48. Ah! No Relationship!
“Uhm...”
The word "lonely" suddenly popped into my mind, startling me. Why am I acting like this all of a sudden?
I had never once had such a thought before. Why now?!
But as I gazed at the empty seat across from me, strength drained from my body once more.
Karl is gone. ...Ah. So that's why I felt lonely. It was because of this.
'Originally, this was the exact moment I meet Karl.'
After settling all the past troubles that had once made us awkward with each other, Karl and I had become normal friends again. ...Actually, it's that I still haven't approached him beyond that.
Thanks to that, I could talk to Karl quite comfortably and meet him whenever.
How was today's day? How was the lecture, are the juniors treating me well? How is the graduation preparation going? Finally, what are the 4 idiots whose graduation deferment was confirmed doing now?
It was a topic that could be shared with others. It was an ordinary, unremarkable conversation.
But to me, even that ordinary story felt special. Even though it was nothing special, it was more fun than any story, and I kept smiling involuntarily.
There were many things I wanted to say to Karl today.
Whether the 4 idiots with confirmed graduation deferment had let go of their mental string or were developing strange foods.
Or perhaps I, too, had heard that graduation might be risky for me a little.
'...Actually, I'm trying to avoid graduating somehow.'
That part is still under consideration. I want to have more academy life with Karl, but at the same time, hearing Karl call me 'dumb' is... no matter how I think, I don't want it.
Then, what if Karl thinks badly of me. Absolutely, absolutely I don't want that.
But today, I couldn't. Because Karl is not in the academy right now.
Karl is in that distant palace. Among them, the heart of the Empire, the most central one.
'Palace, huh...'
The command to enter the palace for the representatives of the family and the loyal nobles of the Empire who might or might not receive it in their lifetime.
It must be that he committed a pretty big mistake, or conversely, when a person who is too great for the ordinary merit and reward appears.
That's what Karl received. A noble who is not even a titled noble, a common noble like me, of the same age as me!
It's a good thing. Really, a huge thing. When Karl comes back, I must celebrate it properly.
I wonder what he received the palace command for... but that's later. For now, celebration first. If Karl tells me first, there's nothing better than that.
“Selena-nim?”
While thinking about when Karl would return, a voice calling from behind.
I turned my head wondering who it was, and immediately let out a sigh.
“Lavr?”
“Hello. It's been a while since we've met like this.”
The red-haired woman, Lavrenti, bows politely.
It's a master-disciple relationship with Karl... but Karl still doesn't understand it?
“Weren't you going to see your family?”
“I've seen them all.”
“Oh? Are they all doing well?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Surprising. A bit sudden. You said you were going to see your family, but you appeared again after just a few days.
Since I'm not an academy student, there's no reason to come here. Then, as expected...
“Are you here to see Karl?”
“Yes?”
“You came back to the academy. Right now, Lavrenti has no business here except for Karl.”
“Ahaha. Does it look like that?”
Yeah. It looks like that. No matter how I look, it looks like that, you.
As expected, this woman likes Karl. Karl doesn't know that.
“That's not it. Actually, today I came to see Selena-nim.”
“...Me?”
“Yes. I have something I want to ask.”
Something to ask? Not Karl, but me?
“...Um, first, here it's a bit like that. Let's go somewhere and have a drink, Lavrenti. How about it? I'll buy.”
“If you do that, I'll gratefully drink! Actually, I gave all my salary I received this time to my family. If you treat me to something, I'd be overjoyed.”
Take Lavrenti to the nearby cafe. Sit in a corner, order simple drinks and desserts, take a light breath, then fix my gaze on her again.
“Well. Now tell me. What you wanted to ask me.”
“Ah, yes! I... actually.”
Actually?
“Th... Selena-nim is in some... relationship with Master?”
...Eh?
“What do you mean?”
“That, I mean! I thought before that Master and I were... lovers... but Master said no. So I asked. What is Selena-nim to Master.”
“What... is it?”
Suddenly, I almost answered 'The person who received a confession of love from me.'
If I were a woman with a bit more conscience, I would have said 100% that. Definitely.
But I can't. Even though I regret it, I rejected that confession.
No matter what the situation was at the time or what happened in between, I pushed Karl away, so it doesn't change.
“Just...”
“Just?”
“...Just, friends.”
I answered 'just friends', but why does the thought of wanting to press my head keep growing stronger.
Stupid. I should have thought a little more at that time. Even if I pushed away, if I had been more careful and left some leeway, it would have been fine. You idiot...!
“Just friends, you say?”
“Yes. Friends.”
Still. Yeah, still like that. It might change someday.
Someone might say I have conscience. If I have shame, they would say I shouldn't.
I know. I know, but what can I do. I fell in love late. Now it's good.
I don't want Karl to approach me again. As he gets farther, I should approach.
Then, like I did, when Karl pushes me away, while hating myself a little for being foolish, smiling and walking each other's path.
So...
“That's good!”
...Good? Suddenly? What's good here?
*
“That's good!”
Sigh. It's good. Yeah. Really good! Lavrenti let out a sigh of relief.
It seems I don't need to take out the tangtangyi that I had locked away at home for nothing.
“I was worried that Selena-nim and Master are really in a lover relationship or something similar!”
“That... is good, huh.”
“Yes! Really good! It's not any relationship!”
Selena's expression in front of me hardens noticeably.
But Lavrenti didn't notice and continued.
“Right, Selena-nim? It's not any relationship!?”
Maybe, even knowing, she is deliberately acting like that.
“Really good. Then, I can stay a little closer to Master.”
“To Karl's side?”
“Yes. No problem, right? It seems you weren't dating anyone, so. And Selena-nim who looked like that also said it's not any relationship.”
Selena, who had been silent for a moment, barely opened her mouth and said one word.
“Th, Lavr. It's not any relationship now... but, maybe it could become some relationship?”
“Ah. I see. Selena-nim is right. It can be enough. I can become a closer relationship from the master-disciple relationship!”
“...”
Got it. This woman, she understands however she wants!
Just let it pass. After all, what's the big deal if I argue here.
What's important is Karl's reaction. He will decide how he acts, only he can decide.
“Anyway. It's good. Selena-nim.”
Don't say 'it's good' too much. It seems my mind is going to go crazy.
At the moment Selena was about to lower her arm to put down the shaking teacup.
“Th, but. Even though it's not any relationship.”
Tremble--
The mouth that had been forcing a polite smile had an earthquake, and a tsunami rose in the cup she was holding.
Even, so tightly gripping the teacup that a crack appeared on the handle!
“By the way, you seem to be very close to Master, can you tell me the secret?”
“Secret...?”
“Yes! Actually, I've been apart from Master for too long. I want to know the secret that even Selena-nim who is not any relationship could get close to Master!”
“...Um, Lavr.”
Selena barely maintained composure and opened her mouth.
“Why are you asking me that. I want to ask.”
“Yes? Isn't that obvious?”
Lavrenti answered with a bright smile.
“Because there's no relationship with Master?”
*
“...Hey. Is that Selena?”
Wilhelm, who was having a serious discussion, opened his mouth.
Then, the other 3 members who were exchanging opinions turned their heads.
“Right, Selena.”
“Selena.”
“But who are you meeting?”
Soon, the 4 idiots realized that the person they were meeting was the red-haired woman, Lavrenti they had seen recently.
“Is that the beautiful lady who came to find Karl last time?”
“Right.”
“Yeah.”
“But why are you meeting Selena instead of Karl?”
They tilted their heads looking at each other, then realized.
“Hah.”
“As expected...”
“That.”
“That.”
This is a scene from a romance novel I read when bored sometimes.
Two women fighting over one man! Definitely! In the world!!
“I should tell Karl about this later.”
“Hey. Alexander. No popcorn?”
“Interesting. I want to see it up close.”
“Assara. If caught, you'll be scolded by Selena.”
It's much more fun to watch other people's romance than my own.
Even the women who are aongdaong because of it? Where else can I find honey jam like this!