46. Forgotten Things (4)
Regina coming to Ivan’s room didn’t really have a particular reason.
For her, Ivan was the object of her unrequited love, but Karla, on the other hand, was not someone she could treat as just any ordinary person.
Even though at that time she had mistaken Karla for Carlo, they were still childhood playmates. Therefore, Regina had intended to go see Karla together with Ivan.
‘Now that I think about it, I don’t know where Karla’s room is. Is Ivan already there?’
Having no idea that Karla was spending time with Ivan, Regina peeked into Ivan’s room, just in case.
If Ivan was in his room, she planned to go together with him to see Karla.
But.
But—
“Regina, wait a moment.”
Ivan approached Regina quickly after placing the food tray on the table. However, his motions seemed unusually slow, almost sluggish, to her.
Ivan looked flustered. Behind him, Karla also seemed a bit embarrassed.
Regina couldn’t understand this situation at all.
“Karla, why are you here? This is Ivan’s room…”
Regina asked in a trembling voice.
Objectively speaking, maybe it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, it was much more likely to not be a big deal at all.
Since Regina and Ivan were friends, it was possible that Karla just came to visit, or she was briefly staying here. Then why? Why was Karla getting up from Ivan’s bed? Why did Ivan seem to accept this as normal? Why? Was there even a reason for this?
It was all incomprehensible. Regina alternated her gaze between the two with uncertain eyes. Ivan stood before her, and while it seemed to Regina that he was trying to block Karla from view, he was hastily explaining something to her.
She couldn’t properly hear anything. No matter what Ivan said, it didn’t reach her ears. She didn’t understand what he was saying, and with a blurry gaze, Regina looked up at Ivan.
“Ah, it’s suffocating. Hey, Ivan.”
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Karla stepped forward. Pushing Ivan aside who was standing in front of Regina, Karla looked down at Regina and said,
“It’s simple. There’s no room in the dormitory, so I’m staying here. Isn’t that enough of an explanation?”
“But, Karla, this is Ivan’s room.”
“Yes, it’s Ivan’s room. But I’m staying here now. Is there a problem with that?”
Regina was speechless.
It makes sense since Karla’s statement could be interpreted in several ways.
Did it mean that Karla was staying here and Ivan moved to another room?
Or did it mean that Ivan was using this room but Karla was temporarily staying here?
Or was it neither of those, and Karla and Ivan were staying here together?
“Staying here, what do you mean by that, it’s just…”
Regina couldn’t find the words to continue.
Although her rational side told her she needed to confirm, her emotional side couldn’t agree.
What if it’s the third scenario?
What if Karla and Ivan were indeed together?
“Stop this and come inside. Let’s not make a scene out here.”
Because the dormitory was small, rumors spread quickly.
Moreover, this was a dormitory with students from 1st to 3rd year.
Once a rumor starts, it becomes uncontrollable.
Ivan grabbed Regina’s hand and pulled her inside. Pale-faced Regina entered helplessly like a paper doll, and Ivan quickly closed the door behind them, sighing deeply.
Things had gotten complicated.
“Ivan, Karla is staying here in my room under certain circumstances. I’ve already spoken to the supervisor…”
Regina sat on the sofa and stared at Ivan with a blank expression. It was unclear whether she was even listening to what Ivan was saying.
“Regina, are you listening to what Ivan is saying?”
When Karla asked, Regina’s gaze moved from Ivan to her.
“…Why?”
“Why what?”
Karla crossed her arms—or rather, she rested her right arm across her chest.
“Why is Karla staying with Ivan? They’re a man and a woman, aren’t they? Karla, you’re a woman…? Besides, in two months, with Shaiskeil…”
“Hey.”
Regina’s intended words were unmistakable.
In two months, precisely one and a half months, the midterm exams would take place. If Karla continued in this state through midterm exams and failed, her future would be predetermined. Both Regina and Karla knew it, and so did Ivan, Liam, Emil, and probably all the students in this dormitory of the Academy.
“Regina, I understand what you’re implying, but accepting someone’s circumstances and excusing them are two different things. You should think carefully before you speak.”
Karla’s voice was sharp, scratching at Regina.
Each word she spoke felt like a claw raking across Regina, leaving a wound.
“…My arm is like this. You can see it.”
Karla said this while waving her left arm. It wasn’t really waving, but rather, her shoulder was limply moving.
“I can’t live alone. Since I can’t return to the mansion, I need someone to take care of me. That means I can’t live alone. Is there anyone in this dormitory capable of taking care of me?”
Regina closed her mouth.
It was awkward to ask why Karla wasn’t returning to the mansion after seeing her disheveled state that night.
“Even if you couldn’t help me…”
“You’re also a noble, miss. Although not a grand noble like me, you are still a noble. You should be aware of that much. Unless you decide to drop out of the Academy and enter as my servant in Cascata, that’s not an option. Liam? That boy is also a quite well-known noble in his own country. Emil? Even less feasible. So, Ivan is the only one left.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to share a room…”
“Regina.”
Karla brushed her hair back with an expression of annoyance, and every gesture radiated irritation. Realizing that her gestures made Regina nervous, Regina felt disdain for herself.
“Karla, let me explain.”
“What.”
“You’re being too authoritarian.”
“You’re saying…”
Karla looked as though she was about to retort, with an agitated expression, but when Ivan firmly shook his head, she shut her mouth. Her face, filled with irritation, revealed her restlessness.
“Regina, I understand exactly what you’re thinking.”
Ivan sat down on the floor in front of Regina and spoke. Regina silently looked down at him.
“Really, I completely understand what you’re worried about, right? That maybe Karla’s reputation as a grand noble might be compromised because of me…”
‘Is he really that stupid?’
Karla, observing from behind, was baffled. How could someone make such a conclusion? How could anyone be this insensitive? Thinking about it, she suddenly felt pity for Regina, who had ended up falling in love with such a fool. She’d never…
‘Never what?’
Karla suddenly felt chills. What ‘never’ would she do for someone like her? The very act of even contemplating such thoughts gave her goosebumps. This was exactly the kind of mindset the debutantes from the social circles she’d always held in low regard seemed to have. The kind of girls who waited around to be married off into strategic alliances.
‘Absolutely, absolutely not. That’s a given.’
Marriage or anything related to it had no connection to her. Even the engagement talk with Shaiskeil would be nullified once she passed the midterm exams, and that is what she was determined to do.
“Absolutely, nothing like a romantic relationship will take place. If I caused any trouble, Lord Cascata would likely kill me.”
Regina sniffed.
Once her head cooled down from the initial surge of emotion, her rational mind returned.
‘Was it really nothing?’
Regina asked herself.
Ivan always spoke sincerely, but his sincerity was sometimes so straightforward that it left people confused.
‘Sharing a room with Karla and thinking it’s fine? Then why… do I feel so uneasy?’
Regina repeated his words in her mind, trying to calm herself.
‘No, I’m being too sensitive. Ivan isn’t that kind of person.’
Regina’s uneasiness.
Ivan, unaware of her inner turmoil, continued to persuade her.
“So, definitely, nothing like what you’re worrying about will happen. Regina, you don’t have to worry. I know my place.”
“Is that true?”
Regina questioned, contemplating his words.
His eyes seemed sincere, but an indescribable uneasiness still lingered.
‘Was it really nothing? Am I the one being overly concerned?’
Regina nodded but still had a lingering heaviness in her chest.
Given Ivan’s usual character, it was unlikely he was lying, so Regina decided to believe Ivan for the time being.
‘They might be misunderstanding things, but his words do make sense – it would indeed ruin Karla’s reputation if they did something untoward. So, Ivan’s argument holds water from that perspective.’
“…Are you sure?”
“Absolutely sure. It’s just helping a friend who’s physically inconvenient. There’s nothing more or less to it than that. Isn’t that right, Karla?”
Ivan casually redirected the conversation.
Karla smirked humorlessly in response to Ivan’s words and replied.
“Yes, absolutely nothing will happen. Never. A romantic relationship? Impossible. So, stop worrying, Regina. Your romantic prospects are perfectly fine.”
“Romantic prospects…”
Regina felt her face heat up and shook her head.
‘Romantic prospects… it’s not really like that. But why do I feel so anxious?’
She stole a glance at Ivan.
‘Is Ivan genuinely unfazed?’
Regina turned away with a strange discomfort.
“Don’t say things like that next time, Karla.”
“Alright. I hear you.”
Seeing Regina’s face turn red so easily, Karla reaffirmed that she would never let herself become like that.
“I’m not quite sure what you both are saying, but I completely understand your concerns, Regina.”
Ivan, with a serious expression, continued looking at her.
“I promise you. I have no feelings for Karla beyond friendship. I’m just taking care of her. That’s all, to avoid any unpleasant situations.”
He turned his head to look at Karla.
“And Karla, you shouldn’t be so forceful with your words either. Regina is worried, and you understand why that is, right?”
At Ivan’s words, Karla sighed and turned her head.
‘Forceful? What did I say that was so forceful?’
But looking at Ivan’s gaze, she quieted for a moment.
‘Maybe I was too sharp.’
Karla muttered under her breath with a pout.
“Alright. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
