Misunderstanding

After the fireworks show celebrating the Emperor’s birthday ended, Luna and I held hands and looked at each other silently.

It’s not like I’m some oblivious romance-fantasy protagonist who doesn’t realize what kind of atmosphere we’re in.

If I were writing this scene in a novel, I would have described a sweet situation where the man, drawn by the atmosphere, kisses the woman, and she accepts it, leading to them becoming lovers.

But I didn’t do anything and returned to the ballroom with Luna.

It’s not that I don’t have feelings for Luna, but currently, I also have feelings for Ellie.

Of course, I fully understand that this isn’t what I want, but rather the lingering emotions Ross left behind.

Under the influence of the Geas, becoming lovers with Luna while being unable to betray Ellie’s trust could cause many problems.

I didn’t want to hurt Luna, but the biggest reason was my insecurity.

The uneasy feeling that I might be mistaken about Luna’s feelings. I couldn’t approach her because I was afraid that my rash confession would distance us or interfere with club activities.

That’s because, apart from the difference in status, I was still ‘Ross,’ Roel’s burden, to people.

I garnered some attention because the Imperial Family apologized, but my image at the Academy was still not good.

If I hadn’t met Lakar and Squad 19, I would have spent my time eating and training alone, as always.

The image of me, having entered on a special admission thanks to Roel without any talent, was what everyone at the Academy, except for the club members, thought of ‘Ross.’

The reality was that professors who initially looked at me with shining eyes because I was Roel’s younger brother now didn’t even glance my way.

I lacked confidence in confessing because of the inferiority complex that Luna could never like someone like me.

In the end, to eliminate my anxiety and confirm Luna’s feelings, I chose to take a slight detour.

I comforted myself that I still had enough time to confirm Luna’s true feelings and ran away, afraid of failing.

The ballroom, where I returned with Luna, had calmed down from its heated atmosphere, and a tranquil mood prevailed.

After dancing for several hours, it seemed like the ball was about to end.

Watching people leave one by one, Luna and I wandered around, looking for our club members.

We found Aria dozing off at a corner table, drunk, and Lakar talking with Kane, along with his fiancé.

As Luna and I approached the table, Lakar and Kane greeted us warmly.

,Where have you two been?

At Kane’s sudden question, I answered defensively.

,We were watching the fireworks show outside.

,Ah, right. I didn’t get to see it.

Kane looked disappointed.

While Lakar’s fiancé and Luna were exchanging greetings, someone poked me in the back.

Turning around, I saw Ellie, puffing out her cheeks with a dissatisfied expression.

,Ross, where were you? I’ve been looking for you for ages!

After apologizing to Ellie, who was grumbling with a discontented expression, she turned her gaze to the club members, pouting as if she were sulking.

,Are these perhaps your friends?

She asked, her obsidian-like eyes shining, as if she found it quite amazing that I had friends.

,Yeah, they’re my club members.

,Club members?

Seeing Ellie looking at me with a puzzled expression, I scratched the back of my head, realizing that I hadn’t told her about the club.

,Yeah, I started a club.

,What?! You should have told me something so important!

A smile unconsciously appeared on my face at the sight of Ellie, startled and shaking her body greatly.

,Ross as the club president… I really didn’t expect that! What kind of club is it? No, tell me everything on the way back!

Saying that, Ellie linked her arm with mine and leaned close. Her face was flushed, so it seemed she had drunk a little while I was away.

It just so happened that the ball was ending, and everyone was leaving. As per the tradition of the ball, I had to take my partner home, so I said goodbye to the club members.

Unlike Kane, who was supporting Aria, and Lakar, who was arm in arm with his fiancé, I watched Luna, who was once again left alone, not knowing what to do.

Luna smiled as if to say she was okay, said goodbye to me, and left the ballroom alone.

Feeling a pressure as if something was weighing on my chest at that sight, I left the ballroom with Ellie.

,I can’t believe Ross would start a club. It’s so unlike Ross that I didn’t expect it!

At Ellie’s words, I smiled and asked.

,What kind of image do you have of me?

,Hmm, more gloomy than now and someone who finds everything bothersome?

After saying that, Ellie gave me a pretty smile and leaned her weight on me as if clinging to me.

,But I think you’re much better now than before. Should I say you’re like a different person?

Slightly embarrassed by Ellie’s words, I gave an awkward smile.

As expected, Ellie, with her sharp intuition, had a keen eye.

,Ah, do you remember when we went to the city together because I wanted to attend the ball before?

The story of Ellie and Ross’s past wasn’t in the novel, so it wasn’t in the character setting either. Thinking that Ellie would just chatter on her own if I answered that I vaguely remembered, I nodded.

,Yeah, I remember.

Ellie, who was about to say something, closed her mouth at my answer. Looking at Ellie, who seemed to be thinking about something, with a puzzled face, Ellie shook her head, taking off the arm that was clinging to me.

,I was just spacing out for a bit~ Let’s go!

Nodding at Ellie’s bright smile again, I explained about the club as we headed towards the Magic Department dormitory. After a long silence, Ellie suddenly asked.

,Oh right, I heard that Master will be visiting the capital soon. Shall we have a meal together with Master for the first time in a while?

At Ellie’s question, I thought about Ellie’s master in my head.

The master who would help Ellie’s talent bloom was Nelson, but it was Helena, the witch, who discovered the gem that was Ellie.

She was only mentioned as Ellie’s childhood master and didn’t appear in the novel. A person whose personality and appearance I didn’t know at all.

Thinking that Ross, Ellie’s childhood friend, and her master couldn’t be strangers, I nodded to Ellie, thinking that a meal would be okay.

,Okay.

The joy of being able to have a meal with Ellie was greater than the anxiety that Ellie’s master might suspect that I had changed, so I answered with a smile.

Ellie, who had been linking arms with me, flinched greatly, suddenly stopped walking, and stared at me with a strange look.

,What’s wrong?

Feeling puzzled by Ellie’s sudden action, I asked. Ellie answered with a flustered expression, as if making an excuse.

,Ah, no, I was just thinking about something else hehe….

Ellie, who was scratching her head while making a silly laugh, started walking again.

Arriving in front of the Magic Department dormitory, Ellie released her arm.

,Thanks for walking me home, Ross. Oh, shall we have dinner together on the weekend? We promised last time, too.

I was happy at the sudden suggestion, but I already had plans. I was supposed to explore the island with the Messiah club members over the weekend.

,I think Sunday evening would be okay?

Saying that, thinking that I would be back from the island by then, Ellie nodded slightly and suddenly pressed her lips together, staring at me intently.

,There’s a lamb restaurant in the capital… is that okay?

Was she worried about what to eat? Thinking it was cute, I raised the corners of my lips and nodded.

,Lamb is good.

As if my answer wasn’t the right one, Ellie briefly made a chilly expression for some reason and quickly managed her expression.

,Lamb… is good? Okay, see you on Sunday. Thanks for being my ball partner today, Ross.

Saying that, I stroked my chin, watching Ellie’s back as she turned around and entered the dormitory.

,Should I have said I didn’t like lamb?

Thinking that I could change the menu when we met next time, I headed towards the Combat Department dormitory with a slightly uneasy feeling.

*

,Ellie! Did anything happen with your partner~?

Joel, her roommate, shone her eyes with an expression of curiosity about whether anything had happened with her partner, but Ellie sat at the dressing table with a tired expression and removed her makeup.

,Nothing much~

,Really~?

When Ellie shook her head at Joel’s question, Joel made a sulky expression and turned her attention to another roommate who was coming in.

As the roommates began to chatter loudly about men, Ellie erased her makeup, organizing the questions that filled her head.

,Ross is strange.

Ellie, who had removed her makeup, lay on the bed, grabbed her forehead, and recalled the suspicion about Ross that had been stirring in her head since earlier.

The suspicion started with her own slip of the tongue. It was true that she had tried to go to the city to attend the ball with Ross, but Ross got annoyed and didn’t go because Roel joined them late.

She remembered that belatedly. Just as she was about to correct her slip of the tongue, Ross replied that he remembered.

She tried to brush it off, thinking that she might have been mistaken by Ross’s answer. But with the continued suspicion, Ellie tested Ross one more time, just in case.

Her master, who was talented, told her to distance herself from her childhood friend, who was floundering in inferiority, and deliberately ignored and insulted Ross to keep him away from her.

Because of her master’s attitude, Ross also hated seeing her master’s face. He didn’t come near her when she was with her master.

Ross would make a face as if he would get hives just by mentioning her master and told her not to talk about it anymore.

But such Ross nonchalantly accepts the suggestion to have a meal with Master…?

Something was strange. She knew that Ross had changed after entering the Academy, but this seemed more like he had forgotten the bad memories about her master than just changing.

So, she asked to test him one last time. To eat lamb, a food that Ross would never eat….

Hiding her trembling heart, she said that. The answer that came back to Ross was….

,Lamb is good.

It was an answer that could never come out of Ross’s mouth.

When Ross’s parents secretly slaughtered the lamb he had cherished and raised for Roel’s birthday and served it as food. Ross couldn’t eat for days and groaned.

Ross, who would throw up just by smelling lamb… likes lamb?

This was too strange. Like someone with no memories-

She felt something foreign at that thought.

What if Ross really didn’t remember the past…? She had seen it in the romance novels that her roommates liked. Cases where they lose their memories due to a major shock or accident….

Then everything would be explained. The fact that he said it was okay to have a meal with Master, and the fact that he smiled and answered the suggestion to eat lamb… everything.

Could the reason why he has changed so much from before be because the bad memories of the past have disappeared? The fact that he has become closer to Roel, unlike before, could also be because of that.

Ellie, who had reached the conclusion of her suspicion, was in shock and muttered to herself.

,Ross was deceiving everyone….

Ellie raised her hand and covered her face.

***

On the way back to the Combat Department dormitory, I found Rosalyn sitting on a bench.

Ilia was next to her, probably waiting for Roel to return after the ball.

,Hello.

Thinking that I should greet them since I had met them, I approached them. Rosalyn noticeably flinched and turned to look at me, surprised by my sudden appearance.

,R-Ross, it’s you…. Did you go to the ball? You look handsome today.

Feeling awkward at Rosalyn’s stuttering appearance, I nodded. Ilia, who was next to her, shone her eyes and stared at me intently.

,Hello.

Since I didn’t expect Ilia to greet me, I looked at her with a slightly dumbfounded face and hurriedly nodded.

,Ah, yes. Hello.

As if that was all she had to say, she closed her small mouth and turned her head, looking to see if Roel was coming. Thinking, ‘Well, that’s that,’ I turned my gaze to Rosalyn.

At the same time as feeling as if all the strength in my body was rapidly draining away, my legs gave out, and I fell forward.

While the flustered Rosalyn screamed, Ilia quickly turned her head and stopped me from falling forward, looking at me in her arms with strange eyes.

,R-Ross! Are you okay?!

I wanted to say that I was okay, even if it was a lie, to Rosalyn, who was asking with an expression as if she was about to cry, but I was so exhausted that I couldn’t even breathe properly.

It was incomparable to mana exhaustion. Could it be that there was poison in the food at the ballroom?

In my fading consciousness, I barely managed to check the message that appeared in front of me.

[The restriction has been activated.]

The moment I saw that, I squeezed out my last strength and uttered the words.

,El, Ellie….

And then I lost consciousness.