About Her Love -8-
Shuen stood before the mirror, her face shadowed with gloom. "...Hoo." Even forcing a bright expression, no natural smile came, and her racing heart refused to calm.
"This isn't like me at all."
Facing the wall of tension, Shuen let out a deep sigh as she stared at her reflection. A lady in a frill-laden dress, adorned with a large pearl necklace.
"Haa..."
Shuen lacked confidence. She'd been rejected by Mihail.
To shake off the nerves, Shuen lightly slapped her cheeks. Even so—self-proclaimed empire's greatest beauty stood before the mirror.
"Ohoho...! I'm just too perfect!"
Shuen shouted at the mirror with a voice brimming with confidence.
"Ohoho!!!"
What man in the world could hate purple drill hair? Having heard she was pretty since childhood, Shuen's self-assurance threatened to pierce the heavens.
Though the commoner had said not to dress up.
"Commoners don't get fashion."
She ignored him, untrustworthy in his daily black butler attire. She could understand other advice, but fashion was where Shuen's pride ran deep.
"Ohoho...!"
"Oho... ho..."
"Hyaah... I'm so scared."
Of course, that was just the confidence talking. Shuen's complexion remained dark. Fear gnawed at her—what if she got rejected? And dread of repeating past mistakes.
"Haa..."
For Shuen, the Academy had been a string of trials. The mix of commoners and nobles felt awkward; she didn't know how to interact.
She'd made many mistakes. Raised in the strict class-conscious Tetra family, the Academy felt like fresh paint forced into spoiled water.
Everything was unknown. Dealing with people. Dealing with commoners.
To Shuen, unaware that she couldn't befriend everyone, the Academy loomed like a massive dam.
Before coming, everyone had adored her.
"Commoner... can I do well?"
Touching up her makeup before the mirror, Shuen recalled painful memories she'd briefly forgotten. The blunder at the entrance ceremony.
"Ohoho...! I'm Tetra Shuen! Unlike the commoners here, I'm the proud eldest daughter of the Tetra Marquis family!"
"...What?"
"As an upright noble, I'll treat commoners without discrimination! I want to be friends with all of you! So bring your friendship!"
"So annoying."
Only later did Shuen realize her words were wrong. The word "commoner" was the issue.
Her upbringing clearly divided commoners and nobles—what was wrong? But seeing their scowls whenever "commoner" was uttered, she finally understood her mistake.
Commoners didn't look kindly on nobles.
"..."
Unaware that to commoners, good nobles and bad ones looked the same, she'd kept speaking arrogantly. Even now.
It was wrong.
"What am I supposed to do?!"
Her foolish mistake. She'd tried to fix it, to correct the misbuttoned start.
"Ohoho... This must be the commoners' cafeteria! Today, Shuen will specially eat lunch with you all."
"Hey, let's go somewhere else."
"...Huh? Where are you all going?"
"Dump it in the dumpster and let's go—I'll buy food."
"..."
But chances didn't come easily. Too many already disliked her.
Approaching was scary. They gave no opening. Apologizing? Pride wouldn't allow it.
So she was lonely. Lonely enough to find solo study more fun, to hate Academy life.
Then she met senior Mihail.
"Wow..."
She fell for him. No special reason. If it was the dazzling Mihail senior, maybe he'd help fix her mistakes, change how people saw her.
Of course, his face was the biggest reason.
But.
"It's so hard."
Love was terribly difficult. Shuen forced a smile and looked down at the notebook on the vanity.
[☆Proud Tetra Shuen's Grand Confession Operation☆]
— Author: Ricardo.
— Written by: Tetra Shuen
1. ☆Never wear flashy clothes.☆
└☆☆☆Fine of 1 gold per frill, pearl, or ring.
2. Refrain from using the word "commoner."
3. Don't get all excited and hyper alone.
4. No unnecessary TMI.
"I'm not a kid...!"
Shuen burst into laughter reading Ricardo's relayed advice in the notebook. Asking him to write it because her handwriting was bad, starring for emphasis—it was hilarious...
Every time she read it, his words echoed vividly.
"He's so funny."
Shuen sighed deeply as she put on her earrings. Hanging the overly flashy ones on her lobes, she grinned awkwardly at the mirror, baring her teeth.
"I can do this!"
It was 10:45 now. To arrive early, Shuen hurried.
Many students passed by the Academy fountain. Couples, familiar faces—weekend crowds swelled beyond weekdays.
Standing by the fountain, Shuen clutched her black leather bag, exhaling.
Don't be nervous.
I'm the world's most perfect woman, Shuen! I don't get shaken by this!
So...
"Hey, check out that outfit."
She froze.
"Where does she think she's going? Not embarrassed?"
"Honey, should I dress like that too?"
"Please no, honey..."
"Huh...?"
Shuen flinched at the passing conversation, glancing around furtively.
Are they talking about me?
In her cherished dress from the closet, she didn't think it was aimed at her, but their gazes seemed fixed on her, tangling her thoughts further.
No... probably not.
But the students passing her began mocking her appearance more.
"Look at her makeup."
"Like a crazy goblin."
"...Pfft. Hey, voice too loud."
"No, look at her makeup—panda eyes or bruised."
Grip tightened.
Her heart pounded wildly. Their words targeted no one else—her. Deny it all she wanted, their voices scraped her heart, fueling the frenzy.
Clutching the bag strap, Shuen peered into the fountain below, murmuring softly.
"What do I do? I look weird..."
She'd looked fine in the dorm mirror, but now everything seemed off. She'd wanted to look good. Woken early, prepared meticulously.
From the start, her heart hurt. Shuen wore a dejected expression, on the verge of tears.
"So embarrassing."
If only the commoner were here. Shuen lifted her trembling eyes, scanning the fountain area.
And.
"Whoa!"
"Huh?"
The ridiculous man in the distance made Shuen burst out laughing.
"Ah... pushing out after so long, the stares are burdensome."
Ricardo stood a bit away, holding a magic device playing music. In sparkling blue clothes, hips swaying in a bizarre dance, he drew "Whoa!" exclamations and curses.
Clownish makeup. Outlandish outfit.
"Pfft..."
Ricardo winked at her, pursing his lips.
"I told you not to wear that crap."
"Eek..."
"Prepare 30 gold fine."
"Commoner!!!!"
Before she knew it, Shuen smiled, watching Ricardo.
"What's with that ridiculous outfit...!"
As she slowly approached him.
"Uh... Shuen?"
The familiar voice from behind halted her steps.
Shuen turned awkwardly to face the man who'd called her.
And met today's protagonist, wearing an awkward expression.
"Senior Mihail?"
"Uh... yeah."
As Mihail smiled awkwardly, Shuen's face gradually hardened.
"You... look pretty dressed up."
The lie was too obvious.
She couldn't smile.
After Shuen left.
In the bathroom near the fountain.
"Haa..."
I sighed deeply, wiping off the makeup from my face.
"Told her not to dress like that so many times. Sheesh..."
Knew it'd come to this, good thing I prepared.
Seeing Shuen shake off her tension with a smile, I chuckled dryly, drying my face with a towel.
"At least she's okay."
Shuen hadn't been hurt. Embarrassment was the possessor's burden; her eased smile was my reward.
And.
"Sniff."
"Hm?"
"Sob...!"
Soon, mournful sobs echoed from the women's bathroom.
"Waaahhhh!!!"
"..."
"Hic! Hic! Ohoho..."
"..."