Chapter 138: Quick-witted Reversal Club (1)
The atmosphere in the club had shifted following the madness-filled event known as the Rejection Tea Party.
Perhaps trying to maintain their last shred of dignity, the idiots who were collectively rejected by Louise showed no hard feelings or ugliness towards her.
I honestly expected them to cling on with some lingering affection, but they just behaved like normal friends, as if there had never been any romantic feelings between them.
‘It’s the same as before.’
Thinking back, there wasn’t much difference before and after they got rejected. How could these idiots be so similar before and after being rejected? Calling it a rejection seemed almost excessive!
However, something had definitely changed.
“Honestly, I should have said this earlier, but it tasted terrible.”
“Well, at least the macarons were decent, but the cookies? Ugh, not at all.”
While there weren’t any lingering grudges, the club mates no longer had to tiptoe around Louise, and they began to vent the things they had held back. They bluntly confessed that the stuff she made was honestly inedible.
Previously, they had kept quiet out of courtesy towards their crush, but now that their romantic feelings had shifted to mere friendship, it was natural to be straightforward and not sugarcoat anything.
A whole semester’s worth of unsaid words burst forth like a volcano. I would describe it as a near-departmental inquiry: “How did you even become the president with those skills?”
‘Are they holding a grudge for being rejected?’
You guys don’t actually hold grudges, right? I mean, I thought they didn’t, but looking at them now makes me quite skeptical.
“Hey, if I really try, it’ll definitely taste good!”
“Right. If I put in the effort, I’ll surpass the Mage Duchess!”
Louise’s desperate statement was quickly shot down by Lather.
It was hard for people to believe in claims made without visible results. After all, anyone can talk big.
“But you said the macarons were okay! That was because I made them properly!”
“What if she only practiced the macarons, though?”
‘Wow.’
You guys must have held back a lot, huh? It’s like you’re bouncing back immediately with retorts for everything!
In the first place, I was the one who ate everything Louise had made until now.
‘Empty wagons make the most noise.’
Maybe their stomachs were loud because they hadn’t eaten much? Back at the beginning of the semester, they had nibbled a little and turned up their noses at the rest. How dare they act like this? If Louise were to get hurt from their words and give up her baking dreams, I’d lose my source of sustenance!
“Fine. I’m going to bake properly, so just wait!”
Fortunately, Louise seemed to have more pride in her baking than I thought. Instead of getting discouraged, she started pulling out flour with a flair of indignation. It looked like her pride was a bit bruised.
With her furious expression, objectively speaking, she didn’t seem threatening at all; it was just like a cat hissing. Even a capybara can get cranky but it won’t actually kill you…
“This actually works.”
“Now we can finally eat something decent!”
I intentionally ignored the murmurs from the other club members. Didn’t you guys move on from your crushes too fast? You did like her once upon a time, right?
The rapid attitude shift was surprising, but thankfully it wasn’t unsettling. It would be better for Louise, who would probably shrink back if someone clung to her after she’d just shared all her traumas.
‘I’m guessing they did that on purpose, hoping Louise stays bright.’
If it weren’t for romantic entanglements, they’d be perfectly fine.
Once the category switched from romantic to friendly, their perceptiveness returned in spades. If their romantic instincts had been even half as good, someone might have ended up with Louise.
Of course, that was all in the past now. No turning back, and it seemed like none of the parties involved wanted to retrace their steps.
“Looks like our club president’s true colors will be revealed today.”
“An inept pastry club president isn’t great. Who shall we pick as the next leader?”
“Well, since there are five of us, we can take turns each semester!”
Such comments can only be made by those who genuinely have no regrets! Wow, you guys really know how to stir the pot.
Even Erich had become entangled in this mess.
‘I didn’t go through all this to see him like that.’
I felt as if I was going to cry. I did my best; I can take pride in saying I didn’t hold back on advising him to the best of my abilities. I certainly didn’t make an effort just to witness my little brother giggle after being turned down by the girl he liked!
I stifled the sigh that felt like it would escape at any moment and directed my attention back to Louise. She had a fuming expression, but the corners of her mouth were still upturned.
Then I looked back at those morons. They appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as well.
‘Well, who cares?’
They chose this path for themselves, after all. Louise decided to reject everyone and the rest simply complied. Since then, they resolved to stay friends instead of lovers. It was completely their choice.
As an outsider, there was no need for me to feel embarrassed or interfere. They made their courageous choices, so what right did I have to meddle in their business?
‘You all seem to look happier now.’
Is it just me, or do they feel more intimate now that they’ve all been rejected rather than when they were competing for Louise’s heart?
Louise had nothing left to hide now, and the other members were bold enough to let their guards down.
With everyone wearing their hearts on their sleeves, it felt like a gathering of carefree youths all together.
‘Now this is what a club should look like!’
This dynamic, built on friendship, truly felt ideal. At least they wouldn’t do anything strange just to gain Louise’s favor.
Yes, let’s hold out for yet another two and a half years.
Damn it!
Honestly, leaning into this situation, the best scenario would have been if these guys packed up and went home early. Looks like I’ve struck a deal with myself just then.
Did I really make such a crummy compromise? When did I become such a cowardly adult?
To my surprise, the movement to impeach the club president grew even stronger.
“Did you make this properly?”
“No, it can’t be…?”
Louise confidently presented cookies that, sadly, produced results inversely proportional to her confidence.
But unlike before, everyone munching on the cookies seemed fine, which is a step in the right direction.
“They’re terrible!”
“They’re just plainly bad.”
But actually, they tasted terrible. That’s a negative outcome.
No, what’s worse was that calling them merely “plainly bad” somehow hints that they were significantly worse before!
Louise, unable to conceal her embarrassment, hurriedly shoved a cookie in her mouth and froze in shock. So even she found it unpalatable?
Taking a cautious bite of one myself, I thought—
‘This is… not bad.’
Of course, they seemed okay to me. Slightly different from before, but it’s nothing to fret over!
*
No matter how foolish and cowardly I might be, I do have a keen awareness essential for a noble’s etiquette. Despite appearing to scold me, I knew that my fellow club members were full of heartfelt concern deep down.
In that case, I should just embrace that kindness. While it feels a bit embarrassing to depend on the sympathy of those whom I rejected not long ago, I still need to accept it.
Thus, I rolled up my sleeves and worked hard. No longer were they those experimental cookies or those healthy cookies I used to bake for my Oppa; these were proper cookies!
Once they tasted these, they’d definitely be amazed. And that would draw the curtain on this theatrical display of generosity.
This is how it was meant to be, for sure.
“…..”
“No, this can’t be.”
Their reactions were weird. They ate them, but the expressions on their faces were not good at all.
This isn’t just a joke like before. They genuinely looked bewildered and troubled.
“Did you make this properly?”
“No, it can’t be…”
This can’t be happening. I’m confident in my baking! The macarons I made for Irina were devoured happily, and the cookies I crafted as a gift for my brother’s significant other were made with proper care!
I’d just used non-standard ingredients, but if I applied myself, I could definitely make them well. This wasn’t baseless confidence; I had done it right until now!
Calming my trembling hands, I cautiously put one cookie into my mouth.
‘It tastes awful.’
If no one else was around, I would want to shut my eyes immediately! Believing I’d made them well and not tasted them beforehand, I never expected it would come to this.
Could it be that my skills rusted away during the break? Is that why I flopped even with such simple baking?
Or perhaps it was because I never gave them proper cookies before, and now my hand refused to cooperate?
‘If that’s the case, it’s my fault.’
I messed up. Instead of showing gratitude to my fellow club members who’d wrapped me in their care, I’ve betrayed their kindness!
At this point, I should’ve handed out cookies that were properly made. That’s how this play was supposed to conclude!
“Anyone want to take over as club president?”
In the stifling silence, Rutis finally opened his mouth, but even he seemed perplexed. His smile looked forced, and his eyes were twitching.
Yet, no one responded to his words. No one could’ve predicted such a situation!
“It’s better if the same person keeps leading.”
The silence that returned was broken by my brother.
“If the club president changes, then we will need to resubmit the roster. That would just tire me out.”
“Oh, we didn’t consider the advisor’s burden.”
Rutis quickly responded to my brother’s comment, finding an escape route, perhaps.
“Although, someone with experience would handle things better.”
“Hey, at least it’s better than last semester, right? The improvement counts, doesn’t it? That’s just perfect for a president.”
The follow-up comments made my face flush with warmth.
‘This is embarrassing! Why do I find such kindness so annoying?’
“Since everyone agrees, it seems Louise is the only choice for president.”
As I felt my head droop, my brother patted my shoulder.
Though it was likely just a casual gesture on his part, that light touch sent my heart racing wildly.
I barely managed to keep my lips from curling into a smile. It’s not time yet. I’m still a long way from showing my feelings to my Oppa. After all, I promised to keep it together until the engagement ceremony with my brother’s fiancée!
‘But smiling is fine, right?’
Having only a serious face in front of my Oppa would be odd, wouldn’t it?
’Yes, that makes perfect sense.’ I used to smile at him all the time.
That’s right, this isn’t a confession.
I’m simply smiling.
“Thank you, Oppa.”
And this doesn’t mean I’m trying to get ahead of my brother’s fiancée.
*
Once I put my emotions to rest and took a step back, I could finally see things more clearly.
‘So this is it, huh?’
The way Louise looked at our advisor was different from the way she looked at us. How on earth did I just notice such a stark difference now?
Protecting a lady is a knight’s duty, yet I hadn’t properly understood the heart of the lady closest to me.
“Louise begged me so passionately that I fear we might have to compete,” I thought.
“A knight of Armein seeks a fair duel and accepts the outcome cleanly.”
“That’s why I must admit it if I lose, but of course, I hope that doesn’t come to pass.”
A conversation I had with the advisor during the fair came rushing back. Was my instinct sensing defeat from that moment?
Of course, what I said then was sincere. I would accept the result and bow down to anyone else, even if it were the advisor.
‘Guess there’s no helping it.’
It likely meant that the advisor seemed way more dependable than I ever came across as!
While watching Louise beam with happiness, my gaze inadvertently drifted.
‘As expected.’
I spotted Erich’s complicated expression. If I noticed it, then surely Erich must have sensed it too.
At least Erich graciously acknowledged the outcome of being rejected by Louise. He bore no lingering feelings and was probably prepared to congratulate her regardless of who she loved.
Yet, having a crush on someone who fell for his brother must have felt rather uncomfortable. Cheering for her would feel odd and make him stumble, but he likely would still want to congratulate her.
Eh, well, it’s a conundrum only Erich can solve!
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