I’m a Second Male Lead in a Romance Fantasy, but I Don’t Like the Female Lead

A low hill located behind the Academy grounds. Though outside the walls, it’s still Academy property, so the Academy manages it diligently. They’ve created walking paths for strolls and hired landscapers to maintain it like a garden.

Naturally, it’s carefully managed so students can relax and relieve stress. Students commonly referred to it as the Hill Garden. A truly intuitive naming convention. The Hill Garden is always open except during weekday classes, though occasionally it opens during class hours for certain lessons. And today was one of those days.

“The weather is too beautiful today for an indoor lesson. Everyone, please follow me.”

Today’s Understanding Marriage class was an outdoor lesson. Once the teacher confirmed all students had arrived in the classroom, she led everyone outside. Though it was still early March, the weather was warm enough for a perfect picnic.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For suggesting we take this class.”

I felt intensely grateful to Hestia. Drinking tea, chatting, and having a picnic in the garden on a nice day—and all of this counts as a class with academic credit. Even considering the condition of being paired as a male and female, where could you find such a wonderful course?

Upon entering the Hill Garden, we saw a teaching assistant waiting with armfuls of picnic blankets. So this class has an assistant too. I was a bit surprised. The teacher smiled at the students who were staring blankly at her and said:

“Please enjoy your picnic freely.”

Then she sat on a blanket and began reading a book. Is she holding an outdoor class just because she wanted to read outside?

I received a blanket from the assistant and found a nice spot. A place with moderate sunlight where spring flowers blooming nearby could be seen.

“The weather is really nice today.”

“It is.”

I spread the blanket and sat down with Hestia. She doesn’t seem to be in a good mood. Though she responds, the conversation doesn’t flow.

“Is there anything you’d like me to do for you?”

“Nothing in particular right now.”

“Don’t be like that. Opportunities like this are rare.”

I tried hard to improve her mood.

“How about a massage?”

“A massage?”

“Yes. Aren’t you stiff from studying?”

I had no particular inappropriate intentions. Really. After thinking for a moment, she accepted my offer. She must have been stiff after all.

“Alright. Should I lie down like this?”

“It’s not that formal. Just sit with your back to me.”

I stopped her as she was about to lie face down on the blanket. I don’t know how to do that kind of massage, and even if I did, it would be embarrassing to do it where everyone could see.

“Tell me if it hurts, okay?”

I gently placed my hands on Hestia’s shoulders. Her flowing hair touched my hands. I lightly brushed her hair to the side.

“Is my hair in the way?”

Before I could answer, Hestia took a hair tie from her pocket, held it in her mouth, and tied her hair up. Naturally, her white nape came into view. I stared at it unconsciously. Sensing my gaze, she blushed slightly.

“It’s embarrassing when you stare like that.”

I quickly turned my head away. Being caught staring was embarrassing. My earlobes burned with awkwardness.

“I’m done.”

Shortly after, she presented her tied hair with a “ta-da.” Her voluminous silver hair was neatly tied into what you might call a ponytail style. As if entranced, I gently combed through the rhythmically swaying tail at the back of her head.

“It really suits you.”

“You can touch it, but please be gentle. It hurts even with a little pressure.”

I immediately let go. It shouldn’t hurt.

“Now, please continue the massage.”

She smiled slightly. Perhaps my reaction improved her mood a bit.

I placed my hands on her shoulders, trying hard not to focus too much on her neckline by thinking of other things. I moderated my strength, as too much force could cause pain rather than relief.

Her shoulders suddenly shot upwards. She seemed very tense.

“I can’t give you a massage if you tense up like that.”

“But it tickles. Just a moment. Whew, let’s try again! I won’t tense up this time.”

She lowered her raised shoulders and took a deep breath. There’s no need to be so tense just for a massage.

I placed my hands between her neck and shoulders again. This time I intentionally positioned them closer to her neck, aiming to work my way down from there.

“Hehe! Wait a moment!”

As soon as I touched her, Hestia squirmed and moved away from me.

“You’re not doing this on purpose, are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you intentionally tickling me as a joke?”

She glared at me while hunching her body. I couldn’t help but smirk. I moved closer to her side and lightly poked her waist with my index finger.

“Eek!”

She jumped with a strange cry I’d never heard before.

“W-w-what are you doing!”

She stuttered, apparently quite startled. When Cordelia elbowed her before, she sat there unfazed, so I thought she wasn’t the ticklish type, but it seems that’s not the case.

“I’m not the one tickling you; it seems you’re just extremely ticklish.”

“If that’s the case, you could just say so instead of poking my side!”

Hestia stomped her foot.

“Well, when Lady Deneb poked you last time, you didn’t react at all, so I was just checking.”

“I feel like family with Cordelia, so it’s different.”

“I’m not family?”

“Not yet. And it feels different with Cordelia.”

“Are you perhaps embarrassed?”

Hestia didn’t answer, but her ears turned red. Her ears are more honest than her mouth.

“Anyway, I’ve had enough of the massage.”

Hestia sat down. Having given up on receiving a massage, this time she sat beside me instead of showing her back.

“I feel foolish for having been in a bad mood alone.”

“Hestia. As I’ve said before, if you tell me to stop, I’ll just stop.”

No matter how much Lily is a welcome fellow countryman from another world, she and I are strangers. If Hestia continues to struggle, I’ll stop and find another way. After all, having decided to live in this world, Hestia is a far more important person to me.

“No. How could I ask you to stop after seeing that?”

“Hestia.”

“Enough. Let’s stop talking about this now.”

I wasn’t convinced, but Hestia wanted to end this conversation. She hurriedly changed the subject.

“More importantly, I really never dreamed that His Highness the Crown Prince would be such a person.”

Hestia rubbed her arms as if just thinking about it gave her goosebumps. Fortunately, like Cordelia, she doesn’t seem to have any romantic fantasies about men who hit and bite.

“Really? Doesn’t he seem unpleasant to everyone?”

“Who? His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Yes.”

She made an expression of incomprehension at my words. Why? Isn’t he obviously an unpleasant and sinister bastard to everyone? I guess others haven’t experienced Wilhelm glaring at them like I have.

“He keeps picking fights with me for trivial reasons. And as they say, a bucket that leaks inside will leak outside too—someone so rotten inside can’t be decent on the outside.”

However, other students’ thoughts seem quite different. Hestia explained Wilhelm’s public image among the general student body.

“First of all, His Highness the Crown Prince is handsome.”

“Are you complimenting his face right in front of me?”

“Oh please, in my eyes, Mikhail is more handsome.”

“I’m satisfied.”

She shook her head at my childish reaction.

“And he excels in both literary and martial arts. He’s known for his exceptional skill with a sword, and his scholarship is also renowned.”

“I’m better with a sword.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll praise you plenty later, so just listen quietly for now.”

She continued her explanation. I decided to hold my tongue despite the urge to speak, as she kept scolding me for my childish reactions. For some reason, my emotions take precedence whenever Wilhelm is involved.

“There are no siblings who currently threaten His Highness’s position. His only sister, Princess Yuria Leonhardt, has already renounced her right to succession.”

So he has a sister. That’s news to me. I wonder if Wilhelm’s younger sister knows her brother is such a pervert.

“The royal family enrolls in the Academy not only to build connections but also to create a friendly image among commoners. However, His Highness the Crown Prince had enormous support from commoners even before entering the Academy. He had built a good image by participating in relief efforts and volunteer work. He also maintains good relationships with many other nobles.”

“But there’s Lady Deneb and me.”

Both the Sirius Ducal family and the Deneb Ducal family are among the top aristocratic families in the Empire.

“That’s true. While the Deneb Ducal family is already estranged, why is he so hostile toward you, Mikhail? Could it be jealousy?”

I had already told Hestia about all the times Wilhelm had picked fights with me.

“Isn’t it because I intervened in Lady Deneb’s issue on the night of the eve party?”

“Based on his usual behavior, he would have apologized the day after the eve party and sought to establish a good relationship with you. But he didn’t.”

“There’s no need for him to go that far. After all, you said Her Highness the Princess has renounced her succession rights.”

“That’s not necessarily true. It’s an open secret that Her Highness the Princess has exceptional ambition.”

Even though Hestia is a member of a count’s family, it’s ridiculous that even Academy students know about the ambitions of the royal family. Does Wilhelm know about this and just watch?

“And he just lets it be?”

“Yes, well. She must be quite skillful, as she’s never been caught. To ordinary people, she appears to be a princess who simply follows her brother, His Highness the Crown Prince, diligently in everything.”

“So for the sake of keeping the princess in check, the Crown Prince would have wanted to be on good terms with me?”

She nodded.

“For someone with no interest in politics, you understand quickly.”

“I’m not completely disinterested.”

“Was there anything I just told you that you already knew?”

“…No.”

“That’s what I mean by having no interest.”

I picked a fight unnecessarily and lost.

“To conclude, His Highness the Crown Prince is an extreme romantic who kicked away his engagement with the Deneb Ducal family and destroyed his relationship with the Sirius Grand Ducal family, all for love.”

“Why that conclusion? ‘Romantic’ is too generous.”

“Then what term would you prefer?”

“Crazy bastard?”

“I won’t deny that.”

Just a few days ago, Hestia would have jumped up and down crying “royal insult” at the mere mention of “jerk,” but after seeing Lily’s bruised arms yesterday, that Hestia was gone.

“His Highness’s love is one-sided and violent. It’s a madman’s love.”

“Then what about me?”

She smirked at my question.

“At least I know you’re not a madman. Elementary school love?”

“What does that mean?”

I can tell it’s not a particularly good meaning.

“Like how elementary school children ask their teacher to compare everything one by one… Ah, no! Mikhail! Stop it, it tickles!”

Afterward, I thoroughly attacked her sides. Who’s the elementary schooler now?