273 – About Her Love -5-

The corridor was in disarray.

Schuen, with his mouth still stuffed with sausages, took a deep breath and let out a loud shout.

“Let go!”

“Schuen!!”

“Leave it alone! I’ll behead you, you lowly aristocrat!”

Schuen, who had been stuffing sausages into his mouth, was taken aback by the sudden accusation. Even he, a noble, was cautious not to offend anyone, knowing that the consequences of speaking ill of someone could be severe. But Schuen’s rationality was suddenly cut short by the words.

“What are you doing! Let go!”

“You can ask your grandmother to let it go! I won’t let it go!”

“This piece of trash!”

“You’re an aristocrat! You’re just a lowly peasant!”

Schuen, who had not even learned the basics of martial arts, boasted about his skills, and Vienna’s leg shot out to kick him.

However,

Schuen’s leg was too stiff to withstand the kick, and he stumbled.

“What the hell! I thought you only had a fake beard on your head, but it seems you’ve also stuffed a fake beard into your body! You’re really a stupid martial arts student, aren’t you? Your body and mind are both messed up!”

“You’re crazy!!”

Schuen, instead of dodging Vienna’s outstretched hand, stood his ground and fought back. He knew that if he used magic, the situation would get out of hand. With all his might, Schuen tried to reason with Vienna, but he couldn’t help but shout out loud.

“You’re an aristocrat…! Peasant trampling!”

“aaah!!”

“This is the worst…! You’re going to die, peasant!”

“Let go a bit!!”

Schuen refused to let go of Vienna’s hand.

“Apologize! Peasant!”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“I was born with this face, so you can’t help but look at me like this!”

Before Ricardo, who had been listening from the second floor, came down, the conversation ended.

“Ah… what are you all doing?”

Ricardo furrowed his brow and let out a sigh.

***

“Squeak… Squeak…”

“…”

“Squeeeeeak!”

From student to robber, and from robber to aspiring pressure cooker, Shuen, still not quite over her anger, gripped a fork upside down and glared at Vienna, who was receiving comfort outside the convenience store.

-Sob sob… I just thought everyone would think that way…

-It’s okay. Senior…? Shuen is just a weirdo from the start, that’s why. Please understand.

-No… It’s my fault… Waaah…

“That damn b*tch!”

“Whoa whoa…! Calm down, Ms. Shuen.”

“Let me at her! I’ll turn her into a decent commoner!”

I held back Shuen, frothing at the mouth and charging, with a smile. I wasn’t sure how the fight started, but Shuen’s anger was somehow endearing. Not as much as the lady, but still cute enough to make me laugh.

“Squeak… Squeak…”

Having shown all the disgrace a noble could, Shuen vented her frustration with ragged breaths.

“If my secret move had worked, that wench wouldn’t even be standing! I didn’t finish making her a person.”

“Pfft!”

“Why are you laughing!!!”

“Just, this whole situation is too funny not to laugh.”

“Huh?”

“Vienna doesn’t specialize in swordsmanship, does she? What kind of magician fights a swordsman in hand-to-hand combat… Pffft.”

“You’re making me mad!”

“Hahaha! Then let’s hear the reason. Why did you fight?”

It was obvious, though.

I thought Shuen fought because Vienna asked to change her partner. It happened in the novel, and considering Vienna’s usual behavior, it was more than plausible.

But Shuen spat out an answer I never expected.

“I fought because that woman was framing you as the culprit!”

“?”

“How dare she…! Insulting a noble’s dining companion without giving anything in return! This deserves death!”

Staring blankly at Shuen, who proudly declared her reason, I was speechless.

“Huh?”

***

“What?!”

“No, what did you just say? You fought because of me…”

“That’s right.”

“Because of me?”

“Has the commoner finally gone deaf…!”

I shook my head and let out a hollow laugh. Then, I widened my eyes at Shuen’s sincere expression, devoid of any deceit.

“Is that true?”

“Yes!”

“But, why?”

“You’re the girl’s meal buddy!”

“You didn’t fight to change partners?”

Shuen shook her head.

“That would have been fine. No need to change.”

“Then…”

“It’s infuriating. To suggest driving away a perfectly fine person!”

At Shuen’s bold words, I paused to think and looked at her face. A small wound was visible on her cheek as she puffed out her breath in anger.

‘She’s hurt.’

I pushed back my chair and gently touched Shuen’s cheek.

“Eek! That hurts!”

“…You’re hurt.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got a scratch here.”

“Ah… It’s okay. It’ll heal if I just put some saliva on it.”

At Shuen’s cheerful expression, I was at a loss for words. For a noble… no, for any woman, a facial wound was not something to be taken lightly.

As if affirming my thoughts, Shuen kept touching the wounded spot, her gestures filled with worry that the wound might be deep or leave a scar.

-Crunch…

Even if it was Shuen, she wouldn’t enjoy fighting like a lady.

-Squeak!!! Let go! Stop!

-Please endure, miss.

-Squeeeeeak!

-If you hit me more, I will die.

Shuen, too tender-hearted to truly fit the title of a villainess, prompted a bitter smile from me as I bowed my head towards her.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For getting involved in this unsavory affair because of me…”

“Saying it like that makes me feel embarrassed.”

I felt an odd discomfort at Shuen’s awkward laughter as she scratched the back of her head. It was directed at the woman who had hurt Shuen.

“Uhihi…! With this, I’ve finally broken free from a hundred losses! I’ve finally claimed my first victory, commoner.”

“Congratulations, Miss Shuen.”

Quietly, I went behind the counter, picked up a white box, and sat down in front of Shuen. Then, I took out an ointment from the box and applied it to Shuen’s cheek.

“It will sting.”

“Ouchie…!”

“Ouchie?”

“It’s the sound nobility makes when it hurts. It’s a secret technique of our family that enhances charm.”

“…”

At Shuen’s baseless excuse, I shook my head and focused on the disinfection.

“Don’t fight anymore.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“Your pretty face will get hurt.”

“You know well that it’s pretty.”

“Yes, of course. I’m quite discerning, after all.”

“…You really do like me.”

“Shall I pour the whole bottle of disinfectant on you?”

“Ouchie… I’m sorry.”

How long had I been treating Shuen’s wounds? About ten minutes had passed when the bell above the convenience store door rang.

-Ding-dong.

At the sight of the unwelcome guest entering the convenience store, I closed my mouth. I wanted to pass by quietly, but my heart felt uneasy.

-Thud…

-Thud…

Watching the woman’s confident steps, I gripped the cotton swab in my hand tightly.

“Sob… Sob…”

Vienna was crying.

Glancing at me once.

Looking at Mikhail twice.

She bowed her head, managing her expression.

‘I don’t like it.’

Having closed the first-aid kit, I spoke without hiding my displeasure, still seated.

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed for today.”

“…”

“I would appreciate it if you left.”

Ignoring me, Vienna walked towards Shuen. The look in Vienna’s eyes for a fleeting moment was not one of sorrow. It was a venomous gaze, filled with cold calculation.

‘It would be no fun if you act like that.’

I glanced once at Vienna, who was striding in resolutely, and then asked Mikhail beside her.

“Can’t you hear me?”

“…Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. You must think of me as a thief, just like her.”

“That’s not it…!”

“I thought I was being considerate, but it seems more is needed.”

Mikhail, locking eyes with me, closed his mouth with a sad expression.

Next to the weeping Vienna, Mikhail turned to Shuen with a heavy look and spoke.

“Shuen.”

“What is it.”

“Could you apologize to Vienna?”

“Am I supposed to speak?”

Shuen, not looking at Vienna, responded gruffly to Mikhail’s words.

“No way. Even if the mother of the half-eaten sausage tells me to, I won’t do it.”

“…Please don’t be like that.”

“Does she not have a mouth?!”

Shuen didn’t wait for Mikhail to finish and addressed Vienna. If you have a mouth, you speak. What’s the point of putting up a pathetic shield? Shuen said.

“Until the wench with noodles for brains apologizes to the commoner, I absolutely will not apologize.”

“Shuen.”

“Even if Senior Mikhail asks, I can’t help it. This is a matter of pride that must be upheld as a noble.”

Shuen spoke firmly, shaking his head.

And then.

“It’s okay…”

Vienna’s voice, deflated, began to falter.

“It’s my fault. Don’t be too hard on Shuen.”

“Vienna…”

“I… *sigh*. I still want to talk it out with you… to be close again like before, but if you dislike it…”

Shuen looked at Vienna and gripped the fork upside down. Muttering to himself that it was time to use ‘The Noble’s Secret Art of Peasant Purging.’

I snatched the fork from Shuen’s trembling hand and placed it on the table.

And then.

-Click.

I whispered softly into Vienna’s ear.

“Is the dark magic progressing well?”

My voice, gently resonating, caused Vienna’s body to stiffen. She looked at me with trembling eyes, her lips quivering.

I smiled faintly and whispered into her ear in a low voice.

“Why so surprised? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“…”

“It seems you’ve bought quite an expensive grimoire with the money stolen from the academy…”

“How did you…!”

“Shh. Keep your voice down. What if Mikhail hears you.”

I chuckled and shook my head.

“But, you better use that magic well.”

“…”

“If the spell fails, the caster could be seriously hurt. Just like our lady.”

“What are you trying to say.”

I gently stroked Vienna’s shoulder, smiling.

“It’s just funny, isn’t it? This whole situation.”

“…”

“Don’t you agree, Mr. Mikhail?”

Having overheard everything, Mikhail looked at me with trembling eyes.

“Why? Did you think it was my doing again?”

“…”

“How amusing.”

I smiled at them with a twinkle in my eye.

“I guess I’ll have to look for evidence.”

“…”

“If you’re trying to pin it on me.”

*

The following evening.

“Fyungmin!!!”

Shuen looked at me with admiring eyes.