264 – The Girl Who Likes Mikhail -2-

The woman before her was named ‘Shuen’

A pampered youngest daughter from the ‘Tetra’ Marquis family, known for producing scholars, she was characterized by her haughty nature and her head full of empty words.

Especially, a remarkable woman who had two parents selected as foster children by the tower master, thanks to her exceptional magical talent.

Hanna disliked Shuen.

“Ohoho!!”

-Zap.

“Hoho….”

She never wanted to be friends with a princess who had been coddled from childhood. She didn’t want to get involved with a woman whose head was a flowerbed.

Hanna sighed, intending to leave her seat. Talking to Shuen made her feel like her own intelligence would diminish.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll go.”

“Just a moment!”

“Why.”

At Hanna’s cold demeanor, Shuen’s face showed panic as she fumbled with her lips. Then, as if realizing something, she timidly raised her hand and let out an ‘ohoho’ laugh, but soon, as if it never happened, she smiled confidently and spoke.

“Histarnia Hanna. You.”

“Why.”

“You haven’t forgotten that I’m your rival, have you?”

“Rival…?”

At the word ‘rival,’ Hanna clenched her sword. No matter how tolerant she was of concubines, she couldn’t bear to give her steward to such a woman.

“Wa-wait a moment!”

Having a bountiful treasure pouch is one thing, but to covet someone with a treasure pouch so meager compared to a noble lady’s, Hanna glared fiercely at Shuen’s chest and took a stance.

Shuen, startled by Hanna’s sudden change, hastily waved her hands and said.

“What are you doing!”

“What does it look like. I’m setting the order as a concubine.”

“What? Mikhail senior got married?”

“Mikhail senior?”

“That’s right!”

At Shuen’s brazen words, Hanna laughed brightly and released her grip on the sword. She thought it was a needless misunderstanding. Mikhail was free for anyone to take.

Hanna waved her hand and said to Shuen.

“What, were you talking about Mikhail-senpai?”

“Of course! Who else could match the most perfect Shuen in the world! You said it too. There’s no one as right as Mikhail-senpai.”

“That’s an old story. I thought you liked the butler.”

“The butler?”

“You, with nothing but flowers in your head, wouldn’t understand.”

“Ohoho~! That’s a compliment.”

“Right.”

At the sight of Shuen’s lips curling up, Hanna let out a hollow laugh. Despite being annoying, she thought he had his cute moments.

Feeling good from the praise, Shuen began to question Hanna. He was pleased with the compliment, but he felt like he had just heard something odd.

“But Hanna. Does that mean you don’t like Mikhail-senpai anymore?”

“Huh? Oh. Why do you ask?”

“As the vice president of the Mikhail Love Association fan club, I can’t just let that comment slide.”

“There’s such a thing?”

“Yes. It’s a venerable association that’s been going on for three years. You’re a member too.”

“…?”

“I signed you up!”

“Why?”

“Just because!”

Hanna snorted with laughter at Shuen’s proud declaration of his empty-headedness, shaking her head. Now, she harbored more bad feelings than good towards Mikhail.

Mikhail.

He used to be someone she liked. She admired his righteous demeanor and his unwavering conviction, not that she liked him, but she aspired to be like him as a person.

But now…

There was no place for Mikhail to interfere.

Hanna pushed away Shuen’s face, which was flaring his nostrils, with a bitter smile.

-Baaang.

“I don’t like him anymore.”

“Really?”

“Just take him.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t like you anymore, so just take it.”

Shocked by Hanna’s words, Shuen dropped the hand covering his mouth to the floor. And like a goldfish out of water, he was gasping, muttering in disbelief.

“This can’t be happening.”

The idea that the most handsome man in the world could be unloved seemed like a lie to Shuen. He thought, ‘How could any girl dislike a pretty boy?’

Shuen placed a hand on Hanna’s shoulder and wore a sad expression. With a pitiful look, he began to offer words of comfort to Hanna, as if he understood her feelings.

“Hanna. Even if it’s a gem you can’t possess, you’re free to hold it in your heart.”

Hanna brushed off Shuen’s hand with disgust.

“How dare you be so creepy!”

“Hanna.”

“Ugh…”

“I understand your heart too. It’s because Mikhail is too popular with the beauties, right? Like senior Yuria and Princess Chartia… And above all, because he’s receiving attention from a perfect woman like me.”

“It sounds like you’ve sneakily included your name there…”

“Hanna!”

Shuen caught Hanna’s hand, giving her a sparkling look.

“Our ‘MisaMo’ is always open. There are those who have been rejected by Mikhail and those who secretly cherish him.”

“I said I don’t need it, okay? And don’t just put my name in there. I don’t want to be known as a woman with a past.”

“Hanna!”

“Ah… Stop it!”

Shuen looked at Hanna with a sympathetic gaze.

“Don’t lie to your heart.”

“Ha… How far does this flower field go?”

Hanna, seeing Shuen who didn’t seem likely to leave easily, decided to tell him the truth. If she didn’t speak up, he seemed like he would keep holding on.

“The truth is, I’ve found someone I like.”

“Someone you like?”

“Yeah. Someone way more handsome and kinder than senior Mikhail.”

“Are you two dating?”

“No…”

Hanna said with a shy smile.

“He’s someone I want to date.”

Hanna tapped the books on the desk, hiding her bashful feelings. It was the first time she had spoken such words to someone else. Even her brother hadn’t fully seen this side of her, and somehow, her face felt hot with embarrassment.

Shuen revealed a hesitant smile while embracing her massive chest.

“Hystania Hanna said… she’s in love with someone?”

“Ah… no! That’s not it.”

“Academy’s iron wall loves…?”

Shuen’s expression gradually hardened. At first, she looked at Hanna with a sympathetic gaze, but when Hanna said that there was a man who was better than the one she loved, Shuen’s pride was hurt.

“I don’t admit it.”

I didn’t like it.

“It’s fine, because I’m the one who recognizes the man.”

Shuen’s eyes widened in surprise and her eyelids trembled. Then, she twisted her legs and grabbed the edge of the desk to steady herself.

“Is that not what’s good now?”

“How many times do I have to say it, Shuen. You should understand by now.”

“No, I can’t understand. There’s no one in the world who is better looking than Mikhail, and there’s no one who is perfect except God.”

“Is that a different kind of God?”

“Have you insulted my idol…?”

“No, I praised him.”

“Warning: 1st. 3 times and you’ll be expelled from Misamo.”

“Please just do that.”

Shuen didn’t respond to Hanna’s words, but instead said what was on her mind.

“You’re just pretending. You’re just making a compromise with someone because you don’t want to waste time.”

“Shuen, you’re talking well.”

“Did I make a mistake?”

“If you insult that person, you’ll die in my hands.”

“…Oh no!”

Shuen avoided Hanna’s gaze and said:

“Anyway, I won’t forgive you…! As the vice-chairman of Misamo, I won’t let you just get away with betraying us!”

Hanna let out a deep sigh and shook her head. She wondered what she could do about it.

“You only have one thing to say after a year?”

“Well, you’re not playing with me, so that’s why! You came looking for something to do, but you’re just making strange noises! We made a promise to chase after Mikhail and me at the entrance ceremony, so…!”

“When did I make that promise?”

“Unfaithful woman!”

“How long are you going to be doing that fan club thing?”

Shuen boasted her ample chest with pride, her face brimming with tears as she spoke.

“I’ll do it for life! Because Mikhail and I are destined to be together!”

Hanna shook her head, thinking once again that getting involved didn’t seem like a good idea.

“Tsk. And you say that while badmouthing the fencing department?”

“Mikhail’s face is like magic!”

“Then is your chest magic too?”

“What?”

Shuen looked down at her chest, invisible beneath her shoes, and muttered in confusion. Then, her face flushed red, and she began to sputter angrily.

“Ch-chest?! What did you just say?!”

“I should go. I have a lot to do today.”

“Histarnia Hanna!”

Shuen had no friends.

“Sob… I can’t forgive this…!”

To be precise, she had no normal friends.

Just like someone who had been expelled.

*

Another peaceful day at the Desmont family mansion.

“Hmm.”

The young lady, picking her nose, looked up at me with wide eyes and said,

“Ricardo.”

“Why do you call me?”

“Why don’t I have any friends?”

To the lady’s obvious question, I replied with a small laugh.

“It’s because you’re too perfect.”

“Right?”

“That’s a lie.”

“Eeeek!”

I watched the lady spinning her fists, thinking that being reborn might be the only way for her to make more friends.

“Oh, by the way, my lady.”

“Hmm?”

“I think I need to step away for a moment.”

The lady who had been playfully tugging at my cheek raised an eyebrow in question at the mention of leaving.

“Going out to have fun?”

“No, someone called for me.”

“Who?”

“Well…”

-Stop by the academy for a bit, Ricardo.

-I’m not too keen on going to the academy.

-We’re planning to set up that convenience store you mentioned last time, and I’d like your advice on it.

-Ah… You’re installing it at the academy?

-Didn’t you say so? To place it where there’s a crowd and convenience is valued.

-That’s true, but…

I stopped the lady from putting her finger in her mouth and gave her an ambiguous smile.

“A friend who treats me well to meals.”

“Ah…!”

She pulled out a chocolate from her treasure pouch and handed it to me.

“Take this too.”

“Why this?”

“If you receive something, you should give something in return.”

I pocketed the lady’s chocolate and nodded.

‘I should buy some chocolates to give in return.’

The items from the treasure pouch should be hygienic, that is. It’s not like I had the urge to collect them or anything.