“Elisa.”
“Um, Martina… Hello.”
“Did you have a good weekend?”
“Y-yes…”
Elisa avoided Martina’s gaze as she approached with a warm smile. Sighing, Martina pointed out Elisa’s demeanor.
“Why do you need to avoid eye contact with me? It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“No need to apologize. I just worry about you, Elisa.”
Despite Martina’s intense care, Elisa’s awkwardness did not easily fade away.
It was unavoidable. The nightmares etched in her past still haunted her. The blood flowing through her veins was also an issue.
Witch’s blood.
A being to be hated.
“I…”
“If it’s difficult to talk, you don’t have to force yourself. How about just trying a little harder? You could talk to some other students too.”
“Th-thank you…”
“Hehe. It’s my duty as the second-year representative.”
Martina smiled and sat beside Elisa. The other students also approached her and started chatting.
“Martina, are you having a good day?”
“Of course!”
“Hello!”
“Oh, Shuri. Good morning! How was your date?”
“I went to that trendy café yesterday! Lewis…”
‘So impressive…’
Elisa stared blankly at the students gathered around Martina, laughing and chatting. Despite sitting right next to her, she couldn’t seem to join the conversation.
The other students wanted to talk to the now-brighter Elisa, thanks to Martina’s makeup advice, but they hesitated because Elisa acted like a scared puppy.
Elisa’s lack of conversational skills was a problem. No matter how much they tried to engage her, most of her replies were one-word answers, making it hard to continue the conversation.
“By the way, didn’t you mention that you have a crush on someone, Elisa?”
One of the female students, deeply engrossed in Shuri’s sweet romance story, suddenly spoke up. With curiosity-filled eyes, Elisa fidgeted and finally managed to reply.
“Y-yes…”
“Ah, haven’t you confessed yet? Didn’t you say that last year?”
“Oh, I know who Elisa’s crush is.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know?”
“Y-yes…?”
Elisa was taken aback, staring at the girl who spoke up. The other girls looked just as intrigued. Nothing was more fascinating than someone else’s love story.
“But isn’t Sir Quartz a really tough opponent?”
“Sir Quartz is beside the Saint…”
“What’s important is an unwavering heart. Elisa, I bet you’ve never properly made a move, have you?”
“Y-yes…”
“Your looks and body are problems you’re not actively using. If you just pick a decent guy and confess, he’d probably nod right away!”
Objectively speaking, Elisa’s appearance and figure were irresistible to boys. She had one of the most alluring figures aside from Karina.
‘How does she have that body without even trying to manage it?’
A mystery no one spoke out loud.
‘O-oh…’
“If Sir Quartz doesn’t have strange preferences, appealing with your figure would definitely be effective. Just close your eyes and tackle him!”
“Huh?!”
Elisa’s face turned as red as a tomato dripping with morning dew. The other girls found Elisa’s reaction delightful. Her every move in the discussions about someone else’s love life was just delicious entertainment.
“Or a surprise kiss! How about that?”
“Eek! That sounds great too!”
‘Ugh, I feel dizzy.’
“Since Sir Quartz seems big and muscular, jumping into his arms could work too, right?”
“Please don’t get too excited. You’re going to surprise Elisa!”
“Oh, sorry, Elisa. It’s just that you’re our first friend with a crush…”
“Ah, it’s okay. I’m fine…”
Elisa blinked her eyes, waving her hands in different directions. Though her heart raced with all the attention on her, she kept replaying the girl’s words in her mind.
‘If I’m proactive…could it work?’
The rival was much too strong.
Elisa thought about Karina, who had accepted her.
With gem-like eyes like embedded starlight, pink hair sprinkled with the dust of jewels, and skin as white as jade, her figure was perfectly proportionate.
‘I don’t want to see Lady Karina sad…’
Just looking at the vibe between Karina and Johann already made her feel defeated. What chance did she have of stealing away? Elisa didn’t have the confidence or audacity to intrude upon the bond that had grown so close.
“Elisa.”
“…Yes?”
“Don’t worry too much. There’s a saying that heroes are also philanderers. It’s no flaw for a man like Sir Quartz to have multiple wives.”
Martina’s warm, gentle hand clasped Elisa’s.
“That’s right. It may be tough with the main wife, but isn’t it better than parting ways with the one you love? And… there’s no rule saying you can’t be a secondary wife…”
At that moment…
[…Child…]
“…Huh?”
An alien voice, one that sent shivers down Elisa’s spine like nails on a chalkboard, caught her attention. Instinctively, she turned her head toward the source of the sound.
Even the students who had been sweetly chatting with her turned to look in the same direction.
“That’s…”
“Isn’t that Bella?”
One of the girls voiced their uncomfortable observation, and the others nodded in agreement.
“She’s alone again today…”
“She’s someone very hard to get close to.”
Ignoring the students’ words, Elisa gazed blankly at Bella.
The subject of her fixation was indeed Bella.
But…
What was this foreign feeling?
Elisa wanted to talk to Bella, but she lacked the courage to do so.
‘It must be a misunderstanding, right?’
“D- didn’t you feel any strange kind of mana from Bella…?”
“Strange mana?”
Martina tilted her head at Elisa’s question. To her, it only felt like pure mana. The other students reacted similarly, and Elisa, feeling uneasy, had no choice but to ignore it.
“It seems I was mistaken…”
“It’s not good to change the subject to avoid something embarrassing.”
“That’s right.”
“Elisa, how about talking to her today?”
“Y-yes?”
“After all, if you hesitate while confessing, you’ll miss the moment. It’s not often you don’t belong to anyone yet!”
“Um… that…”
“Go for it, Elisa!”
“Fighting!”
Elisa could only nod awkwardly at their encouragement.
—————
“Y-Yohann…”
After the meal, as I was about to return to my room, Elisa grabbed me. I looked at her small, delicate hand holding mine, then raised my gaze to meet her glistening eyes.
“I-I have something to say…”
“Sure, what is it?”
“C-can we go somewhere quiet… to talk…?”
“Is it something we can only discuss privately?”
“Elisa, what’s up? What kind of conversation is this?”
“Millia, would you like to study with me? Empire history?”
“Huh?”
When Shuri suddenly butted into the conversation, she winked at me for some reason.
What’s that about?
“Elisa, is it something you can’t say in front of us…?”
“Um, n-no, that’s not it…”
Elisa was now on the verge of tears. I had no idea why she was acting like this, but I took a rough breath and grasped her shoulders, trying to calm her down.
“Elisa, breathe. In, out. In, out…”
“Karina, I’m sorry, but I’m going to take Elisa out for a moment. I feel like she’s going to pass out otherwise.”
I quietly led Elisa to her room. It was only when we arrived that she began to breathe evenly.
What on earth was going on?
“Can you tell me now?”
Elisa nodded desperately.
“W-well…”
“Hmm?”
Elisa struggled to articulate her message. What was she trying to say? Just as my curiosity intensified, Elisa closed her eyes tightly and shouted:
“I felt a strange mana from B-Bella!”
Huh?
“Was that the message?”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
“Thanks, Elisa.”
“W-what?”
“Your ability to sense that mana is an unexpected stroke of luck. So you felt a weird mana from Bella?”
“Y-yes…”
“Can you keep an eye on Bella for a while?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. If things go well, I’ll grant you any wish you want.”
I made a promise with Elisa for the sake of certain information gathering.
She wouldn’t wish for anything excessive since she was so timid.
“Y-yes, I’ll do my best…!”
Elisa nodded with determination in her eyes, willingly accepting my request.
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