Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: What Do You Do on a Date?
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Recently, something's been off with Laura.
There wasn't any real problem with her.
In fact, Laura was doing better than me.
Her grades are excellent, and she's made a lot of friends.
People still avoided me, and the only one who approached was the crown prince, reeking of power and pressure.
But the weirdness I sensed from Laura wasn't anything like that.
The oddity she was showing.
It was just this—
Whenever she met me, she kept doing things she never used to.
Staring up at me intently, or leaning in just a bit too close in an unnatural way.
And while doing it, she'd watch my reactions.
"……."
"What's up?"
"No, nothing."
Despite her words, disappointment flickered across Laura's face at my response.
I sweated bullets inside watching her.
What is it? What does she want from me?
I had no idea. None at all.
She was clearly after something or trying to convey it, given these new behaviors—
But I couldn't read minds or cast mind-reading spells.
No, such magic probably didn't even exist.
That tidbit came up in a chat with Nicholas once.
"Magic to read people's minds? No such spell exists."
"I see."
"Yes. There are records of ancient witches using it... but exchanges between humans and witches ended long ago."
Even if it had been passed down, it would have been in secret. At least, no official records mentioned it.
That was his answer.
Hearing it, I felt relieved.
No more worrying about someone peeking into my past life in my head.
Anyway, that's not the point.
The key issue was that I couldn't read Laura's mind.
Which meant I wouldn't know what her actions signified unless she spelled it out.
So I stared at her face, tilted oddly toward me.
Maybe I could pick up something from her expression.
As expected, it was hopeless.
Hmm, she's beautiful.
That was all that came to mind—just how stunningly pretty Laura was.
I always thought so, but her beauty felt almost alien.
Like seeing an idol up close at a troop morale show.
I should've been used to it by now, but every glance felt fresh.
As those thoughts crossed my mind, Laura's expression shifted.
"Hee……."
She let out a tiny laugh, her lips twitching upward.
I didn't know why, but she suddenly seemed in a good mood.
What? She looked disappointed just a second ago?
Her emotions flipping like that left me clueless about the cause.
As I puzzled over it, Laura composed herself.
"Ahem."
Back to something like her initial look, but laced with subtle satisfaction.
I kept staring, and she lifted her teacup, pretending nothing was amiss.
"The tea smells nice today, too."
"……."
Even as she said it, her face twisted slightly—it clearly didn't suit her taste.
That sight made me happy and sad at once.
Seeing her drink tea she didn't like for my sake was joyful.
But her struggle to get used to the flavor hinted at our bond.
A relationship designed to fracture.
I brushed off the pang in my chest.
No need to feel sorry about it.
This was best for both of us.
My safety and her happiness.
Well, maybe not the absolute best for me—
But definitely for her.
She had destined love awaiting her.
The perfect happy ending scripted by this world's creator.
With that thought, the pity faded.
Deep down, I wanted things to go well for Laura.
As a reader who rooted for her, and as a friend.
That much was unshakable.
Having sorted my thoughts, I spent time with Laura.
But these moments kept happening after that day.
No, they intensified.
Since then, she'd started trying one new behavior after another on me.
"Nice weather today, huh?"
Suddenly talking about the weather while tucking her hair behind her ear,
"Feels a bit hot, though……."
Or brushing her hair back to subtly bare her nape.
Like that, Laura tested my reactions with these unfamiliar moves.
By now, even I could tell what it was.
Is she seducing me?
It was seduction.
The innocent, naive kind a girl innocent of men might dream up.
But figuring that out didn't resolve my confusion.
……Why?
Why me, of all people?
It made no emotional or situational sense.
I was her fiancé.
She wasn't trying to drag me to bed, so what reason did she have for this?
I vented to Nicholas about it.
He replied:
"E-Even as friends, that's... a bit much, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's too risqué! Ways to handle a woman's seduction? That's so lewd...!"
"……."
What was with him?
I stared at Nicholas with a "Did I hear that right?" look, but he was dead serious, face flushed red.
I nodded to myself.
Useless.
This guy was beyond clueless about romance.
Calling hair-tucking lewd? Elementary kids wouldn't think that.
Or maybe wizards were all like this?
I briefly recalled that internet meme about men wielding magic if they'd never touched a woman by 25, then shook my head.
No choice but to switch advisors.
And if Nicholas was out, I had only one option.
My childhood friend, Kiara.
Her personality meant she'd tease me mercilessly—
But with no alternatives, I had to.
And as expected, Kiara burst into laughter at my story.
"Ahhat, ahahaha!"
Ditching her usual ladylike "ohoho," she clutched her stomach and howled.
Not enough—she banged the table (each thud unnaturally loud), took deep breaths, wiped tears, then spoke.
"Laura seduced you like that? For real?"
"Yeah."
"Aww, so cute. Wish I'd seen it myself!"
Kiara sighed wistfully, a dreamy look on her face.
Then, snapping back, she asked:
"So what's the problem? Bragging that your fiancée's too adorable?"
"I don't know what she wants."
"You know it's seduction—how can you not know what she wants? Don't tell me you've never been with a woman? Want sis to teach you?"
"You know it's not that kind."
"What's that seduction versus this one? Seduction's all the same."
Spouting bedroom talk in broad daylight.
Did Kiara lack shame?
I sighed, and she "ohoho"-ed before giving a real answer.
"Fine, she's not aiming to drag you to bed with that innocent flirting. So the answer's obvious, right?"
"What?"
"She wants to spend more time with you! Doing fun stuff together."
"Laura and I already spend plenty of time together."
"By your standards, maybe. So, what do you two do when you meet?"
What else? Tea, walks, chit-chat.
Kiara gave me a pitiful look at my answer.
"That's it? Really? You are engaged, right?"
"We got the invitations. If you didn't read them, that's on you."
"Not that—it's too formal! You're gonna marry someday; act couple-y, go on dates!"
Her words made me pause.
"A couple who'll marry someday."
That's true for Laura.
I knew our engagement wouldn't lead to marriage—
But current Laura wouldn't think that.
I'd known it, but rethinking it made the situation click.
And I haven't shown any such signs.
Laura had signaled "let's get along" already.
Drinking tea she hated, claiming she'd become a Dominica too.
But I'd sent none back.
Just vaguely assuming we'd get along fine.
From her view, that must've been unsettling.
The man she'd spend her life with post-marriage, ignoring her signals.
She might end up as polite buddies forever—who could blame her anxiety?
But getting closer would derail the plot—
As I mulled, realization struck.
……Would getting closer really cause issues?
Laura's true love was inevitable.
The story flowed no matter what I did.
So whatever I tried, we'd hit a similar end.
Regardless of my actions.
And if something changes? That'd be fine too.
It'd mean fate isn't absolute, and my choices could reshape the future big-time.
Either way, no reason to overthink.
…….
Of course, I wouldn't go wild trying to alter the tale.
I didn't even know how it unfolded—
And crucially, its ending was Laura's happy one.
I wouldn't ruin that.
Dates should be fine, though.
I decided to take Kiara's advice.
But an unexpected snag arose.
After pondering seriously, I asked her:
"Kiara."
"Yeah? Feeling up for a date now?"
"What... do you even do on a date?"
"What?"
I'd never been on one in this world.
Kiara stared blankly, echoing my question.