Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Drunken Confessions (2)
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Originally, this drinking party should have felt awkward.
But perhaps because everyone here had gone through the common ordeal of being attacked during midterms, the atmosphere loosened up quickly. Even Veronica of all people was quietly sipping her drink without a word.
After about an hour of light chatter over food and drinks...
Once everyone had lowered their emotional walls a bit and gotten moderately tipsy, Adelia asked with flushed cheeks,
"Aren."
"Yes."
"Is it true that you confessed to Veronica?"
They had already switched from formal titles to first names. Of course, they still added polite suffixes like "Miss" or "young lady."
Confessing to Veronica, huh.
It was probably about what happened during the entrance exam.
Suddenly, all the girls' gazes focused on Adelia. Especially Veronica's stare toward the one who had brought it up out of nowhere—it was the sharpest of all.
Regardless, Aren nodded readily.
"Yes, that's right."
"It was true..."
Adelia couldn't hide her surprise.
She alternated glances between Aren and Veronica before asking again.
"Why did you do it?"
There had to be a reason, right?
Adelia might be just the daughter of some countryside count from the imperial borders, but she was still nobility.
From a noble's perspective, it was baffling how a commoner could muster the nerve to confess to another noble—let alone a duke's daughter.
"Because I liked her."
"That's it?"
"...Haa..."
Veronica, sitting beside him, let out a sigh.
It was exactly the clichéd answer she'd expected.
"Yes. That's it."
"Not because you were after the duke's family fortune or anything?"
"As if."
He chuckled and took a sip of his wine.
"I've got plenty of money."
"Still, not compared to nobles, right?"
Aren stared at Adelia.
She's asking so bluntly, he thought.
...Is she a little drunk?
"I don't know what you think, but I really do have a lot of money."
"Even as a commoner?"
"Yes. Even as a commoner."
He could easily buy ten or more grand mansions in the capital where nobles lived—and still have boatloads left over.
...
Oh, right. He still needed to go buy that safe house.
Maybe swing by this weekend with Lydia and Veronica.
Make it a date and kill two birds with one stone.
Meanwhile, Adelia looked stunned as she listened.
"...Aren, you're amazing."
"I am pretty great."
"That confidence too."
Adelia mumbled to herself for a moment.
"...So you really confessed just because you liked Veronica that much?"
"Pretty much. Plus, it'd be nice if she became my partner and bore my kids while she's at it."
"......"
Veronica flinched. A glance sideways showed the tips of her ears burning red.
Finding her adorable, Aren discreetly tapped her waist under the table where no one else could see.
She jolted.
Veronica glared at him as if to say don't, but he just grinned shamelessly like nothing was wrong.
"Whoa... Aren, you're such a straight shooter."
"You need courage to win a beauty."
She giggled at his bold words.
"But... do you think it'll work? Veronica is still a duke's daughter."
"That's fine."
"Why?"
She was probably saying that because Aren was a commoner from the empire.
Realistically, a commoner marrying a noble lady was incredibly difficult.
However.
"I'm kind of a big deal back home. Worst case, I can just take Veronica and head to the eastern continent."
"...Who says I'd go with you?"
Veronica piped up timidly(?) from the side, but he ignored her.
Meanwhile, Adelia's eyes sparkled at the mention of the eastern continent.
"The east...? Aren, you're from Hwayeon? Now that you mention it, you do have black hair...!"
Black hair.
It was the symbol of the massive Hwayeon Empire in the eastern continent—more precisely, its eastern part.
As Aren nodded in confirmation, Lydia and Veronica's eyes followed him.
Unlike Veronica, who already knew from his casual hints, Lydia stared in genuine surprise.
The western continent had little exchange with the east, so it felt like an unknown, fantastical land.
"Whoa... that's so cool. Hwayeon... I heard they don't have a king or emperor. Is that true?"
King or emperor...
"Partially true."
"Partially...?"
"Hwayeon has no emperor right now, but it used to."
The throne was vacant at present.
"...Huh?"
"Hwayeon was originally a nation where the sovereign's power was absolute."
Think ancient China or Joseon on Earth. A central absolutist state under the emperor.
That was Hwayeon.
...But that was then.
According to his master, about fifty years ago, the meritorious clans rose up against the tyrant emperor ruling Hwayeon. They deposed him.
The throne had remained empty ever since.
With power thus vacated, Hwayeon was now divided and ruled by those clans over their territories.
And one of them was... his master. The Shinomiya clan.
Rumor had it they couldn't leave the throne empty forever, so the clans—now like feudal lords—planned to select a puppet from the imperial family.
"But I don't know now. I'm here at the academy."
"Hee... that's wild."
"Anyway, that's why there's no issue. Worst case, I grab Veronica and bolt."
"Ahaha..."
Adelia let out an awkward laugh, glancing at Veronica.
"Alright, my turn to ask. Who are you marrying, Adelia?"
"...Huh?"
"Aren?"
"......You?"
Everyone stared at him in shock.
"It's a drinking party, so let's be direct. There are guys courting you, right?"
The crown prince, Darsen the Sword Saint's disciple, Jethua the next Northern Grand Duke, Ferris the Magic Tower Lord's disciple.
Anyone could see these four top-tier guys all pursuing one woman: Adelia.
Flustered by his fastball, she scratched her cheek.
She downed some wine, her throat apparently parched.
"...Overwhelmingly honored as I am, those gentlemen are interested in me. As a woman, I've noticed their feelings."
"Ho ho."
Lydia eyed Adelia with keen interest. She wasn't as bold(?) as Aren, so she'd been quiet, but curiosity was curiosity.
Really, this was...
Noble scandal.
Prime gossip material.
"But... I can't choose any of them."
"Hmm..."
As expected of a romance novel heroine—managing a harem, huh.
"I-It's not like that. No harem."
"Not?"
"No..."
Adelia felt a bit wronged, honestly.
These four guys had suddenly started showing interest one day.
Even after rejections, they stuck around, followed her to the academy, and now joined her clubs.
"Friends are fine. But... I'm not interested in dating or marriage yet."
"I see."
"Yes. And I have a type in mind. I'm grateful for their feelings, but honestly, it's a burden..."
Haa.
She sighed deeply.
Veronica shot Aren a glance, somewhat understanding Adelia's plight of being "claimed" by a guy.
...Why me, though.
Aren wasn't like those leads.
...
Or maybe not.
"Ahem. So no one you're actually into?"
"No..."
Looks like the romance heroine really was a victim.
Damn that crown prince.
Should've known when he started eyeing other girls despite having a pretty, perfect fiancée like Sarah sunbae.
Of course, thanks to him, Aren had a shot at Sarah.
To change the subject, Adelia turned to Veronica and Lydia.
"What about you two? Anyone you're into? Or like?"
"......"
Veronica's eyes unconsciously flicked to Aren. No one noticed.
She answered with silence, and Lydia...
"Um... m-me neither."
Lydia stole glances at Aren.
His straight nose.
Sharp eyes.
Crimson eyes that could mesmerize, and mysterious black hair.
Aren was truly fascinating.
Confident anywhere, anytime. Honest with his feelings. No hesitation in action, always speaking his mind.
Liking someone. Disliking someone.
He looked out for himself without minding others' eyes. And he took care of her in small ways—handing her a drink now and then, chatting to keep her from feeling lonely in the seat next to him.
Thanks to him, she was enjoying academy life plenty, even without other friends.
And... that made her care about him.
"No one?"
"N-No..."
But she denied it aloud.
Even as her eyes followed him more than anyone's.
Even though lately, thoughts of him kept her up late at night.
Why.
...
"......"
.
.
.
.
"I-I'm just going to wash my hands real quick."
The drinking party had stretched past two hours. Adelia was passed out drunk, eyes half-closed in sleep, and Veronica had gone to the bathroom to sober up.
Leaving just Lydia and Aren alone.
She kept peeking at him.
"Lydia."
"Y-Yes...?"
"Really no one you're into?"
Lydia stared straight at Aren at the question.
And.
"...No."
Yes.
There is.
You. You're on my mind.
But... Aren was looking at Veronica, not her. And Sarah sunbae.
Her heart squeezed tight.
"Is that so?"
Aren smiled in that inscrutable way.
"I do."
He took a sip of his drink and leaned in to kiss her.