0&1 Ch 7.2

No, common sense dictates that you’re not like me.

Even after hearing Duke Pie’s comment, you still feel competitive?

Anyone would hear that as someone taking pity on a pitiful kid.

“It’s not at a level that would be helpful for you to read.” I tried to be modest. It wasn’t something I couldn’t show, but I didn’t want to.

But Grey’s eyes lit up and he rushed over. “What do you mean, Your Highness? That’s the report the teacher praised you for. Saying you ‘worked hard.’”

“It’s not even a report.”
“You’re too modest. I’m working hard so that the teacher will praise me someday. I want to follow in the footsteps of Prince Joffrey and do well on the next exam.”

If you want praise, go to Duke Pie. Don’t come to me.

Grey came close to me. I could see blue flames in his eyes. 

When I looked to Duke Pie for help, he returned my answer sheet and said indifferently, “Do as you wish. Since you said it was for academic reasons, it would be good for you two to help each other. Class is now over.”

Grey got what he wanted. 

He wanted to read it so badly. I just decided to show it to him and handed him the answer sheet. If it’s not good enough, he’ll just laugh at me.

But Grey didn’t laugh. He read it seriously.

I realized that I had been too careless. I thought I was used to Joffrey’s life, but I didn’t expect him to take a test.

I have to make sure Joffrey’s grades are right. 

He’s just a kid who hasn’t even gone to the academy yet, but grades don’t improve just by studying for a year or two, do they?

I may not have studied in school, but I knew at least that much.

Joffrey was always second place at the Academy. 

Second in every subject. Even when the heroine saw his answers as near perfect, he never placed first. 

Naturally, Edward always ranked first.

There was even an episode where the heroine comforted Joffrey about it.
A choice appeared: [What should you say to Joffrey?]
I picked: [Why not take different classes than Prince Edward?]

And his affection level dropped. I kind of figured that might happen.

At the time, Joffrey explained to the heroine why he took the same classes as Edward. He said he would one day defeat Edward. To do that, he couldn’t avoid opportunities to compete with him. He seemed to be very stubborn about it.

It was true.

But when I think about it again, Joffrey was second in his class. I forgot for a moment because I was blinded by his inferiority complex, but he’s not a character who can’t study.

He’s a very talented character.

Pretending to be Joffrey took no ordinary amount of effort.

“What are you thinking about?” I heard Grey’s voice. He was holding my test in his hand.

“Did you read it all?”
“A while ago. I even called you earlier.”
”Really? Did my answers help you?“
“Yes.”
“Really?”

That can’t be true.

Grey looked at me, then at the test paper again. Then he frowned. He seemed to be wondering whether to say something.

Did he notice something odd?

Dot and the Queen were of the opinion that their prince was the best and a genius, which didn’t help.

Whenever I studied, I noticed that the two of them were particularly pleased, so I assumed that Joffrey wasn’t exactly a model student.

Duke Pie seemed to think something had gone wrong since Joffrey’s accident. The three of them reacted so differently that it was hard to gauge Joffrey’s true level.

Was Joffrey actually a very smart child? Was he someone Grey would want to keep an eye on?

If so, Grey would definitely feel strange. What excuse should I make?

“What?”

“You don’t seem very happy. You just got praised by your teacher,” Grey said with a frown. I felt nervous for no reason.

Are you talking about me? Is that what you were worried about?

I was so dumbfounded, I couldn’t even hide it from my face.

“Your answer sheet was better.” Let’s not argue with an eleven-year-old.

“You didn’t even read mine.”
“Yours was longer.”
“Quantity doesn’t guarantee quality.”
“Are you praising me?”

I didn’t know what Grey was trying to do. I asked him what I had in mind, and he got angry. “That’s not what I meant! Of course, my report is much better!”

“… Oh. Right.”
“Studying a lot is important!”
“That’s right.”
“Of course, it’s important to see the forest, but knowledge is about seeing the details of the trees within it. The consistency of sentences is also an important factor that cannot be ignored!”
“Yeah. Right.”

I’m not doubting you. But Grey hadn’t quite calmed down. He was still slightly worked up.

“And what you were worried about wasn’t the exam, was it?”

He’s persistent. I don’t know why he’s so interested in Joffrey when he doesn’t even care about him. You’re better than him.

I was about to brush him off when I saw something strange behind Grey. It was Edward, still lying on the desk.

Why is he doing that? He always goes home right after class.He must have been tired from last night and fell asleep.

“Edward?”
“Prince Joffrey, answer my question…”
“Edward is acting strange.”
“… What?”

Grey fell quiet. He turned to look at Edward too.

Edward’s bangs covered his forehead and ears. His cheeks, flushed underneath, were visible. He was drenched in sweat.

“Edward.” Even when called, Edward did not open his eyes. I moved the arm covering Edward’s face. He was trembling, covered in cold sweat.

What…

Edward’s arm was burning hot. It didn’t feel like human skin. His wrists were visible, and his soft flesh felt warm, as if it would melt away at any moment.

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong with His Highness Edward?” Grey approached.

“Call a doctor.”

Grey finally noticed Edward’s condition. Even though his whole body was burning, Edward didn’t even moan.

How could no one notice him in this state? There were so many people here. He was sick the entire class.

Grey replied with a grim face. “Yes. I’ll go.”

Just then, Edward’s hand rose like a ghost and grabbed my arm tightly. “Don’t call anyone.”

“Are you okay? Can you stand?” I asked Edward.

Edward blinked. His blue eyes moved from side to side, looking at me and Grey. With a feverish face, he said again, “Don’t call a doctor.”

“Edward?”

Edward tried to stand up awkwardly, like a child who couldn’t hold his neck up. He staggered, tried to keep his balance, and then collapsed.

I reached under Edward’s armpits to support him. My legs trembled. Edward’s body was not as light as a feather. In fact, it was so heavy that even Joffrey’s strength was not enough to hold him up. 

If he hadn’t slumped back into the chair he’d risen from, we both would’ve ended up on the floor.

“Are you okay? What’s going on? Where does it hurt?”

Edward suddenly covered his face. He began to cough violently. It was a cough that shook his entire body. Even after it subsided, Edward did not remove his hands.

I heard a small sniffle.

I pulled his arm down and Edward looked up at me, his eyes red.

I’d never seen a sick child before, but I could tell Edward’s condition was serious.

“What do you mean, don’t call a doctor?”

“I don’t need one,” Edward repeated.

His nose and eyes were red. He looked dazed.

If he were my brother, I would have dragged him away and told him to stop talking nonsense.

“No doctor? Then should we take you back to your palace? Can you walk?” Grey asked stiffly. He took a step back and crossed his arms. No matter how I looked at him, he didn’t seem like he was going to catch Edward if he fell.

What’s with this guy?

“No, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it. You go back.” Edward replied in a nasal voice.

His nose was stuffed up. He must have a cold. But what did he mean, he’d take care of it?

“Edward. I’ll take you back to your palace.”

Edward had already laid his head on the desk. He couldn’t open his eyes and could only move his lips.

“No. I’m not going…”
“You’re just going to stay here like this? You need to go back and rest… Edward? You’re not asleep, are you?”
“…”

Edward didn’t answer. I put my hand on his back. Whether it was because of his fever or something else, his small body was shaking as if he couldn’t stand it.

Grey looked at Edward with a frown and said to me: “Shall we go?”

“… Go where?”
“To our respective homes.”

You’re going to leave him like this? Seeing my expression, Grey said, “His Highness said he was fine.”

“Does he look fine to you?”
“He said he doesn’t need a doctor. How else can I help him? His Highness told me to just leave him and go back.”

Grey said nonsense like it was common sense. That didn’t make it sound any less ridiculous.

“Grey Cracker.” I called him without a smile. Grey reflexively straightened his back.

“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Help me sneak Edward into my palace.”
“… What?”
“That’s a royal command.”
“What?” Grey repeated. 

It didn’t seem like he was asking because he didn’t understand.

I didn’t say it twice. I looped one of Edward’s arms over my shoulder.

Grey’s face twisted in dismay.