The More the Tsundere Lady Tries to Be Honest, the More Chaotic the World Becomes - A Slap of Gratitude and the Third Volume

At the gates of the academy, Alicia took three deep breaths. Last night, she'd practiced in front of the mirror. She must have repeated those five characters—"Good morning"—a hundred times. She'd forcibly stopped her hand from throwing the pillow a third time. That had to count as real progress. The gas lamps still glowed faintly orange. The morning air was cold, frost thin on the stone pavement. Autumn was deepening. Alicia stepped down from the carriage and straightened her skirts, her gaze turning toward the gate pillars. Jet-black short hair. White gloves. Perfect posture of respect. "Good morning, Miss," The same voice as yesterday. Calm, slightly low, the kind of voice that made something deep in her chest beat of its own accord just from hearing it. Alicia steeled herself internally. Today was the day. Just say good morning. That's all. She opened her mouth. "…You're going to make me late. Move," Subzero. Her own voice came out colder than she expected. Leon didn't flinch at all, simply stepping aside with perfect precision to clear the path. He didn't even say "understood"—just bowed quietly. His hand reached for Alicia's bag, and he switched it to his own naturally. Alicia passed through the gate. (There are like a hundred pillows flying around in here!!!) Internally, it was a disaster. She'd been about to say good morning. She really was. So why did "move" come out instead?! What even is "move"?! Wait, "good morning" is definitely a word in Japanese, right?! Leon began walking quietly beside her. Within a three-meter radius—that was the job description of a Wachhediner, a court attendant-butler. The exclusive butler with a 12% pass-rate certification was always at his master's side. There was no escape. The White Rose Corridor came into view. The symbolic hallway running the length of the first floor of Klangstein Academy's main building, with rose motifs carved into white stone pillars. Morning light streamed through the windows, casting long thin shadows on the floor. As Alicia walked, she mentally revised her plan for the day. First period: etiquette. Second period: history. After lunch, she'd catch Leon in the hallway and—say thank you. Just one word. For yesterday, when he'd casually carried her bag. For the night before, when he'd delivered documents. For the small things he probably didn't even remember. She'd put it into words properly. This time. Absolutely. ―― Lunch period ended, and students spilled into the hallway. The smell of the dining hall still lingered in the air—cream stew and fresh-baked rye bread. "…Leon," Alicia called without turning around. The presence three steps behind her drew closer immediately. "Yes, Miss," Just that voice made something deep in her chest move of its own again. No good, calm down. She'd practiced today. A hundred times. She should be able to say thank you. Alicia turned to face him. Leon stood at his full 182 centimeters, facing her directly, watching quietly. Clear blue eyes, calm and composed. A shallow vertical scar on his left cheek. His white-gloved hands were naturally folded in front of his chest—the perfect posture of a butler. "You always…for me…" The words were coming. Good sign. Her voice trembled slightly, but the words were coming. "I wanted to say thank you, and—" That was the moment. Alicia's right hand completely disconnected from her will. *Snap.* The sound echoed through the hallway. Dry, sharp. Alicia's right hand had struck Leon's left cheek. It was a light sound, but it was unmistakably a slap. The surrounding students turned in unison. The hallway fell silent. "…Miss," Leon pressed his cheek with one hand, his composure completely unshaken. "Are you angry about something?" "No!!" A loud voice burst out before she could stop it. Alicia noticed the stares around her, coughed, and lowered her voice. "…That wasn't anger. It was—gratitude. A slap of gratitude." Silence. Every student in the hallway stopped moving. "A slap of…gratitude," Leon repeated the words quietly. "…I see." "Don't 'I see' me!!" She spoke intensely in a low voice, and even as she did, she understood. What else could he say? The concept of a gratitude slap was so unprecedented that no other response existed. Leon reached into his inner pocket. He withdrew a black leather-bound notebook. The sound of a quill pen scratching filled the hallway. He wrote smoothly, quickly. "Wait, what are you writing?!" "A record," "A record of what?!" "Of your tsundere remarks, Miss. This is the third volume," Alicia's thoughts stopped for three seconds. "…Three volumes," "Yes. I began the first during your middle academy years, the second filled during last year's ball season, and today's gratitude slap makes for an auspicious opening to the third," "Show me!!" Alicia reached out. Leon, without any particular hurry, simply held the notebook a bit higher. That was enough—it was out of reach. Alicia was 165 centimeters; the difference between them was 17 centimeters. She rose on her toes. Out of reach. She tried again, this time with a small jump. Out of reach. Leon raised the notebook by exactly one centimeter. As harassment, it was understated. But it worked perfectly. On the third attempt, Alicia jumped in earnest. "You…!" she growled. Her toes left the floor, her white lace skirt swayed slightly, and several underclassmen nearby hurriedly looked away. She didn't reach it. Leon's mouth relaxed. Just barely. Almost imperceptible, the slightest change. But unmistakably, he smiled. The moment that smile entered Alicia's vision, something in her chest pounded explosively, and the temperature of her face rose instantly. Her mouth moved before her reason could catch up. "What are you smiling about?! Idiot!!" "Yes," Leon answered without changing his expression at all. "I'm an idiot. Your idiot, Miss." Something in Alicia's head shattered with an audible crack. Her face—all the way to her ears—was burning. It felt like every capillary in her body was boiling. "…You—shut—!!" The words wouldn't form. Alicia turned on her heel and walked away down the White Rose Corridor at full speed. Running would violate etiquette, so she fast-walked instead, at the absolute limit of acceptable pace. She felt stares piercing her back. Every student in the hallway seemed to be watching. More than that, the words "Your idiot" wouldn't leave her head. What did that mean? Was he admitting he was an idiot, or saying he wasn't, or— "That young lady might be worth keeping records on." A voice drifted from down the hallway. Not low, but cold. Calculated, quiet. ―― After lunch, the Silver Spoon Hall gradually emptied, seats by the windows opening up first. A few young ladies still remained in the priority seating reserved for the children of the Five Great Houses. "I heard Miss Edelstein struck her butler in the hallway." The speaker sat in a corner by the window. Beatrice Graoschloss. Seventeen years old. Narrow eyes, a smile fixed to her face. From the Graoschloss family, which oversaw judiciary and legislature—a cadet branch of the conservative faction that advocated strict enforcement of emotional restraint etiquette—her brown hair was finely curled and swayed with each movement. The young ladies attending her glanced over at her words. "From the perspective of emotional restraint etiquette…it might present a slight problem," Not a cold voice. But not warm either. Refined, seemingly intelligent, but with poison definitely mixed in. The young ladies around her murmured. "Well, Miss Edelstein…" "Emotional behavior in public is…" "But the other party is just a butler…" "Still, etiquette is etiquette…" From a distant seat, Alicia heard the conversation. She straightened her spine and composed her face into that of a perfect young lady. Her expression didn't waver. Noble bearing—the spiritual influence born from bloodline and refinement—functioned best when emotions were stable. In this moment, Alicia's noble bearing functioned perfectly. The gazes of the surrounding young ladies were drawn toward her as if magnetized. Internally, she was screaming. (That's not it!! It's a physical condition!! I was just trying to say thank you and my hand moved on its own!! Besides, it's a physiological issue before it's an etiquette one!!) Three steps behind Alicia, Leon quietly opened his notebook. The sound of his quill pen running across the page. He was writing something smoothly. Beatrice's gaze met Alicia's for just a moment. She smiled and looked away. —That young lady might be worth keeping records on. The voice she'd heard in the hallway echoed in Alicia's ears again. ―― After school. The hallway of the Edelstein mansion was dyed orange by twilight. Alicia returned to her room and immediately collapsed onto her bed. Technically, she'd sat down gracefully before throwing herself onto her back, but it was still a violation of etiquette. There was no one else in the room. "A slap of gratitude…" She murmured at the ceiling. Saying it out loud only made it more embarrassing. What kind of thing was that to say? Completely unprecedented. She didn't want it in the history books. A knock sounded. "Miss, if I may," It was Hans Brenner, the house steward. Fifty-six years old, head of household staff. He had white-streaked whiskers and a calm demeanor. He entered carrying several documents. "Your mother is concerned about how you're doing at the academy." Alicia jumped up and quickly straightened her posture. "There's nothing for her to be concerned about," Leon entered from behind. "Actually, today when Miss attempted to express gratitude in the hallway, there was a slight—" "Leon," "Yes," "That's enough," "Understood," Hans placed the documents on the table, his eyes narrowing. The wrinkled corners of his eyes seemed to smile slightly. "…Ah, but," he said, "your mother experienced something similar at about your age." Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Mother did?" "Yes," Hans cleared his throat once and continued, aligning the edges of the documents. "When the master proposed to your mother. She wanted to express her gratitude because she held him dear. At that time—" "At that time?" "She threw a vase," "…What," The room fell silent. "A vase," "Yes," "She threw it," "Yes. With quite a good running start, I'm told. The master managed to dodge it, and was moved by what he considered to be love. Given how the two of them are now, it turned out—" "Wait," Alicia stood up. "Is that genetic? A curse? A physical condition?!" Hans cleared his throat again. "The women of the Edelstein family have traditionally…that is, it's not limited to your mother—" He stopped mid-sentence. He carefully aligned the documents on the table and bowed quietly. "Forgive me," The door closed. An impeccably timed escape. Alicia turned to Leon. "Is there a way to fix it?!" Leon paused for a moment. Twilight filled the room. The white marble walls were dyed orange, and the full-length mirror with its cracked surface reflected the light. "Miss," "What," "That clumsiness of yours," Leon looked directly at Alicia. Clear blue eyes, calm and composed, with orange light dwelling in them. "is the greatest reward for me," Alicia's thought process stopped. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. The temperature of her face rose in stages. Her ears were hot. Her neck was hot. Without even looking in the mirror, she knew her face was now the color of a boiled octopus. "…You—shut—up!! Idiot!! Don't say weird things!!" She slammed her bedroom door with all her strength. *Bang*—a loud sound. A violation of etiquette. But that was the least of her concerns right now. She slid down the wall and collapsed onto the floor, hugging her knees. The greatest reward. The greatest…reward. What did that mean? Was it a joke, was he serious, was he speaking as a butler— Outside the window, t

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Episode 2

Name: The More the Tsundere Lady Tries to Be Honest, the More Chaotic the World Becomes
Author: Novelia

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