74. Regina, Regina, Regina Parlors (3)
It was fortunate she still had both her arms; otherwise, the situation would’ve been quite troublesome.
Karla brought both Ivan and Regina into Ivan’s room while pondering to herself.
Even though it would be somewhat undignified to deal with things outside, the more pressing issue was the unnecessary misunderstandings—or rather, truths—that were spreading, and she certainly didn’t want to stick around for that. For now, the best course of action was to avoid the situation entirely.
“This guy is still sleeping soundly amidst all this chaos.”
Karla let out a sigh of relief after laying Ivan down on the bed.
There was no telling just how much he’d had to drink. Between Liam and Emil pestering him to drink back and forth, she hadn’t noticed much, but apparently, Ivan had consumed quite a lot in the meantime.
“…I made him drink a lot,” Regina said softly.
“You did?”
Karla filled a glass of water and handed it to Regina. Regina, calmer now, had her face flushed red as she sipped the water in small amounts. Her composed demeanor made Karla think that if she herself were a man, she might have found Regina quite alluring at this moment.
“I wanted to make things definitive, so I made him drink a lot. Probably more than Liam…”
“Hmph…”
Karla sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. She found herself directly facing Regina, who had been sitting at the table, and realized Regina had been staring at her for some time.
“Is that really true?”
“It’s true.”
There was no need to ask what the question referred to—it was clearly about the earlier hullabaloo that had occurred before returning to the room.
“…Can you explain what happened? You were clear before that you had no interest in Ivan, Karla.”
“I have no interest. I still have no interest. There’s simply no reason for me to have feelings for Ivan.”
“But it doesn’t make sense to get physically intimate without having any affection for someone.”
At that moment, Karla closed her mouth. She agreed with Regina even in her own mind.
Having sexual relations without affection, by her standards, wasn’t different from prostitution—being a woman who sold her body.
It’s historically the oldest profession, but also one of the least respected.
Still, there was a reason, wasn’t there?
Karla had a good reason, and as such, she felt she had no reason to be lectured by Regina.
“There was a reason.”
“And what was that reason?”
“Because of Lucas, that guy.”
“What does Lucas have to do with this?”
Karla explained the events that had unfolded due to Lucas to Regina. She left out certain details that needed to remain private, didn’t mention Ivan’s secrets, and only explained the situation involving the aphrodisiac and the aftermath in full honesty.
After hearing the explanation, Regina’s expression was, simply put, blank.
It was a story that seemed believable but was also difficult to trust. And thus, it was unclear what kind of expression she should make.
“Something like this really happened…?”
“Yes. It might be hard to believe, but it’s all true. Everyone knows Lucas is a scumbag…and that’s how things ended up.”
Regina was a woman of the Empire who had grown up with standard societal teachings and had led a relatively normal life.
Because of that, it was hard for her to believe how easily banned substances could be circulating—though knowing what kind of person Lucas was also made the situation somewhat less implausible.
It wasn’t easy for Regina to simply trust everything Karla said, but she didn’t linger on that thought. Her personality didn’t lean toward suspicion, and Karla was a childhood friend—someone it was difficult for her to doubt.
“…I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say.”
It was Karla who had saved Ivan from a situation that could’ve become dangerous.
Karla had even sacrificed her own virtue to save Ivan.
If not for her, Ivan’s circuits would’ve been contaminated and would’ve reversed, ending his life as a mage.
Regina looked at Karla and keenly felt what the future would be like for a mage who lost the ability to wield magic.
If that future were to fall upon Ivan…
The very thought was frightening, chilling.
“I know you’re shocked, Regina. But I hope you can understand. Just as Ivan would’ve saved me, I tried to save him. That’s…”
Even without love, she wanted to say.
But Karla couldn’t bring herself to voice those words. If she did, it would’ve felt deeply unfair and regrettable for Regina.
“…I’ll go first, Karla. Leave Ivan here…”
Regina shakily stood up, looking as frail as a dandelion petal swaying in the wind. Karla tried to rise to support her.
“I’m alright… Karla, I’m fine…”
But Regina shook her head. She didn’t want to feel Karla’s touch amidst her own despair; it would make her feel like the tears that she had been holding back would burst forth once again, so she refused Karla’s help.
*
Regina didn’t return directly to her room. Instead, she exited the corridor towards the outside and made her way to the garden through the side door of the dormitory.
It was such a long day.
A day that should’ve been filled with good feelings—victory in the exchange battle, the party afterward, and… and now everything else.
It seemed like none of it was meant for her.
The night was cold.
In a night that should’ve been brilliantly bright, the sky, as Regina looked up at it, was covered with thick clouds.
“Ivan…”
It had been such a long time.
For over 10 years, Regina had nurtured her affection for Ivan.
And now, it was all ending tragically. If she had known it would come to this, she should’ve given up on that affection long ago.
With her kind-hearted nature, Regina couldn’t resent Ivan or feel angry at Karla.
To resent someone or express anger towards someone, one must understand those emotions and how to handle them. Regina didn’t know how, so she could not.
This ignorance only made her feel even more frustrated.
If only she could express her emotions, if only she could vent out the unknown feelings that filled her chest, it might bring relief.
But she couldn’t. So Regina felt only trapped.
It seemed her time with Ivan had come to an end.
Karla had her own reasons, and so did Ivan.
She couldn’t simply sweep things under the rug, nor could she pretend that this never happened. Thus, there was nothing left for Regina but to let go of Ivan.
What else could she possibly do?
She could only sit there helplessly. There was nothing she could do.
She was incapable of doing anything.
“Oh my, such a pretty young lady.”
The sudden voice startled Regina, making her head snap upward. She hadn’t even noticed someone approach her so closely.
“There is no need to be so vigilant, dear young lady.”
The silhouette of a woman shrouded in moonlight appeared before her.
“I serve as a staff member at this academy.”
“An… instructor?”
Regina asked cautiously. This was someone she had never met before…
She couldn’t discern who the person was because the angle of the moonlight was making it impossible to see her face clearly.
“Something like that will do. But, dear lady, why are you crying all alone here?”
As the woman spoke, Regina touched her eyes.
She noticed the faint gleam of moisture on her hand—when had this started? Only then did Regina realize she was crying.
“It’s… nothing major…”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Crying alone at this hour… I couldn’t just pass by without caring. Mind if I sit beside you for a moment?”
“Um, yes, yes…”
Regina scooted over slightly, creating space on the bench for the woman, who finally stepped out of the moonlight’s shadow. Regina was fascinated to see her white hair when she emerged.
“White hair… that is quite a rarity…”
Regina had never seen white hair before.
“Did you experience a heartbreak?”
Regina jolted in surprise at the woman’s question.
Then, realizing her involuntary reaction, she quickly changed her facial expression.
“No, it’s not that…”
“Not that at all? I’ve often noticed that when young ladies your age cry, it’s usually heartbreak. There’s no shame in it. Everyone experiences it at some point. Even I have.”
Regina found herself listening intently to her voice, a comforting tone.
“Sometimes, unrequited love fails. And other times, a love that seemed to be going well also collapses. But most people cry and stop there. Time is the healer, time will make everything fade…”
Regina nodded to her words. That’s what she had believed too.
Time would pass. With time, the scars from rejection would fade. The pain she felt now would peak here, and as time moved forward…
“Why should we endure it, though?”
Regina was startled by her question and looked up to see the woman’s face beaming with a smile beneath the moonlight.
“If something was taken, why must the one who was hurt endure? Isn’t that absurd?”
Her smile was incredibly alluring.
“Because that girl took it, does it mean that you should just step back? The world belongs to the strong. If you truly want him, perhaps I could help you.”
“Wha… What?!”
Regina was utterly shocked. She almost fell off the bench.
“What I mean is, I can become your strength.”
The woman chuckled, her crimson eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
—
(Translator’s note: The story seems to be taking an interesting turn. The mysterious woman’s motives and identity will likely deepen the unfolding drama.)
