PLEASE READ THIS NOTE!

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"I'm afraid I have to get going." I deftly packed up my stuff. I wanted to get away soon as possible.

"Ah, maybe-"

I cut him off before he suggested something unpleasant, "I'm sorry but I really need to go." I nearly sprinted out of the library. If only Bella was here to help me out. I haven't let her accompany me to school since she freaked out during sword practice when I got a cut on my cheek.

Good times.

"W-Wait, please!" Hunter ran after me. Are you fucking kidding me right now?!

"Sorry Poland, I've got important things to do."

"How come it feels like you're just making excuses to get away from me?"

"Because that's exactly what I'm doing!" I turned around with an irritated expression to be met with Hunter's hurt expression.

Ah, dammit. He's like a kicked puppy.

"Why don't you like me?" His question knocked some sense into me.

"That's for me to know."

"But-"

"But what? Can't accept the fact that there's someone who doesn't like you? Because everyone else has liked you?"

"W-Well..."

"Let me tell you one thing; this is nobility we're talking about. In order to survive, many will flatter those of higher ranks in order to gain power. This means that nobles are skilled in the art of pretending to like someone when in reality they don't want anything to do with that person.

"What I mean is that while you think everyone likes you, it's more likely numerous people are just pretending and sucking up to you. So get off your damn high horse and grow up. With how you are now, you'll be eaten up by the other nobles."

"...I understand." Hunter's head drooped. I couldn't stand to look at his dejected face, so I sprinted off. He'll definitely leave me alone now after a lecture like that.

"I can see how he's related to you," Christopher remarked dryly.

"Shut it."

"I'll be right back," I straightened the cuffs of my sleeves.

"Please don't start more trouble, you know what happened last time." Zachary sighed.

"Well that wouldn't be any fun, now would it?" With a sly grin, I made my way to the dejected boy named Hunter.

"Hunter, right?" His eyes widened.

"E-Er, Prince Harvard?! D-Do you need something from me?" Hm, while he does have good reactions, it'll get boring if he's scared merely by my presence.

"Not really. I just wanted to let you in on a little secret," I beckoned him to come closer.

"Wh-What is it?"

"I don't think you realize Randall's real intentions."

"What do you mean?"

"He was giving you advice. Trying to help you."

"He was?"

"Tell me something, would you go out of your way to not only study with someone you dislike for over an hour, but also give them advice on how to survive among nobles?"

"No, I guess not..." Hunter pondered it for a moment. I stepped back and let the idea simmer in his thoughts.

"So... you're saying that Randall does care about me?"

"Precisely."

"But what about when he admitted to making excuses to get away from me?"

"He was telling you the truth. He had to attend a meeting with his father. After all, even though he isn't the eldest, he's considered a candidate to become the next Duke."

"Really? Why would he say all that then?"

"He's what you call a tsundere."

"Tsundere?"

"Someone who is initially harsh, violent, and cold towards others, but will gradually warm up to those who keep pursuing them."

"But how will I know if he does care?" Dear lord, this boy is easy to manipulate but he asks too many questions.

"How about this? We'll set something up tomorrow and see what he does."

"What will it be?"

"We can discuss that in the library," I grinned mentally. Perfect, I had the boy in my hands now.

Randall's POV

"Achoo!" I sneezed as a cold shiver went down my spine.

"Are you feeling alright? Do you want me to start a hot bath for you?" Bella pressed her hand against my forehead. "It doesn't feel like you have a fever.

"A hot bath sounds great. I suddenly felt a chill."

"Maybe you should have soup for dinner then. What soup would you like?"

"I like anything you make, so anything is fine." Bella ran off and I went back to reading. Lately I've wanted to try writing my own book, but I'm not a proficient writer. I'll leave the book writing to the professionals.

"..." I tossed the book aside. Despite my harshness before, I felt bad after hurting Hunter's feelings. I'm not a heartless person.

Still, it'd be easier for me if Hunter left me alone. I didn't want to get sucked into the plot of the game. If things are going the way they're supposed to, Tabius will soon start to follow Hunter around.

I fiddled with my longish hair. My hair could now almost touch my shoulders if I let it loose and with the loose curls I could pass off as a girl with a lot of makeup. Well, a muscular girl at least.

I should cut my hair. I'll ask one of the maids to do it... or wait to see if Bella has time. I don't trust the other maids to not mess up my hair.

"Your bath is ready."

"Ah, thanks Bella." I paused, "if you have time can you cut my hair? It's getting too long."

"I thought you'd never ask. We should cut your hair before you take a bath." Bella sat me down in front of the mirror, scissors and comb ready.

Within minutes, my hair was much shorter and neater. Wow, I actually looked a lot hotter now.

"...Did you cast a good-looking charm on me or something?" I stared at my reflection.

"A good haircut can dictate a person's appearance more than people think." Bella swept the hair up. "You should take yuor bath before it gets cold.

"Thank you, Bella!" I stripped off my shirt as I walked into the bathroom.

The water fogged up the mirror as I stripped off the rest of my clothes. I sank into the hot water with a groan. Damn, hot baths are the greatest!

Bella came in soon after and washed my hair for me. I wasn't embarrassed since she had seen my body numerous times and this body was in way better shape than my previous one so I was more confident.

"Smells like... orange blossoms and roses." I noted, sniffing the aroma coming from the shampoo.

"It's roses, orange blossom, and mint." Bella replied. Ah, I can feel the mint now. Bella has only used shampoos and conditioners with mint in it ever since my scalp got burned.

"..." The silence was comforting as I let Bella do her thing.

"...Bella, what was your first thought of me? What did you think I'd be like?"

"..." Bella stilled. "Well, I thought you'd be like others your age; bratty, noisy, mischevious, and getting into everything you shouldn't get into. But then I saw you and I felt that you just needed someone to be there for you."

"..."

"You were so skinny and frail. Too small for your age. I daresay I hate the Duke for letting you go into such bad condition."

"Really?" I leaned my head back to meet her eyes, "I didn't know that."

"It's not something one would usually say. Now, put your head back to the way it was."

"Okay." Bella gently rinsed my hair, put conditioner in, and rinsed that out. She left to fix dinner as I washed my body. When finished, I dried myself off with a towel, wrapped myself in a fluffy black robe, and put the towel around my neck. I rubbed my hair as I stepped back into the bedroom.

To my surprise, Tabius, Christopher, and Harvard were in my room.

"So that's where you were." Harvard grinned, eyes flitting down to my partially exposed chest. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and it wasn't the good kind.

"Stop undressing me with your eyes." I snapped, plopping down into my armchair. "Why are the three of you in my room? Especially you, Christopher."

"I'm not here because I want to be," Christopher huffed.

"He's accompanying me," Harvard said.

"So, why are you three in my room?"

"We wanted to see how you were doing," Harvard smiled. Urgh, fake black-hearted sadist prince.

"Ha, Tabius? Worried about me? Yeah right, you're going to have to come up with something better than that."

"..." Tabius crossed his arms.

"I wanted to give this to you." Harvard tossed a small bag at me. It looked like there was a book inside. I took the book out and looked at it.

Oh. My. God.

The cover was an EXTREMELY explicit scene of four guys.

I shoved the book back in and threw it across the room.

"What the hell?!" Christopher jumped as it nearly hit him. "Do you know what you just di-"

"You sadistic hellhole bastard!" I lunged at Harvard, "why give me that garbage?!"

"Garbage? I thought you were in-" I smacked a hand onto his mouth.

"Hell no!" Harvard's hands came up and pried open the top of the robe so all of my chest was exposed. In shock, I took my hand off of his mouth.

"What a nice view~." I grabbed his pervy hands and forced them to let go. I quickly got up, snatched the bag up, and tossed it in the trash bin.

"Pervert," I grumbled as I fixed my robe.

"That haircut makes you look even more irresistable." Harvard got up. I saw Christopher and Tabius's disturbed faces. Escpecially Tabius.

"What the hell is up with you? Leave me alone." I backed up as Harvard stalked closer.

"I don't want to though?" Harvard's hand pushed up my chin. His face was getting closer... closer...

Too close.

My body moved on its owned. I twisted him around, grabbed his arm, and threw him down on the ground a few feet away.

Harvard's head almost collided with a table. It took a few moments for him to gain his senses back.

"Wh-Wh-Wh," Tabius and Christopher couldn't form words as they stared in horror. I could get executed for doing that to a prince.

But I don't care. I'm fine with dying.

"Ha...hahaha!" Harvard laughed, "you know, you're the only one I'd let attack me and not die."

"Oh, what an honor." I drawled sarcastically.

"Randall, I have your... dinner..." Bella trailed off as she saw the three intruders. "Oh dear, I didn't know you had guests." She glared at Tabius.

"They're not guests, they're intruders."

"We were just leaving." Christopher managed to usher Tabius and Harvard out of the room.

"Geez, why do troublesome things always happen to me?"