Selena Elis

In the morning, I dragged myself to the academy as usual.

"Hey man, thanks for yesterday."

Mush spoke to me before entering the academy gate.

"What do you mean?"

Didn't I just throw him yesterday?

"The sensation of my body crashing into Freya, it was quite nice.

Her aroma, her skin, and-"

"Enough, I don't want to hear it."

Mush is perverted as usual.

"Rhys, you haven't forgotten about that punishment, right?"

El spoke to me.

In the last test, I was too busy messing with Stylis that I didn't find a single ghost. As a result, I lost the bet.

"Sorry, but I already completed my punishment without you guys seeing it."

"What did you say? That's cheating!"

"We didn't get to see your miserable face when you got rejected!"

"'Rejected'? What do you mean?"

I walked over to Selena who happened to be at the gate.

Without her consent, I immediately wrapped my arm around her waist.

"What are you doing?!"

Selena, blushing, whispered to me.

"Just go with the flow or I'll break up with you."

It was a bright morning, the faces of the students adorned with smiles.

But those smiles turned into open mouths when they saw me.

El and Mush were no exception.

"Dude, what are you doing?!"

"Don't you know who she is?!"

"Of course I do, she's my beloved girlfriend. Isn't that right, darling?"

With Selena in my arms, I walked in.

From the right or the left, I was stared at by eyes filled with disbelief.

Envy, anger, disbelief, all became my breakfast.

All men are the same, we are creatures with high pride.

If you have a beautiful girlfriend, of course, you have to show her off.

Normie? Who cares about that status? I will enjoy this moment.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

*********************

At lunchtime.

Usually, I would eat with El and Mush.

But this time, I was having lunch with Selena.

"Sugar mommy, buy me the most luxurious lunch."

"Stop calling me that!"

I risked my life to be this shield. So of course, I will squeeze her dry.

"Look, he's Her Highness's boyfriend."

"Who is he? What's his family?"

"His name is unknown.

Doesn't that mean he's just a normie with no achievements?"

"How could someone like him date Her Highness?"

"I heard from Mush Rooms, he threatened Her Highness."

"Damn it, I'm so jealous!!"

"I'll hire an assassin later."

O my god who is myself, protect me from these cruel nobles.

*************

After school, in my penthouse.

Nature is not only about space and time; forests, oceans, mountains; and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Essentially – at least in the eyes of us Vanir gods – nature also includes humans and all the things they create.

If Aesir are gods of war and power, then Vanir are gods of fertility and nature.

We can understand everything. This ability manifests in our sixth sense, the sense of soul.

As part of Vanir, I can sense everything around me; including empathy and sympathy.

But I always wear a blindfold.

That way I can do anything without deteriorating my mental health.

Like causing this continent to fall into an economic depression.

But today, for some reason, my blindfold slightly opened.

So I could sense that Aria was filled with jealousy.

"I heard you're dating Her Highness."

Her voice was neutral, still respectful to me; as was her body language.

But I could see deep into her heart.

"Selena has a pretty good sorcery. I want to have it."

"Can't you get sorcery by using seidr on The Old Dream?"

"That won't add sorcery.

That action would just modify The Old Dream.

Seidr needs a medium – it needs a medium to create sorcery – a medium that is not bound by the practitioner."

"If you need a medium to create sorcery, why not mutilate your own body.

That shouldn't be a problem for you who has high regeneration ability."

I pulled out my hair.

Before one second passed, the hair had already turned to dust.

"This is the nature of an ancient race's body.

Any part that detaches will immediately turn to dust.

Even though part of my body is human, it doesn't mean much."

When I preserved my first body with Progenitor Essence Wings, the process caused the whole world to freeze.

"Why don't you catch one or two criminals, give them sorcery before executing them? That way, you can get a lot of sorcery."

…Today, Aria had many questions…

"I don't have information on the sorcery I want.

I've told you, even though I'm powerful, I'm not omniscient."

"What should I do to get you the sorcery information you want?"

"Find the Vanir Scripture for me.

That book records all kinds of sorcery that exist and have ever existed."

"Alright, I will pressure Canceria to work harder."

Finally finished.

As a leader, I must be wise in answering questions to not lose loyalty.

"Are you here just to express your jealousy?"

"I'm not jealous! I'm just curious!"

Aria lost her composure.

"I'm here to report two things.

First, about your sister who is on a field trip.

She was scheduled to return to the capital tomorrow, but on the way back her group encountered many problems that delayed their schedule."

I stayed silent and thought… while enjoying coffee and watching the city bathed in twilight.

"Sister is quite influential even though she's just a baron's daughter.

Many people dislike that, especially since she's achieved a lot in a short time.

Perhaps it's an assassination attempt on my sister."

"What should we do, my lord?"

"Nothing special, just do as usual.

If she can't return safely after I've given her strong sorcery, then we cut ties with her."

"As you wish, my lord.

Second, the preparations for the defamation project are complete.

In two days, on the national birthday, we can all take action."

"Good."

*************

One day before the national birthday, after my archery class finished, I went to the swordsmanship class.

This is the class attended by Selena, and also the class held by Alvis.

I suppressed my aura into my body to make people unaware of my presence.

After that, I began observing the class.

Alvis is a good teacher.

If a student doesn't understand the material he presents, he won't get angry; instead, he will approach the student before giving detailed instructions.

He's not even hesitant to do skinship, whether to white or black.

Alvis is also close to his students, whether female or male.

My gaze shifted from Alvis to Selena. She was now sleeping.

"What is this princess doing?!"

Selena, you've been looked down upon and constantly compared to your sister. Don't you feel hurt? Don't you want to get out of this status? Why are you slacking off instead?

************

When class ended, Selena and Alvis spoke.

"Selena, what about the engagement proposal I made yesterday?"

"I'm sorry, but I had to decline. I've found my true love at first sight."

"He's just a shield, you won't be able to hide behind him forever.

Especially since that shield is just a baron."

"Whether he's a baron or even a commoner, if I love him, I'll carry that love to marriage.

So please give up."

"Giving up or not depends on my will.

Please cooperate in the future."

"My beloved is already waiting for me, so I'll take my leave.

Please wish us a happy and fortunate date."

I waited for their conversation to end while leaning my back against a tree.

After Selena approached me, she immediately took my hand to leave.

Alvis just watched.

There was no jealousy in his eyes.

"How strange.

He stays calm even though the girl he's aiming for leaves with another man."

"You're right. The Incester family has been practicing inbreeding for hundreds of years, but somehow Alvis asked me to marry him."

"Maybe it's just politics?"

"No. The royal family and his family have always been at odds.

Also, considering his family's great power, there's no need for a political marriage."

We walked to the shopping district.

The atmosphere in the city was very festive.

Tomorrow is the national anniversary.

The people were preparing to celebrate it.

They decorated shops, buildings, streets, houses, and so on with flowers and other beautiful accessories.

The streets were full of noble carriages.

Almost all the nobles of this kingdom would be partying at the palace to rejoice together.

Not only domestic nobles but also foreign guests were invited to the feast.

The smiles on their faces expressed hope that tomorrow would be a bright and festive day.

Unbeknownst to them, there was an organization behind the scenes that would give them terror.

"Why are we going on a date?" I asked.

"This date is just to affirm our status."

"You've prepared your money, right, sugar mommy?"

"I told you, stop calling me that."

I recalled her behavior in class earlier.

"Why did you sleep in class?"

"You saw it?"

"The fewer classes I attend, the sooner I can go home. I only attend archery class."

"I just don't want to talk to Alvis."

"Really? I think it's more than that."

"Shut up! Don't talk further."

We arrived at the shopping district.

But strangely, many people were gathered around the street, as if they were waiting for something to pass by.

"What's going on?"

"Maybe a great noble is passing by."

Soon after, a group of knights on horseback passed by.

They were very cool, wearing white armor and blue cloaks.

The audience cheered, throwing flowers at the knights to welcome them.

The group of knights was led by a beautiful girl with long golden hair.

"Your Highness Helia, you are so beautiful!"

"The pride of the Elis Kingdom, Helia!"

"You are so graceful yet valiant, Your Highness!"

"The genius among geniuses!"

The crowd cheered for her as if they were cheering for a hero who had just saved the world.

I just remembered, the royal knights led by Helia had just returned after defeating a special ghost somewhere.

"Let's get out of here."

Selena suddenly dragged me away forcefully.

It seems Selena's envy towards her sister is very great.

To the point that she doesn't want to see Helia.

I can understand.

"Her Highness returned safely. Not a single life was lost."

"Her Highness Helia is indeed different from her useless sister."

"Have you heard, Selena is said to be dating a low-ranking noble."

"That suits her. From the beginning, she wasn't worthy of being a princess."

"You're right. She should have been born as a slave's child."

"What's the use of her being a princess?"

"She's just a disgrace to this kingdom."

"The king should throw her away."

"A useless tax eater."

I wanted to slaughter them.

************

Selena and I are the same.

Even without opening my blindfold, I can empathize with her.

We were born together with genius sisters.

In my previous life, I couldn't use sorcery compared to my sister who was proficient in sorcery and seidr.

In this life, it's not much better, I'm always compared to Eira who has great achievements.

Selena isn't much better.

She's not talented, not a genius, and can't even defeat special ghosts.

Very different from Helia, a genius who is both a Dark Lord and a Light Knight.

Many people don't understand our suffering.

They say, "Why are you hurt, we didn't physically hurt you or insult you, we just compared you."

They are foolish, lacking sympathy.

Comparison is another form of insult.

When we strive to become better individuals:

Even before reaching the goal, just taking one step, we are already compared.

"She could split a big stone after a week of training, why can't you?"

When we have achieved the goal:

"My goodness, is that all you can achieve? Look at your sister, she can defeat a special ghost."

Not making any progress is also a mistake:

"Useless person who can't do anything! Look at your sister who can contribute to the country."

Everything we do is a mistake.

Yet we are not criminals! We are not sinners!

Why do we have to suffer?

Being born as god or princess is not a privilege for us.

It's the very source of our suffering.