episode_0008

In the end, I had no choice but to head to the exam site with Helena.

She might make things difficult for me with more than just ‘Take responsibility!’ if she doesn’t go with me as she wishes.

The gazes around me have been sharp since earlier.

No matter how handsome Yukal looks, it’s strange for a shabbily dressed man to openly accompany a noble lady.

It’s only natural for them to whisper while looking this way.

More than that, I felt a subtle tension from the knights surrounding Helena and me.

“You guys know better than anyone else that I’m not messing with her… You shouldn’t be like that.”

Contrary to my nervousness, Helena continued to chat cheerfully.

“I feel relieved going with Yukal. Is it because he’s reliable? Hehe.”

“How can you feel secure with just me when there are several of your bodyguards?”

Her words made me feel even more pressured towards her.

“It was lonely going to take the test alone, so I’m glad to have someone to go with!”

“Are the maids and bodyguards not people too…”

Helena, who had been glancing around for a moment, locked eyes with me.

“Is this your first time in Arte, Yukal?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then I’ll tell you about the famous places in Arte! Do you see that building where many people are bustling?”

“Are you referring to the building with a very large entrance?”

“Yes. That’s the largest bookstore in Arte. Most textbooks and reference books can be found at the Academy, but you may need to buy other books here, so remember that!”

“Thank you. I will make sure to visit if I need any books later.”

“And that dessert cafe over there is really delicious. Let’s go together next time we get the chance!”

“Oh, that’s something I can’t miss.”

That dessert cafe is popular among female users for increasing favorability, so many high-ranking users frequented it.

I also visited often to recruit colleagues, but it had no effect on Helena, who was acting excitedly beside me.

“Miss Helena seems to be quite familiar with Arte.”

“Yeah! I’ve been here several times. If you ever need a guide, let me know! I’ll go with you anytime.”

“I know the capital better than you do.”

How many hours have I spent wandering around the capital?

I could find my way to the Royal Palace secret passage even with my eyes closed.

If I showed her the way, she would know it and wouldn’t need a guide.

“It’s an honor.”

Helena, who had been casually introducing me around, gradually started bombarding me with questions, as if on a train.

“You know, there were many pretty people in the village where Yukal lived, right?”

“It’s a place full of rough men like bandits. There were no ladies like you…”

“There was Sineria, but she wasn’t a villager.”

“What kind of woman is Yukal’s ideal type?”

Useless questions were starting to give me a headache.

As I pondered if there was a way to escape, a familiar figure in a pressed robe entered.

The moment I recognized her, without a second of hesitation, I shouted loudly.

“Claire!!”

Upon hearing my voice, she turned around to look at me.

There was a slight hint of joy in her eyes meeting mine, but she soon seemed flustered.

Surrounded by knights now, it was understandable why she appeared confused alongside a noble lady.

“Claire, over here!”

Seeming determined by my words, she approached us.

Covering her face with a robe in front of nobility would be impolite, so she removed the hood attached to her robe.

Flowing down gently to her lower back was a glossy sky-blue hair.

From the captivating brown eyes that draw people in.

“Indeed, Claire is quite a beauty.”

With good performance and looks, it’s no wonder why Sungyong users went crazy over her.

If Helena was playing the role of ‘kind Yeong-ae,’ she should have greeted first. Was it because she didn’t like it that she asked me first?

“Who is this?”

“My name is Claire. Just like me, she is a commoner.”

“Helena Clark. It’s a pleasure to meet the daughter of Viscount Clark.”

Carefully greeting Helena, when Claire finished, Helena’s gaze, which had briefly turned towards her, returned to me.

“So why did you suddenly call her?”

“I had promised to take the academy exam with Claire. I’m sorry, but it’s best if we part ways here. It might tarnish the lady’s reputation any further.”

Claire looked puzzled as if five question marks were floating above her head, but she seemed to understand my desperate gaze and answered Helena.

“It’s true. I was waiting here to meet him as we had promised.”

Helena, who had been glancing over here, finally spoke up.

“You promised to go to the academy exam site with me too. Even if there’s a prior commitment, breaking a promise you can’t keep would be quite disappointing.”

After a brief hesitation, she clapped her hands and smiled.

“You said your name was Claire, right? So if the three of us go together, it should be fine. You’d be disappointed if you couldn’t go even though you made a promise, right?”

“…”

It’s probably best to give up for now.

Heading towards the exam site with Helena on the left and Claire on the right.

“Still, it’s comforting to have Claire by my side.”

Since starting to accompany Claire, Helena, who had been incessantly chattering, also fell silent.

Meeting the daughter of a viscount must have made Claire slightly nervous.

“I didn’t expect to meet you so soon.”

As Claire found herself in an uncomfortable situation because of me, she tried to ease the tension.

“That’s right. I really appreciated yesterday. Thanks to you, I could rest comfortably at the inn. I won’t forget this favor.”

I smiled along with her gentle smile.

If only Helena had inherited half of Claire’s personality, how nice would that have been.

Apart from being overly reserved, how kind-hearted she is.

Lost in such thoughts, I heard Helena’s voice beside me.

“Did you two spend the day in the same inn room??”

Feeling uneasy at Helena’s wide-eyed gaze directed at me.

“That’s not what happened-”

“Saying you’ll marry me!”

Even Claire on the right momentarily sent a cold glance my way.

“Why is she doing this to me, seriously.”

From consoling Helena, who pretended to be choked up, to explaining the situation to Claire, there was indeed a lot going on.

There was truly a lot going on…

Certainly strange.

For a commoner who has never visited the capital Arte, it’s normal to wander around looking here and there.

Like that stupid-looking girl next to me.

But it feels awkward that she shows no reaction as if she lived in the capital.

Even though I introduce several buildings, it feels like she already knows them and is just giving formal responses.

More than that, I’m more concerned about the man who is smiling and chatting with the girl right now.

“I don’t like it.”

Even on the train and at Arte, he kept ignoring me when I tried to talk to him, but his attitude changed 180 degrees when that commoner girl appeared.

It’s pretty, but did I not approach her more kindly than the girl who answers bluntly without being swayed by appearances?

Yet, he who didn’t give himself an inch first called out her name loudly and approached her, making her feel his favor with a smile.

His pride was greatly hurt.

Suddenly, thoughts of the puppy I briefly raised when I was young came to mind.

Although I took good care of my first pet and gave it affection, I liked her breed more than her.

Thinking that I spent a lot of time caring for it, I separated the breed from the puppy, but nothing changed significantly.

In the end, not liking it, I “disposed” of both the puppy and the breed, but once bruised pride did not return.

I emotionally handled it when I was young, but now, no matter what means necessary, I would have made them obey me.

Looking at the girl Claire now, Yukal will make her obey him intact, unlike the puppy from his youth.

If that man named Yukal is accepted into the academy, there is plenty of time given, so he can slowly tame her.

Helena, who imagined him falling head over heels for her and panting at her feet, couldn’t help but smile.

“After all, she will come to me anyway.”