The day after I was discharged, I was forced to return to the academy—no exceptions.
'Seriously? After nearly dying, they can't cut me a little slack?'
But in a world where magic could mend shattered bones overnight, apparently this counted as "fully recovered."
I sighed and walked into the classroom.
The whispering started immediately.
"…Did you hear? Yesterday, Trash Lucien joined the princess and the ducal heirs in a hidden dungeon."
"They said he threw himself into a trap to protect them. That's why he was sent back early."
Teacher Samantha had warned me the academy would spread a safe narrative to avoid political trouble… but this was still surprising—
Until the rest came in.
"I heard he held everyone back. A total burden. They had to protect him."
"No, no—he triggered the deadly trap himself. Got caught trying to run away alone."
"Ugh, classic trash."
"People don't change. He's proof."
Ah. There it was.
Nothing to gain.
Nothing to lose.
