Chapter 4: Is there something strange about my ability…?
The classroom for holding classes is a small hall on the east side of the first floor.
Today, I was scheduled to listen to lectures on history, music, and theology.
These will end around noon, and we will each return to our homes in the capital.
I entered the small hall just in time for the start of the class to avoid hearing gossip.
Even if I sit in the empty seat in the back, the teacher does not seem to come.
Perhaps the elderly teacher is feeling unwell. If that is the case, the Academy’s servant should come to contact us soon…
While thinking about such things, the voices of the students in the classroom, who were initially quiet, start to grow louder.
“Count Elvasti’s daughter is showing up to school as usual.”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to come to school if my fiance was taken away.”
“Wouldn’t you normally just stay in bed? You have a lot of nerves.”
(…It would be nice if I couldn’t hear these nasty comments.)
Even if I hear unpleasant rumors that I can’t do anything about, I sigh and look over at the five people, including Augren Duke’s daughter, who are particularly gossiping about me——
“What?”
——The noise in the classroom suddenly dies down.
I thought the teacher had come, but that’s not the case. Moreover, when I listen closely, it seems that the five people are still talking, but their voices aren’t reaching me at all.
(Have I gone deaf?)
I was startled for a moment. I don’t want to be so isolated that I can’t hear the teacher’s instructions because I’m having trouble hearing.
But it’s comfortable.
I can’t hear any strange words or mocking voices. As always, I worry about this, but my tense shoulders have relaxed a bit.
As I’m feeling relieved, the history teacher finally arrives.
He’s an old man with a long white beard, like a dead branch that could fall and break a bone at any moment.
“You five in the front row, you’re not being very decorous talking among yourselves. Remember your manners as ladies and gentlemen and go tell the etiquette teacher to review the rules with you.”
As soon as he entered the small room, the teacher started talking to the five people who were standing in the front row and chatting.
It seems that the five people who were gossiping about me are protesting to the teacher, but I still can’t hear them.
(But I can hear the teacher’s voice, so there’s no problem…)
Even if I don’t get better after going home, I should show it to the doctor, but for now there is no problem, so I concluded and took the lesson.
The lesson is not so boring.
Even if you learn history, it is not a matter of memorizing the year and the name of the king at that time.
It is already assumed that this has been taught by a private tutor.
This old teacher tells stories about wars and land reclamation like hero tales, and political exchanges in chronological order from ancient times.
However, whenever the story ends, the teacher always gives a test based on his story, so I have to take notes properly to remember it in my notes.
As I concentrate on the lesson, an hour goes by in a flash.
Furthermore, Augren Duke’s daughters were taken led by the old teacher, perhaps because they protested. As a result, I no longer have to worry about being told various things loudly after class.
I headed for the next music lesson with a refreshing feeling.
Today is just viewing , so I’m feeling easy… but a new problem appeared ahead in the corridor.
(Albert is there)
A young man with golden brown hair was standing in the hallway.
Furthermore, there are a few noble friends with him…which means that if I pass by him, I will definitely be spoken badly of by his friends.
(I don’t want to get close…)
I will go through another way. I turned my direction with that thought.
“Linea.”
I heard a voice calling me.
But let’s pretend we didn’t hear. I don’t want to listen. I go down to the garden and start walking a route that cuts through the garden.
“Linea! I have something to talk to you!”
But Albert was chasing after me, running. He always ignores me!
(Don’t touch me!)
As soon as anger welled up inside me,
“Ouch?!”
“?”
Albert moved away from me as if he was struck by something.
I didn’t swing my arm and I wonder what happened?
I had a question in mind, but I didn’t miss this opportunity and ran. But Albert is still chasing after me.
“Wait! You’re going to run away after kicking people?”
(I didn’t do such a thing, but there’s no point in telling him that. He’s persistent! Go further away!)
As soon as I turned around and glared at him, Albert was no longer able to move forward from that spot.
“Wha…?!”
At the same time as Albert was surprised, I was also amazed.
(Why can’t he move?)
In the moment I thought it was impossible, Albert’s body moved forward, but maybe because the timing was out of sync with the person trying to walk, he fell on the spot.
“…”
It doesn’t seem like something I can talk about calmly, and I don’t want to see anything unpleasant on my birthday, so I left him behind and moved to the music room where the next class would be held.
In the music room, musicians had already gathered and were tuning their instruments.
The aristocrat children, including the senior students, were sitting on the lined up chairs each to themselves.
I looked for an empty chair, but there wasn’t one, so I sat near an unfamiliar female student.
Then the female student looked at me and moved to another seat.
“Well, it’s fine. I prefer a spacious seat.”
I take a breath. Besides, it’s better than having to listen to someone’s badmouthing up close.
The class then began, and a plump female teacher began explaining the song that will be played.
In music class, there are no tests or anything about the songs we listen to. Everyone is made to play the piano and points are given, so I listen to it easily.
Meanwhile, I think back on today’s events.
I noticed that I stopped hearing the voices of Augren Duke’s daughters during the previous class.
A moment ago, Albert stopped approaching me.
I have a feeling that none of this is a coincidence.
Even now, I can’t hear the hushed voices of Augren Duke’s daughter who are sitting close by on purpose.
On a whim, I try to hear the voices of Augren Duke’s daughter again, and then——
“She’s trying to play it cool, but she’s just pretending.”
“Is she hiding the fact that she’s crying inside?”
“It’s shameful that she can’t even keep her fiancé’s feelings in check.”
Suddenly, I can hear their voices again.
(I can control this?!)
I try to block their voices out again, and once more, I can’t hear the voices of Augren Duke’s daughter.
“It’s certain…” I mutter to myself.
I have no idea what’s going on, but it seems like I’ve gained a strange ability.
It’s an ability that I’m not sure will be very useful.