Chapter 58

Released:

After class, Estelle and Iris decided to have a more detailed discussion. As soon as their magic class ended, they made an excuse about having somewhere urgent to go and hurried back to their dormitory.

“What’s got them in such a hurry?”

Theo found it strange, but instead of dwelling on it, he used his newly found free time to plan a fun outing with some new friends he’d recently made. Meanwhile, Estelle and Iris began secretly scheming in the dormitory.

“The most sensitive thing at the academy is, without a doubt, rumors, isn’t it?”

“That’s what I understand, yes.”

“So, I’m saying we should quietly and subtly spread rumors. That we’re already dating Sir Theo.”

Estelle spoke with great confidence, but Iris’s expression gradually shifted from one of anticipation to disappointment.

“Who exactly are you planning to say he’s dating between the two of us?”

“We’ll say he’s dating both of us, of course.”

“You didn’t even stop to consider how that might damage Sir Theo’s reputation, did you?”

Iris let out a deep sigh as she spoke.

This was a world where monogamy was taken for granted.

In such a society, spreading a rumor that Theo was dating both of them would cause a significant blow to his reputation.

“Ah… uh, I didn’t think of that.”

“I had my suspicions when you said you had a good idea. And now here we are, only making it easier for Theo and Mancy to spend more time together.”

At Iris’s words, Estelle finally realized that their absence would only leave a gap for Mancy to fill. In other words, right now, Theo was likely with Mancy.

Of course, it wasn’t as though the two of them were completely alone. Velia and Brandy, who were undeniably in a developing relationship, were probably there as well. But if the four of them were together, it was natural that Mancy would end up by Theo’s side.

“I’m thinking of finding out where Sir Theo went and going there myself. What about you, Estelle?”

Iris asked this, knowing full well that Estelle hadn’t brought her to the dormitory out of any malicious intent.

“I-I’ll go with you…!”

“All right, then, let’s do that.”

Iris who had agreed so easily had vowed never to do this again. But in the end, she ended up employing people to investigate Theo’s whereabouts.

As they walked toward where Theo was, Iris began explaining the plan she had come up with to Estelle.

“I’m thinking of taking measures to ensure I get assigned to the same group as Sir Theo.”

“Taking measures? How do you plan to do that at the academy?”

“No matter how independent the academy may seem, it’s not beyond the reach of the Emperor. It’s just that His Majesty chooses not to interfere.”

It was difficult for an academy situated within the Emperor’s domain to completely disregard the Emperor’s authority.

Until now, there had been no major issues because the Emperor had refrained from involving himself. But if one were to use the Emperor’s influence, most matters could be resolved quite easily.

“I’ve tried to avoid using power if I can, but… after thinking about how Mancy and Sir Theo could potentially develop something between them over the course of a year, I’ve decided to stake my position and make a direct appeal to His Majesty.”

Looking at Iris, who seemed resolute and unwavering, Estelle found herself thinking that Iris might actually be admirable.

Of course, it wasn’t the kind of admiration one might feel for a lover or a romantic interest like Theo, but rather the kind of admiration one feels for a friend.

“If I lose favor, I can always regain it later. I’m going to use that leverage to ask His Majesty to put Sir Theo, you, and me in the same group.”

However, Estelle found it hard to understand.

If it had been her, she would have confidently asked for only herself to be placed with Theo and simply swapped herself in for Mancy.

“Why do you want me to be in the same group as well?”

Estelle wasn’t trying to argue; she was genuinely curious. Iris shrugged and answered.

“Sir Theo said he has no interest in romance right now. If he has no interest in romance but ends up grouped with just me, His Majesty might realize I have feelings for Sir Theo, and that could lead to complications. That’s all.”

In other words, Iris emphasized that this wasn’t for Estelle’s benefit but entirely for her own.

Watching Iris insist on this, Estelle simply smiled.

“Iris, you must like me a lot, don’t you?”

“… Please don’t say such crazy and creepy things.”

Iris shook her head vehemently in denial, but in reality, it could be said that the bond of friendship between the two had begun to blossom much earlier than either of them realized.

After all, the two already trusted and relied on each other far beyond what could be expected of mere rivals competing for Theo’s affection.

“Wow, look at how you can’t say anything nice.”

“I don’t want to say anything nice to Estelle, though.”

Of course, that didn’t mean they didn’t bicker.

No matter how much their friendship had grown, they were still rivals in the end, and from the very beginning, squabbling had been the natural state of their relationship.

***

“Theo and Mancy really do suit each other so well, don’t they? Don’t you think so, Brandy?”

“Uh, well… do they?”

The atmosphere had been growing increasingly uncomfortable for a while now.

For some reason, Velia had been making comments linking me with Mancy, and it was getting more and more awkward by the minute.

And now she was even roping Brandy into the conversation to try and convince him, which honestly left me feeling a little flustered.

“Velia, what’s gotten into you? Sir Theo seems uncomfortable…!”

To make matters worse, Mancy herself seemed incredibly fidgety, as though she was worried I might be feeling uneasy, which made the whole situation even more absurd.

All I had wanted was to go out and have some fun with friends I hadn’t seen in a while, and yet here I was, stuck in this mess.

“That’s enough, Velia. Theo’s uncomfortable, so let’s stop here.”

“But Brandy…”

“No buts, Velia.”

Even Brandy, who was normally so gentle and kind toward Velia, spoke with unusual firmness, which only went to show just how out of line Velia’s behavior had been.

Honestly, her actions were so rude that even if I called her out on it, she wouldn’t have any room to defend herself.

“Oh, if I upset you in any way, I’m truly sorry Theo… I was only saying it because the two of you looked so perfect standing together, that’s all…”

Ugh, I really can’t stand this type of person.

She was the type who, even while knowing she was in the wrong, would string together plausible excuses, making it impossible to properly blame her.

It was one of the types of people I truly disliked the most.

“It’s fine. Just don’t do it again next time.”

“But Theo, do you really have no intention of dating anyone?”

There it was. The moment I forgave her, she came right back with another rude question.

Honestly, if someone like Estelle or Iris, who were people I was close with, asked me if I wasn’t interested in dating, that?

That would be totally fine.

I’d be able to accept it all without a problem.

But what about Velia?

Today, during swordsmanship class, we spoke for the first time. We ended up in the same group, and this was the first time we’d gone out together to build a friendship.

In other words, we weren’t close enough for her to ask such personal questions.

“…I don’t understand why you’re so curious about my dating life.”

In the end, I couldn’t help but let my irritation show.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…! I didn’t mean to… I just asked because I was genuinely curious.”

And once again, she started playing the victim with her voice trembling as if she were about to cry.

“Velia, what is wrong with you…! Please stop making disrespectful comments to Sir Theo…!”

“I’m sorry, Theo. Would it be alright if I spoke with Velia privately for a moment?”

At that point, even Mancy and Brand were clearly flustered and stepped in to try and manage the situation.

“Sure… do whatever you want.”

In the end, Velia was dragged a short distance away by Brandy, leaving just Mancy and me behind. The atmosphere between us had become far more awkward than it had been earlier.

They say men and women can’t really be just friends, but I had genuinely thought Mancy and I could become good friends.

I didn’t want things to turn out this awkward.

“Um… I want to apologize for Velia. It seems she’s misunderstood something. She somehow got the idea that I like you, Sir Theo.”

“What? She got that idea?”

No, seriously, how could someone fall for another person in just one day?

Sure, people say falling in love can happen in an instant, but this isn’t a movie; it’s real life.

Or wait… no, not real life; it’s a game. Ahem.

“Anyway, I think she was just trying to push us together. I’ll have a word with her, so please don’t be too uncomfortable. We’ll be in the same group for a year, after all… and I really don’t want to grow distant from you. I honestly thought we could become good friends.”

Feeling pleased that Mancy seemed to share my thoughts, I replied enthusiastically.

“Oh, I thought the same! I really think we can be good friends. Seems like we’re on the same page!”

Her attitude was never condescending despite being a noble, and her straightforward personality stood out.

Her ability to get along easily with new people made me believe she could definitely become a great friend.

“…Yes, exactly. So let’s make sure things don’t get awkward between us and stay good friends, Theo.”

“As long as Velia doesn’t keep making a fuss, I think that’ll be possible.”

Though to be honest, if Velia kept causing a commotion, there was a high chance I’d end up keeping my distance from Mancy just to avoid weird rumors.

After all, Iris and Estelle still relied on me quite a bit, so if I got caught up in strange gossip about other women, they might overreact.

…Seriously, because of those two, I can’t even date. Unbelievable.

When this all ends in a happy ending, just you wait. I’m going to get my fair share of what I deserve. Just watch.

2 responses to “Chapter 58”

  1. F Avatar
    F

    Story is starting to get kind of feelsbad for girls that aren’t the two heroines. Pink hair deserves whatever she gets, but Velia seems like a decent person who just keeps shooting herself in the foot. Theo’s monologue about how he hates hypocritical(?) people like Velia only seems apt because of characters like pink hair and because we’re omniscient novel readers. If the setting were reality, and Velia truly was just a flustered crybaby with no ill intent, it’s kind of harsh to dislike her (“the most”, even, according to Theo) just for trying to set her friend up with someone and floundering because of it.

  2. The day lazy Avatar
    The day lazy

    meh I woulda just said I’m not interested in dating right now. Then again he could just be pissed because he wants to date but literally can’t rn because he has to constantly watch the two heroines.

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