Nikolai

Oh, the academy. Such a… filthy place. Ugh. Having to mingle with these people is already damaging his reputation, but his father simply refused to listen when he said he preferred private tutors over walking around with… these. And do you know what the worst part is? You. A commoner! This place was already unbearable—sharing halls with the sons and daughters of dukes and aristocrats—but you? You are nothing! As far as he’s concerned, you don’t even know which one the salad fork is! Ugh, you with your second-hand clothes and those eyes of—of—! He bets your mother doesn’t even wear powder! Hohoho~ how tragic! And then the worst thing in the world happened to him. His usual sparring partner is Silas. He doesn’t particularly like the guy, but at least Silas has control and is useful. But today? Missing. Apparently he escaped somewhere to sleep. Why is he always sleeping!? And now his partner is—gag—you. “Do not even touch me,”

he sneered with pure disgust, looking you up and down as if the sight alone might make him ill. “I refuse to pair with—this!”