing Saria to let out a baffled voice as her eyes widened.
*c-crack* *CRRRK*
"!?!?"
But what ended up causing the girl to start backing off with her hand still slightly extended after her attack was the fact that the small amount of snow that ended up stuck to Rotsard's back actually FROZE OVER and ended up BREAKING APART into fine ice crystals, leaving a dark spot on his clothes.
…that… wasn't how her spell should behave…
"STUDENT VALLHALL!"
"!"
"..."
Suddenly, a voice of a flabbergasted teacher resounded in the hallway, startling Saria, while Rotsard merely tilted his head to the side, still observing how other second-year students were doing with summoning.
"Teacher Oltial! It's good that you're here! That trash just insul…!"
Seeing the hastily approaching man, Saria exclaimed with relief and pointed her finger at Rotsard with accusation…
"What do you think you're doing, student Vallhall!? Casting a spell at someone's back!? How reckless can you be!?"
"...eh…!?"
But when it was her wrist that was grabbed and pulled down towards the ground, and she was the one to receive a scolding, Saria could only let out a small gasp while staring at the teacher in disbelief.
It just so happened that the teacher in question was the very same one who would always be the judge for the duels between Rotsard and Justin. It was also most likely the reason for his agitation.
After all, Rotsard put great pressure on the fact that his spell was something Justin couldn't defend against and would prove deadly… seeing that very spell... well… someone else's version of it, at least... be cast against an unaware and unprepared person made the man's heart stop for a moment.
"Student Vallhall! Are you alright!?"
"I am, but only because of my high resistance against the cold. Anyone else wouldn't be that lucky."
The man looked away from the shocked girl and asked the youth by the window… and the answer he received only cemented what he had already decided on.
"I'm taking you to the headmaster's office."
After his jaw moved as if he was chewing on some words that were inappropriate for someone of his position, teacher Oltial informed Saria in a cold voice and started walking while still firmly holding her wrist.
"Wh-what!? WHY!? Teacher! That trash! He was the one to…!"
"Young Lady. It doesn't matter what was said and whether someone insulted just you or your entire bloodline! You have an issue that can't be solved with words alone, you challenge and fight them in an official duel under the watch of a teacher! Consider your position for a second! You are a noble and NOT some thug in the back of a shady bar on the outskirts of the civilized world!"
Saria tried to complain, but was silenced by the disgusted teacher who was barely holding back his anger.
"That's not merely something that is in the Royal Academy's rules, but also something that should be common sense for an aristocrat! Even for your first offense, that was truly despicable behavior!"
"!!!"
The teacher's words seemed to hit the girl hard, and her golden eyes fogged up with tears, and her chin started quivering.
This might have been the first time the little princess of the Vallhall family was scolded so harshly.
Acting just like a beloved child who got into actual big trouble, Saria started looking around in search of someone to come save her, and her eyes ended up drawn to Rotsard's back.
"...b-big br… Ghnn…!"
She almost called out, but managed to stop herself as the burning shame won over panic.
"Pffft…! And this is just the first taste of how all the changes and rules they made because of me will mess with you, little princess."
Rotsard never did turn or even glance back, but he did snort and smirk mockingly at his cousin's trouble.
The best part?
It was all how it was in the story…
Although it was described in detail only for a few instances where Justin was involved, in the story, the character Saria would constantly get in trouble because of breaking the Academy's rules and being unable to keep up with the way lectures and exams were structured.
…and the one to help her out, will be the future hero… not Rotsard Vallhall…
…