n

n

n

nLian, no, Callian tried to say something to Erita, but she pretended not to notice his attempt.

n

nI thought I wouldn’t be able to control my facial expression if I talked to him.

n

nSo after I left those words, I immediately used the teleport magic.

n

nIt was also rude to leave without the permission of the royal family, but I did not have the strength to question him at the moment.

n

n“…”

n

nThe surrounding area, which was bright a while ago, turned into my room where the lights were off.

n

n“Hahaha.”

n

nIn the middle of the darkened room, I laughed in vain.

n

nThe fact that the male protagonist I have been keeping an eye on turned out to be Lian.

n

nThe fact that Lian, the knight I met, was Callian Ruín Elbert. I still couldn’t believe it.

n

nStill, my head was blank, and I didn’t want to believe the clear truth.

n

nI stood blankly in the middle of my dark room for a while.

n

n

n

n✿

n

n

n“Please forgive me for the rudeness I’ve committed, Erita please turn your back.”

n

nIt wasn’t long before my back was surrounded by a swarm of white lights.

n

n“Wait, wait, wait!”

n

nLooking like it was about to disappear, Callian stretched out his arms, but his hand, which was one step late, broke the air in vain.

n

nJust a while ago, the portrait standing in front of me disappeared without even leaving a trace.

n

nThere was no time to explain, no opportunity to explain either.

n

n“Damn it.”

n

nCallian, who was left alone, bit his lower lip. It was a fact he had tried to confess his name before their official meeting.

n

nHis real name was not Lian, but Callian Ruin Elbert, and they’ve met before.

n

nHe apologized for hiding his identity until now.

n

nSo will you forgive me? I missed the opportunity repeatedly, so I thought I couldn’t say it before the debutante unless it was today.

n

nIt’s a fact that I’m talking about when I hid and approached the Holy Sacrament, but I didn’t want it to be cleared up with this delusion of sin.

n

n“…If that’s all possible,”

n

nIt was an outrageous coincidence.

n

nCallian rolled his fists as he recalled the missing ring with Erita.

n

nAs long as she turned her back on me, there was nothing I could do.

n

nAll I have to do is wait for the day we can meet again.

n

nHer face, which had turned white from hearing everything, and the two steps she took back were far away.

n

nFortunately, there were only three days left until the debutante.

n

nBut nevertheless, his anxious heart did not subside easily.

n

n‘After three days, I can still explain everything.’

n

nCallian thought so, and tried to ignore the fluttering anxiety.

n

n

n✿

n

n

nI ended up staying all night because of last night’s work.

n

n“Oh my God, miss! You didn’t sleep last night?”

n

n“I haven’t slept a bit, but I’m not that tired.”

n

nAt Mary’s worrying fuss, I smiled awkwardly and lowered my gaze to the floor.

n

nBut my face was so messed up that anyone could tell I was lying.

n

nRough skin and red bloodshot eyes.

n

nLooking at the carriage passing by, it looks like the face of someone that has stayed up all night.

n

nMary’s eyes welled up as she looked at my face. I just smiled apologetically at Mary’s response.

n

n“Would you like to take a nap for a little while? Do you want me to tell the master and the young master that you can’t have lunch together because you’re not feeling well?”

n

n“No, it’s okay.” I shook my head immediately and answered.

n

n“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep even if I lie down more. If I don’t go, my father and my brother will be worried about me.”

n

n“I think they’ll be worried if they see you right now…”

n

nI heard Mary’s murmur, but I tried to pretend I didn’t hear it. It would be better for me to be with my father and Aaron for now.

n

nThen I’ll think about him later.

n

nMary sighed, dissatisfied with my neat appearance, and brought me a change of clothes.

n

nAfter changing clothes with Mary’s help, I sat down in front of the dressing table.

n

n“Mary, can you cover my face so that it wouldn’t be obvious that I stayed up all night?”

n

nOf course, I meant to cover my face that looked tired to anyone who sees it.

n

nI wanted to eat with my father and Aaron, but as Mary said, if I went now, they’d be worried.

n

nAt my words, Mary took another deep breath.

n

nI smiled shyly at the eyes I met through the mirror.

n

n“…Please close your eyes as I do your make-up.”

n

n“Yes, I got it.”

n

n“I can’t live because of you, really…”

n

nIt was a harsh word, but it sounded like she was worried, so I just laughed.

n

nMary’s touch was slower and softer than usual, perhaps because she cared for me especially when I was tired.

n

n‘…What should I do?’

n

nThoughts broke through the stillness where the voices of me and Mary had disappeared.

n

nThat’s what kept me awake all night last night.

n

nI’ve been thinking about it all night, so fortunately, I’m a little confused right now

n

n‘…To be acquainted with Callian.’

n

nI bet it’s never going to be a plus for my future.

n

n‘Thus, what a bummer. That’s a minus. That’s a hundred percent.’

n

nIn a novel, it was rare to see a good thing between a male and female protagonist.

n

nBesides, unlike me, Callian already knew who I was. I couldn’t even guess what the intention he had was.

n

n‘Oh, I’m going crazy!’

n

nI couldn’t show it on the outside, so I sighed deeply inside.

n

n“Okay, it’s done.”

n

nIt was Mary’s voice that lifted me from the height of my thoughts.

n

nWhen I looked in the mirror, I could see where my tired face had gone and changed into a lively look.

n

nEven if I thought about that, it was only about ten minutes at most.

n

n“…Did you use magic?”

n

nMary burst into laughter when I said so without realizing the dramatic change.

n

n“You’re so sweet. You talk in a funny way.”

n

nMy expression was serious, but Mary seemed to take it as a joke.

n

nAnyway, that’s enough to prevent my father and Aaron from recognizing it.

n

nI was relieved at that point, and after checking the time, I left the room and went to the dining room.

n

n“Oh, you look tired.”

n

n“…What?”

n

nWhile eating warm soup, I asked back a little later at my father’s words.

n

n“Your face isn’t as good as usual. Did you have trouble sleeping?”

n

n

nWithout realizing it, I touched my cheek.

n

nObviously, in the mirror I had seen before coming out, my face was the same as usual.

n

nMary’s makeup was so perfect that I couldn’t even recognize myself.

n

n‘Does being a Sword Master have extraordinary eyesight?’

n

nMy father’s expression changed to worry about what he thought of me blinking without saying anything.

n

n“…I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.”

n

nThen I gently shook my head and smiled, as if to say, ‘I’m fine’ repeatedly.

n

nDeep down, I was convinced that my face looks like that of a ghost.

n

n‘Isn’t it true that a ghost isn’t a bad thing?’

n

n“If you’re tired, don’t push yourself too hard and take a break.”

n

n“Yeah. As our father said, take a break. Don’t worry too much about the debutante.”

n

nAs expected, Father and Aaron didn’t seem to believe it, but they didn’t say much except a few words of concern.

n

nAfter the meal was over, I was surprised by my father’s sharp eyes.

n

nI didn’t want to stay still in the room, so what I chose was the glass greenhouse.

n

nIn the moderately cold air and warm sunlight, the steam that was rising from the teacup under it, unaware that it had cooled down, struck me.

n

nMy head was fuzzy as the effects of not being able to sleep began to take effect.

n

n“…”

n

nMy slow gaze landed on the blue flowers, blue leaves, and, at the very least, the green flowerpot.

n

nI didn’t even notice that the unfocused gaze was limited to all blue-colored things.

n

nClick—

n

nA small ring rolled out of my commanding hand.

n

nTo be more specific, I came home in a hurry yesterday and didn’t return it without realizing it.

n

nClick, click—

n

nThen I moved my hand in the air. I may look like a person that has lost my mind by doing it.

n

nIt was true. My body seemed to float in the air, and my mind felt calm.

n

n“Well, miss…”

n

n“Uh, huh?”

n

n“The tea is cold. May I refill it?”

n

n“Ugh, thank you for that…”

n

nIn my affirmation, the young maid took out the cold tea and refilled the cup with hot tea.

n

nThe maid, who smiled bashfully at the slow thank you words, disappeared from my view with a gentle step.

n

nI lifted the teacup with a trembling hand.

n

nThen I sipped and drank the tea. The fact that I had just poured the tea had not occurred to me.

n

n“Oh, it’s hot.”

n

nI murmured softly at the hot tea in my mouth.

n

nActually, it wasn’t very hot.

n

nFortunately, the tea that the maid poured w

nhas cooled down, and thanks to that, my tongue was safe.

n

nAfter looking at the hot tea cup for a while, I slowly rubbed the tea cup holder.

n

n“Sigh…”

n

n‘I just need to let go of my confused dazed thoughts.’

n

nI let out a sigh of relief. It was ridiculous that I just drank the hot tea without cooling it down

n

nWhen I think of the reality that complicates my head right now, I can understand why I am so absent-minded.

n

n“How can I not be surprised? He’s not someone else but Callian…”

n

nI rested my cheek against the cool glass table and murmured helplessly.

n

nI’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel betrayed.

n

nCallian knew from the beginning that I was Erita Krovachatz, and I didn’t know that Lian was Callian.

n

nIf it weren’t for the rings, I might not have known until now.

n

nBut I quickly pushed that thought away.

n

n‘But is it worth it?’

n

nLian and I are so close to each other.

n

nWe’ve only met twice… No, it was only three times until yesterday.

n

nAre we close enough to feel betrayed by him?

n

n“It’s not like that.”

n

nTo be fair, I thought it was…

n

nIf I had to define my relationship with him, it would only be a person with whom I could talk well.

n

nIt was that thought that pushed the sense of betrayal I felt far away.

n

nThe thought that I shouldn’t get involved with him any more.

n

nI still didn’t know why he approached me.

n

nWe didn’t really talk much in the first place, so that’s fine.

n

n“Calm down.”

n

nI patted my cheek a couple of times trying to think so.

n

nAfter all, didn’t I know that he was hiding something from the beginning?

n

nIt was my decision not to ask even though I knew it.

n

nSo there was no reason for me to feel betrayed, and there was no need to feel sorry for him.

n

n‘…If I see Callian next time, I’ll treat him as if I saw him for the first time. We don’t know each other anyway.’

n

nI’m sure he would do the same.

n