Our Kind Eugene Could Never Be Like This! (1)
I gripped my teeth every time I ran into Yuri, yet somehow we’d managed two full days of dates. The reason behind it remained a complete mystery, but I’d decided not to dwell on it too much, assuming Iris’s scheme was at play in the meantime.
Because right in front of me stood Michelle and Beatrice, both charging straight at me with predatory grins. Michelle planted herself in front of my predicament and spoke with bold certainty.
“I’ve already heard the news from Magni-yeongsik. Apparently you’ve been doing double fake dating. The way you’ve been playing both sides and manipulating each other… it’s truly hilarious.”
“How did you hear all that?”
“I’m the student council president. Anything that happens inside the academy is right at my fingertips?”
Looking at Michelle’s triumphant expression, I realized Beatrice must have tipped her off.
I sent a stare full of interrogation toward Beatrice. She simply shrugged it off with a casual shrug.
Damn. It looked like Michelle had already allied herself with her. Yesterday she’d monopolized me completely; today she planned to hand me over. Michelle kept talking with boundless energy.
“I’m really upset. Even when I suggested a quick fake date by crossing our legs together, my junior just wouldn’t budge. But the second I heard about him doing double fake dating, I felt completely discriminated against.”
Discrimination? That part was accurate. She’d been ignored when I chose double fake dating. The only unfair thing was that my own wishes hadn’t been respected at all.
If I refused, the status window would turn Magni and Beatrice into evil partners. For appearances’ sake, I had to play along.
“But, but! It’s okay! U-um, it’s totally fine! If my junior chooses me with his own will and gives me today only, I can forget everything in an instant!”
That was a long, drawn-out exchange.
I felt deeply hurt. I’d been running away from him all this time, leaving him to have fun with friends while others risked their lives for love, and he kept rejecting everything with non-cooperation.
When others naturally crossed their legs with women, he’d only mutter, “Maybe one day it’ll be my turn!” without doing anything. Honestly, he wasn’t the one who should be complaining.
Anyway, that was beside the point.
Michelle poured out her grievances with burning passion, emphasizing her tragic situation.
“Just one hour!”
“One hour…?”
“Yes, just one hour. Invest that much in me! I hate being dragged into this and showing such a pathetic face!”
She lifted one finger, her eyes sparkling with desperate sincerity. It was probably the most adorable and lovable face of her life.
“So, just one hour with me. Honestly, what’s the harm?”
How was I supposed to refuse? I asked Beatrice for help with this awkward request. She quietly stepped closer and whispered.
Just do it once. She really wants it.
Play along for now. That was Beatrice’s advice. Since I couldn’t argue, I nodded obediently and told Michelle.
“I wasn’t planning on dating you anyway. Do you have any plans?”
“Of course! My major is astrology!”
Michelle beamed with a smile and guided me.
“Let’s go look at the stars together. Astrology can see them even in daylight.”
Following her hand, we ended up at the booth run by the Astrology Department.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Club fairs weren’t the only ones with booths. Departments also held promotional booths. The Astrology Department was famous for its star-related exhibits.
Why would anyone do that? Astrology was considered an outdated, boring subject that students avoided at all costs.
Yet in terms of promotion, the Astrology Department showed no weakness. The sheer size of the booth proved it.
Beyond student-run booths, they had installed a larger one than other departments, dimmed the interior with illusion magic, and projected starlight inside the tent to look like a night sky.
Even if astrology was nothing but a nostalgic relic, I would treat it with real romance.
The atmosphere felt like it was carrying exactly that intention.
“How is it? Not bad, right? At least this department has romance.”
“It really does.”
A giant lens dominated the ceiling. Inside it, various constellations were drawn—children’s favorites like the Fox Star, Sand Star, Rose Star, and countless unnamed stars.
The lens looked like it had pulled a fragment of the Milky Way from the vast cosmos. The Astrology Department boasted of their Star Hall lens, supposedly capable of showing any star you wanted without spatial restrictions.
I stared up at the ceiling in a trance. Michelle glanced at my reaction.
“You like looking at stars, junior? I heard you do.”
“Who said that?”
“Hmm, who could it be?”
She was fishing for information like she didn’t know anyone. Had she secretly contacted Rina? Or perhaps used her family connections. Being one of the Four Great Ducal Heirs, she could easily probe even me.
We sat near the lens where the stars were clearest and continued our conversation.
“I like looking at stars too. Not for the same reason, though.”
“What reason?”
“Because I can stop thinking about anything. Just count the stars mindlessly and rest. That’s why I enjoy it.”
The simple, honest reason was enough. No grand philosophy needed. Maybe it was obvious after all.
Michelle had originally been the adopted daughter of the Witch Duke, not her real one. She sat in a position where she could be replaced at any time.
No matter how talented someone was, becoming heir to one of the Four Great Ducal Families required constant effort. For a commoner-born Michelle, the burden was even heavier.
The person who looked the most composed was the one most fragile. I’d seen plenty of that kind of people. It was genuinely heartbreaking.
“Are you struggling?”
I asked. How were you feeling right now? If you were having a hard time, I could listen here.
That was the meaning behind the question. Michelle smiled faintly.
“It’s a bit tough. Someone told me, ‘When you’re really ready to give up and it hurts too much, think of yourself and keep going.’ So I’ve been enduring it that way.”
The sorrow hidden in that faint smile… I tried to figure it out.
The motto of the Cecilia Ducal Family was “Accept what cannot be avoided.” Her unusually mature demeanor at such a young age was probably the result of that.
Michelle felt like she had already accepted the world.
“Junior, do you know why Beatrice tried to do fake dating with you?”
“Because of the broken engagement, right?”
“That’s part of it, but there’s another reason. Maybe because of me.”
Her eyes, wet with emotion, looked up at the Astrology Department’s ceiling. My face showed my surprise at the unexpected truth.
“Beatrice knows about my situation like you do. That’s why she approached you. She wanted you to get close to me and help her.”
The heir chosen by the Witch Duke herself—Michele.
The years she’d spent trying to become the perfect talent for that position. If I asked whether she’d ever properly dated during that time, the answer would have to be no.
She had to desperately adapt to a brand-new environment. So Beatrice pitied her, apparently.
“According to her, she wanted to make the me who’d never had a proper date suffer so she could continue it. How funny, right? I only learned this recently.”
At first I was shocked when Beatrice claimed she’d do fake dating. Later I suspected something, and now I was certain after she interrogated me directly.
Even though it’s an engagement, why bother complicating things when Magni could handle it easily? There’s no private greed involved, she argued.
That’s why the answer had been given for Michelle’s sake.
“To truly love someone, you have to fall deeply in love yourself, so you’ll act as Cupid. That’s so very Beatrice.” I had no words and simply gave up on my thoughts.
Michelle’s prophecy required a sincere confession and kiss from the one you loved. The confession-giver and the receiver must genuinely like each other for it to work.
Therefore, Beatrice had provoked jealousy by touching the me who was close to Michelle. Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
This was turning out exactly like a romance novel.
Still thinking about it, Michelle continued.
“So, Cassel… um, that…”
Trailing off with hesitation, she looked at me with a troubled face and begged.
“Please don’t choose me, a hopeless girl. Choose Beatrice instead?”
Choose the other person, not me.
If the situation were reversed, would Beatrice have asked the same?
“Yesterday I secretly saw them. They’re literally made for each other. Beatrice isn’t a bad choice either.”
I laughed at the girl pretending to be an adult in a child’s body.
“You want me to abandon the woman who’s stubbornly waiting for me? That’s not happening.”
Being cowardly was Eugene’s thing, not Cassel’s. I took her hand and said.
“Since I made it that way, I have to take responsibility.”
“Ah…”
I hoped those words would comfort her. Eventually Michelle’s cheeks flushed slightly as she muttered.
“If it’s like this… then I might as well…”
The reaction I’d expected. I deliberately ignored her inner monologue and held her hand for a while.
To let her know she wasn’t alone.
We leaned on each other for a moment, gazing at the stars reflected in the lens.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Meanwhile, at the exact same time.
“Baroness Iris. Bad news.”
“What is it, Rsen?”
“I saw Cassel-yeongsik running off hand-in-hand with Student Council President Michelle. What do you think of that?”
“What…?”
The pure-hearted guardian angel of the harem, the saint who only thought of Yuri club president—Iris Celine.
She shook her shoulders and widened her eyes at the eyewitness account of Cassel’s harem scene.
Again? The club members shook their heads at Iris, eyes blazing with double determination. She’d definitely cause a storm about following Cassel.
But unlike their worries, Iris looked perfectly calm.
“Hoo, Cassel-yeongsik. So this is how you’ll turn out, huh? Good, good. But even if that happens, you won’t be able to escape the last day, you know?”
Not only had you extended your harem, but now you’re eyeing the student council president too. Of course, if your perfectly good date got canceled, you wouldn’t stay still.
Normally she’d throw a tantrum and wail, but this time it was different. Because her plan was a 100% successful killer move.
“Iris… are you really sure this is okay? It might just make things even more awkward.”
“Hup! Club President, this is the time to push hard and steal the lead! Trust me and leave it to me!”
“I-I really don’t know…”
“Hoo, it’s fine. It’ll be fine. Everything will turn out well.”
Iris burned with ambition, smiling wickedly. Yuri looked extremely troubled. The club members watched the scene with excited curiosity.
While they were cheering her on so enthusiastically,
“You! That’s Iris, right?! Isn’t it?!”
“It is… but why?”
“I’m Professor Laura. We don’t have time, so hurry and follow me! Quickly!”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
Laura was contacting Iris.