Chapter 121

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Her sweat-drenched body glowed faintly like the bluish moonlight.

The silent darkness couldn’t fully hide the sensual lines of her figure.

No, in fact, it made them stand out even more.

The darkness obstructing his vision, the quiet atmosphere, the enclosed space, and the fact that they were alone, all added up to the perfect hell to trouble the young man.

Just being in the same bed with someone he liked made his heart feel like it would leap out of his chest.

Lucia, with her sweat-soaked hair clinging to her lips, was taking off her top.

The hidden parts of a girl’s body were now exposed in their raw form.

The damp hospital gown, soaked in cold sweat, was messily strewn across the mattress.

Eugene hurriedly covered his eyes with his hand. Yet, slightly parting his fingers was perhaps the sad instincts of a man. Lucia, having taken off her top, seemed to feel a bit cooler and smiled faintly. Each time she nodded her head, her golden hair swayed beautifully and stuck to her face.

Fortunately, she hadn’t taken off her underwear or bottoms, but Eugene was on the verge of losing his mind.

He had barely maintained his composure by biting his tongue, but she was blatantly testing his resolve! The fact that it wasn’t intentional made it even more torturous. Her closed eyes and steady breathing showed she was still asleep. If she had been teasing him on purpose, it might have been easier to handle, but every little movement in her sleep was setting Eugene’s heart on fire.

Eugene tried his best not to let his gaze wander below her neck. But it was no use. Eugene’s self-control was remarkable, but that didn’t mean he was without desire. He had the same desires as anyone else. He was just suppressing them.

Her sweat-slicked abdomen and waist.

The cleavage that her disheveled bra couldn’t fully contain drew Eugene’s gaze.

Even as he scolded himself not to look, his instincts betrayed his reason.

If this continued, he might end up doing something truly embarrassing.

Driven by a desperate sense of crisis, Eugene grabbed Lucia’s top as if fleeing.

If someone saw this scene, they would misunderstand just like teacher Angelica did.

For Lucia’s dignity and his own sanity,

He had to get her dressed, fast.

And if she hugged him again, there would be no way out, so he had to be careful.

Eugene, making excuses to himself, lowered the hand covering his eyes.

After all, he had already seen everything through the gaps in his fingers, so covering his eyes was pointless from the start.

He fixed his gaze on her face as much as possible and hesitantly approached her.

Lucia, having finished her sleep-talking by taking off her top, laid still, only her soft breathing audible.

“My hand might touch you a little… I’m sorry…”

It would touch her bare skin, but there was no other way.

Yes, there’s no other way.

I can’t dress her up without touching her.

As Eugene stretched out his trembling hand to Lucia, apologizing for something she couldn’t even hear,

the door to the sickroom creaked open.

Eugene flinched like a mischievous child caught in the act.

Who is it? Did teacher Angelica come back?

“…”

Eugene quickly turned his head.

Light streamed in through the wide-open door, dispelling the darkness.

A small figure cast a long shadow, blocking the light.

It was a girl with deep blue hair.

◈

Alice, who had been asleep deep within her mind due to her promise with Frey, suddenly opened her eyes.

She sat up, clutching her heavy chest.

Unconsciously, she groped around her surroundings but found nothing.

Alice looked around with a dazed expression.

“Lu…cia, m-miss?”

She quickly realized it was Lucia’s sickroom, but Lucia herself was nowhere to be seen.

Why had she been sleeping in Lucia’s sickroom?

Shaking her head, still groggy from sleep, she pondered.

Coming to a quick conclusion, Alice clapped her hands and smiled faintly.

I see. Lucia must have accepted Frey’s apology.

Though she believed Lucia would forgive Frey, a small part of her had remained uneasy. Now, all her worries were washed away.

Alice lay back on the mattress with a happy heart.

She didn’t know where Lucia had gone, but she wouldn’t leave Frey alone for long.

Hugging the pillow like a teddy bear, Alice waited for the owner of the sickroom to return.

From now on, the three of us can be together.

Frey won’t avoid Lucia out of guilt anymore.

We can all get along well.

Just as her friend Lucia was precious, her family Frey was also a precious existence.

It would be very sad if the two people she loved most were distant.

She wanted to see Lucia again soon.

She wanted to fall asleep in her warm embrace.

“…Not coming… back?”

But contrary to Alice’s expectations, Lucia didn’t return no matter how long she waited.

Alice, who had been waiting with excitement, began to feel uneasy.

What could have happened? Could something be wrong with her health? 

Even with her super regeneration, she had suffered too many injuries today. It wouldn’t be strange if she had some aftereffects. 

Or maybe she was meeting with another acquaintance? Someone might have come to visit after hearing about her hospitalization.

Worry is a seed that grows by absorbing nutrients on its own.

Once negative thoughts started, all sorts of fantasies filled her mind.

Like spreading roots, her thoughts touched on the possibility she least wanted to consider.

‘It’s impossible, but… what if Lucia didn’t accept Frey’s apology…?’

What if she started to dislike me because of that?

Alice shook her head vigorously.

That’s impossible. It’s a foolish delusion.

Alice quickly brushed off the terrible thought.

She wanted to hear the situation directly from Frey, but Frey was asleep.

She could wake her up, but Alice didn’t want to go that far.

Alice listened to the emotions Frey had left in her body.

The faint feelings of sadness and joy.

If Lucia had rejected Frey,

there would be no reason to feel joy, only sadness.

“…”

It was a rational judgment.

But no matter how much she tried to reassure herself, the unease didn’t fade.

Eventually, Alice got out of bed and left the sickroom.

She was tired of sitting still, weighed down by worry.

If waiting wouldn’t bring Lucia back, she would go and find her herself.

If Frey had known, she would have been proud, even shedding tears.

Unfortunately, Frey had fallen into a deep sleep, far within her mind.

Having made up her mind, Alice stepped outside,

only to face a huge dilemma the moment she did.

“Where… do I… go…?”

She didn’t know where Lucia was.

Without a destination, she couldn’t decide on a direction.

Alice fidgeted, unable to get her bearings.

If Frey had been awake, she could have given her advice.

Feeling the emptiness of Frey’s absence, Alice lightly slapped her cheeks a few times.

If I don’t know, I’ll just have to find out.

I’ll ask someone.

Who should I ask?

As she pondered, a person suddenly came to mind.

Her classmate from Class A of the first year, whom she had spent a long time with since morning.

‘Eugene.’

One of the few people Lucia was close to.

Come to think of it, Eugene was also hospitalized.

Maybe Lucia was with Eugene?

It’s much easier to talk to someone you know than to a stranger.

Alice immediately headed toward Eugene’s sickroom.

“…”

Even as she went to find Eugene, Alice secretly hoped he knew nothing.

She was slightly surprised by her contradictory thoughts, but she pouted in dissatisfaction.

She knew Eugene wasn’t a bad person.

She had witnessed his desperate efforts to save people today.

Because of that, she had unknowingly developed a favorable impression of him.

But when it came to Lucia, that goodwill vanished as if it had never existed.

I was the one who became friends with Lucia first.

I was her most precious friend.

I’m scared. I’m scared of Eugene. I’m afraid he’ll take Lucia away.

She remembered that day in the nurse’s office when Lucia had hugged Eugene.

‘If Eugene really knows where Lucia is…’

And beyond that, if Lucia is in Eugene’s sickroom…

That would mean she left the sleeping Frey (herself) behind to go see Eugene. 

‘…That’s too selfish.’

Alice sighed. ‘What am I thinking, blinded by selfishness? I know what kind of person Lucia is.’

If a friend she fought alongside was hospitalized, of course she’d be worried.

She might have gone to reassure Frey and check on Eugene’s condition. And above all, it’s not even confirmed that Lucia went to see Eugene.

Alice felt sullen about her overreaction.

Even after arriving at Eugene’s sickroom, she hesitated as if she had done something wrong. Then, as if to assert herself, she abruptly opened the door without knocking.

But as soon as she did, she realized how rude it was and was about to apologize when—

“Ah…?”

What came out of her mouth wasn’t an apology but a question.

The inside of the sickroom was as warm as if a furnace had been lit.

The enclosed space had trapped the air, and as Alice opened the door, a wave of heat that stung her skin rushed out.

But what made Alice’s pupils tremble wasn’t the unreasonable heat.

“Ah, Alice?!”

Eugene’s panicked voice didn’t reach her ears at all.

Alice blinked several times, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

But nothing changed.

On the hospital bed was Lucia.

In just her underwear.

Sweat glistening as she nodded her head in her sleep.

And in front of Lucia was Eugene.

Holding her hospital gown in his hand.

Alice’s sharp mind, momentarily frozen by shock, quickly began to work.

Countless questions arose, and in an instant, she reached a conclusion.

A cold look of contempt filled Alice’s heterochromatic eyes.

“Wait! Alice, listen! I-It’s not what you think!!!”

“Pe… per… PERVERTED… TRASHHH…!”

Eugene’s desperate plea was instantly dismissed.

A trash who undressed the sleeping Lucia and toyed with her.

In Alice’s mind, Eugene’s evaluation plummeted to the very bottom.

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
It was supposed to be a match made in heaven.

Lucia’s sin is deep.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
F tier wingman, would not hire!

NTRed the couple instead of setting them up, smh.