Male Lead, Don’t Push, Pull!

The emperor’s veiled command was a disaster for the Marquis of Rosiere, who was trying to make the most optimal choice while watching the situation unfold with his hands behind his back.

‘No. There is a way.’ The Marquis of Rosiere quickly shook his head. 

After all, Arene Academy is a place where you have to pass the entrance exam to enter. So, if she fails the test in the first place….

“Don’t think about letting her fail on purpose. If your daughter doesn’t get into the academy, I’m sure Kyle won’t go either.” The emperor added with a smile, as if he had read the Marquis’ thoughts. 

The Marquis, who was discovered, broke into a cold sweat.

“I……”

In the end, the Marquis opened his mouth at the short notice of this concerning development. A satisfactory smile appeared on the emperor’s face when he heard the answer.

It was the moment when a small ball thrown by Vivian greatly changed the fate of the Marquis of Rosiere.

***

Rescue Kyle from Titania.

I thought it was best to keep these two people apart to achieve this goal.

Even if I would warn Titania, I wondered if I was in a position to do so, and if the current situation was discovered, I thought her abuse would only get worse.

So, what came to my mind was the Arene Academy. He will have to study a lot to graduate, but he’ll be safe from the threat of abuse.

It would be nice if Kyle didn’t even care about what had happened after a while.

My father left the house with determination, saying that he would receive the emperor’s answer.

But the expression on his face when he returned home was very strange, so I thought perhaps things didn’t go well.

“Eh..? What?”

“That’s what happened, Vivian. You should prepare to enter the Arene Academy, too.” My father said defeatedly. 

Suddenly I’m going to the Arene Academy.

Why am I….?

I wasn’t suggesting that I should also study??

Did I not try to become a vague childhood friend in his memory, leaving only good memories while staying close to each other until he entered the academy?

When you look back fondly through rose-colored glasses, your childhood friend becomes your first love, and an irreplaceable and precious person.

My father, who didn’t see my trembling eyes, kept talking.

“It’s not a bad thing for you. In any case, the Arene Academy is the number one educational institution in the Empire, so it is meaningful just to enter it. I need to get you a teacher to help you prepare for the exam. You should also check which major is the easiest to graduate….”

“Ah, Dad.”

“Mhh?”

“Do I have to go, too? Can’t I just not go?”

I was just trying to keep Kyle and Titania apart.

I didn’t plan to follow him.

‘What did you talk about with the emperor that led to the conclusion that I would enter the school with him?’

I looked up at my father with my eyes wide open.

Then, there was an indescribable sadness on my father’s face. 

Father coughed, tried to clear his voice and said. “This father doesn’t want to send you to that faraway place either…. I can’t help it, Vivian.”

Oh my gosh, really?

‘You’re really sending me to go?’

I’m going to study all of a sudden.

***

“Then I’ll stop here for today.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

A scholar wearing single-eyed glasses nodded and went out. Kyle leaned back on the chair and sighed.

It was a short break given after two hours of ancient language classes.

Next, an introduction to magic was on the schedule.

The only comforting thing was that there was a swordsmanship class in the afternoon, so he could breathe the fresh air outside for a while.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

It is a schedule assigned by Titania, saying that all classes are essential to become a crown prince.

To be honest, Kyle preferred to move his body while swinging a sword rather than sitting still and studying.

However, if he doesn’t follow the instructed schedule, his mother’s special “education” will continue.

Titania called that education a love map to guide Kyle on the right path.

“Ugh.” Kyle swallowed a small moan. A stinging new mark pricked him in the back.

Kyle lifted his body from the back of the chair and sat with his back straight. Even if he was a little tired, he’d rather keep his posture.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Kyle’s gaze turned to the vase on the desk.

The vase that the maid changed is filled with cute freesia flowers. Looking at the beautiful yellow flowers, someone came to his mind.

‘I’ll figure it out, so trust me and wait!’

Vivian Rosiere.

A girl of his age that he sometimes met because of her relationship with Verdo Rosiere, his swordsmanship teacher.

Vivian, who happened to see his wounds, said she would solve the problem and left.

But more than a week has already passed since that day. And still nothing has changed.

Kyle tapped the vase with the tip of his finger.

“You said it as if there was a way.” He murmured bitterly.

Kyle pouted his lips.

It was foolish to think that Vivian could save him in the first place.

What could a girl do when she was running around laughing and eating cookies and biscuits?

But news quickly arrived that would surprise him.

“What?”

“I mean it! This mother decided to send Kyle to the Arene Academy.”

Kyle blinked his eyes. Suddenly, his class was canceled, and Titania, who came instead, told him the surprising news of entering the academy.

Kyle glanced at Titania’s expression.

Titania looked immensely happy. That was very rare.

Titania would usually be depressed about the emperor not looking for her and then get mad and take it out on Kyle.

Kyle asked carefully, “Mother, why did you suddenly decide for me to take the Academy entrance exam?”

“His Majesty made the decision himself, Prince.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes, his Majesty!” Titania smiled ecstatically. 

She muttered to herself, excited as if she were walking on a cloud, “As expected, his Majesty cares about Kyle the most. His Majesty actually wants to make Kyle the Crown Prince. After all, would that woman’s children be kicked out of his Majesty’s castle?”

Then she glared meaningfully at Kyle and said.

“His Majesty promised to be Kyle’s strength if Kyle can achieve outstanding results in the academy.”

That must have heightened Titania’s mood.

She reached out and grabbed Kyle’s shoulder. Kyle frowned slightly at the strong grip that aggravated his wound.

“You have to do a good job, Kyle. This is a rare opportunity.”

“……Yes.”

“Kyle just needs to be good. If you just follow what I’ve been teaching you so far, Kyle will be able to do it well enough.”

Titania released Kyle’s shoulder and grinned.

“You will stay at the Marquis of Rosiere to prepare for the entrance exam until then.”

Rosiere?

Only then did he realize that Vivian might have something to do with this out-of-the-box academy admissions offer.

It was when Kyle hurriedly opened his mouth to hear the details.

“Prince! Ah….”

The conversation between the two was suddenly interrupted by a sudden voice.

It was none other than Vivian who peeped in through the slightly open door.

Vivian averted her eyes, slightly startled by the strange atmosphere that filled the room.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there….”

Kyle sighed heavily.

Timing.

“Oh, isn’t that Rosiere?”

“Hello, Lady Titania.” 

“Mmm. Did you come to see Kyle?” Perhaps because Titania was in a good mood, she greeted Vivian in a very gentle way.

Vivian smiled awkwardly and said, “Yes, I heard it’s okay to visit today….”

“Oh, you can come anytime. When did we ever turn down the young Miss’s visit?”

The slanted corners of her eyes made Titania look seductive. It was a captivating smile that the emperor once could not escape.

But Kyle felt a sense of uneasiness when he saw his mother’s smile.

Titania was kind to Kyle when beating him or forcing him to do something that seemed impossible to accomplish.

“Mother.” Kyle stood in front of Vivian and blocked her gaze. 

“I’ll guide the young Miss Rosiere outside.” Kyle continued, trying to be as calm as possible.

“Kyle, it’s polite to treat your guest to a cup of tea.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m fine, Lady Titania! You don’t have to do that because of me.”

Fortunately, Vivian politely refused Titania’s offer.

Titania did not insist any further, as if it was just a question of courtesy.

Kyle quickly grabbed Vivian’s hand and left the room before his mother changed her mind.

It wasn’t until he had made it through the hallway and out to the garden that Kyle finally stopped walking.