Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

Night with darkness settling in.
The Imperial dormitory I returned to after the friendly duel. Located far from the regular dormitories where other students stayed, a quiet atmosphere flowed here.
I sat in a chair and carefully reflected on the events of the day.
‘The first encounter with the Sword Star was quite an ordeal.’
Why she loves sleeping so much. Why she doesn’t show proper respect despite her status.
And.
“See you again, Loran.”
The last words she said to me. That persistent gaze looking at me.
“Hmm.”
What exactly was the intention behind those words and actions?
No matter how much I pondered, no specific answer came to mind.
That’s inevitable. It hasn’t even been a day since we met. If I could already deduce those things, I would be working as a detective.
While I was absorbed in thought, my eyelids grew heavy, indicating it was time to sleep. Let’s turn off the lights and prepare the bedsheets.
Thinking thus, I was about to finish preparing for bed and end the day.
Tap- tap-
Beyond the dormitory door, I heard someone’s footsteps. There was a clear intention to enter the room.
“…”
I tensed my body that was about to relax. Muscles naturally contracted and gathered strength.
Midnight. At this hour when most of the academy would be asleep, a visitor.
‘I don’t know who it is.’
But it wouldn’t be an ordinary person.
“…”
Perhaps it was a student trying to insult me and boost their own self-esteem in a lowly manner.
If that were the case, I would teach them a cruel reality.
My footsteps approached the door without making a sound. At the same time, the other person’s footsteps stopped as well.
Silence. Stillness flowed through the already quiet dormitory.
I was the first to speak.
“Who is it?”
I was prepared to open the door immediately and deliver severe punishment if it was a suspicious person.
The visitor remained silent for a moment after hearing my words.
The identity of the other party became more suspicious. I was considering whether to open the door right now and strike first.
But contrary to my earlier thoughts, the other party wasn’t someone with evil intentions.
However, my prediction that they weren’t an ordinary person was spot on.
“It’s me. Loran.”
A blank tone that would make the listener’s strength leave them.
It was a voice I had heard enough of today to easily recognize its owner.
The Sword Star. Silvia Isolde.
A small sigh escaped my lips as I identified the visitor.
“Isn’t your response late? I thought you were a suspicious person.”
“Sorry. I’m a bit slow at responding to people’s words.”
I wondered if she was truly sorry while saying she was sorry. Her extremely carefree demeanor made it hard to trust.
Let’s first ask why she came.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I came to see you.”
Straight to the point.
As if she didn’t know how to mince words at all. The Sword Star answered as she pleased.
My hand naturally grabbed my head.
‘This is giving me a headache.’
Coming all the way here in the middle of the night just to say ‘I came to see you.’ It’s as if I’m her lover or something.
A deeper sigh than before escaped my lips.
“Is that really your business?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you consider coming at a more appropriate time?”
“Why? The sooner the better, right?”
“…”
She’s not making sense. It felt like talking to a child who knows nothing about the world.
I briefly considered taking a firm stance to drive the Sword Star away, but.
“Come in.”
To build a good relationship with Silvia. And because I’ve now learned that when dealing with eccentrics like this, the sensible one must accommodate.
I silently opened the door.
‘The one lacking must yield.’
It’s unavoidable since I received the imperial command to graduate safely and became the class representative of the Special Class.
‘Since the situation has come to this, let’s gather more information.’
One must always be able to flexibly change one’s stance. I can make up for the reduced sleep with increased productivity tonight.
“I’ll come in.”
As seen in the duel, the Sword Star still had an incredibly blank face.
Even her walking figure was so delicate that it seemed she would fly away if lightly touched.
Despite this being her first visit, she sat down confidently in the reception chair without hesitation. Seeing that, I made a comment.
“Would you like some tea?”
“I’m fine without it.”
If that’s the case. I lightly shook my head and sat down across from the Sword Star.
With the reception table between us, the Sword Star and I quietly exchanged glances. Her silver pupils watched me blankly.
Feeling that if left like this, we would just have a staring contest until sunrise, I spoke first.
“Do you have something to say?”
If she specifically came to see me, she must have something she wants to talk about.
With that meaning in my question, the Sword Star instead tilted her head.
“What do you mean?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re the one who wanted to talk to me, right? That’s why you kept waking me up at the dueling arena, right?”
“…”
Of course.
Naturally, I did act that way at the dueling arena because I had something to tell the Sword Star.
Analyzing the Sword Star’s words just now, the reason why my actions didn’t work becomes clear.
‘She did it on purpose.’
In other words, she had already noticed that I had business with her but deliberately maintained complete unresponsiveness.
My eyes naturally turned sullen.
“Did you know and still act that way?”
“I wasn’t interested then.”
“…”
Even though I looked at the Sword Star with disbelief, her expression remained the same.
Blank.
“So you’re saying it’s different now?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you defeated me.”
“…”
Her answers remained consistently brief. Sentences don’t extend in length.
She had said earlier that she was slow at responding to people’s words, yet her answers were prompt.
Above all, the context didn’t connect properly.
“Is my defeating you that important?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the reason?”
“That’s why I entered the academy in the first place.”
-Find someone who can hand you defeat. That’s what the old hag said, the Sword Star concluded.
My brow furrowed as I heard those words.
‘The old hag.’
Setting aside the offensiveness of the term ‘old hag’ considering the Sword Star’s generally informal way of speaking.
An elderly woman, and someone skilled enough to make the Sword Star listen.
Gathering these conditions, there was only one candidate.
‘The Sword Matriarch.’
Is she saying that the ruler of the Sword Angle left such words for Silvia?
My lips asked the reasonable question.
“Why is that important, may I ask?”
“…”
The Sword Star kept her mouth shut for a few seconds at my words, then.
“I won’t tell you.”
“…”
She suddenly refused to answer further.
While I looked displeased, the Sword Star continued speaking on her own terms.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“When, exactly?”
“After spending more time with you, if I like you.”
“…”
Haah-
I openly sighed, expressing that my mood wasn’t particularly good.
I felt the need to change the topic. The more we mix words on this subject, the more my head hurts.
“Alright. Let’s stop this conversation, and I’ll tell you what I wanted to inform you about. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
To the Sword Star who blankly nodded her head. I repeated what I had told Rinet and Adela.
The point that I had become the class representative of the Special Class.
The point that the graduation condition for the Special Class is the achievement system.
Therefore, the point that we need to do something that can prove our level of achievement.
Up to this explanation, the Sword Star’s responses were the same.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“I understand.”
Her answers were so refreshingly straightforward that at first, I thought she was still indifferent to me and that’s why she answered that way, but.
Looking carefully at the Sword Star’s eyes, I could clearly see that she had developed an interest in me.
I could tell that she was answering in her own way, seriously accepting what I said.
It’s just that her expression was excessively monotonous.
Anyway, my business was approaching its end.
“-So. I’ve concluded that the best method is for the entire Special Class to move together to achieve results. Therefore, I ask that you participate in the tasks I propose.”
The necessity for the entire Special Class to act together was clear.
I can manage these troublemakers by keeping them tied together in one place instead of letting them loose.
At the same time, since achievement levels rise, there’s no worry about anyone’s progress being slow.
That’s why I make this proposal at the end without fail.
However.
“No.”
For the first time.
The Sword Star expressed dislike towards me.
I felt momentarily puzzled. She had expressed approval for all the previous talks without exception, so why reject this one?
My lips naturally asked for the reason.
“May I ask why?”
“Loran. Don’t misunderstand.”
To my reasonable question, the Sword Star acted as if it wasn’t particularly a significant reason.
However, precisely because of that, very firmly.
“I’m interested in you. I don’t care about other people at all.”
“…”
“So I have no interest in talks about everyone moving together.”
I clicked my tongue inwardly as I understood Silvia’s psychology from her words just now.
‘I see.’
In other words, the reason the Sword Star is currently being friendly towards me is merely because she has developed an interest in me.
She still remains indifferent to all other matters, which is why she won’t follow my words.
‘Well.’
It would be funny if someone with the Sword Star’s personality easily followed someone else’s words.
Understanding her intention, I nodded briefly.
“Understood. If that is your wish.”
However, there was one thing I absolutely had to clarify.
“But don’t forget that you need to achieve results. You must follow my proposals themselves.”
“That’s fine. Having you is enough.”
That immense interest in me, which changed in less than a day, felt a bit awkward. What exactly am I to the Sword Star?
Regardless, let’s wrap up the conversation here. Since it’s already past bedtime, it’s fine to postpone the remaining conversation till tomorrow.
“How about we stop here for today? Let’s continue our conversation tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“…”
I wanted to go to bed quickly, but.
There was one thing I wanted to clarify.
“By the way, Sword Star.”
“Yes.”
“Why do you speak informally?”
“…?”
I asked the question I had been wondering since my first meeting with the Sword Star.
‘Why the informal speech?’
The Sword Star’s expression upon hearing my reasonable question was one of incomprehension. Her face said, “Is there a problem?”
“You’re a prince, and I’m the Sword Star. No matter how you look at it, our status positions are equal.”
“Yes.”
“So why do you speak informally? Shouldn’t you show proper respect?”
“…”
At my words, the Sword Star tilted her head. She showed no sign of feeling the necessity for formal speech.
“Ah.”
Then, after letting out a single exclamation.
“Then you speak informally too.”
That settles it, right?
As if she had discovered a great solution, her eyes sparkled confidently.
“…”
Just as I was about to counter that absurd statement.
‘When dealing with an uncouth person, the sensible person endures.’
I remembered this truth and let it pass.
Remember, Loran. Don’t forget the imperial command. If problems arise, it’s this side that gets tired.
With sleep pressing in and fatigue setting in, I stood up to cut off any further conversation.
“Now, why don’t you go to sleep?”
I subtly conveyed a dismissal, telling her to leave the room and go to sleep.
I didn’t know where the Sword Star would sleep, but I had no obligation to worry about that.
“Hm?”
But.
Silvia tilted her head at my words and.
Dropped an unexpected bombshell.
“I’m going to sleep here.”
“…?”
“I used to sleep anywhere, but now I want to sleep here.”
Before I could even respond. The Sword Star rose from her seat and headed towards the bed.
The problem was that it was my bed.
“What do you mean? Why are you saying you’ll sleep in my room?”
“If I want to be with you, it’s better for me to sleep here, right?”
“…”
“Ah. I like the bed. I’m envious.”
And with that, she even threw herself on the bed and rolled around.
“Sigh….”
I was about to say a few words to stop her after seeing that, but.
‘Forget it.’
I decided to resign myself.
A disaster is a disaster because humans cannot possibly stop it. Since it can’t be helped, I can only surrender to the flow.
Just.
‘When the time comes, I will surely repay this.’
I’m letting it slide now because I have a purpose.
If enough friendship accumulates or the goal is achieved.
I planned to correct the Sword Star’s manners without mercy.
But even at this point, there was something I absolutely had to say.
“In that case, please use the spare bedding over here. Blankets and pillows are also prepared, so you shouldn’t have difficulty sleeping.”
It meant that’s my bed, so get out.
But the Sword Star flatly refused my words.
While giving an extremely unexpected reason.
“Yawn…. No.”
“…?”
“This place smells like you.”
“Excuse me? What smell?”
“Mmm…. smell, scent, or maybe aura…? Whatever, it has your feeling… I like it….”
Snore- snore-
Her speech gradually faded. Having fallen into deep sleep as soon as she lay on the bed, unable to resist drowsiness.
Her silver pupils disappeared behind her eyelids. The sound of breathing resonated from her small nose bridge.
‘Hmm.’
Although slightly confused by the unidentifiable statement.
Now I was just annoyed.
It would certainly be possible to forcibly pull the Sword Star off the bed and lie down myself.
‘I’m very tired.’
I just wanted to wrap things up moderately and go to sleep.
Rather than improving the situation through various efforts.
Sometimes one should also know how to finish things roughly and rest.
‘Let’s think with a clear mind tomorrow.’
With that, I threw myself onto the spare bedding and fell asleep.

The next morning.
I gently opened my eyes, feeling the morning sun hitting my face.
“…”
My brain quickly awakened and reflected on what happened yesterday.
Come to think of it, the Sword Star unexpectedly barged in last night.
But she should be quietly sleeping in my bed now. Judging that there wouldn’t be any trouble for a while, I tried to get up.
My body felt heavy. Significantly so.
It felt as if something was entwining my body and weighing me down, preventing me from getting up.
Yes, exactly like the weight of one person.
“…”
My face twisted slightly to look to the side.
And there, I saw a girl with her face close to mine, at a very close distance.
It was the Sword Star.
“…”
Snore- snore-
An expression of peaceful sleep, unaware of the world.
Skin without a single blemish. Even seen this close, her flawless beauty was admirable.
‘But why.’
Why was she, who had been sleeping in my bed, now asleep next to me? That was the question.
Moreover, she was firmly holding onto me like a baby clinging to its mother’s arms, making it difficult to escape.
No matter how I tried to extract myself, her arms and legs would entangle me.
“…”
I thought that if someone were to see this, rumors would spread saying the prince and the Sword Star had developed feelings for each other.
‘But surely.’
Such a thing couldn’t possibly happen. No one would visit my room this early in the morning.
Just as I was deciding to wait until the Sword Star woke up, reassuring myself thus.
Knock knock-
“Your Highness. I am entering.”
“Hmm.”
The moment I heard that voice, I remembered there was exactly one person who might visit my room.
“Wait a moment-”
Before the words to stop the visitor could leave my mouth.
Creeak-
With the sound of the door opening, the visitor entered with quiet footsteps.
“Your Highness. Information regarding the incidents occurring outside the academy that you mentioned before has been gathered, and I apologize for the intrusion but I opened the door immediately to urgently inform you…”
Silence.
The head maid who had opened the door and entered was about to bow as usual.
But seeing the situation unfolding in my room, she closed her mouth without continuing her words.
“…”
“…”
One man lying in bed. Me, Loran, the original owner of this room.
Of course, that alone wouldn’t be reason enough for her to close her mouth.
There was clearly a foreign object entwining my entire body next to me.
“Your Highness. This is….”
The head maid trails off.
In the dormitory where only the prince should be, there was an intruder from outside.
And it was a woman.
Moreover, it was the Sword Star.
In a situation where anyone would have to conclude that the prince and the Sword Star had secretly shared love.
“…I apologize for the intrusion. Have a good time.”
With years of experience, the head maid, equipped with the consideration not to disturb the students’ passionate love, withdrew.
“…”
Silence once again pervaded the room.
Tweet- tweet- Only the sound of birds chirping could be heard.
Snore- snore- Feeling the Sword Star’s breath touching my cheek.
“Hmm.”
I murmured quietly.
“It’s fortunate it was the head maid.”
If it had been a regular student, I would have had to resort to murder.
It was reassuring that she was a person who kept secrets well.