The Strangest Combination
That was the strangest combination of words I’d heard in a long time.
For one thing, Cyrus had zero interest in other people. Even if that person was a princess whose future entanglements he couldn’t possibly predict.
And another thing.
Even if Cyrus was interested in my real identity, there was absolutely no reason for me to feel displeased about it.
It had nothing to do with me, after all.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
When I put on a straight face, Joy tilted her head for a second but didn’t press the matter any further.
“Oh my, Angel.”
The voice I’d been bracing myself to hear arrived at exactly that moment.
I looked up wearing the polished smile I’d learned at the palace.
“Hello, Tiffany.”
“Oh, how unusual. You’re actually greeting me first.”
I gave a light shrug.
“It’s the new year. We can start everything fresh, right?”
“Well, if you manage to drop that tacky style of yours this year, maybe?”
Instantly, mocking giggles rose from behind Tiffany.
The Angels really were something else.
I sighed and got straight to the point.
“The school is holding a New Year’s resolution event. It’s voluntary, but I’d really appreciate it if you came too.”
“Not surprising at all.”
Tiffany skimmed the tablet I held out, then crossed her arms and answered in that haughty tone of hers.
“So the entire dormitory has to cooperate again just for your points? You talk about starting fresh, but there’s nothing new about any of this.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. A high score would prove I’m doing a good job as class president.”
I no longer bothered hiding the obvious truth.
“You only have to join one—yoga, meditation, making a planner, or basketball. Of course you’ll do both meditation and the planner.”
“Am I crazy? Why would I? And two of them?”
Regardless of Tiffany’s reaction, I calmly tapped the tablet and showed her the detailed activity descriptions.
After reading them, Tiffany froze mid-protest and went completely quiet.
The tablet didn’t contain anything special.
Just the names and photos of the guest instructors the school had invited, along with a simple activity outline. Most students would have glanced at it and moved on.
When Tiffany finally looked up and our eyes met, I gave her a sweet smile.
“Want me to get you a photography permit?”
Though her expression showed she was swallowing some humiliation, Tiffany answered in a strained voice.
“…Fine.”
“Good. I’ll email it to you.”
The moment she heard my reply, Tiffany spun on her heel and headed for the dormitory stairs.
“Evey, what exactly did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. The school did.”
I held the tablet out for Joy to see.
The instructors on screen were influencers who already had collaboration histories with multiple luxury brands.
They had apparently agreed to come during this New Year’s resolution week just to add the single line “Lecture at Royal High School” to their profiles.
The school name really was impossible to ignore.
The instant I learned that, I stopped worrying about Tiffany and her Angels.
“She’s probably the most excited person here right now.”
The only remaining problem was Cyrus.
When I appeared with the tablet, he read it with a twisted expression, gave a small nod, and that was it.
I guess that meant he was coming? Since when was he so agreeable?
Either way, every freshman in Dormitory 3 was definitely participating!
“Stop wasting time on pointless things and hold this, Angel.”
Thud.
I was checking the anonymous board to see if anyone had reported anything when a yoga mat suddenly slammed into my chest. I caught it on reflex.
“Instructor, let’s take a picture. Okay?”
When I looked up, Tiffany was holding her smartphone out to the instructor with the sweetest expression in the world.
“I even turned on notifications for your feed! I was so excited when I heard you were coming today. Just one selfie with me, please?”
Then she glanced back at me—now reduced to a luggage carrier—and added coldly with her mouth:
What are you waiting for? Move.
The instructor looked momentarily flustered by Tiffany’s intensity, but quickly smiled gently, as if dealing with a fan.
“Ah, sure. Let’s take one together.”
The moment she got permission, Tiffany excitedly started snapping photos from every angle. I just stared at the scene in a daze.
How many times was she going to press the shutter?
“She really does whatever she wants. Why do you let her push that on you?”
Joy walked over, clicking her tongue.
“It’s less ‘letting her’ and more ‘getting it dumped on me.’ No need to create conflict right in front of the instructor.”
“…You really are stubborn.”
Even as Joy shook her head, the relentless sound of the camera shutter didn’t stop.
By now the Angels who had gathered around were shooting envious glances toward the world of “celebrities.”
That was when it happened. From the middle of that glittering world, the instructor suddenly turned her gaze.
Straight toward Joy, who was standing beside me.
“Oh my goodness. Aren’t you the young lady from the Carter family?”
“Yes?”
“I had the honor of meeting Mrs. Carter at a recent health foundation charity event. She serves as a board member, doesn’t she?”
The instructor gently pushed Tiffany aside and stepped toward Joy. Her face now held clear enthusiasm that hadn’t been there before.
“Would you like to take a photo together? If it’s all right with you, miss.”
The moment “Mrs. Carter”—that is, Joy’s mother—was mentioned, I felt worry rise first. But instead of looking uncomfortable, Joy’s eyes sparkled as if she’d found an opportunity.
“Oh, of course. I’ll be sure to give her your regards. She was just saying how much she enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people at the charity event. One moment—I have a bit too much luggage right now.”
Joy snatched the yoga mat from my hands and, without hesitation, dumped both of them into Tiffany’s arms.
Thud.
The sound was much heavier than when Tiffany had shoved it at me earlier.
Before Tiffany—who had suddenly ended up clutching two mats—could even protest, Joy flashed a bright smile at the instructor.
“All set now. Shall we take that photo?”
Tiffany’s mouth opened and closed wordlessly, but she couldn’t bring herself to complain. She simply stood there, holding the luggage with a stunned expression.