Chapter 59 :  Maybe Getting Punched Would’ve Been Better

“W-What nonsense are you talking about?!”

“Why? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Reyzen snapped sharply, his face red like a tomato.

But Serena only replied with indifference.

It had already been almost three years since they’d gotten tangled up together.

They’d argued at times, but as you could see, when no one else was around, they had grown close enough to speak casually.

Right.

They were close—so how could she not notice when she was always watching from the side?

‘Though honestly, I doubt he ever tried to hide it in the first place.’

To be frank, it had been obvious from the start.

His expression always brightened, and he got unusually excited whenever he talked to Ershi.

“I only respect the Count! Saying I like her—come on, even if it’s you, there’s a limit to what I can let slide!”

The person in question tried to deny it by raising his voice in desperation.

“Really? Sorry for the misunderstanding, then. My sister’s been looking for husband candidates lately—guess we can cross one off the list.”

“W-What?”

Reyzen’s face crumbled at Serena’s flat remark.

It was the kind of expression you’d expect from someone whose lifelong dream had just been crushed before their eyes—utter despair.

“I-Is that… true…?”

“What is?”

“That—the Count is really looking for a man?!”

“Why do you care? You said you weren’t interested in her that way, didn’t you?”

“T-That’s…!”

He clutched his head and spun in circles, deeply troubled.

It was actually a little funny, how he thought no one would notice when he was so obvious with even the slightest provocation.

In truth, Ershi herself was the only one who hadn’t picked up on it.

“Why are you taking it so seriously? I was just joking.”

“What?! You… you really…!”

It was fun watching him flail, but she figured he might get genuinely hurt if it went on, so she decided to tell the truth.

Only then did Reyzen realize he’d been tricked.

He grit his teeth, but then let out a big sigh and slumped his shoulders.

A part of him was relieved, after all.

“…You’re not going to tell the Count, are you?”

“I won’t. What face would I have left if I did?”

“Yeah… Thanks. Really.”

Despite his words, a faint look of resentment lingered in his eyes as he looked at Serena.

Maybe it was because she’d dragged his hidden feelings out with such a dirty lie.

But she didn’t care either way.

Because she was about to make him give up on those feelings entirely.

“But I wonder if it’s even worth mentioning. I don’t think my sister sees you as a man at all.”

“Ugh…”

Serena struck right at the thing Reyzen had been most worried about.

And she wasn’t done yet.

“Honestly, with the way you talk like an old man every time you meet, how could she?”

“T-That’s…”

“Plus, you’ve been around since she was little. Seeing you as a man can’t be easy.”

“Stop… I already know that…”

“And, she said she’s not really into muscular guys like you.”

“What the—?!”

That last part was also a lie, but Serena feigned innocence without batting an eye.

She did feel a bit guilty.

But if she could make someone else chasing after Ershi back off—even just one—then fooling her conscience was worth it.

‘Looks like it worked pretty well.’

Just as she thought, Reyzen was trembling with his head down.

Probably devastated now that the sliver of hope he’d clung to had been taken away.

Just a little more, and he might really give up.

She didn’t feel great about pushing someone already sinking into a pit of despair, but she tried to continue in order to wrap things up.

“…No, I’m not giving up.”

However, at Reyzen’s quiet words, she shut her mouth.

“You think I’d give up this easily? If I’m not the Count’s type, then I’ll change myself until she notices me.”

He raised his head again, his eyes sharp like a straight blade.

The kind of strong will that seemed ready to cut down and destroy anything in its way.

It was a vow, a declaration of resolve.

“Or, I’ll just change the Count’s preferences instead.”

“…Wow.”

Serena let out a small breath of admiration.

Should she call it brave, or just plain reckless?

Considering he probably hadn’t even thought about what would happen if she told the Count, it was likely the latter.

Still, she found herself liking that kind of spirit more.

“…Alright. Do your best.”

Originally, she’d meant to cut off a rival here.

But with this kind of determination, it wasn’t something that could be broken with just a few words.

Nor did she want to.

As a friend, she hoped things worked out for him.

But as a rival, she didn’t want to lose.

Her heart was in a mess of contradictions, but for now, she chose to cheer on his fighting spirit.

“Oh, by the way—what I said about my sister not liking muscular guys? That was a lie.”

“Hey!”

“Hehe. Then good luck.”

Reyzen yelled in frustration, realizing he’d been fooled again, but Serena just smiled and walked away first.

“Seriously, always pulling stuff like that…”

Without realizing, she’d shaken one man to his core with that playful, mischievous smile.

*

“As I thought, you were here. I’ve been waiting so long just to see your face.”

“Is that so.”

I certainly didn’t want to see yours.

“But… who is that beside you? She looks somewhat familiar.”

Princess Rosiria, sipping wine, glanced toward Lady Lins, who stood beside me.

So she remembers me, but not her?

Or does she think she’s not even worth remembering?

Lady Lins’s brow twitched slightly, perhaps more offended than I was.

“…Lady Lins. How about we continue this conversation later?”

“…Yes, let’s do that. I’ll excuse myself for now.”

But the other woman was a foreign princess.

We couldn’t call out her rudeness so casually, so Lady Lins had no choice but to withdraw.

I fully understood how she felt.

You don’t avoid crap because you’re scared of it.

You avoid it because it’s disgusting.

“Hmph. The nuisance had the decency to excuse herself.”

Still, I couldn’t overlook her talking like that about someone I knew.

“You should watch your mouth. Even if you’re a princess, that was out of line.”

“Ha. Are you lecturing me right now?”

“Yes. You seem a little out of it—must be the alcohol.”

“…Still the same. That condescending tone of yours.”

Apparently unaware of her own behavior, Princess Rosiria glared at me instead.

This is what you’d call shameless.

Acting like this in front of so many eyes and ears?

Impressive in a bad way.

“I’m just worried people will get a bad impression of you, Princess.”

“Quite the smooth talker, aren’t you? Well, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let it slide.”

Deciding on her own to “forgive” me, she drained her wine in one gulp.

Her eyes were clear and her complexion normal—clearly not drunk.

And yet, being able to act this disgracefully while sober was impressive in its own right.

“Anyway, do you have something you wanted to say to me?”

“Oh, yes. I do. I have so much I want to say to you.”

Princess Rosiria, with a fishy smile, took a step closer to me.

“Let me just say this one thing first. I no longer envy you, Count.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

She just started spewing nonsense out of nowhere.

“The genius mage praised by all! The prodigy who revived a noble house even before coming of age! Those were the words always attached to your name whenever it came up… Because of that, I was constantly compared to you.”

I thought she wasn’t drunk, but her gaze had begun to waver.

No—it was flickering.

With hatred directed at me.

“That’s why I hated you. You were too brilliant, because you had all the recognition and talent I never did!”

“Princess, please calm down. People are watching.”

Indeed, as her voice rose, more and more eyes were turning toward us.

A normal person would have backed down or calmed themselves by now.

But she continued on, not caring at all about the attention.

“But not anymore. I’ve gained something even you don’t have.”

“…Well, congratulations, then.”

I meant that sincerely.

I had no interest in being the target of someone else’s pointless jealousy.

“…Still, I don’t like you. I don’t know why. I have him, and yet…”

“Him?”

I couldn’t help but take interest in that word coming out of the princess’s mouth.

That someone like her, so arrogant and brash, would use such an honorific.

It was both surprising and intriguing.

“Who is he?”

“My god.”

“…Excuse me?”

“My light. My salvation. The one who regards my everything with no hesitation. He is… truly more perfect than you.”

Honestly, it might’ve been better if she’d just gotten drunk after all.

As if her nonsense wasn’t already hard enough to listen to—now she sounded like a fanatic.

At this point, she was starting to seem more pitiful than anything else.

“…What? Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not someone you can just look down on anymore!”

“What did I even do—”

“Shut up! Don’t act like you’ve done nothing wrong!”

Suddenly, she swung her hand toward me.

To be honest, I could have dodged.

It was so slow it was laughable.

‘Maybe I should just let her hit me and never deal with her again?’

With arms that thin and no experience holding a sword, it probably wouldn’t even hurt.

It would be humiliating, sure, but if that meant never seeing her again, I could live with that.

So I stayed still.

“…What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

But before it landed, Serena, who had returned at some point, caught her wrist.

The cold look in her eyes and the quiet weight of her voice signaled that this wasn’t over yet.

‘Honestly… maybe I should’ve just taken the hit.’