Episode 53
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 53
Before I saw the painting, I would have snapped at him to stop with the narcissistic remarks. But after seeing what he’d painted, I had to admit it was true.
It wasn't baseless confidence, but pride with a reason. Elysia realized her mind had gone completely blank from the visual shock.
“I was originally going to leave it in perfect darkness, but the school advised against it, so I had no choice but to modify the window Lucian had punched into the ceiling. I scoffed that it was useless construction, but to think I’d be the one to benefit from it.”
Siene’s gentle explanation filled the space. Elysia just stood there, dazed, staring at the painting drenched in darkness. ‘Don’t you dare judge what you know nothing about,’ he had said…
The realization was a staggering blow. The face of the man she had just pushed away flashed in her mind. That face, distorted as it forced a smile. Tears suddenly welled up, hot in her eyes.
Right, what did I know that gave me the right to judge anything? What was I so afraid of? Why did I decide for myself whether his feelings were real or fabricated and declare it so?
She hadn’t even tried to see what the system window that was about to appear said.
I don’t know a single thing about you, so why was I so arrogant?
Thinking back now, she knew nothing about the past that everyone whispered about. He had told her he’d felt something was off about this world even before meeting her, but she didn’t even know what that was.
He was the type to smile while subtly keeping his distance, so she’d thought she shouldn’t cross the line and had never even asked.
But Senior, you’re already on my side. You’re the one I reached out and pulled close to me… You were someone I couldn’t keep at a distance from the very beginning.
Feeling a choked breath about to burst out, she clamped a hand over her mouth. Ashamed of herself for running away without even trying to understand, tears streamed down her face.
“I don’t want to be an ostrich that buries its head in the sand because it’s afraid of the sky.”
Senior, I think I was just too scared. I was afraid of losing the peace I’d found, however brief. So I hurt you and ran away like an idiot…
Obsessed with what was ‘real,’ she had tried to force him into a mold of her own making. She’d warned him not to cross the line, believing it was his destiny to fall in love with a Player.
She had overlooked the fact that this was the most artificial form of all.
Just because he loved me didn’t suddenly make something real into a fake. His feelings might have been truly genuine…
Elysia wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and glared at the back of the woman in the painting. Just then, the sun shifted, and a ray of light falling through the small window illuminated the woman perfectly. Noticing something, Elysia furrowed her brow.
“Wait a minute, is that—”
“You found it?”
Siene, looking thrilled, hurried over and swept away the darkness. With the sound of rustling fabric, a flood of outside light poured in, so bright it hurt to look at.
Shielding her eyes with one hand, Elysia slowly opened them. In that instant, color washed over the woman in the painting, who had appeared only white in the darkness.
Her light brown hair was depicted with exquisite, strand-by-strand detail.
Excited, Siene chattered on.
“It’s a dye that only looks white in the dark and reveals its true color in the light! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get this, even selling my paintings in the plaza?!”
“…”
“You’re the first person I’ve shown what this painting looks like in the light. What do you think?”
“You…”
Finally managing to speak, Elysia glanced back and forth between the painting and the woman looking up at her with sparkling eyes. She stared at Siene’s hands for a moment and thought.
So I almost shattered those precious hands. I would’ve gone down in history as a total bitch.
“You… you really are a genius. I thought you were just full of it.”
It was a prestigious private academy, built for commoners but crawling with nobles. For a noble from a family too poor to be accepted into their circles, one would normally receive pity to their face and ridicule behind their back.
But she was taken as a serious rival by everyone.
Which meant her talent, at least, was the real deal.
She hadn’t been able to see it properly in the dark, but Siene had apparently been quite tense. Smiling in relief, she began to chatter happily.
“See, I told you you’d regret it if you didn’t look!”
Still annoying as ever. But faced with the masterpiece before her, Elysia had no choice but to agree. A selection window once again appeared over the massive painting, now bathed in bright light.
♥ Artwork Title: ‘Untitled’ | Artist: Siene Reve (Click for more character info)
Would you like to form a patron relationship? ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ ˋ)੭✧ Yes | No
Tip: Forming a patron relationship allows you to add this character to the list of ‘Main Story’ Capture Targets! ♥
Letting out a small laugh, Elysia asked.
“You’re going to keep painting, right?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Yeah? Good. Take my money.”
“What?”
“Stop wasting your time trying to earn money and just paint. I’ll give you that measly bit of money.”
Siene’s face scrunched up as if to ask what she was talking about. She straightened her back, bit her lip, and said firmly.
“I’m not a beggar.”
“Let’s just admit it. The reason you can’t focus on your art right now is because you’re short on cash. Am I wrong?”
“…You’re not wrong, but!”
“Do I look like an angel? Like I’d give you a handout because you look pitiful? You’re a genius. That’s why I’m investing in you. Just paint and build up a proper reputation. Then you can pay me back later. What’s the problem?”
Turning her head away, Siene began to contemplate, sneaking glances at Elysia. Elysia crossed her arms, waiting for her answer. As the silence began to wear on her, she finally lost her patience and spoke again.
“Are you going to do it or not? If you don’t want to, then forget it.”
“Let me think!”
Her attitude had already softened completely, so what was there to think about? With a sullen expression, Elysia held up her right hand and began to fold her fingers down one by one.
“I’ll give you five seconds. Five, four…”
“What! Only five seconds?”
“Three…”
“What are you talking about? Stop! Hey!”
“Two…”
“Ugh, fine! I’ll do it!”
♥ SYSTEM: A ‘Patron Relationship’ has been established with ‘Siene Reve.’ ♥
A grin spread across Elysia’s face. She nodded and was about to turn to leave the corridor when Siene snatched her wrist. Elysia looked down at her captured hand with a dumbfounded expression and asked.
“What now?”
“You…”
“What about me?”
“Are we friends?”
Her face, which was always so pale, was now flushed bright red. What the hell is this now? Unsure how to respond, Elysia just opened and closed her mouth, nearly screaming from the cringe-inducing goosebumps breaking out all over her body. She really had no immunity to this kind of thing.
Barely overcoming the sensation of her limbs curling up, she said.
“You’re crazy…”
“Answer me!!!”
“I’ll… I’ll think about it.”
Siene looked up at her with a prim expression. Elysia had no idea why her eyes had to be so big, making it so hard to be firm with her. Before she knew it, she’d snapped.
“What! You think you can get your way just by making your eyes all pretty like that?”
Without a word, Siene just stared at her. Her pink eyes seemed a little tearier than usual. Ah, this is driving me crazy. Her face twisting, Elysia said again.
“I told you not to look at me like that! Lower your eyes, or else!”
“…”
Dammit. She knows she’s pretty and she’s using it, isn’t she? Gritting her teeth, Elysia finally burst out shouting.
“Ah, fine! Whatever, we’re friends. Let’s just do it!”
♥ SYSTEM: Siene Reve’s Favorability +30 | Current Favorability 60 | ‘I Want to Be Friends’ route in progress ♥
♥ Route change detected! Searching for a new route! ♥
♥ ‘I Won’t Let You Get Away With It if You Betray Me’ route confirmed! ♥
Like a pipsqueak like you could do anything to me if I betrayed you.
Staring at the confirmed route in disbelief, Elysia turned and walked out of the corridor. The moment she saw the words ‘Route Confirmed,’ she’d snapped back to her senses, remembering the man she had to find.
By the time she stepped outside, the sky was already stained red with the evening glow. Elysia glanced around to get her bearings, then decided to head straight for the dormitory. It was a simple, brutish plan, typical of her: if she camped out in front of his room, she was bound to see him eventually.
The further she walked into the main building, the more the sounds of laughter and chatter from outside, and the faint melody of music, began to fade. The perfect silence was comforting. Her chaotic mind, her anxious thoughts that she had been betrayed, began to settle.
Soon, she was at the main entrance. Elysia gazed up at the white building, dyed by the red sunset, then frowned at a system window that suddenly appeared and selected ‘No.’
♥ SYSTEM: Add ‘Siene Reve’ to the list of ‘Main Story’ Capture Targets? Yes | No ♥
I told you, I don’t need to capture anyone. The moment she grumbled, something strange happened.
♥ error;mainstory;null ♥
What’s the problem? Is it forcing me to choose ‘Yes’? As a test, she selected ‘Yes’ this time, but the error window popped up again.
♥ error;mainstory;null ♥
This… was definitely strange.
She felt a chill run down her spine. The peace, comfort, and freedom of the world surrounding her suddenly began to feel strange.