#52
Iria’s clear eyes pierced through me. I couldn’t give her any answer and just met her gaze.
How could I not cherish him? I remembered the young Persis who used to follow me around. I couldn’t forget that small child who listened attentively to my every word and paid so much attention to me. The fact that someday he would stand beside Iria was one of the many joys filling my life.
“Persis is so insensitive. He doesn’t understand people’s feelings at all. What about me instead of a guy like him?”
I inhaled sharply at Iria’s sudden words. As expected of a dating simulation protagonist—her natural flirting came as easily as breathing. Though it clearly wasn’t meant romantically, I couldn’t help feeling tense.
“I mean we should get closer. I really like you, Andelion.”
When she smiled so brightly while saying this, how could I possibly refuse? There was only one answer I could give.
“Yes. I’d like that.”
I wasn’t a man with enough resolve to refuse anything Iria wanted.
* * *
Each time a piece was placed on the wooden board, a crisp, satisfying sound echoed.
“Are you interested in that girl?”
“What’s with that sudden question?”
My brow furrowed at Rikin’s unexpected words. Who was “that girl” and why did he think I was interested in someone? When playing games, Rikin often made random comments that confused me. Sometimes it seemed like a strategy to win the game, and other times it seemed he genuinely wanted to ask something that had just crossed his mind.
The game we’d played since childhood had become not just practice to improve our skills but also a social venue for miscellaneous conversations. It was an unwelcome change, and I was looking for an opportunity to quit this game.
Since entering school, we had no common space to play, so we were using the student council room that Rikin could freely access. Being in a space where other students might enter made me uncomfortable and unable to concentrate. It was time to end this long-standing commitment.
“Your face changes color whenever you’re around that girl.”
My hand lost strength just as I was about to place a piece. I finally realized who “that girl” was. Rikin was talking about Iria. I picked up the piece that had fallen in an unintended spot and placed it where I’d meant to, but I couldn’t hide the fact that I was shaken.
“That’s not true.”
I denied it, but there were too many instances that came to mind. Maybe during our assignment? When I greeted Iria, or when we chatted briefly? It was unlikely I behaved rationally when Iria was around. The game before me was already an afterthought.
“Yeah right. You can’t even make eye contact with her.”
“Who says? Stop making assumptions.”
Just recently, I’d spoken with her while making eye contact. Not only that, I’d even laid the foundation for a closer relationship. Though it was something I truly didn’t want.
I had momentarily forgotten that I was also one of the conquest characters in this game, as I was trying to bring Persis and Iria closer. If I showed even the slightest opening, the distance between us would disappear in the blink of an eye. It seemed like that was already halfway happening, which worried me.
“Really? Is it really just my assumption?”
I don’t know why he was so persistent. I grimaced deeply and shook my head. Under no circumstances would I see Iria that way. Iria was a precious person who had filled my past life with happiness. I could assert with certainty that there was no room for romantic feelings in this sentiment.
“Yes. It’s your assumption. You’re just saying nonsense because you want to win the game so badly.”
“It’s because you like her too much. You seem completely smitten, unable to break free.”
Every word Rikin said pierced me. I didn’t realize I was so transparent. According to Kara, I was good at maintaining a cold expression that concealed my thoughts, but perhaps that was just Kara’s biased view. I needed to be more careful from now on.
“That’s not true, so please stop saying such things. Instead of focusing on that, take better care of His Highness.”
“You mean the seminar?”
“Why didn’t you stop him? It could be dangerous.”
Rikin nodded at my words. No matter how distant the Parten family was from politics, Rikin wasn’t completely ignorant of political tensions. Moreover, as Persis’s closest confidant, he likely knew things I didn’t.
“Persis can handle that much. I checked, and it’s not that big of a seminar. It should be fine.”
“I suppose so.”
“Don’t worry too much. Persis told you not to worry, right?”
If all concerns could be erased by someone saying “don’t worry,” the world would be much easier. I sighed deeply and made my next move. The game had been tilting in Rikin’s favor for a while. If he hadn’t brought up Iria, I could have won this match. It seemed he had indeed brought up nonsense to break my concentration.
As I was contemplating where to place my next piece, I could feel Rikin’s gaze fixated on my face.
“What?”
When I raised my head and spoke curtly, Rikin’s eyes curved pleasantly.
“I was just thinking we’ll be seeing each other often for seminar preparations. I thought we wouldn’t meet much since we’re in different grades, but now we have this opportunity.”
Unlike the excited Rikin, this was just another worry for me. Originally, this event was supposed to end after the presentation. Persis and Iria, who would become familiar through this, were meant to grow even closer through another incident. That would be the upcoming Blessing Day celebration, and by then, Iria and Persis needed to be closer.
Setting aside concerns for Persis’s safety, the fact that the two would meet frequently was a good thing. The only issue was that it wasn’t following the original storyline.
In conclusion, the situation had become very ambiguous—neither good nor bad.
On top of that, I hadn’t been able to return to my room often due to assignments, and if I mentioned that I now had seminar duties as well, the Sword would make a huge fuss.
Just as I was considering surrendering, the door to the student council room, which had only contained the two of us, opened.
“Excuse me, is student Andelion here?”
It was one of the school staff.
“Yes, I’m here.”
Someone must have seen me enter the student council room and informed them. Perhaps it really was time to stop these games with Rikin. I didn’t want to attract attention, but things always seemed to go against my wishes.
“Well, it’s that… His Grace the Duke has arrived.”
I slowly rose from my seat, blinking my eyes.
“Pardon?”
“He came for an inspection. He’s in the principal’s office now.”
It wasn’t yet time for the Duke to extend his influence to the school, so why had he suddenly appeared? Events that had been twisted once were creating variables in multiple places like a butterfly effect, leading to a future I couldn’t recognize.
“We’ll finish the game later.”
“You’re going to see him?”
“Yes. I should at least pay my respects.”
He probably didn’t come to see me, but I should at least show my face. After all, the Duke was my father. I also wanted to probe and find out why he’d come to the school. I ignored the small pain in my stomach as I left the student council room. I was a bit worried I might develop chronic gastritis at this rate.
* * *
I had no intention of entering the principal’s office where the Duke and the principal were talking. I wanted to hear what they were discussing, but I knew the conversation would stop the moment I entered, so I decided not to indulge my curiosity.
Besides, the Duke wouldn’t simply let me walk in without permission. He would undoubtedly lecture me exhaustively on exactly what I had done wrong, following the five Ws and one H.
I told the staff member who had informed me of the Duke’s arrival that I would wait until the conversation inside ended, and then stood outside the door until the Duke emerged from the principal’s office. The staff member looked at me nervously before telling me to have a good meeting and returning to their duties.
The large wooden door of the principal’s office, faded like the old school building, seemed to represent the long history of the school. I stood in front of that door, looking at the bright, quiet corridor illuminated by sunlight. The warm afternoon sun made me drowsy. Despite my urgent feelings, the place where I stood was utterly peaceful.
I fought against the endless waves of sleepiness while waiting for the Duke to come out. A moment later, I heard the firmly closed door opening. Only then did I come to my senses and look to the side. The Duke, who was coming out through the door, stopped in his tracks when he saw me standing right in front of him.
He apparently hadn’t expected me to be waiting here.
“It’s been a while, Father.”
“What brings you here?”
It seems he had planned to leave without seeing my face. I had expected as much. I wasn’t sure of his intentions, but he probably told the principal he was just making a brief inspection visit. Considering the donations the Duke made to this school, it wouldn’t be strange for him to visit multiple times.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
