Since God Allowed It
Time slipped by quickly.
Serena came to visit constantly. Whenever the palace schedule was free. Whenever her lessons ended early. Whenever an official event was canceled. Even on days when she had just an hour or two to spare, an official visitation notice would arrive from the royal court — and before long, she would appear.
“I came to see you, Leon.”
At first, it was once or twice a week. Then once every three days. And at some point, without my noticing the transition, she was coming nearly every single day she possibly could.
I hadn't just sat there taking it, mind you. A few times, I made excuses to get away. I had sword training, I said. I was following my father on an inspection of the territory, I said.
But every single time, somehow, my schedule fell apart. The training got canceled. The inspection got postponed. And then Serena appeared. She took my hand. She looped her arm through mine.
“I love you,” she'd say. Then she'd take my hand again. Loop her arm through mine again. And again: “I love you.”
In the beginning, the people around us watched with mild curiosity. But that didn't last long. After a few years, the servants, my parents, the palace staff — no one thought anything of it anymore. It was simply that Serena liked Leon, and was always at Leon's side. That was all it was.
The problem was that Serena herself had begun to consider it equally self-evident.
And so, in the year we turned fifteen, we enrolled at the Royal Arcadia Noble Academy.
“Surely this time I'll get a little distance.”
That was what I thought on the first day of school. This wasn't the royal palace, and it wasn't the ducal estate. There were hundreds of students. Even Serena couldn't possibly glue herself to my side inside the academy too.
That illusion lasted all of ten seconds after I walked into the classroom.
My seat. Leon Valterion. Second row, by the window. And the seat next to it — Serena Arcadia.
“…….”
I stared at the nameplate for a long while. No way. It couldn't be. It was just coincidence. These were seats assigned by the school. I hadn't arranged it, and Serena hadn't either—
“Good morning, Leon.”
The familiar voice came from beside me. I looked up. Serena was standing there in her academy uniform — white with gold trim, a cloak bearing the royal insignia. She had grown so much compared to a few years ago, and yet the face she turned toward me was exactly the same. Too happy. Far, far too happy.
Serena checked her own seat assignment, and then she smiled brightly.
“Next to you again.”
“Yeah, funny that.”
“I'm happy.”
“Good for you.”
“I am.”
Not a flicker of hesitation. She settled into her seat naturally, and before she'd even taken out a book, she took my hand first.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“This is school.”
“I know.”
“There are people everywhere.”
Serena glanced around the room, and then smiled even more brightly.
“I like it.”
“Like what?”
She gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. “Everyone can see.”
“…….”
I moved to pull my hand away at once. Serena didn't force it. She let go without protest.
“That's all right.”
“What is?”
“I can hold your hand during breaks instead.”
“And who approved that?”
“I'm going to negotiate.”
I sighed. At that point, the boy seated in front of us turned around.
“Of course the two of you ended up sitting together.”
“Of course?”
“Well, I heard you've been inseparable since you were little.”
The girl next to him chimed in as well. “Honestly, I assumed you two were engaged.”
“We're not.”
I denied it instantly. But Serena said nothing at all. She was simply smiling. The girl looked at her uncertainly.
“Really, though? You're not?”
Serena thought about it for a moment. And then—
“Not yet.”
“Hey.”
I whipped my head toward her. “Not that line again.”
“It's not untrue, though.”
“How is it not untrue?”
“Because it could happen in the future.”
Serena leaned her body, with perfect naturalness, toward my arm. And then—
“I love you.”
A ripple of quiet laughter went around the classroom. I pressed a hand to my forehead. Exhausted, and it was only day one.
Our first class was the Magic Aptitude Measurement. Most noble children studied magic from early childhood, but the formal evaluation at the academy was another matter entirely. Raw mana capacity. Control. Elemental affinity. Magic formula comprehension. And — divine aptitude.
Students were called up one by one. Then—
“Her Highness, Serena Arcadia.”
The professor called her name, and the room went silent. Serena rose from her seat, and just before heading to the front, she grabbed my hand one more time.
“Wish me luck.”
“Go do well.”
That single sentence lit her face up immediately. “Yes!”
The simple things were still simple for her. Serena walked to the measuring stone and placed her hand upon it.
In that instant, light erupted.
Blinding, pure white — bright enough to swallow the entire classroom. Several students threw their hands over their eyes. Even the professor's expression froze.
“……This is…”
The results surfaced one by one. Mana capacity: Highest Rank. Control: Highest Rank. Divine affinity: Limit Exceeded. And then, the final one. Blessing aptitude — Unmeasurable.
The classroom erupted into murmurs.
“Unmeasurable?”
“Is that even possible?”
The professor checked the measuring stone again and again. “Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“It appears you are receiving an extraordinarily strong blessing from God.”
Serena nodded calmly. “It seems that way.”
The professor looked flustered instead. “You were aware of it?”
“Not exactly, but…” Serena smiled. “I have really good luck.”
“Luck, Your Highness?”
“Yes.”
And then, with perfect naturalness, she looked straight at me.
“When I wanted to see someone again, I met them.”
Every gaze in the classroom swung to me at once. It felt ominous.
“When I missed someone, I ended up seeing them often.” Still looking at me. “When I wanted to be close, the seats somehow kept ending up together.”
“…….”
“Even when it seemed like we'd be apart—” she beamed, “—somehow we'd end up side by side again.”
The professor chuckled warmly. “It seems God cherishes you deeply, Your Highness.”
Serena thought about that for a moment. Then she nodded, with utter solemnity.
“Yes. I think so too.”
This time, the laughter that followed was a little different in quality.
“Because God let me meet Leon again.”
She was looking at me again. The professor apparently took it as a lovely sentiment, and so did the students around us. I did not.
“That's why I say a prayer of thanks every day.”
“That is admirable devotion, Your Highness.”
“I truly am grateful.”
Serena's gaze locked onto me. And then her voice dropped, just slightly.
“This time—” a pause, “—I believe He's made it so I will never lose him again.”
The professor took it as a story about reuniting with someone precious. I did not. I knew exactly what those words meant.
Suddenly, a thought from when I was ten floated up. If God exists, I'd decided back then, then that bastard must really hate me. I had been wrong. God didn't hate me. God simply loved Serena far, far too much.
Serena finished her measurement and returned to her seat. The moment she sat down, she took my hand. Squeeze.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“What you just said.”
“What about it?”
“The never losing me part.”
Serena slowly rubbed the back of my hand. “What about it?”
“The phrasing is kind of off, don't you think?”
“Which part?”
Genuinely puzzled — that was her expression. “God let us meet again,” she said, catching my index finger this time. “So I can't afford to lose you again, can I?”
“…….”
“I'm simply grateful.” Serena smiled. With a face far too happy. “Truly.”
Lunchtime. After morning classes ended, a new seating chart went up. Apparently, they reassigned all the seats based on the measurement results — deliberately scattering the high-mana students so they wouldn't cluster on one side of the room.
Serena's aptitude: Unmeasurable. Mine: Upper Rank.
I allowed myself a small flicker of hope. This time. For real. I might actually get some distance.
I checked the chart. Leon Valterion. Center row. Third seat. And beside it — Serena Arcadia.
“…….”
A familiar voice came from behind me. “What's wrong?”
Without a word, I pointed at the nameplate of the seat next to mine. Serena looked. And then she broke into a radiant grin.
“Again.”
“Yeah. Again.”
“Wonderful.”
“You don't seem very surprised.”
Serena tilted her head, as if the question itself were strange. “Why would I be surprised?”
“They said they were deliberately spreading people out, and yet we're together again.”
“Exactly.” Serena said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Good luck, I suppose.”
“…….”
Forget it. There was no point in saying anything more.
Then the professor spoke. “Starting next class, you will pair off in twos for practical exercises.”
The students stirred. For an instant, I felt a chill of foreboding. No. Surely not.
The list was read out. A few names went by, and then—
“Leon Valterion.”
Don't.
“Serena Arcadia.”
A small giggle sounded beside me. I turned my head. Serena had a hand over her mouth — the face of someone struggling to contain laughter out of sheer joy.
“Don't laugh.”
“I'm sorry.”
She did not look sorry in the slightest.
“You're happy about it.”
“What's not to be happy about?”
Serena took my hand and murmured, very quietly: “God—” squeeze, “—really must like me.”
“…….”
“He keeps putting me next to you, after all.”
A strangely cold shiver ran down my spine.
The afternoon swordsmanship practicum produced the same result. This time they formed groups of four, and the roster read: Leon Valterion. Serena Arcadia. And two others — one of them a brown-haired girl. Elina Rosenbell, daughter of the Marquis Rosenbell.
I wasn't even surprised anymore.
“Again,” Serena said beside me, in a delighted voice.
“Mm.”
“At this point, wouldn't you call it fate?”
“Don't say that word.”
“Why not?”
“Because I hate it.”
“That's a shame.”
Even as she said it, there was not a shred of disappointment on Serena's face. If anything, she looked happier than before.
Classes ended. I picked up my bag and rose from my seat to head home — and Serena attached herself instantly. And then, with total naturalness: arm looped through mine.
“…….”
“What?”
“We've been together all day.”
“Yes.”
“Again?”
“Until you get home.”
“No.”
“Then to the school gate.”
“No.”
“To the end of the hallway, then.”
“…….”
Serena waited. “End of the hallway.”
“…Fine.”
She beamed at once, and hugged my arm just a little tighter. “I love you.”
We walked down the corridor. Passing students looked at us — but strangely, no one found it odd. Quite the opposite.
“The two of you together again, of course.”
“You had every class together again today, didn't you?”
“Are you two sure you're not dating?”
That was all I heard. I didn't answer. Serena smiled with deep, deep satisfaction.
Then someone approached me. Brown hair. It was Elina from the afternoon practicum — the same group.
“Lord Leon?”
“Hm?”
“At the next swordsmanship practicum, I was wondering if—”
In that instant, Serena tightened her hold on my arm. Just a little. A very, very little. But I felt it. So did Elina — she glanced at Serena and hesitated for a moment.
Serena smiled brightly. “Hello.”
“Oh — Your Highness the Princess.”
“Is something the matter?”
“Ah… I was just hoping to ask Lord Leon for some swordsmanship advice before the next practicum.”
“I see.” Serena kept smiling. “That's a fine idea.”
“Pardon?”
“Leon is very good with the sword.”
It was a genuinely kind thing to say. And then—
“Ask him as many questions as you like if there's anything you don't understand.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Elina's expression softened slightly. At that point, Serena added:
“You don't mind if I sit in too, do you?”
“…Pardon?”
“I'm fond of Leon's swordsmanship as well.”
Elina's eyes flicked between me and Serena for a moment. And then: “Of course.” With that, she withdrew.
I turned slowly to look beside me. Serena was smiling as if nothing at all had happened.
“What was that.”
“What was what?”
“Did you really need to join in?”
“Yes.”
“Why.”
Serena answered with complete sincerity. “Because I don't like Leon being alone with another woman.”
“…….”
Blunt. Far too blunt.
“I thought you said you'd hold back.”
“I did hold back.”
“Where, exactly?”
Serena blinked. “I didn't stop her from asking you her question, did I?”
“Instead you butted in yourself.”
“Yes.”
“How is that any different from stopping her?”
Serena thought about it for a moment — genuinely deliberating, from the look on her face. And then: “I permitted the two of you to talk, didn't I?”
“With you standing right there.”
“Is that the problem?”
“…….”
She truly didn't understand. Or — no. By Serena's standards, that may well have counted as extraordinary restraint.
“I've improved so much compared to my past life.”
“In what way?”
“If it had been like before—”
Serena stopped mid-sentence.
“…….”
“What?”
“Secret.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”
Serena laughed, and hugged my arm a little tighter. “Anyway,” she said, looking up at me, “it's fine that I'm with you, isn't it?”
“Why would that be fine?”
“Because I was Leon's girlfriend.”
“In a past life.”
“Yes.” Not a flicker of hesitation. “So this life, we can just become it again.”
“Don't decide that on your own.”
“I haven't decided yet.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Working on it.” Serena smiled brightly. “Until you give your permission.”
The moment I heard those words, the image of Serena dealing with Elina a few minutes earlier flashed back into my mind. She hadn't blocked her. Hadn't driven her away. She had simply… inserted herself. It was definitely different from her past life. The problem was that I couldn't tell whether it was genuinely any better.
We reached the front gate. The agreed-upon spot.
“Let go now.”
Serena released my arm without protest. “Okay.”
I looked at her, slightly taken aback. “You're letting go easily today.”
“We were together so much today, after all.” Serena wore an expression of deep contentment and began counting on her fingers. “Same seat.” One finger folded down. “Same pair.” A second. “Same group.” A third. “Together all through school, too.” A fourth. “Arm in arm all the way home, as well.” A fifth.
And then she looked at me. “Today was a truly wonderful day.”
“For you, maybe.”
“That's right.” Serena didn't deny it in the slightest. “For me.”
Then, suddenly, she pressed her palms together and looked up at the sky.
“Thank you.”
“What are you doing.”
“Praying.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
She was serious. “Thank You for letting me be by Leon's side again today.”
“…….”
“Please let me do the same tomorrow.”
“Hey.”
Serena opened her eyes. “What?”
“Don't ask God for things like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it's weird.”
Serena looked at me with a face of genuine incomprehension. “But it's the most important request I have.”
“…….”
She meant it, every word.
Serena took my hand one more time. One last time — squeeze, just once — and, true to her word, let go.
“Leon.”
“What.”
“God keeps letting us meet, you know.”
“It's just you being lucky.”
“Yes.” Serena smiled. “And I think that luck is a blessing.”
Then she stepped one pace closer. A very small voice — quiet enough that only I could hear it.
“So—” a pause, “—this time, I think I'll be able to stay with you no matter where we go.”
“…….”
I said nothing. Serena just kept smiling.
“Nice, isn't it?”
“Not to me.”
“That's all right.”
“What is?”
Serena took a single step back. And then, exactly as she always did, with a face of overwhelming happiness, she said:
“Because I'm happy.”
“…….”
“I love you, Leon.”
With those words, she walked off toward the royal carriage. I watched her retreating figure.
All day today — seats changed, and we were side by side. Pairs assigned, and we were together. Groups formed, and we were together. Truly, to call it coincidence would be… unsettling. It had kept happening, to a degree that was honestly a little disturbing. Together. Always together.
And above all — the smiling face of Serena, who believed that God had permitted every single one of those events — lingered in my head, strangely, and refused to leave.