271 – About Her Love -3-

Love can be a savior by a hair’s breadth, or an enemy just as close.

-Giggles- Darling!

-Why~ my baby.

-I missed you.

For some, ‘love’ leaves the most meaningful memories in life, but for those whose ‘love’ did not continue, a ‘confession’ could turn a good relationship into a new phase.

Just like the lady did.

“…”

In front of the academy’s fountain.

Holding an sighe, I sat on the bench, watching couples pass by with a faint smile.

“It’s a good time.”

Once, I too dreamed of such a rosy life. Now, I’m just giving love advice to others.

There’s so much I haven’t enjoyed as a possessor.

‘x-god.’

Always the one who can’t enjoy.

‘…’

But let me say, I am a coward.

A coward who doesn’t speak feelings unless I’m certain. I blurt out words carelessly, but if I think the other person has no feelings for me, I hide away. That’s me.

Honestly, I wasn’t the hero to teach Shuen about love. I’ve never dated, too scared to even flirt. But still, I might be able to teach someone…

‘Even so…’

Perhaps I could give advice on a love whose ending is already decided.

I am a man crazy about women who hate the tears of a beautiful girl. Isn’t that excuse enough?

“…”

I must have been sitting blankly on the bench for about 10 minutes when a sharp female voice came from behind. A voice full of arrogance and self-love.

“Commoner! Thinking of some fresh nonsense again, aren’t you!”

“…Have you arrived?”

“Ohoho…! I just got here! It’s a noble’s duty to make a commoner wait!”

“You’re 20 minutes earlier than our appointment.”

“Ugh…! Be quiet!”

Shuen, who had arranged to meet on our day off, glared at me with a crossbody bag slung across her chest.

Sueun, bending at a 45-degree angle, seemingly boasting her chest in a peculiar way. Unaware of her own intimidating figure, I chuckled and tapped the bench beside me.

“Please, take a seat. I’ll lay down a handkerchief for you.”

“Oh… How meticulous for a commoner. Thank you.”

“The noble’s behind is precious, after all.”

“Really, the mouth of a commoner is so vulgar…!”

Sueun blushed and bowed her head.

“So, have you come well-prepared in your heart?”

“What need is there to prepare my heart! I’ve only come to hear whatever novel nonsense you’re going to spout!”

“Ha ha ha! I’m honored. Then, please listen carefully to my novel nonsense. It will be entertaining, after all.”

Sueun nodded slyly and fumbled to grasp a notebook in her hands. Despite claiming disinterest, her thorough preparation brought a smile to my face.

“Your reactions are quite amusing, Miss Sueun.”

“Don’t laugh!”

The story I was about to tell today wasn’t anything grand. It wasn’t about the rise or fall of the Academy, nor was it a debate on the state of the kingdom.

It was her personal story.

Yes, it was about her love.

I looked at the many couples sitting in front of the fountain, recalling what Sueun had said.

-Yes, I like Senior Mikhail.

-So it is.

-Are you going to tease me? A noble liking a commoner? Say what you will, but I will definitely be with Senior Mikhail.

-No, I asked because you seemed to be showing it off too much.

I sighed softly and turned to Sueun, who was fidgeting with her fingers.

“You said you liked Mikhail, right?”

“…”

“And you want to be with him.”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you so embarrassed? You boldly declared at the convenience store, ‘I will be with Senior Mikhail!'”

“Don’t mimic me!”

“Ha ha ha! You really are entertaining.”

With a faint smile, I began to voice the thoughts I had organized in my mind.

“Just to let you know, I have no intention of getting you and Mikhail together. Honestly, I don’t think it will work out.”

“You’re cursing quite a bit.”

“That’s right. I recommend that you, Shuen, do not confess.”

“Who said I would!”

I looked at Shuen, pouting her lips, and asked,

“Do you plan to do it soon, or not?”

“I don’t know. Don’t ask me!”

I chuckled at Shuen’s sparing words and shook my head.

“Mikhail dislikes getting attention. He especially hates public confessions. He was disgusted when our lady did that.”

“Grrrr…”

“Surely, Shuen, aware of the nobility’s honor, wouldn’t harbor such a fantasy. It’s not uncommon with people like our lady.”

“Ughhh…”

“How will you handle the rejection…”

Shuen clenched her fist and looked down. I teased her, saying,

“Isn’t that so?”

“Of… Of course!”

“I was worried that you, Shuen, might become a fool who confesses in front of everyone, just maybe.”

“Do I look like such a fool to you?”

“Yes.”

I told Shuen,

“I thought you’d gather people around the fountain and say, ‘Please bless us,’ and then confess to Mikhail ‘just like that!'”

“…”

Shuen, struck to the core, was silent.

“It’s good that you’re not such a fool, Shuen.”

Shuen’s heart was in tatters.

I told Shuen various things. All I could offer was advice.

A love that will never be realized. To give false hope is only to become more miserable. I carefully spoke to Shuen,

“The most important thing is to make Mikhail like you.”

“Make him like me?”

“Right now, Mikhail doesn’t even know your name, does he?”

“…That’s right.”

“We haven’t even formally introduced ourselves, and we’re not close, but wouldn’t there be a problem if you suddenly confessed?”

“…I didn’t think that far. I, as a woman, am so charming that of course it will be successful…”

“Oh dear…”

I shook my head at Shuen with a look of pity. It seems we’ll have to completely rethink this approach.

Considering the flow of the novel, Shuen will soon come into contact with Mikhail.

It happens when the academy students get to choose the same assignment. They naturally become closer and familiar with each other.

And as they do, the feelings Shuen harbors grow, and Mikhail begins to see the familiar figure of a lady in Shuen… Yes, Mikhail started to overlap the image of the lady with Shuen.

Obsessing.

Liking.

Being swayed.

And then ‘boom.’

It all falls apart.

I offered Shuen, who was passionately jotting down my words, a direction that might spare her some pain.

“It’s best to confess when you’re alone together.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t do it in front of the fountain.”

“I said I got it!”

I prevented a miserable scene in front of many people.

“And instead of calling yourself a commoner, it’s better to show sincerity. A half-hearted sincerity will be harshly rejected by Mikhail. It might be better to write down what you want to say on paper and read it; he might see it more favorably.”

“…”

“He won’t curse you out of pity, at least.”

“You’re a devil!”

“Ha ha… I’m sorry.”

The direction I suggested wasn’t the best, but it was different from the worst ending the novel had produced. And it was advice I could give as someone who had already experienced the worst.

I took a deep breath and said to Shuen,

“This seems most important.”

“*gulp*”

“Lastly…”

“For the last time!”

“You can use me.”

Shuen looked at me with trembling eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

I said with a bright smile.

“Who do you think is the person Mikhail hates the most?”

“…”

“The one who can form the greatest empathy and provide endless topics of conversation.”

“You…”

“That’s right. It’s me.”

Once you’re on someone’s bad side, it’s not easy to get off it.

“It’s simple. Shuen, just hate me.”

“What?”

“Then things might get a little better.”

Her interpersonal relationships.

The future she holds.

If there’s someone to blame, it can be easily resolved.

“I’m not as nice as you think I am, Shuen.”

A villain was needed.

***

Strange rumors began to circulate at the academy.

Someone was intentionally stealing practice materials.

If it were training dummies or magic power detectors, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but the disappearing items were all tools that boasted a price difficult to obtain with a student’s status.

A wand that enhances magic efficiency, or a ‘distiller’ for making potions. The irony of the situation was that tools with the commonality of being ‘resellable’ were disappearing, and the rumor pointed to one man.

The employee of the newly opened convenience store was stealing them.

Ever since the infamous man came to the academy, students began to look at Ricardo with disdain.

-Right?

-Yeah, sure. I had left something behind last time, so I came to the classroom, and I saw that man entering the academy.

-Shouldn’t we report this?

-Not yet. We haven’t caught any solid evidence.

-Just wait till he gets caught. I’ll make him pay for all the practice sessions we missed because of him.

“…”

Ricardo, leisurely spending time at the counter, smiled as he waited for the moment to come.

“It’s about time.”

The assignment with Mikhail and Shuen.

Catching the criminal at the Academy.

Of course, I wasn’t the culprit.