The Percus Manor, having crossed a hurdle, sank into silence.
It was a short peace.
Soon, agents from the Empire’s Intelligence Department would be dispatched, and the entire territory would no longer be able to escape the surveillance. Many of the servants felt a burden about this, whether they realized it or not.
Of course, my parents felt the same way.
Especially my timid mother seemed to be increasingly worried day by day.
Her concerns revolved around one thing.
“I’m sorry, I-an… for making you a burden.”
Her son almost died.
Though it ended well, it was a situation that caused the Intelligence Department to be dispatched.
Even though there was the purpose of protection, it wasn’t easy to feel at ease while being watched. Let alone, my mother was rather naïve about the ways of the world.
It was a rare case for someone of noble birth to receive thorough education from infancy.
Upon reflection, I realized I had never heard anything about my parents’ childhood.
How they met, got married, and formed a family was something I could ask, but whenever I did, my parents would only give a bitter smile.
My brother also didn’t feel the need to mention it.
I personally thought they must have had some circumstances.
The history of the Percus family was relatively short, but there were traditions spanning several generations. This meant that my parents’ origins must also be clear.
So, until now, I never felt any suspicion.
At least, that would have been the case if Ria’s secret hadn’t been revealed recently.
A strange unease, which I had never felt before, seized me.
I had an inexplicable intuition that mysteries still remained within the Percus family.
Fortunately, I was no longer the weak and naive boy I once was.
I had connections with the Empire’s Intelligence Department. If I set my mind to it, I could investigate as much as I wanted.
I simply couldn’t show any signs of suspicion towards my mother.
It was the duty of a child.
No matter how much my parents hid something from me, their love and care for me thus far would not disappear.
In the end, I had to calm my mother with a vague smile.
“Don’t worry too much, Mother… you know I have many friends.”
And they were strong friends.
It seemed that the Emperor and the Swordmaster had also decided to side with me for now.
Despite my repeated persuasion, my mother didn’t seem fully convinced. Nevertheless, she no longer apologized to me.
She just looked at me with a sad expression from time to time.
It was heartbreaking. But aside from that, I had other issues to worry about.
First of all, the end of vacation was fast approaching.
The company staying at the manor seemed particularly busy recently due to this.
Everyone was preparing in their own way to return to their daily lives. The day to return to the academy was now just around the corner.
They had spent a little over two months in the Percus Manor.
It could be seen as a long or short time.
However, the density of the events experienced during that period was unmatched.
It had been like this ever since I received a love letter from the future.
From encountering a powerful monster unexpectedly during the Hunting Festival to defeating a mage at the orphanage, and confronting a dark priest to save the imperial princess during the return festival.
And ultimately, dealing with the minions of the evil god in my hometown.
I couldn’t help but wonder what might be in the next letter that would arrive.
How many more powerful foes would I have to face, and how many more cruel fates would I have to confront?
A slight fear crept in, but I forced myself to smile and calmed my heart.
At that moment, the only conclusion I could draw was one.
Do what needs to be done.
As always.
With that, I had to resolve myself and promise for the future.
But that wasn’t the only worry that troubled me.
No, rather, there was another person who had been strongly occupying my mind lately.
That person was Senior Elsi.
Contrary to her lovely appearance, she was notorious for her cruel nature and rough language.
Her background as a young lady of the prestigious Rainelle Clan meant that just a few months ago, she was not someone I would have had any connection with.
In fact, even if we crossed paths, I would have avoided her.
Her public perception was nearly the worst.
However, as it turned out, I went through numerous life-threatening situations with Senior Elsi, and after long conversations, I ended up understanding her.
It wasn’t strange to have grown fond of her.
Still, there was a kind of line between me and Senior Elsi.
She was the child of high nobility. Naturally, she had obligations to her family.
Thus, our companionship could only be temporary. Even if she thought of it as a good memory later, she had to choose someone else to spend her life with.
Even if she and I were engaged, I would still have an excuse left.
This was merely the will of the family, not necessarily her true desire.
In that case, it would simply be a matter of letting go someday.
However, all those excuses and justifications were suddenly shattered not long ago.
Senior Elsi confessed to me.
It was just a single sentence, but it created ripples in my heart that were more than I could have imagined.
That day, I was packing my bags while thinking of Senior Elsi.
Ever since I had received the confession from her, it had always been like this.
Whenever I lost focus for a moment, thoughts of Senior Elsi would enter my mind.
Looking back on it now, I felt quite foolish.
To be so distracted over just one confession was a ridiculous situation.
It almost felt like it would be mentally easier to confront a corpse giant instead.
Just then, there was a knock on my bedroom door.
My body stiffened immediately.
“…I-an oppa, can I come in?”
Hearing the voice that followed, I let out a breath of relief, smoothing my chest.
It was Celin’s voice.
I had secretly worried that Senior Elsi had come to find me.
If it was someone like Celin, I would have been glad to welcome her.
I responded in a voice that dripped with relief.
“Yes, come in.”
As soon as I gave permission, Celin opened the door slightly and peeked her head in.
After narrowing her eyes to scan the room, she quickly closed the door and stood next to me.
I could only look at her with a puzzled expression.
Her behavior was unusually cautious.
“…What are you doing?”
“Shh, shh!”
Despite my astonished response, Celin lowered her voice instead.
And with her finger on her upper lip, it looked as if she had come to share a secret with me.
I could do nothing but keep my mouth shut and gaze at her vacantly.
Though I wanted to ask something, I had no idea what it could be.
There was only one way to find out the sudden visitor’s business.
I had to wait for her to bring up the main point first.
Fortunately, Celin cut straight to the chase.
“I-an oppa, has anything happened with Senior Rainelle lately?”
I was momentarily speechless.
I simply inhaled, then remained silent while looking away.
Celin was not one to miss out on something suspicious.
As if she expected it, she furrowed her brows and pressed me further.
“Ah, I knew it! Do you know how strange Senior Rainelle has been lately? My room is adjacent to hers, and I can’t stand it anymore every night!”
While she complained, Celin couldn’t raise her voice.
She seemed to be aware that a significant conversation had taken place between me and Senior Elsi.
Since childhood, Celin had been good at reading people’s minds.
Given how many days had passed, it was impossible for her not to find this out.
In the end, I released a long sigh of surrender.
“… Nothing happened.”
“Don’t lie!”
Celin pointed her finger at me, as if to say I shouldn’t say such nonsense.
Seeing her holding back a growl meant she had no intention of letting this go.
“You two have been super conscious of each other lately! Don’t you get flustered just from encountering each other?”
“Well, that is…”
“Do you think I’m the only one who noticed? The Lady Virgin Saint looks at you both suspiciously too! So confess now, and take some light… What did you do to Senior Rainelle?”
It was an onslaught of questions.
Since Celin had caught me, there was no way to escape.
She knew me as well as I knew her.
And I tended to be weak against younger sisters like Ria and Celin.
A groan slipped out of my mouth involuntarily.
Celin recognized that as a sign of defeat.
She silently crossed her arms and stared at me with the eyes of an interrogator.
I spat out a line as if to offer an excuse.
“… It wasn’t me.”
“Then what happened? What did Senior Rainelle do?!”
Another sigh escaped, and Celin was now unable to restrain herself as she patted her chest.
It was a sign that she couldn’t hold on any longer.
Ultimately, I had no choice but to confess everything.
“What’s taking so long? Did Senior Rainelle confess…!”
“Yeah, she did.”
Then, with a snap, all of Celin’s movements and voice came to a halt.
It was a dramatic change as if she had suddenly turned to stone.
A few seconds later, Celin shook her head, coming back to her senses.
She pressed me for more with an increasingly anxious tone.
“She, she confessed? When?!”
“A few days ago.”
At my simple declaration, Celin’s expression became even more blank.
She opened and closed her lips.
After some hesitation, she cautiously asked.
“… So what did you say in response?”
I turned my gaze to the side to recall that day’s memory.
Celin’s face grew more anxious the longer my answer took.
Eventually, her face turned pale as she swallowed a dry gulp.
Seeing her like that, a brief conclusion spilled from my lips.
“… I rejected her.”
“What?! Why?!”
Celin couldn’t hide her astonishment and shot the question back at me.
It was a reasonable reaction.
She was beautiful, talented, and came from an excellent background – Senior Elsi.
It wouldn’t be easy to think of a reason to refuse her.
I felt the same way.
Deep down, I also wanted to be with Senior Elsi.
However, I couldn’t grasp it beyond that.
What was my true feeling?
Why was I afraid of getting involved with Senior Elsi?
It was a question I had pondered for days without arriving at a conclusion.
As my contemplation deepened, my memory began to fade.
Soon, I was back on that day.
Senior Elsi froze in place upon hearing my rejection.
Her wide-open eyes testified to her shock.
Yes, that was it.
At that moment, Senior Elsi had also asked me the same question.
With tears welling in her eyes, she spoke while on the verge of crying.
“Why, why…?”
Asking like that meant I couldn’t understand my own heart either.
I just felt I couldn’t refuse Senior Elsi’s feelings without a reason. That would be too cruel a conclusion.
So, I inadvertently let the words slip.
“Y-you’re a perpetrator of school bullying, Senior Elsi.”
I heard the sound of her body splitting from the top of her head.
“… That’s a bit much.”
Indeed.
I understood Senior Elsi’s circumstances and was willing to support her any time.
But apart from that, there was still an unexpunged sin that remained on her record.
Her past, where she bullied innocent students and left deep scars.
The moment I uttered those words, I instantly regretted it.
I feared this would linger as a wound for Senior Elsi for a long time.
Some might say one should pay for their sins, but the fact that I had grown attached to her was evident as she was the first one to come to mind.
But before I could retract that statement…
Senior Elsi shook her tiny fists and trembled with rage.
And with a look of anger I hadn’t seen in a long time, she glared at me.
“…J-just you wait.”
With tearful eyes, the girl shouted with indignation.
“Just you wait! I won’t give up that easily!”
With that, Senior Elsi turned and walked away, wiping her tears with her sleeves.
Her figure looked quite lonely, and I tried to reach out to her, but stopped myself.
Instead, I let out a deep sigh.
No matter how many times I washed my face, my heart wouldn’t settle.
What am I doing, this foolish child?
I just sat there, berating myself.
At that time, I regarded Senior Elsi’s “just you wait” as a commonplace expression.
Of course, it was a result of overlooking the fact that Senior Elsi was not someone to be underestimated.
I only realized its true meaning when we arrived at the academy.
