Ch.83Heart-Pounding Confession Operation (1)

It had been a week since the end of the Academy Exhibition, which had been both challenging and eventful.

Like any other day, feathery clouds drifted across the blue sky, casting wide shadows on the ground below. Nevertheless, thin rays of sunlight filtered through the occasional gaps between clouds, crossing over the window frame of the lecture hall.

The warmth was making me drowsy.

It was an irreverent thought to have during a lecture in front of students.

‘I wonder why Serin is… staring blankly like that.’

The class I was currently teaching was the first-year university division—the class Serin had transferred into.

Being subjected to obvious stares whenever I came here was common, with Serin leading the charge. Her eyes always held such peculiar passion that even asking questions during lectures felt burdensome.

But how was Serin now?

She was looking in my direction, but I questioned whether her gaze was actually focused. Not only was she in the undignified posture of resting her chin on her desk, but she had even forgotten her composure and left her mouth hanging open. Yet there was no sign she was succumbing to drowsiness.

‘Come to think of it, she’s been acting strangely lately…’

Serin’s suspicious behavior wasn’t limited to today. Since the height of the Academy Exhibition, she had been avoiding me with various excuses, instead unilaterally attaching herself to the princess and the Second Prince.

Even if I weren’t a professor at the Academy, I already knew what to call Serin’s behavior.

Exclusion, or ostracism. Either way, it was a concept that should rightfully be avoided.

Of course, it was also strange for a professor and student to be overly involved within the Academy, but it would be troublesome if this continued outside as well. I had too many unspoken words to let our relationship fade away meaninglessly.

“Is there a student who would like to come interpret this archaic text…”

I awkwardly let my words trail off mid-lecture. I had unconsciously almost called on Serin to come to the podium.

But what would change by doing so? Whatever words exchanged between us at the podium would be predetermined like lines in a play.

“That was a mistake. To interpret this archaic text, one must refer to historical documents from the past…”

I continued the lecture as if nothing had happened.

Serin, who would normally notice my mistakes immediately and respond with a sly smile, remained lost in her own world, completely distracted. Feeling a subtle sense of betrayal from her behavior, I concluded the lecture ten minutes later.

As I left the university division classroom, I suddenly looked back.

There was no sign of Serin, who would typically follow me under the pretext of asking questions after lectures. Only the dry corridor filled my view.

For some reason, it left a bitter taste, and I found myself licking my dry lips.

‘…Perhaps I should visit the elementary division.’

Seeing Eshtiel might fill the emptiness I felt. Observing his innocent behavior would surely help dispel this strange mood.

Conveniently, my next class was in the elementary division. Though it wasn’t Eshtiel’s third-grade elementary class, it was close enough for a brief visit.

Shaaaaaaa…

A gentle spring breeze blew. Cherry blossoms were gradually filling the gaps in the bare branches, showing off their adorable pink hue. It was truly beautiful, befitting a season that brings new life.

It was regrettable to enjoy such scenery alone, without Serin, Luca, or the princess.

…No, “anxious” would be the more accurate word.

Everyone was avoiding me, and I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong, which made me feel uneasy.

Meanwhile, memories I thought I had completely forgotten were floating up from beneath the surface.

‘Rashera…’

I still wonder if she ever truly loved me. I only remember that Rashera was forward from our very first encounter.

Whatever her actual intentions, it was clearly courtship. However, I always maintained certain boundaries, as I had no room for affection at the time. Only when Rashera finally gave up her pursuit and turned her attention to someone else did I begin to feel a sense of urgency. Just like my current situation.

‘Is this… the same as back then?’

I immediately shook my head. This was clearly different from Rashera’s case.

Unlike Rashera, Serin had nothing to gain from me, and I was the unilateral beneficiary of her attention. Even when my mind was corrupted and I tried to destroy the world, she was the one who stepped forward to stop me.

Even though the princess possessed a decisive means to kill me… she postponed it until the very end due to Serin’s strong will.

It was pure goodwill that would be disrespectful to even compare with Rashera. And that’s why my concerns were sinking deeper into a labyrinth. Like slowly descending into the depths of the sea without buoyancy.

“I don’t know…”

I had long forgotten my promise with Rodrick that “I don’t know” was a forbidden answer.

But then again, when have I ever truly understood Serin’s heart? At best, I could only guess the timing of when she would remove her mask.

I couldn’t figure out the cause of this concerning atmosphere even by the time I reached the elementary division building.

Since things had come to this, I decided to observe Eshtiel from a distance before preparing for my lecture. But the shouts that reached my ears made my head spin.

“Ah, he’s running away!”

“There’s Eshtiel, the candy thief from the soirée!”

“Everyone, hide your candy!”

“I’m not a candy thief!”

Eshtiel protested with all his might, but his argument seemed to lack convincing power.

I couldn’t imagine what he could have possibly done at the middle school soirée to earn such a reputation, no matter how creative I tried to be.

But it was too embarrassing a nickname to ask about directly, so I kept my mouth shut.

“So, Eshtiel, you won’t take our candy even if our desks are piled high with it?”

“No. Taking things without permission makes you a bad person.”

“Even if we eat it all without you?”

“I won’t touch it… but that would be bullying…”

“But taking without permission is the same, isn’t it?”

“But yummy things should be eaten together.”

“Even without permission?”

“Uh…”

“He’s the candy thief from the soirée!”

“I’m not a thief!!!”

It was an endless circular argument.

Still, the children weren’t genuinely criticizing Eshtiel. It was obvious they were teasing him because his reactions were cute. After teasing him enough, they actually gave him candy as an apology.

Eshtiel happily accepted their apology while munching on the candy. But something seemed off…

…

……

‘He’s… receiving candy as gifts?’

Quite stupidly, I only then realized why Eshtiel had been so accepting of his candy confiscation punishment all this time.

Why had I assumed Eshtiel only received candy supplies from home? With just a little thought, I should have noticed this discrepancy easily.

“Eshtiel… you…!”

I stared blankly at Eshtiel, who had betrayed me in a different way than Serin had.

The world was truly difficult to understand.

◇

“Kanarin.”

“Yes?”

“How do you confess to someone?”

“Do you know how many times you’ve asked that question? Just do it properly, won’t you?”

“I’ve never confessed to anyone before, so how would I know…”

“You think I have experience with that…?”

“Sigh…”

Though Kanarin didn’t explicitly mention it, both my questions and her answers had been repeated numerous times lately. Even the incredibly patient Kanarin occasionally seemed to have veins popping on her forehead recently. Still, I was grateful that she endured it as my elder.

So I turned my attention to the Second Prince.

“What about you, Your Highness? How should I confess? As a man, you must know well.”

“Well, considering how someone who witnesses your usual behavior still acts that way… he must be deliberately ignoring it. If you simply say you like him, he’ll probably misunderstand it as friendly affection. So…”

The Second Prince continued with a slightly thinned voice.

“I think Rahilt might be difficult to judge from an ordinary man’s perspective…”

“Ha.”

The humor was that I couldn’t even refute it.

Rahilt must have mastered the principle of yielding to win. Even though he wasn’t exactly putting up walls, I couldn’t muster the courage to break through them. It felt like a battering ram bouncing off a soft cushion before it could break down the gate.

I sometimes wondered if he distrusted love due to trauma from being manipulated by Rashera. But looking back, Rahilt was deliberately obtuse even before remembering the original story.

In other words, this was undoubtedly Rahilt’s natural disposition.

“My friend would surely have broken many women’s hearts if he had grown up in a normal environment.”

“It would be fortunate if he didn’t get a reputation as a playboy in social circles.”

“What about now?”

When I asked with curiosity, they both waved their hands as if they had rehearsed it.

“Oh, Serin. Just seeing how you throw yourself at him would intimidate most noble ladies.”

“Only someone willing to risk their life for Rahilt would dare approach him. Just thinking about the incident in the kingdom still gives me chills.”

“Hmph, well, that’s true.”

I’m proud of myself for being able to risk my life for my man. As they say, the brave win the beauty—in my case, I want to be brave and claim Rahilt.

For that, I need to return to my original concern…

“How should I confess… what should I do…”

As I was sighing deeply, Kanarin suddenly clapped her hands.

“Ah, Serin!”

“Yes?”

“What about a confession event?”

“Ugh.”

I instinctively grimaced with revulsion.

A confession event? That used to be popular long ago. Things like arranging candles in a heart shape and giving rings or flowers as gifts.

Now it’s just an outdated and burdensome custom.

Of course, more sophisticated events might be possible in modern society, but here…

As if reading my concerns, Kanarin tried to comfort me.

“Don’t dismiss it right away. Think about it, Serin.”

“About what?”

“Actually, I think it’s too much too. Confession events can be burdensome. Especially if it happens in front of others—you’d die of embarrassment, right?”

“What…!”

“…Luca, why are you surprised?”

“No, um, it’s nothing. Continue, Kanarin.”

As expected of Kanarin. She’s incredibly dense when it comes to her own affairs. She’d make a good match with Rahilt.

So she ignored the Second Prince’s dismay and continued expressing her opinion.

“…But think about it. That’s how we feel, but would people here feel the same way?”

“People here?”

“People often talk about the ’80s as if it’s ancient history, but it’s not even 40 years ago, right? Compared to the ’80s, what do you think the mindset of people here is like?”

“…In many ways, it’s more conservative, not less.”

“Exactly! So! Rahilt and Luca probably have even more outdated mindsets than the ’80s. In other words, a confession event might actually be considered romantic.”

Kanarin was throwing punches even with the Second Prince sitting right next to us. Thanks to her, the Second Prince was sinking spectacularly.

“Hmm…”

It’s reasonable advice. Perhaps Rahilt’s iron heart needs that kind of shock to break down his emotional walls and reach his true feelings.

As a woman in one-sided love, I was quite impressed.

“The more people around… the better, right?”

“Probably…? But hey, Serin.”

“What else?”

“No, just… can you do it? In a place where everyone’s watching?”

“…Hmm.”

There are so many obstacles.

Besides my personal embarrassment, if I succeed and become Empress, Rahilt would become the Imperial Consort.

I don’t like that.

I’d prefer to escape the pressure and just live happily together.

‘Yes, I should become a Grand Duchess… a Grand Duchess.’

So, I’d prefer if Tesser became Emperor after all.

The groundwork I need to lay before confessing is quite complicated.

And so, my confession plan began to take proper shape.