A girl with silver hair and blue eyes kept reminding herself that her encounter with Lev Denec was the absolute worst.
-“Let’s date, come on. You don’t really care about anyone, right? Aren’t I good enough? Or do you like that trash, Edwin? That guy is just…”
Her self-esteem was high, and because of her condescending and dismissive attitude, she had received a confession from him—of all people! Delivered in an overly forceful manner that anyone could recognize.
“…”
For Aria, who was not used to dealing with guys, this was simply startling.
‘We had no real connection or anything…’
Thud!
‘Oof!’
With a sudden physical contact transpiring, the situation was becoming somewhat intense when Lev Denec squeezed his eyes shut and froze.
And then…
-“Let go of me.”
Swish.
At Aria’s one-liner, he seemed to lose strength in his hands as if he had forgotten everything.
It was a bit confusing, but there wasn’t much time to dwell on it.
-“What the hell are you two doing…!”
Melissa intervened when she spotted them, and Aria thought she would never cross paths with him again.
But ultimately, it was Aria who sought him out first.
-“Let’s form a party.”
She sensed Andras’s shadow lurking over him.
Andras. For Aria, he was certainly a Great Demon that could not be taken lightly.
Ignoring all the whispers and rumors swirling around her, she moved closer to him.
As she got to know Lev Denec little by little, one fact Aria arrived at was that while the shadow of Andras became clearer and clearer, paradoxically, he was always struggling for others.
‘…’
It was perplexing.
Even after that, when it came to handling demonic powers, it wasn’t to satisfy his own desires.
‘Lev Denec, what are you…?’
Perhaps the start was simple pity.
Just like how she felt abandoned in this world, she sensed an inexplicable loneliness in him too.
Heading alone to Dusk Valley of Evenbaugh, after the duel ended, suddenly insisting they should get something to eat, and dragging her to a pub outside the Academy just because he had something to do.
Every time he was consumed by a demon, he would playfully drop significant words.
Then suddenly, he gifted her a ring.
Finally, he collapsed while desperately searching for Yeriel.
He just looked pitiful, really.
But it wasn’t just Aria feeling this way.
Before long, Edwin, Yeriel, Selena, Lily… everyone’s heart had begun to let him in.
It was none other than him who pulled Melissa and Aveline back from a path they shouldn’t have taken.
Thus, Aria finally could reach her true feelings.
‘I… liked him…’
The realization that her feelings for Lev Denec were not ordinary.
And she understood that if she liked him, she might get hurt deeply.
…
…
…
“Lev Denec, I like you.”
At those words, everything around me came to a halt.
I couldn’t even check the expressions of Yeriel and Selena.
Aria looked me straight in the eye with her cheong-geum-seong gaze, and this time, I had to face her without dodging.
In the sudden silence that felt intrusive…
Selena was the first to react.
“…Impressive, Lev Denec. You have a knack for charming girls.”
“No, that’s not—”
“And you, Aria Bluebell.”
“…Yes?”
“I distinctly remember you saying you had no personal feelings for Lev Denec when I asked… didn’t you?”
“…That’s right.”
Aria acknowledged and then continued.
“…I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.”
Her tone was a bit blunt as usual, but it felt calm and serene.
“Every time I see Lev, I wonder what this feeling is. I kept denying it, saying it was just simple interest… but it wasn’t. I really seem to be too aware of Lev.”
In a situation where I was being confessed to by a character I adored.
Something I never imagined even when reading novels or playing games.
A dream that could never become reality.
More than anything, having seen countless flags for Edwin and Aria in the game, I never thought I was particularly strategizing to match with her.
‘Not like I was targeting her…’
But, ironically, my body was honest.
Even around my neck, warmth began to spread.
I was… conscious of Aria.
My heart was pounding faster than before.
“So, I thought I should tell you before it was too late…”
“And then?”
Selena shot back defiantly.
“What are you going to do?”
“…”
“Planning to ask to date?”
To date, huh?
That significant line suddenly made Yeriel turn her head toward me.
“Lev…”
Her eyes looked like they were about to burst into tears, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.
Her expression was so pitiful that I felt an impulse to comfort her even in this moment.
And then, as if declaring something, Aria’s small mouth opened.
“That is…”
Ding!
All eyes focused on Aria, and she smiled calmly.
“I don’t plan on doing that…”
Gasp!
Huh…?
At those words, we froze once more.
“I just wanted to tell you before it was too late. I genuinely like you, but… this feeling was mine alone, and I didn’t say it expecting an answer from you, Lev. I think it’s best for our relationship to remain as it is…”
At her words, Selena glanced at me, looking a bit bewildered.
Yeriel wore a mixed expression that seemed relieved yet bewildered.
“Ugh, I’m hungry!”
“Lev! Get a grip! Did you actually see Lily’s fireworks…?!”
As Edwin and Lily arrived late, I could finally complete 0 confessions and 3 adjustments.
…
…
…
“All right, I understand.”
After the commotion, once the festival ended and we returned to the lodging.
Yeriel, communicating with Artina through a communication crystal only present in the dormitory, let out a soft sigh.
Initially, the plan to invite everyone to the mansion was canceled.
Because unexpectedly, the Southern Families’ Integrated Council was convened, led by Haisman.
And it seems Yeriel’s mother, Penelope, would be attending as well.
“Maybe it’s for the best…”
Not long ago, Aria confessed to Lev.
It was a clear confession.
However, introducing him to her mother with that atmosphere would cause unbearable situations.
So it was better to return to the Academy straight away.
‘So Aria really had feelings for Lev…’
The most memorable phrase that lingered in Yeriel’s mind was a simple one.
“I just wanted to tell you before it was too late.”
That phrase made it feel like she had been aware of her intentions.
First, Aria didn’t demand an answer from Lev.
It seemed like she instinctively knew what was in his heart and just wanted to convey her sincerity.
Moreover, from the conversation, it seemed Selena had somewhat anticipated Aria’s feelings too.
If Aria hadn’t confessed today, it would’ve been fine for a while, but eventually… it would have caused a big uproar.
In other words, Aria’s confession…
Was like taking one step forward and two steps back.
‘……’
And how about herself?
Recently, captivated by the atmosphere with Lev, she had thought of inviting him to Artina’s for a visit.
Of course, it was a request from her mother, but she had recklessly wanted to bring him along even knowing she couldn’t confirm his true feelings.
“…”
Even though they hadn’t progressed much yet.
Anyway, the previous situation ended on a somewhat embarrassing note, but Aria’s courage felt considerate to Yeriel, even if not to Lev.
‘After all, it was me who first tried to probe Aria’s true feelings…’
The most important thing here was Lev’s feelings.
Aria had already expressed her feelings, and if Yeriel herself revealed her sincerity too,
It all came down to Lev’s choice.
Was Aria prepared to accept the outcome…?
‘Lev must have feelings for Aria too, right? I mean, he treated her every time… I would too in his place…’
Yeriel, with her considerate nature, understood well that no one had the right to impose their feelings on another.
While Yeriel pondered a bittersweet conclusion, lost in thought…
Tap!
Something touched her forehead.
“Huh?”
“Yeriel.”
A melodious deep voice greeted her.
It was Lev Denec, the one ruffling Yeriel’s hair.
Having just showered, his gray hair was visibly damp between the towel, and perhaps due to the bath salt, a refreshing mint scent wafted from him.
In that moment, Yeriel’s mind went completely blank.
“Lev…?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Um…?”
“That thing you just said.”
Lev pointed with his chin towards the communication crystal.
Understanding the situation, Yeriel withdrew a bit and apologized.
“Ah, well, I’m sorry! I think I’ll have to invite everyone to my place next time… something came up.”
“It’s okay. But, by the way…”
“Huh…?”
“Never mind. Let’s talk about the rescheduled plans with the others tomorrow morning.”
“Sure… You must be tired too, so it’s best if you go and rest quickly…”
He was wiping his chin with the towel, looking like he was contemplating something.
Watching his sharp and angular profile, Yeriel was torn between wanting to send him away and wanting to ask.
What kind of feelings he had when he heard Aria’s words, and what kind of answer he meant to give.
‘I’m really being a coward…’
Just as she was deciding whether to voice that thought or not, Lev opened his mouth first.
“Yeriel. Do you have a second?”
“Huh…?”
Yeriel’s body was already warmed up from her thoughts about Lev, mixed with an unexpected encounter.
What he said next was enough to send her into overdrive.
“Let’s go to my room.”
“Huh…?”
In an instant, her mind began analyzing those simple words as if a magic circuit were forming in her brain.
My room, meaning it refers to Lev’s room.
‘Okay, Lev’s room… Lev’s room…?!’
“This way.”
“!”
As he lightly grabbed Yeriel’s wrist,
“Lev…?!”
Ultimately, the once-wobbly thoughts of Yeriel finally popped!
