Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: I Won't Yield This Time. (6)
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In a secluded spot a bit away from the banquet hall, where no one was likely to pass by, Elena faced the Magic Tower Lord.
"Thanks to you, my research should be a bit easier now."
"I'm glad I could help."
The conversation Elena had just shared with the Magic Tower Lord was, naturally, about that bug.
He had been curious about the behavior it displayed during the social event, and Elena had answered him sincerely.
She couldn't fully trust him, but he didn't seem like the type of mage who would prioritize personal gain above all else.
And above all, she wanted this ominous matter resolved as quickly as possible—both as an imperial citizen and as a mage.
"Sorry for taking up your time. Shall we head back to the banquet hall?"
"Taking my time? This isn't someone else's business."
With those words, Elena brought their conversation to a complete end.
She returned to the banquet hall, only to find that the two who should have been there were nowhere to be seen. Erze and Luke.
'Obviously, Her Highness the Princess seduced him...'
She had deliberately told her to come back leisurely, so there was no need to check.
Besides, Luke wasn't the type to wander off on his own. If anything, he was so stubbornly honest it was worrisome.
Haah-.
Elena let out a short sigh and began searching for the missing pair.
She first scanned the banquet hall, but amid the crowd, neither of them was anywhere in sight.
If anything, she ended up making eye contact with someone unnecessary in the process...
"So I wasn't seeing things."
"Your Highness the Prince, it's an honor to meet you."
Evan Kaiser. Erze's younger brother and the empire's prince.
Had she not heard he was attending the banquet? He wore a distinctly surprised expression.
But that lasted only a moment. Soon, he smiled warmly and continued.
"Who would have thought we'd meet here. But you being so formal feels awkward somehow."
"At the Academy, people tend to loosen up a bit."
"Are you looking for someone? You seemed to be glancing around."
"I was searching for Her Highness Erze. She vanished while I was away."
"I saw Sis heading to the second-floor balcony."
"Thank you for telling me."
She had thought it would just waste time, but to gain such information—who would have imagined?
Elena bowed politely in thanks and immediately set off.
Upon reaching the second floor, she spotted Erze and Luke beyond the wide window. Each held a glass of wine as they talked.
But the atmosphere felt oddly tense. Erze, rarely, wore a serious expression.
'Should I interrupt...?'
The thought slowed her steps for a moment. No matter that Luke was hers, she didn't want to disturb an important conversation.
But that hesitation was brief. She shook her head to clear her mind.
If it was important to Luke, then his owner had every right to know. No, it was more than a right—she had to know.
Steeling herself, Elena stepped forward and opened the door to the balcony.
That was when the shocking words reached her ears.
"I want to do it too. Be secret friends with you."
Elena froze in place. Her determined stride halted, her mind racing for what to say next—all of it stopped dead.
Slowly, her wits returned, and questions flooded her mind.
What did that mean? Why would the princess suggest being secret friends? Did she know about her relationship with Luke?
And finally...
...What would Luke's answer be?
Elena had no answers to any of it. Her usually sharp mind felt rigidly locked up.
That frozen thinking bred hesitation, which ultimately led her to flee.
She quietly closed the door and leaned against the wall. A chill seeped through her clothes.
'...Please refuse.'
This impossible wish, reaching the wall beyond.
She realized it hadn't worked only after a little more time passed.
Suddenly, the balcony door opened, and she came face-to-face with Erze and Luke.
Elena feigned calm.
"There you are, Your Highness."
"Oh, Elena. I told you to take it easy."
If she'd taken it easy, what were you planning with Luke?
The words rose to her throat, but she couldn't voice them. They were unfit for a princess. And above all, such pettiness wasn't like her.
Perhaps her thoughts showed on her face. Erze gave an awkward smile.
"It was a joke. I think of you as a friend too."
"To be Your Highness's friend is too great an honor."
"Enough of this. Let's enjoy the banquet. Eat some delicious food, have some drinks."
Erze smiled brightly and stepped forward.
As Elena moved to follow, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Turning, she saw it was Luke, his face etched with concern.
"Duchess, are you alright?"
"What?"
"Your expression didn't look good, so I asked."
"...I'm fine."
"Understood. But if you're ever uncomfortable, please tell me freely. I'm your servant, after all."
Luke was the same as always. His worried look, his tone—everything.
So he had refused Erze's offer?
'No, probably not.'
Against someone like Erze, Luke had no real choice. It was safer to assume he'd accepted the secret friends proposal.
Realizing that anew, her chest throbbed sharply. Like someone jabbing it with an awl.
What an irony. Luke's demeanor unchanged, their secret friends bond unchanged.
Then what was this feeling? Why did it hurt so much?
By the time Elena snapped out of her reverie, she was unwittingly calling his name.
"...Luke."
"Yes, Duchess."
"Hurry and follow Her Highness. Who knows what prank she'll pull next."
"Understood."
Elena walked with Luke, still clutching her aching heart.
After that, they enjoyed the banquet ordinarily. Drinking wine, eating food, exchanging greetings with other nobles at times.
No, truthfully, she couldn't enjoy it. Her mind was too tangled. She was just pretending.
Time flowed on until late evening. The banquet ended, and guests began departing in carriages one by one.
Elena did the same, boarding a carriage with Luke.
As it started with a faint jolt, Luke's voice soon came.
"Duchess, did you enjoy yourself today?"
"...Somewhat."
A lie. She broke their promise to always tell each other the truth, no matter the situation.
Her already uneasy heart grew more troubled.
A brief silence followed...
"Duchess."
Luke continued in a serious tone.
She knew what would come next without asking. True to his promise, he intended to tell her everything without hiding.
But Elena lacked the courage to hear it. At least not from Luke.
"Luke, I'm a bit tired. Wake me when we reach the inn?"
"Understood."
Elena closed her eyes. But sleep didn't come. She was just pretending, lacking the courage to listen.
Even after arriving at the inn, it was the same. She went straight to her room without hearing him out.
Thus, one day, two days, three, four...
Even after returning to the Frozenheart Ducal Family, she refused to hear his story.
Why, exactly?
What was so frightening that she couldn't even talk?
As she pondered, time slipped mercilessly by, and that day arrived.
"Duchess, we should head back to the Academy dorm tomorrow."
"Yes, let's do that."
It was the eve of the new semester.
They say enjoyable times pass twice as fast. After returning from the imperial banquet, days blurred by, and suddenly it was two days before the semester started.
Thinking back, it hadn't really been enjoyable...
But a vacation was a vacation. Calling it an enjoyable time worked well enough. She'd grown in her own way.
'The professor might be a little surprised at this...?'
I smiled at the half-broken dagger.
Its missing blade was filled with aura, meaning I'd splendidly completed Shabel's assignment.