Chapter 77
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 77
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me, Selena?”
I want to go. I really want to go, brother. I want to go so badly!
Especially since it’s Karl who’ll be there. He’s practically the star of this palace New Year’s Eve ceremony. I just wanted to capture that image with my own eyes so badly!
But… I held back. I felt it was premature. Yeah. Not yet. Not yet.
I’ve just barely managed to hold Karl’s hand. I don’t want to ruin it by being too forward.
Slowly. Step by step. I have to be careful not to cause any more wounds.
‘Above all, the attention should be solely on Karl. I absolutely hate the idea of sharing it.’
And there’s so much to do. Besides preparing for the hot spring trip, the most important thing is…
‘Grad school. And… my master’s thesis topic.’
Just thinking about the thesis topic already makes my head spin. What should I do?
My advisor said I should choose a topic that genuinely interests me and that I can pursue with enthusiasm over the three-year period.
It’s obvious, but he also added that it would be better if it’s a field I showed interest in during my undergraduate days.
‘A thesis topic… It’s not just about getting a master’s degree. It’s about choosing a topic I’m genuinely interested in and can put my best effort into…’
It’s difficult. I’ve only been focused on graduating from the academy until now. I never imagined I’d be agonizing over something like this.
…I slightly regret doing this foolish thing. Ugh!
“It’s difficult…”
While pondering over that part, I completely forgot about the palace New Year’s Eve ceremony.
Even after spending a whole day cooped up in my room, I couldn’t come up with a good topic.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind, Selena.”
My brother looked at me with a mixture of admiration and pity.
“Take your time to think. You still have plenty of time.”
“But I’m worried that if I take it easy, it might be too late.”
“That’s possible. Hmm. It’s really tough being a graduate student.”
Indeed. There are times even now when I wonder if I’ve done something foolish.
…Well, at least I have something in common with Karl now. I should just accept it gracefully.
“Where are you going, brother?”
“Yeah. I’m going to see the veterans supported by our family. Today, as I said before… Ah. Um. Ahem.”
From my brother’s reaction, it seems that the person we’re meeting today is most likely her.
‘Lavrenti.’
For some reason, Karl calls her by her nickname, Lav, rather than her real name, the red-haired woman.
I heard she also played an active role in the Luzernes War, much like Karl. And she even earned medals like him.
…It’s a bit frustrating. I’m still called Selena by Karl. I hope one day he’ll call me ‘Lenny’.
‘It’s fortunate that at least he doesn’t see me as an object of desire.’
He said he only saw her for barely a week, and that they hadn’t seen each other since then. There was no sign of any other feelings in Karl’s eyes when he said that.
That made me even more concerned. Despite that, Lavrenti had great affection for Karl.
What could have been so intense in that brief meeting to evoke such feelings?
Calling him ‘Master,’ does she intend to walk the same path, and the warm aura in her eyes?
“Selena. Let me say this again. This is definitely not intentional―”
“Brother, I want to meet this Lavrenti person instead.”
“You don’t mean… uh, what?”
“I’ll go instead.”
“Selena, you can’t possibly―”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be rude.”
As the daughter of a Marquis, I know I must maintain that level of courtesy, brother.
I just want to tell that woman one thing.
Now, it’s not like Karl and I have no relationship at all.
* * *
―Thus, the reunion of Selena and Lavrenti took place.
“….”
“….”
Both women remained silent for a while. Awkward silence filled the air.
Selena wondered how to broach the subject, whether Lavrenti still had feelings for Karl.
Lavrenti, on the other hand, was clearly taken aback to find Selena here instead of Deonik, whom she had arranged to meet.
“As expected, I should start by saying what my brother would have said, right?”
“Seriously. Could it be that this woman’s brother is Deonik? If that’s the case… Did she plan this from the beginning?”
They exchanged glances for a few more minutes. Finally, Selena spoke up first.
“…First of all, let me apologize. Lav, for suddenly showing up instead of my brother.”
“No, Selena. It’s a bit surprising, but… It doesn’t matter who comes out.”
“Is that so? Anyway, please take this for now.”
What was offered forward was a document promising to pay all of Lavrenti’s school expenses on her behalf.
From the academy enrollment to graduation, it was a promise to support everything she needed.
“It’s an honor to assist someone who bravely fought for the Empire. My brother also asked me to pass this message on to you. Don’t feel burdened, Lav. You definitely deserve this kind of favor.”
“Thank you, Selena. And please convey my gratitude to Deonik as well.”
“Of course.”
Alright. The original business seems to be settled. Now, it’s just a matter of wrapping up personal matters.
“Actually, there’s another reason I came here today, Lav.”
“Another reason?”
“Yes. You asked me before, right? Whether Karl and I really have no relationship.”
At Selena’s question, Lavrenti nodded.
“What was my answer then?”
“You said there was no relationship at all.”
“That’s right. Yes, I’m sure I did. But now….”
With a slight smile on her lips, Selena looked at Lavrenti and continued.
“Not anymore, Lav.”
“Selena?”
“It’s not that we have no relationship, it’s the opposite. We’ve decided to officially date. It hasn’t been long, but anyway, that’s how it is now.”
“….”
Perhaps Selena didn’t know. And perhaps she never will.
When she just said those words, there was a momentary loss of light in Lavrenti’s eyes as she stared at herself.
It was the kind of look that might appear when Lavrenti, as a sharpshooter, aimed at the elves on the Luzernes side, took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
“…Should I congratulate you?”
“It’s not time for congratulations yet, not until later.”
“I see. But why are you telling me this?”
“Because I need to correct you. I’m saying that Karl and I do have a relationship.”
Lavrenti, of course, knows the truth behind what Selena is saying.
Unfortunately, Karl is in a relationship with me right now. So if you’re hoping for the one and only, you might as well give it up now.
Even if you can’t give it up, I hope you don’t cross the line, because the first one is mine.
“It’s a bit sudden.”
“Thanks to you. If it weren’t for Lav, I would still be cautiously watching from the sidelines. Thank you.”
Thank you? Is she fanning the flames in a burning house right now? Is she teasing me? It seems to be the case.
Unconsciously, Lavrenti reached out her hand to grab something.
In the past, it would have been her sniper rifle, her comrade, but now that she’s retired, it’s only natural that nothing comes to her hand.
I take a sip of the tea I prepared earlier. Ugh, it’s all cold now. Need to warm it up.
“I won’t interfere. I won’t stop you. Instead, just make sure you maintain boundaries.”
“…What are you saying right now?”
“Unfortunately, as I am now, I have no right to restrain or monopolize Karl. Maybe three years ago, but not now. Now, I’m, uh… How should I say it? Just a lucky passenger who got on the second carriage.”
Lavrenti couldn’t understand what the woman in front of her was suddenly saying.
Just a moment ago, she seemed to be saying, ‘Don’t covet my man.’
And now she’s saying she won’t mind if I approach Karl. Just hoping I don’t cross the line.
“There’s something, Selena. I’m not sure what it is.”
“It’s a difficult thing for me to understand as I am now.”
“You’ll know someday. For now, this is as far as it goes. Honestly, I’ve already made a lot of concessions. Can’t go any further, Lav. This is like a gift to you, being a hero who willingly fought for the Empire and also a comrade who went to war like Karl.”
“….”
Finally, some life returned to Lavrenti’s eyes as she heard that. And unconsciously, her gesture of reaching for a gun disappeared altogether.
For the Empire’s sharpshooter who officially recorded 93 kills, this was the moment when the definition of Selena, a woman, shifted from ‘enemy’ to ‘something other than an enemy.’
‘Of course, I can’t be completely at ease. Lav. So, let’s keep this hot spring trip a secret.’
‘I’m curious to see where Selena draws the line. I’ll soon be in a position to be both a senior and a junior with my master.’
The moment I let my guard down, Karl’s affection might be taken away!
Or, depending on the situation, I might be able to find an opening and turn my master’s heart back towards me!
Though officially in a ceasefire, the two women were still at war behind the scenes.
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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