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nChapter 276

nAfter completing their Monday exams, the female students of Class A did not return to their dormitory. Instead, they gathered at a café near the classroom building.

nAlthough it would have been proper to return to the dormitory and study, they were all deeply agitated.

n“I think she’s truly mad.”

nSurprisingly, it was Adelia who spoke those words.

nNot expecting the usually timid Adelia to say something like that, Liana, Harriet, and even Ellen stared at her with their mouths agape.

n“Ah, um… Was that too harsh…?”

nAdelia wondered if she had used too strong a word, her face turning red as she scratched her cheek.

nLiana sipped her lemonade through a straw and shook her head.

n“You’re not wrong. You did well, Adelia. But why would Miss Temple go to a first-year classroom? What does she want us to do? And what? She has no rivals? It’s so absurd.”

nLiana used even stronger words. Harriet crossed her arms and frowned.

n“…I really don’t like her.”

nHarriet stuffed a mouthful of mocha sand into her mouth and grumbled.

nLately, she had been picking fights with Ellen over trivial matters, and today was no exception.

nIt was rare for the ever-calm Ellen to genuinely dislike someone.

nMoreover, Ellen’s overpowering presence was enough to fluster everyone.

nAmong their classmates, Ellen had become something transcending grade levels.

nThere were only two in the royal class of the first year who received such treatment.

nEllen and Reinhardt.

nEllen was Ellen.

nReinhardt was Reinhardt.

nBoth had something unique about them that inadvertently led to this treatment. Of course, in Reinhardt’s case, it wasn’t a good thing.

nNo matter how much of a fifth-year the opponent was, Ellen was still Ellen. That fifth-year senior actually overpowered Ellen.

nEveryone was shocked by this.

nLiana tilted her head.

n“But does that girl really like Reinhardt?”

nA sudden doubt.

nAt those words, Harriet and Ellen stared intently at Liana.

n“Do I think she likes him…? If not, there’s no reason for her to act like this, right?”

nAdelia hesitantly expressed her opinion while subtly glancing at Harriet.

n“No, at this point, I wonder if she’s just having fun tormenting him. Honestly, what good does it do for her?”

nThat was true.

nAlthough it might look cute from some perspectives, today’s actions were not much different from needlessly picking a fight.

nIt wouldn’t be good for Reinhardt or for her.

n“Tormenting?”

nThe one who reacted to that word was Ellen.

n“I thought Reinhardt might actually like it, but as I watched, I could see he truly dislikes it. If that girl really likes Reinhardt, shouldn’t she stop when he says he doesn’t like it once or twice?”

nNow that they thought about it, that seemed true.

nWhat reason could there be for someone to continuously engage in behavior that the person they care for despises? It is true that Reinhardt has persistently asked Olivia Lanze to cease her actions whenever he witnesses them.

nEllen had her doubts as well, but after hearing Liana’s words, she felt they were accurate.

nOlivia Lanze continues to engage in behavior that Reinhardt detests.

nMoreover, Ellen knows circumstances others are unaware of.

nOlivia had purified the cursed Tiamata, making her a life-saving benefactor to Reinhardt.

nThus, Ellen knows that Reinhardt cannot be excessively cruel to Olivia.

nAnd Olivia exploits this, continually tormenting Reinhardt.

nWhether her feelings for him are genuine or not.

nIt is true that Olivia torments Reinhardt.

n“……”

nNo matter how much Ellen thinks about it.

nOlivia Lanze cannot be left unchecked.

nAlthough she has already been pushed away once, and she might suffer a terrible fate.

nEllen had no intention of hesitating.

n——

nEllen did not harbor grave thoughts when she directed herself towards the fifth-year dormitory.

nWhat she wanted to say was simple and not difficult.

nShe had no intention of fighting, not because of her reliance on her strength, but because of her shame at having rashly thrown a punch in the classroom, regardless of the outcome.

nShe had no intention of fighting.

nHer message was singular.

nStop tormenting Reinhardt.

nWhy do you keep doing this while he’s struggling?

nShe intended to say that. After returning to the dormitory, Ellen ventured alone to the fifth-year dormitory.

nShe called for Olivia Lanze, and everything was fine when the senior appeared with her usual carefree grin.

nEven when she wore an expression that seemed to provoke her, inviting Ellen to say anything, the atmosphere was not unpleasant.

nEllen’s request was straightforward.

nStop tormenting Reinhardt.

nContinuing to act in such a manner despite being told multiple times that it is unwelcome is rude.

nPlease restrain yourself.

nEllen said this. Upon hearing these words, Olivia Lanze tilted her head.

n“Ha ha… I already got an earful from Reinhardt…”

nOlivia Lanze laughed hollowly.

nDid Reinhardt already say something? No wonder he seemed to leave the classroom a bit early.

n“Did Reinhardt ask you to speak to me on his behalf?”

n“…No.”

n“Really? Then why are you advocating for Reinhardt’s position?”

nOlivia’s smile suddenly turned cold.

nHer expression was that of someone who had just heard a decisive word that twisted her mood in an already unpleasant situation.

n“What are you to Reinhardt?”

n“…What?”

nOlivia approached Ellen.

nEllen did not back down but stared at Olivia with a stern expression.

n“What are you to Reinhardt? As if Reinhardt belongs to you alone. Telling me to stop tormenting your Reinhardt.”

n“…”

n“How disgusting. To hear such words from a third party.”

nOlivia glared at Ellen with cold eyes.

nA third party.

nThose words struck a chord in Ellen’s heart.

nMoreover, Olivia had spoken such words more frequently.

n“Please take good care of our Reinhardt!”

n“You shouldn’t be too close to Reinhardt, you know why, right?”

n“You’re good at fighting, aren’t you? Still, don’t be too harsh on our Reinhardt.”

nShe had spoken as if Reinhardt was hers alone. Ellen stared back at Olivia and said, “You did the same, senior.”

n“Yes, I did,” Olivia smiled.

n“I did that because I wanted Reinhardt to be mine. Is that what you want too?”

n“…”

nEllen couldn’t say anything.

nDid she wish for Reinhardt to be hers alone?

nShe hadn’t given deep thought to such concerns. She feared that reaching an unwanted conclusion would set off an irreversible chain of events. Olivia continued to look coldly at the silent Ellen.

n“Why can’t you say anything? Can’t you even tell me how you feel?”

n“…”

n“I asked what Reinhardt is to you.”

n“…A friend…”

n“Is that all?”

n“…”

nEllen couldn’t respond.

nThe moment she gave an answer, it seemed everything would end.

nFearing that the unpredictable senior before her, spouting strange words, might destroy all her relationships, Ellen hesitated.

nIn the end, Ellen couldn’t say anything.

n“If you’re nothing more than friends, and you have no intention of being more than that with Reinhardt, you have no right to tell me anything, do you?”

n“…”

n“Exactly. You’re just friends, but you tell me not to approach Reinhardt.”

nOlivia seemed to be interrogating her.

nAs if forcibly opening a heart that no one had tried to open before.

n“Isn’t that a bit strange?”

nIt was similar to something Harriet had once said to her.

n“You don’t want to lose anything, but you hate being taken away even more. You want to hold onto everything awkwardly?”

nOlivia smiled as she cautiously placed a hand on Ellen’s shoulder.

nIt wasn’t the usual frivolous and gentle smile, but a clear sneer.

n“You’re truly selfish.”

nNot making a choice is also a choice.

nDeferring all answers to the future and doing nothing is still a choice, leading to certain outcomes.

nIt leads to the destruction of everything.

nAm I selfish?

nEllen felt as if she had been struck in the head by Olivia’s words.

nWhy does this person hate me so much?

nWhat does she want from me by shaking me up like this?

nThe person once called the saint of Eredian was nothing more than a hateful person to Ellen.

nWhy does this person hate me?

nShe hadn’t known until now, but it seemed she did.

nShe knew she was selfish and that her actions were wrong, but there was a stronger desire within her.

nShe didn’t want to lose him, at least not to this person.

nShe would hold onto Reinhardt and never give him back.

nIt was then that Ellen seemed to understand why Olivia disliked her so much.

nThe reason was the same as why she herself disliked Olivia.

nFor fear of being robbed.

nAnd so, it was hateful.

nAs soon as Ellen realized her own feelings, she came to understand the emotions hiding within Olivia’s cold gaze.

nIn those eyes was a certain…

nFear.

n“Are you afraid of me?”

n“…What?”

nJust as Ellen feared that the person before her might take Reinhardt away, the other person was also afraid.

nAnd that’s why she was needlessly picking fights, shaking things up, and scratching at them.

nOlivia’s expression twisted at Ellen’s sudden words.

n“Why would I be afraid of you?”

nThe loss of composure in her face due to the sudden provocation already revealed much.

nEllen knew she had hit the mark. Now that she realized the other person didn’t hate her but was afraid, she naturally understood.

nThat she had been oversensitive.

n“You’ll be graduating next year.”

nTime was no longer on Olivia’s side. Olivia licked her lips, seemingly flustered by Ellen’s words.

n“…I, I’m going to graduate school?”

n“Still, you’ll have to leave the dormitory.”

n“…”

nStarting the year after next, she wouldn’t have to see that annoying face again.

nOn the other hand, both Ellen and Reinhardt would continue to stay in the dormitory.

nThat was what the other person disliked.

nThere was no need for her to be angry. There was no need to take the other person’s agitation seriously.

nReinhardt could only be by my side longer, not by yours.

nThere was no need to fight. Why fight when the victory was already hers?

nThe other person wanted to make her look ugly. There was no need to join in on such antics.

nThe other person would dislike her and would be jealous.

nShe didn’t know what the other person wanted her to admit, but there was no need to oblige.

n“A year is a long time, you know?”

nAs if searching for something to say, Olivia gritted her teeth, and finally spoke in a trembling voice.

n“Yes. Give it your best shot.”

nEllen looked at Olivia with one corner of her mouth raised.

nShe felt like she was doing something very wicked.

nBut it was satisfying.

nIt felt like she was finally getting back at someone who had always been putting her down. No, it wasn’t just about getting back at her; it was about realizing that her opponent was fighting an overwhelmingly losing battle from the beginning.

nIn the end, Olivia lost her composure, and her eyes reddened.

nShe looked at Ellen with gritted teeth.

nShe seemed angry.

nShe knew that no matter how much she scratched with words, there was an insurmountable gap that she could never close.

nWhat would have happened if Olivia Lanze had been a classmate?

nShe couldn’t know about anything else, but she wouldn’t have been able to look at Olivia with this kind of condescending sneer.

nBut speculations were meaningless.

nIn the end, even if Reinhardt spent time with Olivia, he was always closer to Ellen.

nThat wouldn’t change.

n“You, you… If you’re in the same class as Reinhardt, you think you know everything?”

n“Yes, indeed.”

nA position you can never enter.

nA position that would make you the most envious.

nFeeling that she already possessed what Olivia desired, Ellen saw no need to be angry with her.

nIt was simply jealousy, envy that drove Olivia.

nAt Ellen’s brazen acknowledgment, Olivia glared at her, biting her lip.

n“It would have been better if you were born a little later.”

nWith a snicker, Ellen left Olivia behind, brushing past her.

n“You, you… Really! You’re just… so wicked…”

nOlivia pursed her lips, staring at the retreating figure of Ellen.

nAs Ellen disappeared from view, Olivia’s eyes reddened, her lips quivering as she murmured.

n“Damn… I shouldn’t have provoked her… I didn’t even get my own back…”

nSo angry was Olivia, tears welled up in her eyes.

n——

nAlthough she wondered why she had to engage in such emotional battles, Ellen felt a kind of exhilaration she had never experienced before. She wouldn’t have felt this way even if she had punched Olivia.

n“It would have been better if you were born a little later.”

nOlivia’s expression upon hearing that was truly worth seeing. Ellen felt as if she had repaid all of Olivia’s previous taunts in one go, and from now on, she wouldn’t care about whatever Olivia said to her.

nNow that she knew why Olivia had been taunting her for no reason, it no longer bothered her.

nOlivia was jealous, and she could never have what Ellen had. She was furious and frustrated, picking fights for no reason.

nUpon returning to the dormitory, Ellen felt light-footed as she walked down the corridor and ran into someone.

n“Ellen, what good has happened to you?”

n“Ah, well… nothing, really.”

nUpon seeing Harriet, Ellen’s good mood dissipated.

nSelfish.

nThat’s what Olivia had said.

nNot wanting to let go of Harriet nor Reinhardt, Ellen tried to awkwardly hold onto both of them.

nSo, you are selfish.

nOlivia’s words came back to life in her mind.

nShe wanted to ignore it, but she wasn’t foolish enough not to understand the meaning behind those words.

nHarriet liked Reinhardt.

nThough she didn’t want to think about it, she knew that it was quite possible. Reinhardt was always attentive to Harriet.

nIf Reinhardt were to fall for Harriet…

nWhat would she do?

nShe didn’t want to lose him to Olivia.

nSimilarly…

nShe didn’t want to lose him to Harriet either.

nThe thought was too frightening.

n“What’s wrong, Ellen?”

nHarriet asked kindly, tilting her head as if to inquire if something was hurting.

n“…No, nothing. I’m just a bit tired.”

n“I’m going to study with Reinhardt. Are you going to rest then?”

nIt seemed Harriet was holding a stack of textbooks in her arms.

nShe was going to study for an exam. More precisely, she was going to help Reinhardt study.

n“What about the others?”

n“They said they’ll be studying their own subjects, so if you don’t come, it’ll probably just be me and Reinhardt.”

nIn that case, they would be alone together.

n“I’ll go, too.”

n“Alright, bring your books and join us.”

n“Okay.”

nAs Harriet walked toward the study room, Ellen watched her retreating figure.

nEllen had thought Olivia’s words would have no effect on her.

nYet, when she thought of Reinhardt alone with a friend, she felt an unpleasant emotion stirring within her chest.

n‘What should I…’

nEllen bit her lip as she watched Harriet walking away.

n‘What should I do…’

nShe realized that she was already preparing herself to resent her friend.

nEllen’s footsteps, as she returned to her room to fetch her textbooks, were heavy.

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