About Her Love -3- Love: A Hair's Breadth from Savior to Foe
"Kyaa! Honey!"
"Why~ my baby?"
"I missed you."
For some, love leaves the most meaningful memories in life. But for those whose love doesn't come to fruition, a confession can shift a good relationship into a whole new phase.
Just like it did with the Young Lady.
"..."
In front of the academy fountain.
I sat on the bench, iced coffee in hand, watching couples pass by with a faint smile.
"Nice when it's good, huh."
I once dreamed of that pink-tinted life myself.
Now here I was, giving relationship advice to others.
As someone possessed, there were too many things I never got to enjoy.
Fucking hell.
Anyway, what a joyless bastard.
...
Let me say it upfront: I'm a coward.
A coward who won't voice his feelings without certainty.
I talk big, but if I sense no reciprocation, I clam up. That's me.
Honestly, I wasn't the guy to teach Shuen about love.
Never dated, too scared to make a move.
Someone might say what right do I have to teach anyone... but.
Still...
I could offer advice on a love with a set ending, right?
I'm a man mad for women, and I hate seeing a beautiful girl in tears.
That had to count as excuse enough.
"..."
Had I spaced out on the bench for about ten minutes when a sharp, haughty woman's voice came from behind me?
An arrogant, narcissistic tone.
"Commoner! Thinking up more of your nonsense, are you?!"
"...You've arrived?"
"Ohoho...! Just got here, you know! Keeping a commoner waiting is a noble's duty!"
"You showed up twenty minutes early."
"Urk...! Quiet, you!"
Shuen, who'd matched her day off with mine for this meetup, slung a crossbody bag between her chest and glared at me.
She bent at a forty-five-degree angle, subtly showing off her assets in a threatening way.
I wasn't sure if she realized it, but with that figure, I let out a dry chuckle and patted the bench seat next to me.
"Have a seat. I'll lay down a handkerchief for you."
"Oh... Thoughtful for a commoner. Thanks, you know."
"A noble's rear is precious, after all."
"Your commoner's mouth is so vulgar...!"
Shuen flushed red and bowed her head.
"So, did you steel yourself?"
"W-what's there to steel myself for, you know! I just came to hear whatever fresh nonsense you've cooked up!"
"Puhaha! What an honor. Then listen well to my brilliant nonsense. It'll be fun, promise."
Shuen nodded primly and clutched her notebook.
Too prepared for someone claiming disinterest—I nearly burst out laughing.
"Your reactions are hilarious, Shuen."
"Don't laugh, you!"
Today's talk wasn't anything grand.
No debates on the academy's fate or the kingdom's politics.
It was personal. About her love.
I gazed at the couples around the fountain and recalled Shuen's words.
"Right. I like Mihail senior."
"Knew it."
"Gonna tease me? A noble lady crushing on a commoner, you know? Say what you want, I'll make it happen with Mihail senior no matter what!"
"Nah. You wear it so obviously, had to ask."
I swallowed a small sigh and turned to Shuen, who was fidgeting with her fingers.
"You like Mihail, right?"
"..."
"You want to be with Mihail."
"Right, you know."
"Why so shy now? You declared at the convenience store, 'I'm gonna be with Mihail senior!' loud and proud."
"Don't mimic me, you!"
"Puhaha! You're a riot."
I smiled faintly and began spilling the thoughts I'd organized in my head.
"One thing upfront: I have zero plans to hook you up with Mihail. Honestly, I don't think it'll work."
"Cursing me already, huh."
"Yup. I recommend against confessing."
"Who said I would?!"
I eyed her pursed lips steadily.
"Feels like you might soon, though?"
"Don't know. Don't ask, you!"
I chuckled dryly at her reticence and shook my head.
"Mihail hates attention. Especially public confessions—he despises them. Our Young Lady tried once, and he was horrified."
"Grghhh..."
"Surely a noble-aware lady like you wouldn't dream of that romance. But people like our Young Lady pop up often."
"Urghhh..."
"What if he rejects you—how would you cope..."
Shuen clenched her fists and stared at the ground.
I teased her gently.
"Not planning that, right?"
"O-of course not, you!"
"Good thing you're not the type to gather a crowd at the fountain and go, 'Bless us, everyone!' then confess with a snap."
"..."
Shuen went silent, hit right on the mark.
"Glad you're not that foolish."
Shuen's heart was in tatters.
I gave her various pointers.
All I could offer was advice.
A love doomed not to happen—false hope would only make the pain worse.
I chose my words carefully.
"Key is making Mihail like you."
"...Make him like me how?"
"He doesn't even know your name right now."
"...True, you know."
"No intros, not close—sudden confession would backfire, no?"
"...Never thought that far. Figured my charm would make it work automatically..."
"Oh dear."
I shook my head pityingly at her.
Her whole mindset needed an overhaul.
In the novel's flow, Shuen would soon cross paths with Mihail.
They'd pick the same project from the academy's student-chosen assignments.
Naturally grow close, get familiar.
Her feelings deepen; Mihail starts seeing the Young Lady's shadow in Shuen.
Obsessed. Smitten. Led around.
Then—pop. Shatters.
I guided her toward a path with less hurt, as she scribbled my words eagerly.
"Confess when you're alone."
"Got it, you know."
"Not in front of the fountain."
"I said got it!"
Avoided public humiliation.
"Show sincerity over calling him a commoner. Half-hearted stuff gets him riled. Better write it on paper and read it."
"..."
"Won't curse you out if you're sorry about it."
"You're a devil, you know!"
"Haha... Sorry."
Not the best path, but different from the novel's worst end.
Advice from someone who'd lived that worst.
I took a deep breath.
"This is the most crucial."
"...Gulp."
"Finally..."
"Finally!"
"Use me."
Shuen stared with trembling eyes.
"What do you mean?"
I smiled brightly.
"Who does Mihail hate most?"
"..."
"Someone for maximum common ground, endless chat fodder."
"You..."
"Right. Me."
Once the hate sticks, it doesn't fade easy.
"Simple. Hate me, Shuen."
"Huh?"
"Things'll improve."
Her relationships. Her future.
Someone to blame makes it easier to move on.
"I'm not as nice as you think."
She needed a villain.
Strange rumors started circulating at the academy.
Someone was deliberately stealing lab supplies.
Training dummies or mana detectors? No big deal.
But the missing items were pricey tools hard for students to get: efficiency-boosting wands, potion-making distillers.
All resellable—a ironic common thread.
The rumors pointed to one man.
The new convenience store clerk was the thief.
After the infamous Ricardo arrived, incidents began—students eyed him suspiciously.
"..."
Ricardo sat at the register, leisurely smiling, waiting for the right moment.
"About time."
Mihail and Shuen's joint project: catching the academy culprit.
Of course.
The culprit wasn't me.