Chapter 164: Blushing Realization
Ashytara Solenute watched Ludenberg Lavante, his face flushed red.
Eve Arcadia... who would've thought that woman could be useful to me.
She couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sheer absurdity of it all. She'd acted out of mild irritation at seeing Eve approach Ludenberg so boldly, but to reap such an unexpected reward? A profound sense of relief washed over her, incomparable to any other situation.
Had Ludenberg ever blushed at a woman's approach before? She stared intently at his reddened face, lost in thought.
"...Tara, what's wrong?"
Still holding Ashytara's hand, Ludenberg had no choice but to ask why she was staring right through him.
"No, just... hold on a sec."
As her thoughts deepened, Ashytara realized something: Ludenberg had never blushed at any other woman's approach. Not once. Look at all the women around him—her own sister Sione, Professor Nah Tes, Cletta, Philia, Leila, senior Dalia, senior Seia, Eve Arcadia. Most of them were stunningly beautiful, yet he'd never faltered in dealing with them.
And yet... today, for the first time, he'd wavered.
In the end, the reason Ludenberg had faltered was none other than herself.
The realization hit her like a thunderbolt. All her worries up until now—that he saw her only as a childhood friend, someone comfortable and familiar, that he'd never view her as a woman—were utterly groundless. He already saw her that way!
With that thought, all of Ludenberg's inexplicable behaviors suddenly made sense. The way he'd flinched subtly when she grabbed his hand. The times he'd quickly averted his gaze when their eyes met. Every single one stemmed from his awareness of her as a woman, and the shyness it brought.
Ashytara summoned every ounce of self-control to keep her beaming face in check. Simply maintaining her current expression was the best she could manage. But even that wouldn't last long.
"So, what now? Didn't you say you had something to do?"
Ludenberg glanced away as he spoke. Ashytara shook her head.
"Yeah, no. That was just an excuse. To shake off that woman... Hey, Lude."
"What?"
"Let's skip training today if we can. She might butt in and cause trouble."
Ludenberg found her words reasonable. Eve Arcadia had shown an oddly intense interest in him and Ashytara. He already drew enough attention in Ortara. Training with Ashytara? Eve would almost certainly interfere.
"Got it."
"Yeah. See you at dinner then. Oh, and from now on, let's train early morning or late night. No point running into her."
"You're right. Okay."
As Ludenberg nodded readily, Ashytara flashed a subtle smile and released his hand.
"Uh, yeah. See you later."
He looked at her, then averted his gaze again.
Back in her dorm, Ashytara gave up on controlling her expression and flung herself onto her bed with a giddy laugh.
Poof.
The luxury mattress enveloped her softly. Completely buried, she hugged a pillow to her chest and... started kicking her legs wildly.
"...!"
A strange, muffled sound escaped her lips, but the pillow swallowed it whole.
Maybe Ludenberg felt the same way about her. The very possibility sent her heart into overdrive.
"When did it start, though?"
When he'd become aware of her like that. No clear moment came to mind. Ludenberg's face didn't show emotions easily anyway.
But it didn't matter much, so she didn't dwell on it.
"Who cares."
She mumbled into the pillow and buried her face deeper. Thoughts of the friendly matches or Eve had long vanished. Her mind was filled only with what to eat with Ludenberg that evening—and the realization that she could approach him more boldly from now on.
"Hehe."
Lost in those thoughts, she let out a silly giggle. A face she'd never show anyone was now on full, unashamed display.
Meanwhile, Nadan Tes and the Istaltin royals were still deep in conversation in Professor Nah Tes's lab.
"Eve—that woman came too, right? I missed her."
"Yeah. Still got that arrogant mug on her."
Tradiaan Setta's unexpectedly crude tone echoed through Nah's quarters, hard to believe from the usually solemn and polite prince.
"Ugh, that woman. I hate her on sight."
Denetim Setta nodded in agreement. What on earth had happened between them?
"What went down, anyway?"
Nadan asked, but they just shook their heads, clearly unwilling to say.
"Eh... complicated stuff, I guess. But man, she is pretty. Just looking at her lifts your mood."
Denetim shot Nadan a shocked glare at his offhand comment.
"...What?"
"Come on, objectively, Eve Arcadia's gorgeous. Just stating facts."
"So what if she's pretty? Her personality's a total wreck."
Denetim grumbled, clearly miffed at Nadan praising Eve's looks.
"Haha, don't get so mad."
"How can I not? How do you praise a woman like that?"
"Like what? I haven't dealt with her myself. And you're not telling me details. Even if you're my friends, I shouldn't badmouth someone I don't know firsthand. Just bits and pieces at best."
Nadan's point was fair. No matter how much he disliked someone his friends hated, trash-talking without real experience wasn't right.
Denetim knew it too, so she just puffed her cheeks at him. But pride kept her from spilling the humiliating details to Nadan and Tradiaan.
"Anyway, from what you've said, that high-and-mighty type won't bother with me. Relax. And if she does, as long as she doesn't get the upper hand on me, we're good. You know how it is."
Tradiaan and Denetim nodded. New people always ended up toyed with by Nadan. Even Eve probably wouldn't be different.
He seemed frivolous, immature, flighty on the surface... but he was never the one led around. Frivolity at mastery level was untouchable.
"...True. Even if you tangle with Eve, you're not the type to get played. Still, be careful. She's got a nasty temper."
"I'll handle it, no worries. Worry too much and you'll go bald like me?"
Denetim shrieked at Nadan grinning at his own shiny head.
"Hey! I'm actually worried here!"
"Some people need worry, some don't. I'm the latter."
"Ugh, fine. Do what you want."
"Still, be cautious, Nadan," Tradiaan added carefully, but Nadan brushed it off.
"I'm fine. You think a woman like that would eye a ugly lug like me?"
"...No."
Tradiaan pondered, then shook his head. The most sensible one there agreed Eve wouldn't bother with Nadan. From what he'd seen, she went after noble-looking types.
"See? Anyway, I'm out. Sis. I'll head back now."
"Where to?"
"Nothing more to do here. Gonna crash at the dorm. Research is wrapping up anyway. Just need to write the conference paper."
"...Do whatever."
Nadan shrugged nonchalantly and slipped out of Nah Tes's quarters.
While Ludenberg and Ashytara holed up in their dorms, Eve was out prying info on Ludenberg from the Solemnute folks. Her stunning looks and charm made it easy, and she quickly gathered details on him and his circle.
The intel: As she'd seen, no divine power. Few associates, lately always glued to Princess Ashytara. Trusted by student council president Dalia Retiu. Only real friend outside her: theology's Nadan Tes from the Setra Church.
"...".
Reviewing it, Eve realized approaching Ludenberg would be tougher than thought.
"You're kidding me."
In her assigned dorm, she scowled fiercely. She'd assumed someone like him would have tons of friends. Dead wrong.
"No, loner status has limits...! Only Princess Ashytara and some Nadan Tes as friends?"
Among everyone she'd met, no one had such a sparse social circle.
"Ha, haha..."
It was ridiculous.
"Fine, then. Time to meet Dalia Retiu and Nadan Tes."
Desperate to claim Ludenberg, she targeted his tiny network.
Next up: Nadan Tes. The big bald theology student who'd just bragged to Denetim Setta that he'd never cross paths with Eve.