Chapter 145: Fran Eldoria, At Last
Professor Dexter’s voice was calm, gentle, but carried weight that made every ear sharpen.
"Princess Dila," he said again, his tone firm yet kind, "what makes you enroll in this academy? May I have a word from you?" His lips curved into a faint, steady smile, his staff resting lightly by his side.
The question struck the entire room like a bell. The other students’ eyes widened in unison. Not once had the professor asked them such a personal question. Murmurs spread quickly, but then stilled as their eyes locked on the silver-haired elf princess.
Dila froze in her place. "A... a..." she muttered softly, her voice trembling. She glanced around the hall, seeing dozens of curious eyes staring straight at her. Her palms grew damp, and a thin bead of sweat traced down her temple. She swallowed hard, heart racing beneath her uniform as if it wanted to leap out.
Her eyes darted to Fran beside her. Fran’s cat ears perked instantly, her blue eyes shimmering with excitement. Clutching her hands close to her chest, Fran smiled so brightly it was as if she’d been waiting for this very moment. She bounced slightly on her seat, tail flicking uncontrollably. "Do it, sister," she whispered, almost ready to leap with joy.
Dila drew a shaky breath, turning back toward Professor Dexter. Slowly, she clenched her right hand into a tight fist and pressed it firmly against her chest. Her other arm swept outward with sudden force, her movements sharper than her nervous tone. "It’s because... I want to get stronger!" Her voice rang clear, carrying through the hall despite her earlier hesitation.
The professor’s eyes glimmered with approval. He leaned slightly forward, smiling wider. "Ohhh... ambitious," he said softly, his tone a mix of admiration and curiosity.
The students whispered again, this time less mocking and more intrigued, some nodding at her declaration, others still wide-eyed at the princess’s blunt honesty. Fran beamed proudly, her tail swishing so quickly it almost knocked her chair.
Yet, as Professor Dexter’s gaze lingered on Dila, something subtle unsettled him. To everyone else, the princess seemed normal—nervous but determined. But to his trained sight, something was missing. The magical aura that usually shimmered faintly around students when they declared their purpose... was absent around her. Nothing radiated from Dila but silence.
Professor Dexter’s smile softened as he straightened. He didn’t press further. Instead, he gave her a slow nod of acknowledgment, as if to say, That answer is enough... for now.
Professor Dexter leaned back slightly, his robe flowing as he shifted his stance. His warm smile never left his face as he turned his eyes from Dila to the girl seated right beside her. His voice carried that same calm weight, though this time there was a hint of playful curiosity.
"Oky, Princess... thank you for your little time and effort." He gave Dila a respectful nod, then let his gaze slide toward Fran. His eyes glinted knowingly. "And now... hmmm. You, cat girl. What is your name?"
Fran’s ears shot straight up. "Eeeekk!" she squeaked, her voice cracking in surprise. Her hands shot to her chest as though she’d just been struck. Then she burst into an awkward, high-pitched laugh. "Ahh... hahaha!"
The sudden outburst drew a ripple of giggles from the other students. Some covered their mouths, trying to hide their laughter, while others shook their shoulders in quiet amusement. Fran’s flustered expression—her flushed cheeks, the way her cat tail twitched wildly—only made her look even funnier.
Professor Dexter chuckled under his breath, covering his mouth with one hand as if trying to remain composed, but his eyes betrayed his amusement. "My, my... lively, aren’t you?" he said softly, shaking his head in quiet laughter.
Dila, watching from the side, felt her lips tug into a rare, gentle smile. She lowered her gaze for a moment, the warmth in her chest softening her earlier tension. Seeing Fran stumble like that, so full of life and unashamed, reminded her of how different the two of them were—yet how much she appreciated having Fran by her side.
Fran, realizing she’d become the center of attention, puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance, then giggled nervously again, rubbing the back of her neck. "S-sorry, professor!" she said quickly, her voice still cracking with laughter.
The class atmosphere lightened, the earlier tension lifting into something more playful and warm.
Fran ducked her head, her ears twitching nervously. Her cheeks glowed pink as she squirmed in her seat, rubbing her legs together beneath the desk. Both of her hands pressed to her flushed face, tapping at her cheeks as though trying to calm the heat rising there. Her wide eyes glanced timidly toward the professor, tail flicking back and forth in little bursts of nerves.
"M-my name..." she mumbled, voice trembling. Then, taking a small breath, she tried to steady herself. "My name is kind of short, sir."
The professor tilted his head, amused, lips curling into a gentle smile. His glasses caught the faint shimmer of the chandelier light as he leaned in ever so slightly. "Short? Hmmm. Well then... go on." His tone was calm, inviting.
Fran swallowed, her throat dry, then blurted out softly, "Umm... my name is Fran. Only Fran."
For a moment, silence washed over the classroom. The playful energy that had bubbled before was cut down by the weight of her words. Dozens of eyes turned her way, curiosity sparking in their expressions.
"Huh...? Just Fran?" one of the students whispered.
"No full name?" another murmured, brows furrowed.
The air grew awkward, like a ripple of doubt passing through the hall. Fran’s smile faltered. Her ears drooped low as if pulled by invisible strings, her tail no longer twitching but curling around her leg protectively. Slowly, her playful brightness dimmed.
Professor Dexter’s kind expression softened into something more thoughtful. "Hmmm... odd," he muttered, tapping his chin, his earlier lightheartedness now shadowed with intrigue.
Fran’s eyes, once glittering with playful spark, darkened as her head lowered further. A faint shadow veiled her face, her lips pressing into a thin line. She ducked almost completely, her shoulders trembling slightly. For a heartbeat, she looked less like the cheerful cat girl everyone had come to expect... and more like someone carrying a quiet, lonely truth she could not escape.
The hall was silent again.
Dila, watching her sister’s sudden shift, felt something stir in her chest—a pang of sympathy, heavy and unspoken.
Fran’s head was bowed so low her bangs veiled her eyes. Her voice trembled as she repeated the words over and over, like a fragile string about to snap.
"It’s because... it’s because..." she whispered, her tone breaking. "I can’t say my full name... because if I said it, it will remind me... remind me that my parents are gone... they didn’t come back... and... and..." Her words stumbled, falling out in jagged fragments, her shoulders shaking as if the admission itself was too heavy for her small frame.
Dila’s eyes widened, heart twisting at the sight. Without a second thought, she leaned closer, wrapping one arm firmly around Fran’s shoulders. Her other hand pressed against Fran’s trembling hand, steadying it, pulling her close.
"I’m here, Fran," Dila whispered, her voice firm but tender. Her chest ached, her eyes stung, tears brimming until they spilled lightly. She shut her eyes, holding her sister’s smaller form tighter. "Please... calm down. I’m here."
Fran’s ears twitched miserably, drooping even more as her tears streaked down her cheeks. Her tail coiled around herself, as if trying to hide from the room full of stares.
The hall rippled with murmurs, students whispering among themselves.
"Is it true...? Her parents are gone?"
"Poor thing..." someone muttered, half pity, half curiosity.
But another voice cut in, sharper, dismissive. "Nah... she’s just a peasant. Let her be."
A hush fell, the cruelty of the words hanging in the air. Fran flinched, her ears flicking as if each whisper struck her like tiny blows. Her body sank lower, sadness sinking deeper into her chest.
Meanwhile, Dila only held her closer, her hand running through Fran’s navy-blue hair gently, protectively. "Then be Fran," she whispered softly, eyes still closed, her cheek resting against Fran’s head. "Nothing more, nothing less... just my Fran."
The warmth of her words eased a bit of the sting, though Fran’s sobs still shook quietly against her sister’s embrace.
Professor Dexter, unlike the students, didn’t acknowledge the murmurs or the cruelty floating through the room. His expression had turned serious, calm, and unbothered by the noise. With a deliberate wave of his staff, a magical shimmer unfolded in the air, and once again a scroll appeared in his hand, glowing faintly in the dim classroom light.
"Fran..." he muttered, adjusting his glasses, eyes scanning the list. "Fran... Fran... let’s see." His voice carried evenly, not cold, not pitying, but steady, as though to remind the room of order amidst the chaos.
The parchment glowed faintly as names fluttered up the scroll, each glowing then fading as he searched for her. The other students hushed again, their curiosity pricking at the professor’s calm persistence.
Professor Dexter’s finger paused midway down the glowing scroll. His glasses slid slightly down the bridge of his nose as his eyes caught a peculiar mark.
"Ahaa..." his voice slipped out, quiet at first, but firm enough that the room’s atmosphere shifted.
Dila’s blue eyes widened, her body stiffening as she turned sharply to face him. Fran, still half-curled from sadness, lifted her head too, frozen. Both of them stared, their ears and hearts straining to catch his next words.
The professor’s lips curled, though uneasily, as if even he wasn’t sure how to present what he had just uncovered. Then suddenly, a burst of laughter spilled from him. "Ahh... hahaha... hahahaha!" The chuckles rang, light but edged with a nervousness he couldn’t quite mask. He tapped the scroll with his staff, and with a shimmer, a faint plus symbol glowed on its side.
"Here... it says..." His voice wavered, and with a press of his finger, the scroll unfurled magically, extending further and further like a banner. The golden letters shimmered in mid-air.
A note emerged, written with unmistakable authority.
"Fran is now officially part of the Eldoria family. Since my daughter refuses to leave her, and treats her like true kin, it is only right that we share our name. Her extended name shall now be Eldoria. From this day forward, her full name shall be Fran Eldoria."
The professor blinked at the words, almost incredulous, his hand trembling slightly as he lowered the scroll. "Remarkable... Truly remarkable..."
Fran’s ears shot up high, her tail whipping behind her as her breath caught. She pressed both hands to her mouth, tears that had moments ago been born of sorrow now brimming with astonishment. "R... really?!" she squeaked. Her wide eyes darted to Dila, and then her voice rang out, overflowing with pure joy.
"Really, Sister? I’m... really your sister now?! Yeyyy!"
She bounced up and down on her chair like a spring, her tail flicking madly, her cheeks lit up with the brightest smile she’d ever worn. Her joy was so unrestrained it seemed to radiate across the hall.
Dila, still sitting, felt warmth bloom in her chest. The corners of her lips curved into a rare, soft smile. Her heart fluttered with happiness seeing Fran’s joy, but as Fran’s cheers echoed on, she paused. Her gaze dimmed, drifting inward as she thought.
Odd...
Her eyes narrowed slightly, lowering.
(That old fart... Father... doesn’t usually consider what I want. He always has that protective cold nature, a bit distant when I’m around but clingy... And yet here, he...) She stopped, pressing her hand gently against her chest, as if grounding herself. (But yes... this one thing... I really wanted to have a sister. Thank you. If Fran is to be my real sister... then now she truly is.)
Her lips curved again, this time a smile hidden in her heart, quiet but deep.
Meanwhile, the professor’s hands were still trembling as he held the scroll aloft. His voice shook, too, betraying his disbelief. "To think... even King Albedo himself... would leave such a personal note... I... I..." He adjusted his glasses quickly, composing himself.
The room around them had fallen utterly silent. Students who just moments ago had whispered and gossiped now sat frozen, their mouths closed, their faces unreadable. Some exchanged nervous glances, others bowed their heads slightly as though unsure how to react.
The weight of the Eldoria family name pressed into the marble-floored hall like an invisible gravity.
And in the center of it, Fran’s laughter bubbled, untamed and childish, filling the silence with a joyous sound.
Professor Dexter adjusted his glasses quickly, the tremor in his hands finally easing as he rolled the scroll closed with a faint shimmer. He let out a long breath, then clapped his hands together once as if to reset the atmosphere.
"Oky, oky..." he said with a calming tone, nodding to himself before fixing his eyes on Fran. His serious composure softened into a smile. "Now then... Fran Eldoria. What is your hobby?"
Fran, still glowing with excitement, tilted her head with that wide, playful grin stretching her lips. Her cat ears twitched proudly, and without a hint of hesitation, she chirped, "Ohh, that’s simple, sir! My hobby is... mostly clinging to my sister! And sometimes serving her!"
Her words rang loud and clear across the silent hall.
The students, who had been holding their breaths just moments ago, suddenly broke. Laughter bubbled out in waves. Some tried to hide their giggles behind their sleeves, while others leaned over to whisper and snicker. "Clinging to the Princess...?" one student muttered, while another added, "Serving her? Hahaha, what kind of hobby is that?"
Professor Dexter, caught between professionalism and amusement, pressed a hand to his mouth and chuckled softly. "Hahaha... clingy, is it? That is... certainly unique, Fran," he said, his tone gentle and teasing.
Dila’s ears twitched violently. A deep red blush bloomed across her cheeks as she whipped her head toward Fran. "F... Fran!" she hissed in a sharp whisper, her voice cracking just slightly with embarrassment. Her hands trembled against her lap as she struggled to keep her composure, but her flushed expression betrayed her entirely.
Fran, unfazed by the laughter around her, leaned into Dila’s side with a mischievous smile, tail flicking back and forth like a banner of victory. "What? It’s true, sis~!" she whispered in a sing-song tone, loud enough for nearby students to overhear.
The students laughed even harder, their chuckles echoing like ripples in the vast marble hall.
Dila pressed her hands against her burning cheeks, trying to hide behind her silver hair as she muttered in her mind, Why... why does she always say it out loud... in front of everyone...
Meanwhile, Fran purred happily at Dila’s side, hugging her arm tightly as if to prove her point to the entire main lobby class room hall.
The professor adjusted his glasses again, still smiling. "Well then... I suppose we’ve learned that Fran’s greatest treasure is her sister," he said warmly, his voice carrying through the laughter.
Dila slumped slightly in her seat, utterly defeated by the situation, while Fran looked prouder than ever, her grin shining as bright as a sunrise.