Ch.117117. Friend

# Lilith.

Lilith Raffine.

It hadn’t been long since she started hiding the Raffine surname, but she had grown so accustomed to it that living without it now felt more comfortable.

To the point where she wondered if living without it might actually suit her nature better.

Fortunately, the role of Holy Maiden suited her reasonably well.

More precisely, appearing before people as the Holy Maiden suited her. Everything else about it was rather unpleasant, but.

‘I’ve gotten used to it now, anyway.’

Even that had become something she could brush off.

Come to think of it, her being a Holy Maiden? What a ridiculous notion.

Honestly, she didn’t think it suited her at all.

There must be many people in the world far more virtuous than someone like her. Why was she chosen?

Sometimes such thoughts kept her awake at night.

Well… perhaps this wasn’t the kind of concern someone playing the role of Holy Maiden should have.

‘I’m just a Holy Maiden in name only anyway.’

Whether the role of Holy Maiden suited her or not, how people actually treated her varied.

To some she might be the Holy Maiden, but to most of the academy students, except for a few, she was just an ordinary classmate or junior.

Among them, especially Ludion and Celia. The way these two treated her… it was as if they’d completely forgotten she was the Holy Maiden.

It was infuriating that they had such ability.

But. Whatever she was called didn’t really matter.

Whether they teased her or not. She had never been attached to the title of Holy Maiden from the beginning.

Rather, she preferred this friendly relationship because it put her mind at ease.

At first, she never thought they would develop such a relationship.

They naturally became close when they agreed to help with her training despite her forceful request.

Thinking back, the two of them seemed remarkably close from that time, as if they couldn’t be considered mere acquaintances who first met at the entrance ceremony.

The word “compatible” naturally came to mind when seeing them together.

Of course, there was the difference in status between commoner and royalty in public. But what did that matter to someone who had lost everything and newly become a Holy Maiden?

In the end, life was nothing but kindling. She had long realized there was no need to place too many restrictions on such things.

Anyway. She had been rooting for such a well-matched pair.

Until lunchtime today.

‘That crazy bastard. What is he doing?’

Though the subject was omitted, it was clear who she was referring to.

Ludion.

This garbage of a man was putting his hands on another woman despite having Celia—a princess, top of their year, a beauty… anyway, a woman who had every possible good quality.

Two… women?

Of course, it was common for capable men to have multiple partners, but somehow she couldn’t accept it.

Because he was a commoner? No, if that were the reason, she would have accepted it immediately.

There was certainly some more complex and multifaceted reason… but somehow she couldn’t figure it out.

So.

“I need to talk to you. Do you have a moment?”

The presence of this “other woman” standing before her now made her uncomfortable.

To the point where it made her feel slightly dizzy.

‘Ludion, you crazy bastard.’

But having found no reason yet.

All she could do was curse the man who was the source of all this.

///

In truth, intimacy doesn’t develop overnight.

It naturally builds up through frequent meetings and conversations… but that takes time.

So how close were Alkine and Lilith?

“…”

“…”

Even a stranger could tell at a glance, “Ah, those two aren’t very close.”

It was only natural. The two had barely exchanged any words.

-“Looking for Celia?”

-“How did you know?”

-“Well… you wouldn’t come all the way here otherwise. Celia just went that way with Ludion. I think they went to the café.”

That was the last conversation they had.

Even that was about someone else… so this was essentially the first real conversation between them.

But in fact, it shouldn’t have been this awkward.

Neither of them was the type to have difficulty getting close to others.

Alkine was generally in a higher position, which made it easier for her to deal with others, and Lilith had the courage not to be intimidated by such superiors.

So they should have been quite compatible, and yet…

‘What should I do! What should I say?!’

Alkine couldn’t find the right words for the situation, and,

‘Student Council President… she was clinging to Ludion earlier, just like Celia. What exactly is going on?’

Lilith couldn’t figure out what to say because of the inexplicable emotional turmoil she’d experienced today and the fact that the cause of it was standing right in front of her.

As they were both lost in their thoughts, the silence stretched on without either noticing.

Anyone passing by would have wondered what those two were doing, but fortunately, there was no one around.

Finally, Lilith was the first to speak.

“You called me here but you’re not saying anything.”

“…I apologize. I was just thinking about something.”

“If you’re busy, I can come back later.”

Honestly, she just wanted Alkine to leave, but unfortunately, Alkine couldn’t turn back now.

“No, I really was just thinking for a moment. It’s nothing major, so don’t feel pressured.”

Seeing Lilith maintain an attentive posture, Alkine took a light breath and began to speak.

“…Your exam results seemed a bit disappointing.”

“My written scores were low. I couldn’t achieve a rank worth mentioning in the end.”

“But your practical skills were overwhelming.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying I highly value your potential, Lilith. Would you consider joining the Student Council in the future?”

Hearing this, Lilith looked surprised for a moment, then showed confusion.

Of course, it was an appropriate topic to bring up now that the exam scores had just been released, and she was the kind of person who would come specifically to discuss such matters.

Despite what she had shown today, she was still the Student Council President after all.

But how should she put it… despite all that, something felt awkward.

As if the Student Council matter was just a pretext for conversation…

Lilith wasn’t the type to simply harbor such doubts.

“Student Council President.”

“What is it?”

“Was this something you had to ask right now?”

“…”

Her question hit the mark.

The Student Council discussion could have waited until Lilith was truly qualified to join.

Of course, she was free to ask, and could have brazenly continued, but Alkine—who had actually come to subtly gauge how Lilith felt about Ludion—was struck speechless by the direct question.

Seeing Alkine unable to answer, Lilith’s lips twisted slightly as her suspicions were confirmed.

She was pleased to have her abilities recognized, but it was annoying that it was just bait to bring up something else.

“That’s not why you came, is it?”

Irritation took precedence over junior-senior etiquette.

While controlling one’s emotions was expected, Lilith subtly knew she had the upper hand in the current situation.

“I’m sorry. It seems I’ve upset you by trying to do something I’m not used to.”

Alkine quickly apologized upon realizing her mistake, but it didn’t seem to resonate with Lilith, who was already upset.

“What unfamiliar task would make the Student Council President go to such lengths?”

“That’s…”

“Just tell me directly. Don’t bring up the Student Council as an excuse.”

Deciding that subtle probing was no longer possible, Alkine decided to be straightforward.

“I’ll ask you directly. Lilith, what do you think of Ludion?”

“So that’s what this is about? Sigh…”

Had she anticipated this to some extent? Lilith’s reaction was quite nonchalant.

After struggling to speak, this response made Alkine feel both relieved and somewhat embarrassed.

‘I should have done this from the beginning.’

She seemed to have overthought things because she was doing what Celia usually did.

It was this easy to just ask directly…

“May I ask what the intention behind that question is?”

…This is difficult.

How should she explain this? Should she say she’s curious if Lilith also likes Ludion?

Naturally, there was no way she could say that.

As silence threatened to fall again, Lilith sighed once more and spoke first.

“Do you… like Ludion too, Student Council President?”

“Huh.”

Alkine gasped at the sudden direct question, but Lilith didn’t hear it as the scene from lunchtime flashed through her mind.

That image of him walking with both Celia and Alkine on either arm…

Feeling irritation rise again, she quickly stopped that train of thought.

“That crazy ba… I mean… you were clinging to Ludion like that.”

“That’s…”

Seeing Alkine hesitate, seemingly embarrassed to affirm it, Lilith thought it was fortunate that this person was standing before her now.

If it had been Celia, she would have brazenly acted as if there was nothing wrong, driving Lilith crazy.

After much hesitation, Alkine finally answered.

“…I can’t deny it.”

“How did this… no, are you really okay with this, Student Council President?”

“I’m fine.”

“It’s even more absurd because you seem genuinely fine with it. What exactly is the relationship between the two… no, the three of you?”

Despite everything, Lilith was a girl interested in romance.

So she naturally asked out of curiosity.

She thought such a question would be acceptable at this point… but Alkine’s expression became puzzled.

And. The answer that followed was not particularly satisfying.

“Friends… I suppose?”

Friends.

Lilith’s brow furrowed upon hearing that word.

She had thought that would be the last word to come up.

“Friends? Not lovers?”

“That’s not yet…”

Even when asked directly, thinking she might be hiding it out of embarrassment, the answer didn’t change.

“Just to be sure, what about Ludion and Celia…?”

“Those two are also not yet…”

…After all that drama, they’re saying it’s actually nothing?

No matter how she looked at it, they were definitely not just friends. They shouldn’t be.

“Bring Ludion here.”

“No, there’s no need to…”

“What do you mean there’s no need? I’ve been thinking they were dating all this time.”

“I think so too, but…”

“And someone who thinks that was behaving like that today?”

“That’s… uh…”

…What’s with this person? Was she always like this?

Lilith couldn’t help but think.

Before her was not the dignified Student Council President, but just a shy girl who couldn’t finish a single sentence.

Whatever the case, it was clear their current relationship was wrong, and for some reason, she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Even while thinking it had nothing to do with her, she acted first.

“If it’s too much trouble to bring him, I’ll go myself. Where is he now?”

She did all this without answering the question of “what she thought of Ludion.”