episode_0006

Lilith Tistina

In the past, when she was still a young noblewoman of a ducal family, unable to resist her lively nature, she often snuck out of the mansion,

and whenever she did, she would meet a boy named Mark Visasus and play together.

Lilith liked Mark.

He would readily accept her mischievous pranks, despite her being a tomboy, and always show a kind smile.

Furthermore, she was happy that he would listen attentively to every word she said without letting anything pass.

Going to him to complain whenever she heard ear-splitting nagging from her stuffy and conventional family was the only joy in her life.

Perhaps it was after several years of knowing each other like that,

Lilith realized that she was looking at Mark romantically and was in love with him.

Just looking into Mark’s eyes made her smile,

and she liked hearing Mark’s voice.

She looked forward to the time she would meet Mark,

and just holding Mark’s hand made her happy.

And Lilith thought.

So this is what it means to like someone, to love someone.

To be happy just by looking at them.

She hoped that this love would remain unchanged like this.

Lilith once thought that way.

As time passed and she grew older, after entering the academy.

She soon came to despise the very feeling of her love.

Her relationship with Mark did not develop beyond that of friends.

In the meantime, other women gradually increased around Mark.

Sometimes, he even showed a brighter smile than when he was with her.

After spending over 10 years together, she would remain just one of the common friends around him in his life.

A vague sense of unease began to creep into her mind.

She didn’t want that. Lilith Tistina wanted to remain as a beloved woman in his life,

furthermore, as a lover and companion.

However, it was difficult for her to easily confess her feelings.

It wasn’t that she lacked confidence in her appearance or personality.

But, what if,

even if it was just a slight possibility, he rejected her feelings?

What if she heard the words “Let’s just be friends” from his own lips?

Just imagining it made her head spin and her breathing difficult.

She didn’t want to remain just friends with Mark.

But even more than that, she was afraid of being rejected in love by Mark.

When her love was constricting her, trapped in such conflict,

a man named Loffel Teufel entered her life.

The eldest son of a lackluster frontier count’s family, a man whose academic performance also stayed in the middle ranks,

and such a man who only had a handsome face and body to boast of,

ended up completely changing her life.

…

It was a little over a year after entering the academy.

Today, just like always, Lilith and Loffel were exchanging light banter in the gymnasium.

“…So, the magic department said that, it was quite funny, haha.”

“…So Lilith, what happened with Mark today?”

“W…What are you talking about with Mark? Nothing happened.”

“That’s a lie.”

“…It’s true.”

“You know what? You haven’t said a single word about Mark today.

Why would you, who usually has his name on her lips, suddenly be like this?”

“…It’s nothing much.”

“It’s not nothing, tell me.”

Lilith mumbled and continued speaking.

“…Do you know Seraphina Serion?”

“Of course I know her, isn’t she the young rising star of the knight department, already expected to be the next Sword Saint?”

“…That Seraphina Serion… when I went to find Mark today, she was sparring with him… and they were even smiling at each other…”

“Hmmmm~ Oh, I see~ And then?”

Loffel narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile.

Lilith had a slightly annoyed look, but she continued speaking.

“I waited until the sparring ended and went up to Mark, handing him a drink like usual and striking up a conversation, asking how his day was, if he was tired, stuff like that.

But that wench…! Do you know what Seraphina Serion said?”

“What did she say?”

“She told Mark, ‘It seems like you come every day, is that person your attendant?’ What? Attendant? Attendant?!

Attendant to someone who’s been with Mark for 10 years longer than her? Ha! Honestly, I was dumbfounded!”

“Pffft!”

“Ugh ugh ugh! That Seraphina Serion…! Is having big breasts everything? Big butt, pretty face, and a bright future…!”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“Shut up!”

“Haha… So then, what did you do?”

“…I smiled…”

Lilith’s face suddenly darkened.

“I just… yeah… I thought I shouldn’t make Mark upset by getting angry for no reason… so I just played along, smiled, and… let it pass…

Mark also reintroduced me as a friend, not an attendant…

But actually… what bothered me more than Seraphina calling me an attendant was…”

“That Mark just said ‘friend’?”

“…That was it… Just a friend… He said a close friend… Still, after all the years we’ve spent together, wouldn’t it hurt to add something like ‘my precious childhood friend’ or

‘we’ve been together for 10 years’?”

“Lilith…”

“It’s not just today…! When I’m walking with Mark, people around ask… if we’re dating…

Every time Mark… every time Mark denies it intensely… saying we’re not in that kind of relationship… that we’re just friends…”

Drip, drip

Transparent droplets fell from her golden eyes.

“Every time I hear that… I sometimes feel anxious… I like him so much… but to Mark… I… I’m nothing?

Just a close friend? Will we just remain close friends even after graduating from the academy?

It’s already been a year since we entered the academy, I’ve known Mark for 11 years already…!”

She seemed to have a lot bottled up and continued speaking while crying.

“And confessing is even harder…! With Mark… maybe we could still be friends even if I get rejected…!

But… the fact that I might be rejected by Mark is too scary…

…So every time… every time Mark calls me just a friend…!

My heart doesn’t feel good… I hate it… I want to deny it…!

But in the end… I smile and affirm it… like an idiot…”

“Lilith…”

“I’m really like an idiot… Before, I was clearly satisfied just by liking him… But not anymore…

Without realizing it, I start to want something in return for my liking… Shamelessly so…!

The problem is… in the midst of all this, it’s not like I’ve come to dislike Mark… It’s actually the opposite…

The more painful it is, the more I realize… how much I like Mark…”

So, pouring out all the resentment she had accumulated, she continued her lament for a long time while weeping.

Loffel listened attentively to Lilith’s words, not missing a single thing.

“…Sorry, Loffel… Was it too sudden…?

Haa… Why am I like this…

I ended up talking about something so heavy.

Why am I so emotional today…”

“…Lilith…”

Loffel placed a hand on Lilith’s shoulder and made her lift her head.

“…Huh…?”

“…You know, I actually paid attention to you ever since I entered the academy.

Without realizing it, my gaze kept going to you.

It felt like meeting someone I had always wanted to meet.”

Ignoring Lilith’s surprised reaction, Loffel continued speaking.

“As I did, I noticed that you liked Mark Visasus from the knight department.

I wondered why you went back and forth to the knight department every day, and it turned out it was to meet Mark Visasus.

It’s not easy to go meet someone every day like that, no matter how much you like them, so I thought you were amazing.

Perhaps that’s why… I really liked seeing you in love like that.

Sometimes you would give up your own time for Mark, and sometimes you would yield to someone else.

I don’t know why, but I also felt a sense of familiarity that I had seen somewhere before.

However, seeing you like this now… only one thought comes to mind, after all.”

Loffel brought Lilith’s hands to his.

“There’s no other way but this.”

His face, which had enchanted other noble young ladies, drew closer to Lilith.

Although she liked Mark, her heart pounded without her realizing it.

Loffel’s face looked determined, as if he had made up his mind.

Lilith’s two hands were still held by Loffel’s two hands.

“Wait… You don’t mean…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“No, no! I’m sorry, but I like Mark…!”

“Let’s confess! To Mark!”

“…..What?”

…

“Did you hear what I just said properly?”

Lilith glared with swollen eyes.

“I heard it all and more. That’s why I’m saying this.”

“…I told you… What if I confess for nothing and get rejected…”

Lilith trembled as if she had imagined that moment.

“But you can’t just keep going on like this.

As you already know, the number of women showing interest in Mark has recently increased significantly!

Not to mention Seraphina Serion whom you mentioned today, Isabella Kshatriya from our magic department also looked at Mark with an unusual gaze!

And that’s not all? Although it’s still a rumor, it’s said that none other than the Princess, Tiara Altarion, publicly stated that she was impressed by a student named Mark Visasus!

If you keep remaining just friends like this, other women might already make a move!

You don’t want Mark to have another woman by his side instead of you, do you?”

“That’s absolutely not allowed!”

Lilith’s face turned pale as she shouted.

“H…However, confessing rashly…”

“Sigh… If you just stay still like this, it’s only a matter of time before someone else, whether it’s the princess or the next sword saint, snatches Mark away.

If you’re going to regret it whether you do it or not, wouldn’t it be better to at least do something and then regret it?”

“Th…That might be true…”

Lilith lowered her head again as if lost in thought.

And she moved her head this way and that, seemingly deep in thought.

“Okay… I’ve decided.”

Finally, she raised her face and stated her resolve.

“I’ll try, confessing!”