episode_0299

It had been about a week since the start of the second semester of the second year at Luminoir Academy.

To cut to the chase, even after almost ten days, including the vacation, I still had no clue about Ethan’s “hidden fiancée.”

One of the possibilities, “finding a partner when the time comes for marriage,” was almost impossible. Judging from what I had observed of Ethan so far, he had never shown any interest in dating, let alone actively seeking someone out.

He was generally focused on his studies within the academy. While he occasionally interacted with a few nobles (especially professors) and individuals that could only be met within the academy, I always accompanied him to such gatherings, so seeking out a partner for romantic purposes was quite far-fetched.

“If he’s in the swordsmanship department at Luminoir Academy, he might have met my daughter who also attends the same department. Although they are in different grades, she is quite famous for her beauty.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I already have a fiancée, so I don’t pay attention to other women’s looks.”

“I see. Well, in that case, there’s nothing we can do.”

Even if there were people discreetly trying to pry into Ethan’s fake fiancée, he would skillfully evade such inquiries with responses like this.

It was unreasonable to not engage in any marital activities even with a fake fiancée set up. Typically, in this world, setting up a fake fiancée and secretly maintaining a relationship with a promising noble or royalty from a reputable family was a common practice among the aristocracy.

So, the remaining possibility was the second case. The fiancée was already decided, but it couldn’t be publicly revealed.

In such cases, Ethan’s partner would either be from the royal family or nobility of another country.

Most likely, the engagement had been arranged long before. It could have been at least a decade before Ethan fell into a cursed slumber.

“The potential candidates are…roughly three?”

Among the royal family, it could be either the Second Princess Lushecia or the Fourth Princess Mezlen. If it was from another country, it could be Princess Raini of the Northarina Kingdom.

Naturally, all three individuals were beyond my reach. Moreover, all three were no longer present at Luminoir Academy.

Mezlen and Princess Raini were too young, and Lushecia, despite being foolish, was not admitted to the academy due to her lack of academic prowess.

However, Lushecia chose not to enroll in Luminoir Academy because she was too busy gallivanting around as she pleased.

“It’s also one of the reasons why Seraphine detests school.”

In the original world, the only true siblings Seraphine could rely on were Lushecia and Antonio.

Lushecia, the extravagant and foolish elder sister, and Antonio, the younger brother who had lost his enthusiasm and felt pessimistic about life, were enough to understand why Seraphine, in the original story, would fall for a hero without anyone to rely on.

While Antonio may have somewhat improved in this world, it was unlikely that Seraphine’s aversion towards Lushecia would change.

“I can’t stand Lushecia, let alone the other two.”

If she truly was Ethan’s fiancée in the original story, then the Blackwood family was doomed. She was like a dreadful villain that caused stress every time she crossed paths at Luminoir Academy.

Well, there’s nothing I can do about it. It would be fortunate if I could avoid being eliminated while chasing after the backs of nobles or foreign royalty for no reason.

Therefore, the search for Edan’s hidden fiancée ends here. It feels a bit uneasy, but I didn’t want to risk my life just to investigate.

Even though I am temporarily playing the role of Edan’s fiancée, I shouldn’t act as if I have become a potential duchess. I am just a servant of the Blackwood family and Edan’s personal maid.

“I wish the original revealed who Edan’s fiancée was. It would have been less frustrating.”

The reason Edan’s fiancée doesn’t appear in the original story is obviously because of Edan’s death (or disappearance). In “Luminor Academy,” Edan exits the story just before becoming a third-year student, so it makes sense.

For that unknown fiancée, it must have been like a dream come true. Edan in the original story was not as tall as now and had a chubby, unpleasant appearance, so they probably wished for the engagement to be canceled more than anyone else.

And since the party who canceled the engagement with Edan wouldn’t go around saying, “Actually, I was Edan’s fiancée,” it was natural that I, who played the original 24.5 times, didn’t know.

“I mean… I obviously wouldn’t be among the candidates.”

The illegitimate son of the Blackwood Duke marrying a low-born, ambiguous noblewoman from the borderlands? And if you dig a little deeper, it would be revealed that she was originally a commoner?

Would Edan take such a risky action… Well, you can’t say it’s impossible, but there was a high chance that the head of the household, Harold, wouldn’t allow it.

“From the beginning, I decided to just think of it as a fleeting dream.”

Two and a half years left until graduation from the academy.

That was the time allowed for me and Edan.

***

Just like any typical academy game, “Luminor Academy” naturally had a “student cafeteria.”

Unlike the mass-produced food style of the original world, the cafeteria was set up with various menus lined up on plates for students to take and eat as much as they wanted.

The cafeteria was free. Well, it was included in the ridiculously expensive academy tuition, so not eating would be a waste. Besides, the quality of the food wasn’t that bad.

Edan, Agnes, and I were the type to frequently use the student cafeteria.

Agnes and I didn’t have much money to spare. Edan, on the other hand, had a personality that was a bit distant from overspending.

He would spend when necessary but wouldn’t unnecessarily spend money when it wasn’t needed, so there was no reason for him to look for other restaurants on the expensive island of knowledge.

Therefore, the three of us eating at the student cafeteria during lunchtime was a common occurrence. Sometimes, we would dine with the August siblings, Seraphine, or Cerista, but that was occasional.

In the midst of such ordinary activities, Agnes suddenly pointed out the relationship between me and Edan.

“Lately, you two are always together, aren’t you?”

“I don’t understand what you mean, Agnes.”

“Is there a reason why the personal maid and her master shouldn’t be together often?”

“It’s not that. Are you saying we’re physically too close?”

During mealtime, Agnes, sitting across from me and Edan, sighed and pointed at us with a knife in her hand.

“You don’t need to be so attached. You’ve been like that every time since the start of the semester.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you two really feeding each other at the restaurant every day, sticking together like glue and putting food in each other’s mouths? Is that just a show of affection, or are you telling me to buzz off because I’m interrupting your date?”

“What are you talking about, Agnes? I’ve never thought that you were interrupting anything.”

“It’s not a bad thing to have more people at the dining table. Here, Lilith. Ah.”

“Ah… um, it’s delicious, Master.”

“You guys are really something.”

Agnes’s dry comment as she watched me eat the steak that flew off Ethan’s fork.

Well, to be honest, I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. If I didn’t feel any shame at sticking close to Ethan and feeding each other every other time, that would be strange.

But well, it’s not that big of a deal.

If this relationship is only going to last until we graduate from the academy, then I planned to enjoy it as much as possible while I’m still attending the academy. I don’t want to regret not trying things later on.

It’s a bit disappointing that I’m doing things I wanted to do with a girlfriend in a past life in my current life as a woman, but it’s better than not doing anything at all.

“Ethan, please.”

“Ah~.”

“…sigh. If Seraphine wasn’t busy, I would just have dinner with her.”

“Didn’t I suggest you join the student council? Since Ethan and I are taken, there should be two seats available.”

“I don’t have time for that. I’m already busy with my research, what student council?”

Well, Agnes must be busy. She was busy with her studies and personal research on fire magic.

In the end, Agnes was stuck in this situation because she didn’t have anyone else to have dinner with other than me. And I planned to spend as much time as possible with Ethan in the remaining two and a half years.

If I want to let go without any regrets, I need to enjoy everything now.

“Agnes, next year Prince Antonio will be enrolling, right? From then on, you won’t need to witness Ethan and me feeding each other, so please bear with it for one semester.”

“What are you saying? We’re just acquaintances.”

“Even if we’re just acquaintances, it’s not a big deal to have dinner together, right? Do you think dinner should only be shared with family, friends, or lovers?”

“The food tastes bad. I’m leaving.”

“Understood. Please sit down now. And Ethan, please stay away.”

“Oh, okay.”

“….”

After saying she was leaving, Agnes quickly glanced at me and Ethan falling apart, then sat back down and continued eating.

As I watched Agnes, who often ate dishes with carrots after the advice at the campsite, I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

-Crash!

Our attention was drawn to a small commotion at one side of the student cafeteria.