This is Romance Fantasy (2)
Yohayden Mansion's reception room.
"Why'd you call me here? Zeke hasn't arrived yet, has he…?"
Iriel said weakly.
"The instructor will come. Just wait. I called you because I have something to say right now."
She narrowed her eyes at Iriel.
She looks pretty rough right now. Yeah, this is the perfect time to lay it all out.
Serena elegantly lifted the teacup to her lips and took a sip.
"…Is there really more we need to talk about between us…?"
"Don't you want to protect the instructor?"
"…."
Then you should've brought Zeke here!
For a moment, irritation bubbled up inside Iriel, but she decided to hear her out first.
"For now, I'm not here to trade barbs with you. I don't want to waste energy on that. So let's cut to the chase."
"…Fine. I have something I want to ask you too."
"I'm going to protect the instructor."
Serena opened her mouth with a resolute expression.
"So, you're going to hold a banquet at the Yustia Mansion. I'll go with the instructor and announce it there—that he's the one who saved my life."
"What!?"
Iriel's eyes widened.
Serena had decided to go straight for the jugular.
A banquet at the Yustia Mansion.
A place the lady of Yohayden would never normally set foot in.
Announcing there that Zeke was Yohayden's benefactor would spread the word through high society.
It would put direct pressure on the Yustias.
[I know Zeke is one of yours. But even knowing that, I've accepted him as my savior.]
And not only that—the guests at a Yustia banquet would be pro-Yustia noble houses and neutral families.
If Zeke and Serena's connection was publicly acknowledged in front of them,
it would make it even more awkward for the Yustias to expose him as a spy.
It was a truly political maneuver.
But from Iriel's perspective, she couldn't just accept it at face value.
"Hold on—what's this sudden talk of benefactor? And why at our mansion…?"
"The sooner, the better."
"Why the hell should I do that?!"
"It's the only way to stop the Yustias from directly targeting the instructor. His ties to them haven't been exposed yet. Timing is everything here."
Iriel bit her lip hard.
"Then what about me?"
What Serena was saying boiled down to using her as a front while whisking Zeke away.
"Am I just supposed to go to a convent or get forced into some unwanted engagement!?"
"That's a weird way to put it, isn't it? Whether you hold the banquet or not, that's your fate anyway, right? Saving one person on your way out sounds like a win to me."
Serena crossed her arms and glared at Iriel.
In truth, from Serena's standpoint, it would be easiest if Iriel just left the academy altogether.
But….
Yeah… this level of pressure should do it. If she digs in her heels, the whole plan falls apart from the start.
"Do you want to keep attending Lamieli Academy?"
"…."
"Fine, I'll help with that too… It's not pity. It'd be a problem for me if you stubbornly refuse."
Serena let out a heavy sigh.
"But first, I need to know what your relationship with the instructor is."
Serena intended to help her, but she wasn't about to do it for free.
So the price was the truth about Zeke and Iriel's past.
But Iriel didn't bite right away either.
"…Then tell me what you meant earlier about Zeke being your benefactor."
"Sure."
It was just a rumor she'd spread through high society anyway—no harm in telling Iriel early.
Serena nodded.
Iriel stared at the steam rising from her teacup and spoke.
"So… Zeke was in the Yustia underground…."
And so, memories of her past with Zeke poured from her lips.
A bond that stretched back to their earliest childhood.
Due to their difference in status, he had always spoken formally to her.
But despite that gap, Zeke had remained her closest companion.
He was the only boy her age in the Yustia household.
The only one among all those strict adults who tolerated her whims.
The times she'd secretly knocked on his door after getting scolded by her father or aunt.
How Zeke would comfort her crying self.
On days her father was away, dragging a reluctant Zeke out of bed to wander around.
Learning dagger techniques from him.
Chewing on hard bread together now and then.
Even the story of how his eyes had widened the first time she shared her usual soft bread with him.
Petty, warm memories piled up over the years spilled out one by one.
Even to Serena's ears, their history felt ticklishly intimate,
far closer emotionally than she'd expected.
Childhood friends? That's cheating!
Serena's face hardened.
What if… when the instructor recovers his memories… he goes back to her…?
Suddenly, an image flashed in Serena's mind: Zeke, memories restored, bidding her a sad farewell.
A dark jealousy welled up.
Originally, Serena had planned to meet Iriel, confirm how desperately she wanted to protect the instructor,
and then share that he had amnesia.
If the lady of Yustia joined forces to protect him, she could play that political card.
But as she listened, her resolve tilted the other way.
…Honestly, I didn't even get the instructor's permission. Is it really right to blab about his amnesia like this?
Rationalizations raced through Serena's head at frightening speed.
And if she brings up old memories, it might reopen his wounds from that female general. He could suffer all over again.
Tap. Tap. Her fingers drummed anxiously on the table.
He's trying to forget that painful past and live a new life! Dragging up grim memories like the Yustia dungeons would just hurt him. The Yustias are awful—how could they make someone live on hard bread and water in such harsh conditions!
Iriel recounting her memories with Zeke had her lips slightly curved in delight, looking utterly pleased.
To the point where it was hard to remember this was the same Yustia lady who'd tormented her so viciously before.
This pisses me off!!!
She's dangerous. She has to be removed from Zeke's side.
Serena glared at her, biting her lip so hard it nearly drew blood, oblivious to the pain.
"So… you used the family seal to summon Zeke… to Lamieli Academy."
And with that, Iriel's story ended.
"Yeah, got it. Well, I'll be going now."
Serena spat the words stiffly and rose from her seat.
"Wait!"
Iriel shot up and grabbed Serena's wrist.
"What."
"You said you'd let me keep going to Lamieli! And what's this benefactor crap? You have to tell me that too!"
"…Right, I did say that…."
That was when it happened.
Eily burst through the door without knocking.
"Lady Serena! Zeke Clayman has returned! He's heading here now!"
"The instructor!?"
"Zeke!?"
Iriel and Serena cried out in unison.
Iriel and Serena.
Heading to the reception room upon hearing those two were together, Zeke was caught off guard.
"Instructor!"
"Zeke!"
The moment they saw him, both threw themselves into his arms, tears streaming down their faces.
Then, just as abruptly, they pulled away, heads bowed, avoiding his eyes.
"Ah, my makeup's all ruined from crying…."
"Ah, thinking about the flower field just now brought up old memories…."
They mumbled excuses, but their words overlapped, making it hard to follow.
"Hm. Calmed down now?"
"Um… Instructor, could you give us just thirty minutes?"
"Me too…."
Hm, no idea what was going on, but Zeke nodded anyway.
And thirty minutes later, when he returned to the reception room, the two women sat there looking far more glamorous.
No—Serena in particular was noticeably more radiant, enough that Zeke, who knew she'd half-eaten before coming home, could tell.
Iriel noticed too and shot Serena a side-eye.
Serena turned away with a prim expression.
"Looks like I caused you both some worry."
"I… believed in you, Instructor, but I was still anxious…."
"Zeke, what happened? No run-in with the Yustia assassins?"
Zeke shook his head.
"Nah, I did. The assassin leader's swordsmanship was decent."
Iriel's eyes widened like saucers.
Hm, maybe it's time to treat Iriel a bit better. I've planted those seeds with the Yustias, after all. If I stay cold like before, it might raise unnecessary suspicions.
So he thought, but memories of his past karma with her flooded his mind.
—Get lost, Iriel Yustia.
—Slap!
—Same as last time. Sigh. Get out of my sight, Iriel Yustia.
—Smack!
Beyond that, all he recalled was being cold to her or giving half-hearted replies.
Uh… have I gone too far already? What now? How do I act nice at this point?
A proper adult should apologize sincerely when mending fences.
Zeke decided to apologize to her.
"Iriel…."
"…."
"Sorry for… h-hitting you earlier."
Apologizing felt so awkward the words barely made it out.
You crazy bitch, you started it!
Anyway, Zeke managed to get the apology out, and Iriel covered her mouth with her hand.
"S-see… I wasn't wrong to think… Zeke, you…."
"And for telling you to get lost… s-s-sorry. The situation got to me, and I overdid it."
Is that how people should live? Huh!?
Ah, this one might've been his own will, not the body's fault.
Tears burst from Iriel's eyes.
Zeke's brow furrowed.
Why does she keep crying? Did this body have some secret lover thing with her in the past or what?
Since things had come to this,
Zeke realized this was his chance to ask Iriel directly.
"Iriel."
"Sniff. Y-yeah… Z-Zeke…."
"There's something I've been wondering about…."
That's when Serena cut in from the side.
"I-Instructor!!"
Zeke turned to look at Serena.
"W-wait a sec."
"Hm?"
"Iriel, your makeup's all smudged."
Iriel panicked and hurriedly covered her face with both hands.
"Uh, I-I have a maid named Eily who's great at makeup. Go get it fixed."
Iriel nodded and hurried out of the reception room.
Whew.
Serena sighed.
She didn't know exactly what the instructor had been about to say,
but it was clearly something about Iriel.
Having already heard the story, Serena hoped Zeke wouldn't hear it.
He's already suffering from trauma! What if hearing that brings back painful memories!?
Of course, the fantastical rationalizations were par for the course.
The man before her looked the same as always.
His eyes were as sunken and calm as ever.
In his presence, Serena felt herself shrinking.
"Serena."
"Y-yes!?"
"You two seem to have gotten closer. As a man, I don't pay much attention to that sort of thing."
"…."
His words pricked at Serena's conscience.
No, that's not it!!
That sliver of guilt finally loosened her tongue.
"Um… Instructor."
"Yes."
"…Instructor, if you could go back to the past, would you want to?"