Chapter 88 – Crossing Paths

Episode 89 – Crossroads

The conversation continued for 10 minutes, and after hearing both the general misunderstanding and the truth, Luan made one request.

“Now promise me you won’t do something like this again.”

“… “If you are satisfied with that.”

“I’m done with this. “What about you?”

When the choice came up, Alyssa, who had been watching strangely from earlier, crossed her arms and nodded.

“What… That’s enough for me too. It’s true that I was the cause, but I didn’t directly spread the rumor.”

Now Alyssa is feeling sorry for Skadia.

I don’t know the whole story, but I am certain that Scadia did not intentionally entangle Luan with her and spread rumors about her.

It’s not enough just to beat both cheeks to the point where they explode.

“Deborah, what about you?”

“Oh! Me, I’m fine too! Anyway, there were no rumors that were a big problem to me.”

“Is that so? Then, this is the end of the situation.”

After collecting the opinions of the party, Luan came to a conclusion and gazed at Skadia.

Her eyes were full of complex emotions.

Her anger and resentment for spreading the embarrassing rumor, and her pity and sympathy for her who is still caught up in the past.

All of that drove Skadia crazy.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’

Even if everyone in the world laughs at her and looks at her with pity, at least Luan shouldn’t be like that.

She wanted to express her true feelings by pouring out evil right away, but her cold, frozen heart she would not allow it.

All she can do is to suppress her bad feelings by clenching her fists.

As she lowered her head, Lu An seemed to understand that she did not want to deal with him and got up from her sofa.

“Let’s all go.”

“Uh, yes!”

“Ha… If this happens, what about the rest of the rumors?”

They each said a word and followed Luan out of the reception room.

Even then, Skadia was just quietly looking down at her table.

She held up a photo.

“I should have acted more carefully.”

She decided that if it was Luan, she would never be found, and that in this situation, she would not and could not rely on anyone.

I never thought the princess would move herself.

Unbeknownst to her, the relationship between Luan and Isis had noticeably improved.

“I couldn’t save you in the end.”

As she fails herself, Deborah will ultimately be betrayed by Luan and despair.

Just thinking about the wounds she received, the deep scars engraved in her chest so long ago seems to trigger her fits her.

Damn it!

Cracks spread through the thick ice surrounding her heart her, worsening her wounds her.

Skadia clutched her breasts.

“Are you okay. I don’t mind.”

As she repeated this over and over again, as if brainwashing herself, the seizures slowly stopped.

However, once the wound was opened, it caused bitter pain every time her heart beat, making her recall the memories of that day.

It seems that it takes time for the crack to completely disappear.

‘Luan…’

Her heart unlocked the sealed memories of her.

*

“Luan!”

“Scadia!”

After the incident on the snowy mountain, the two people who had met for the first time in a long time happily embraced each other.

“How are you?”

“Huh! “What about Luan?”

“I’ve been learning swordsmanship these days! I will become strong and protect my sister and Skadia!”

Lu An smiled brightly and turned her head to look at Isis, who had come out to meet her.

Those eyes are full of affection and longing.

“Swordsmanship?”

“I couldn’t do anything last time. So, let’s practice! Oh, come to think of it, sister. I’m currently blocked in type 3─”

Luan, who answered Skadia, seemed to be reminded of her and began to spit out her questions to Isis about her swordsmanship.

The conversation between the two was of a type that the wizard Skadia could not understand.

Isis, who was answering, glanced at her watch and calmed Luan down.

“Luan, let’s go to the restaurant first. Let’s talk as we go. “Understand, right?”

“Huh. Sister! Scadia. Let’s go! “The chef said he would prepare delicious food.”

“… I’m looking forward to it.”

The three moved to the restaurant.

Even on the way, Luan’s mouth did not rest. She continued to talk about swordsmanship. The enthusiasm for growth even pushed away the affection for Scadia.

Isis sincerely provided counseling for Luan’s growth.

That didn’t change even after arriving at the restaurant.

In the end, Scadia became isolated and could only listen to conversations she could not understand.

‘I also need to learn about swordsmanship.’

Even if you don’t move your body, you can answer Luan’s questions as long as you accumulate knowledge.

Instead of just being complacent and crying about the alienated situation, Scadia tried to adapt to it and move on.

One visit passed, and two months later, Scadia, armed with knowledge, visited the Friuli family once again.

“Sister! In swordsmanship type 5. “It seems like the center of gravity doesn’t move well when I swing the sword. Can you tell me why?”

“Ah. That’s right.”

“I know!”

The moment Isis was about to answer the question, Scadia intervened, thinking it was time.

Luan tilted her head.

“Really?”

“Huh! That’s in the intermediate basic swordsmanship book written by the Marquis Luviette—”

Skadia used her brilliant mind and came up with the optimal answer based on what was written in her swordsmanship book.

It was at a fairly high level, so Luan couldn’t understand it, and only Isis let out an exclamation that was close to astonishment.

“Scadia. Is this really amazing? “Have you been studying swordsmanship for two months?”

“Yes. “Ruan said he was learning swordsmanship, so I’m going to help him.”

“Okay? Luan found a good fiancee. “How much do you know?”

“I’m currently reading Advanced Basic Swordsmanship.”

“Are you ready? “You were a genius not only in magic but also in swordsmanship?”

Isis smiled happily and patted Skadia’s back to her.

No matter how smart you are, you are still a child. Thanks to her praise her, Scadia appealed to Isis by showing off all her knowledge her.

The knowledge I accumulated to talk to Luan is being used elsewhere.

After finishing the meal, when they were alone, Skadia asked excitedly.

“Luan. So what should we do now?”

“… “I want to go practice.”

“Training? Also? Let’s play together today. Huh?”

Scadia is unusually cute.

It is not easy to enforce one’s will in front of her cute appearance.

Luan, who had been strangely depressed, eventually fell for her charm.

“Oh, I understand. Instead, I think it’s because I have to practice tomorrow.”

“Huh! Let’s go!”

Those days were repeated.

And when half a year had passed, an incident occurred.

As always, Scadia, who visited the Friuli Mansion, was feeling bored watching Ruan swinging her sword diligently.

There was no need to read all of the swordsmanship books, and I didn’t want to learn magic here either.

In the end, I’m just watching Luan, so it wouldn’t be fun to swing the sword in the same position all the time.

Skadia, who was yawning slightly, suddenly noticed Luan’s posture and pointed it out.

“Luan. He has to turn his feet his his a little more there.”

“… Like this?”

“You played it too much. Only about 15 degrees. No, that’s not it? “Just stay where you are.”

Scadia, who was giving advice, saw that she was not understanding, so he personally corrected her posture.

She said with a grin.

“Luan, you can’t do anything without me?”

“… “What?”

“If I hadn’t told you, you would have been lost here for a long time, right? Thank you, right? Huh?”

Scadia just wanted praise.

It was said with that in mind, but it had a different meaning to Luan, who thought that he had been stagnant without much progress for half a year.

Scadia is a master of magic and has outstanding skills in swordsmanship.

To her, her Lu An her secretly harbored a deep sense of inferiority.

“I don’t need your help.”

“… Huh? W-what?”

“I don’t need your help. Since it’s disturbing, go somewhere else. “I can’t concentrate on swordsmanship because of you.”

“…”

Scadia’s eyes went blank for a moment.

She is taken aback by the completely different reaction from what she had imagined, but then gets angry and snorts.

“Joy! Am I in your way? Then try it on your own! Just ask for help! “I’m going!”

She turned around and walked away.

Then, at this point, she thought it would be okay, so she turned her head, and as if nothing had happened, she looked at Lu An, who was engrossed in her swordsmanship, and pouted her mouth.

“I really don’t know!”

You should never teach swordsmanship until you apologize first!

With that promise, Skadia left her training room and wandered around her mansion alone.

That was the beginning of the crack.

As months passed again, Skadia found herself facing her empty front door.

“What. Where is Luan? “Who is Isis?”

The two of us always greeted each other, but for some reason there was no one around.

Could it be that the fight we had last time was the cause?

“Probably not.” Just like that…”

Even if Luan is really upset, there is no way the mature Isis would bully her like this.

Scadia, who was worried, led her escort knights into her mansion and began looking for her Lu An her.

And on the terrace in the garden she found Ruan and Isis.

Just as Isis was about to leave, she got up from her chair.

“Luan, I’m going to go see my sister now.”

“Huh? Why? Just wait a little longer. Stay with me.”

Luan is spoiled.

Impatience, anxiety, and dependence were clearly evident in him.

“My father called me. “I’m sorry.”

Isis looked down at Luan and frowned awkwardly.

Then I suddenly looked at the clock and changed the topic.

“Wait for a second. Come to think of it, Luan, didn’t you say Scadia was coming today? Is the time okay? “He should be here by now?”

The time for Scadia to come is always set.

Since it was natural to come at 9 a.M. Unless there was anything special going on, Isis’ question was valid.

Luan lied awkwardly.

“Gwae, it’s okay! He said he would be late today. So, you can stay a little longer. Huh? Sister. “Please.”

“Really… “Then it’s only 10 minutes?”

“Huh! I love you, sister!”

In the end, Isis could not stand her brother’s pampering and put her butt back on his chair.

The conversation between a brother and sister resonates quietly.

Scadia, who had been secretly watching until then, slowly turned her back and left the terrace.

When she returned to her carriage, it took 30 minutes before she was greeted by Luan.

“S-I’m sorry, Skadia. Because something urgent came up.”

“Is it that important?”

“Huh! Please understand.”

Luan is telling lies without any hesitation.

This was not the Luan she knew.

It was like seeing a stranger.

However, Skadia, who was already disappointed in him, did not bother to point it out and moved on.

The bigger problem was what happened next.

Wedge! Wedge!

Scadia, who was watching Luan’s sword training as always, asked without realizing it.

“Luan. How long do you plan on learning swordsmanship?”

“Uh? “How long?”

“I’ve been at a standstill for several months now. Wouldn’t it be better to just learn something else? “Why don’t you learn magic from me instead?”

From the moment he saw her valuing her time with Isis more than meeting herself, Scadia began to think of a number of instances.

That is, Luan loves Isis more than herself.

That’s why Skadia wanted to somehow reduce the distance between the two.

However, the words that came out hastily in the midst of her jealousy and disappointment resulted in a backlash.

“I’m talented! It’s getting better little by little!”

“Lie. You know that. You have no talent I can’t become stronger even after a lifetime like this.”

Scadia’s words were a thorn.

The sharp thorns cut her skin, tore her muscles, and left deep wounds.

“So you want me to learn magic?”

“Huh. Magic is better than swordsmanship. Besides, I’m a genius. Even if you don’t have any talent, you can do it if I teach you.

Confidence that you can do it.

That firm belief exploded Luan’s inferiority complex.

“Magic is better than swordsmanship? “Then why didn’t you just find a fiancé who is good at magic?”

“Why are you talking like that? “I just don’t like wasting time!”

“I still hate it. “I haven’t learned magic.”

“Why? “Do you think swordsmanship is meaningless?”

When I asked the question as if I was frustrated with the useless answer, Luan gave an answer that made me lose my senses.

“… “I promised my sister.”

“Who… Me?”

“Okay. I will protect my sister. You have to become strong for that.”

Luan looks away, thinking that’s the end of the conversation.

“Ahaha…”

Scadia let out an empty laugh.

If I do this, Isis, if I do that, Isis.

No matter what I do, the situation that ends up in Isis feels like a nightmare.

‘Isis. Isis. Isis.’

That damn Isis.

Scadia finally let out the emotions she had stored deep down in response to the tiresome name her.

“Stop talking about Isis!!”

A shattering high-pitched sound rings loudly in the training hall.

Luan, who was about to start training again, was started and stopped his movements.

“Do you like Isis that much? Then why didn’t she become engaged to Isis? Huh? Why did she get engaged to me instead of just living with Isis for the rest of her life!”

“… Scadia?”

“I don’t need you anymore. “You can do such nonsense for the rest of your life!!”

After pouring out all her emotions, Skadia huffed, then turned her back and left the training center.

The escort driver follows immediately.

“Miss. Are you going already?”

“… Huh. Let’s go back.”

After briefly answering the escort knight’s questions, Scadia got back into her carriage that way.

Three months after the fight with Luan, her mother, Countess Lucina Maryland, died.