Chapter 149 – 149. Festival Date (4)
Even though it was a dark evening as the festival came to an end, bright lights were still burning in the academy.
This time, a large campfire filled with the will to not end today’s day was lighting up the dark sky.
“ha.”
“… … .”
And Erica standing next to me nearby. The sigh that came out of Erica’s mouth was quite heavy.
“It’s because I’m worried. “Because strange rumors might spread about you for no reason.”
Erica reacts sensitively to rumors, as she has experience directly contradicting rumors surrounding me in the past.
I certainly thought I was a bit complacent, so I had nothing to say in response.
“A secret meeting with Princess Eleanor in the morning, an outdoor date with a highly exposed maid in the afternoon, and another date with a female student after that.”
“… … “It’s not a date.”
I tried speaking first, but Erica continued speaking as if she couldn’t hear me.
“Besides, I heard you took Aria to the lab later?”
In the end, nothing was wrong. There was nothing to answer, so I just looked towards the campfire and saw the dark spirit circling around it, having fun.
I’ve felt it since last time, but it seems like they like that kind of big fire.
“I didn’t do anything strange.”
If I stay silent, I’ll only get Erica’s stinging gaze on my side, so once I answer, Erica sighs.
“Of course it is. I don’t think you acted out of selfishness. “He probably provided counseling or something similar.”
Erica’s guess was surprisingly accurate. It can be seen as counseling because it is about revealing personal feelings that cannot be shared with others.
“But the problem is that people around you don’t think that way. There’s already a lot of talk about you. Especially for guests from outside.”
“Someone told you.”
“… … .”
Erica silently agrees with my words. Even if it were her, she wouldn’t be able to figure out her rumor this quickly.
Because she is my fiancée, I guess she gave me the hint to Erica out of concern.
‘Your fiance is spending time with other women.’ do.
Somehow, even now, people around us are glancing at us, making us feel like we are the main characters in a morning drama.
If things continued like this, not only would there be a strange misunderstanding, but Erica’s image would also be tarnished.
“Well, I don’t really care what other people think of me. But you are different. “He is the kingdom’s first recognized warlock and a royal ensign.”
Erica’s voice only showed genuine concern for me.
“Be careful, this is a great position. “There are probably a lot of people who are jealous.”
Her response that she truly had nothing to do with it made me realize once again how much she had changed.
Now, there is no longer a woman who was swayed by a bastard like Gideon Geronia. The fragile Erica, who had been forcibly robbed of her future by the stature of her family, disappeared.
An attitude of not being intimidated by the gaze of others because you are confident in yourself.
The word heroine was a perfect fit for her firmly established beliefs.
Is that why?
Rather, I didn’t want to leave her like that.
“You misunderstand.”
“uh?”
Erica tilted her head at my unexpected words. I continued speaking while looking at the still burning campfire.
“If my image as a memorial service member is important, then of course you, as his fiancée, should not get caught up in gossip.”
“Well, that’s right.”
“It seems like there’s a story about our relationship.”
I slowly reached out my hand and held it out to Erica.
“If it doesn’t bother you, spend your time.”
“… … .”
Erica, who was looking down at my hand, smiled and carefully took my hand.
“Is that how you seduce women in North Sweden?”
“I don’t really want to talk about that time.”
“Yes, I also never imagined that my fiancé was a libertine. “Our family also investigated your past so that you could marry Geronia.”
“I guess I can use that as a weapon when I go to the meeting this time.”
Now that I know that you’ve been researching my background, I can take more initiative when I visit the Bright family.
“That’s why I told you.”
And Erica smiles softly, saying it’s natural. Her gently wrapped fingers naturally interlock.
Then he lowers his head with a red face. As he stares at her in response to her bold actions, he covers her mouth with her hand and glances at her.
“Don’t look.”
“The fire is strong.”
Erica spoke bluntly, probably because she was embarrassed that her face was red. I followed her wishes and slowly turned her head.
As I slowly walk near the bonfire, her steps naturally follow me.
“Oh oh.”
“Eh, it’s Professor Erica and Professor Deius.”
“Wow, what a handsome man and woman.”
“Goes well.”
Voices coming from around you. It was a perfect performance to quell rumors about me and our relationship.
“Stay like this for a while.”
Erica nods without saying anything at my words and subtly moves her feet to put her arm around my arm.
Erica’s cheeks were still flushed, but she seemed to have calmed down now and looked at the bonfire and spoke.
“Until a few months ago, I never thought there would be a time like this.”
“… … me too.”
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“Well, it’s over there.”
Erica’s lips tremble as she hesitates. There’s something he wants to say, but he looks like he’s wondering if it’s okay to say it.
When I gently put pressure on her hand as if to give her courage, Erica slowly made eye contact with me and said.
“It was your first time coming to the academy, and we were together for about a month and a half, right?”
We were together for half of the three months.
After that, we had a falling out and we didn’t communicate well, and in the end, I was fired from my professorship three months later.
“Did you ever feel excited back then?”
“… … .”
It was such an unexpected question that my eyebrows furrowed slightly. Erica, who saw this, made a fuss and continued her speech.
“Oh, no! This is my first time dating a guy! I’ve never been on a date… … .”
“Have we ever been on a date?”
“… … “You used to drink coffee on the rooftop at night.”
Erica swung her clasped hand and struck my thigh. Well, there was a lot of time when we were alone.
“You said you didn’t like me, but still…” … “I wondered if I was the only one who was excited.”
“hmm.”
Actually, I can’t say for sure how I felt, like my heart pounded. At the time, I didn’t really know what love was, and I don’t even remember it very well.
but.
“For three months. It was quite busy walking around. “For comforting the residents and angels of Setima.”
“It did.”
Thanks to that, I was even called a devil worshiper.
anyway.
“But even in the midst of all that, I made sure to spend time with you.”
“… … .”
“I don’t know if I was excited. But she was happy.”
As I confessed honestly, Erica’s gaze did not leave me.
Then, suddenly, as if he was carefully leaving it behind, a question came up.
“now?”
“… … .”
“I’m really excited right now.”
The professor’s usually cool-headed expression has already melted away in the warmth of the bonfire, and his face is full of earnestness that he only shows to me.
“Your hands are bigger than I thought. I’m skinny, but I need to eat more. Your scent is sweeter than I thought. What if I hear the pounding sound too?”
“… … .”
“All those different emotions and thoughts are making my head complicated.”
Erica exhaled and continued speaking.
“Deius, what about you? Even though it’s fake, this time with me, my fiancee, is still… … Are you happy?”
Her question gave me the opportunity to ask myself:
Me, this time.
“okay.”
It was fun.
“It’s fun.”
Spending time with a woman named Erica Bright wasn’t bad at all.
There is no pressure, we are adults with each other, and we do not attack each other blindly.
There was no need to worry about what others thought, but the time I spent with her was quite special.
“thank god.”
Erica slowly lowered her head, and a light breath of relief flowed out of her voice.
Tuk.
The hands that were clasped together loosen.
The warmth and weight I felt in my left hand disappeared, leaving only an empty feeling in its place.
The night breeze naturally took over, but the empty space was not filled.
Erica took out a piece of paper from the inside pocket of the jacket she was wearing.
Rolled up and sealed with red thread, it was indeed a familiar object.
Letter of break of engagement.
“Now, here.”
I slowly unfold the letter of engagement that Erica handed me, next to my signature. Erica’s signature, which was originally blank, was written on it.
“… … .”
I didn’t need to say anything else. I just looked at her calmly and waited for her to say what she had to say.
“You said, when you become the brilliant and beautiful Erica Bright, bring it with you.”
“Yes, I did.”
“How am I now?”
His shoulders are confidently straightened, and there are slightly tears in the corners of his eyes, but he remains unwavering.
Looking at it, I answered.
“It’s brilliant and beautiful.”
Because it was indeed so.
Since it was honest, I had no choice but to answer.
Erica said with a smile.
“Do you know that you’ve changed a lot?”
I didn’t deny it.
Even if I look back at myself objectively, there are many differences between the person I was when I first came to the academy and the person I am now.
“To you, who feels less emotionally than others, is calm, and blunt.”
“… … .”
“This is the only apology I, Erica Bright, can make. “The woman who betrayed you wanted to be of some help to you.”
As I slowly handed down the letter of divorce, her tearful face came into view.
Although she looked distressed, she continued speaking.
“Just like you gave it to me, I’ll give it to you this time.”
That’s what I said when I gave her this letter of engagement.
– Not even for a moment. I have never felt love for you.
“Not even for a moment. “Because I have never stopped loving you.”
This time on the contrary.
– But, you are worth loving. She was a woman who deserved to be loved.
“You are worth that much love. “Because he is a man who deserves to be loved.”
– That’s why I spent time with you and hoped you would smile. And I wanted to love you.
“So I’ll give you some time. A time where you can laugh and meet someone you truly love.”
comes back to me
Erica took a deep breath and spoke without wiping away her flowing tears.
“Be confident. “Because you are a damn cool guy.”
“… … .”
“That letter of engagement is when you find the woman you truly love.”
Erica slowly closed her eyes.
It seemed like just looking at me was painful.
“When you find someone who awakens your feelings.”
“… … .”
“Bring it to me then. “Let’s end our breakup.”
“Erica.”
Just as Erica pushed Gideon away through her engagement to me.
It means that she, too, should freely use herself as a shield to push away other women she does not care about.
It must be a painful time.
He gives up his golden age for me and waits endlessly for me to give him an answer, but at the end of the wait, there is nothing left.
If they remain engaged, Erica cannot meet anyone else.
No one can love.
“That’s what I said to you, my benefactor, until now.”
Tuk.
The letter of engagement falls to the floor as it is pushed by her hand. Erica held my hand again and hugged me to my chest as if trying to hide her tear-filled face.
I heard people around me who didn’t know the situation telling me not to salt it or envying it because it was hot.
We just ignored each other and focused on each other.
“But as for my desires as your fiancee.”
That one word.
Just after spitting it out.
“Please don’t go.”
Erica cried endlessly in my arms. She was so scared that they could break up and she just cried.
To prevent anyone from seeing it.
I hugged her carefully.
fantasy, game, possession,
