"Everyone saw it, didn't they?"
Melinda scoffed while entering her room after passing at least a dozen girls crowding at the door and peeking at the fight out of the windows.
"It's fair to assume that the boys were watching it play out from their dormitory, my lady. So, yes."
Adrianna nodded, closing the door.
"Hmhmhm~ It seems that the entrance ceremony will be fun~ Hmmmm… I think I know what will happen~"
Melinda hummed, throwing herself on the bed and instantly cuddling up to a pillow.
"Adi, since Zane is doing his best, I should help him out, don't you agree?"
She peeked at the maid over her pillow and giggled excitedly.
"Young Zane is trying his best, indeed."
Adrianna pointed out that she hadn't heard any details yet and had not directly agreed to the idea.
"It's decided. In the first place, I like him being so commanding and confident~! l give him the push he needs~"
The gold-haired girl sat up, still hugging the pillow, and snickered as her eyes sparkled mischievously.
—----------
Melinda and the timid black-haired girl, Catherine, joined the other students gathered in front of the Jade Academy's main building.
According to the murmurs and whispers, usually, that would be the place where the headmaster would give an opening speech before the second and third-year students would go to their classes and have around an hour of the basic organization of the school year, including receiving the weekly schedule for the semester.
The first-year students would have an orientation day, with a proper walk around the Academy's facilities, and then would be sorted into their classes where the teacher in charge of each respective class would give them a basic explanation and the schedule for the year - as expected.
That entrance ceremony was supposed to end just like that, normal stuff.
But!
Because of the gaping hole in the wall of the top floor where the headmaster's office window was originally, coupled with the ruined pavement in front of the marble staircase, the ceremony couldn't even start properly.
"M-Melinda… I-is it true that M-Mister Zane has s-saved the C-Cardinal visiting the headmaster…? E-everyone is talking about a g-giant defeating a s-scary monster that a-attacked for n-no reason…"
Catherine looked around timidly before leaning towards the gold-haired girl and asked her in a hushed voice.
"Yes, I have even seen it myself."
"!!!"
Melinda nodded her head casually, and Catherine gasped as her eyes widened in amazement.
"Although… Four-Winged Howling Cranes are a little bit goofy-looking rather than scary… the feat of defeating it so easily is still impressive, though, don't you think~?"
The gold-haired girl tilted her to the side before pointing out and snickering.
"It was a Howling Crane!? N-no wonder it became such a mess! Th-they aren't v-very smart a-and sometimes attack human settlements for n-no r-r-reason."
The black-haired girl let out a small gasp and cowered with a scared expression.
"You're not denying them being goofy-looking?"
"I c-can't argue with the t-truth, after a-all."
Melinda chuckled and lightly leaned against Catherine, and she responded to her with a shy smile.
"Everyone! Due to some unfortunate circumstances, we're changing the location of the opening speech. Follow me!"
A strict-looking man stepped out of the main building and called out, having the students follow him to the open training area in the back of all the other facilities of the Academy.
"Welcome! Students of the Jade Academy! The new faces and those returning from the summer break to continue pursuing education! For those who don't know me, it's nice to meet you. My name is Castor Vendro'in, and I have the pleasure of being the headmaster of this institution."
As everyone gathered and waited in silence, the black-haired man who just the other day declared Melinda expelled stepped to the front and greeted the crowd.
Castor continued talking for a few minutes, reminding everyone about the Academy's history and its role in the Emeraldios Empire. This seemed to be part of the usual speech given each year, as only around one-third of the students seemed to pay attention to his words… that one-third undoubtedly being composed of the first-year students, of course.
"That's right! Jade Academy has always been a starting place for the future pillars of the empire! That is why, in those times of unrest, with monsters and demons raising their heads and gathering forces, Jade Academy is becoming a place where a true alliance and friendship between two nations will be forged!"
"...?"
"...oho~?"
Then, Castor's speech took a turn, and all students began paying the same amount of attention - with Melinda resigning her brows and smiling softly at the blatant change in the headmaster's attitude towards the initiative started by Diamodium's King.
"This year marks the beginning of the exchange program between our Emeraldios Empire and the Diamondium Kingdom! Everyone, warmly welcome the very first exchange student! A young lady from the ducal house Fenrioette. The fiance of the crown prince of Diamondium Kingdom. Melinda Fenrioette! Young lady Fenrioette, if you be so kind as to say a few words."
"!?!?"
The headmaster announced, reaching out his hand towards the only gold-haired girl, accidentally causing Catherine - who wasn't aware of Melinda's status in the slightest - to almost have a heart attack.
"...~"
Melinda made a benevolent smile and walked up to the headmaster as the students in her way moved to the sides.
"..."
Funnily enough, there was quite a lot of hesitation and worry in Castor's eyes as he was stepping a bit to the side when Melinda took over the main stage, but he somehow managed to keep a positive expression.
Honestly? It was quite amusing~
For a second, thoughts about calling him out in front of the gathered students did appear in Melinda's head. Still, the gold-haired girl decided that there would be plenty of other opportunities to pay him back later on - and even though she wore pants instead of a skirt, she curtsied splendidly to her fellow students and greeted them with a refreshing smile.