Chapter 8

“I’m sorry, but I have prior engagements with this young lady.”

Bellver tried to calm his racing heart, filled with anxious uncertainty.

It was truly a dizzying crisis, not easily manageable.

He had thought too much from the knight-major’s perspective, never considering that Roho would naturally be in the magic department.

As Roho’s gaze turned toward him, he couldn’t stop his head from spinning.

Then, a large shadow fell over him.

Fortunately, Bellatrix stood in front, blocking it.

“Really, it’ll just take a moment. Can’t you spare the time?”

“Our young lady has been looking forward to this greatly.”

“I’m asking Bellatrix here.”

Bellatrix stood firm, shielding Bellver.

Given how excessively timid Bellver was acting, it seemed they shouldn’t face each other right now.

She judged it best for them not to meet.

Roho might appear carefree and smiling on the surface, but inside, he was sharp and quick to notice things—precisely why she disliked him; his double-sided attitude was maddening.

Bellatrix thought Bellver shouldn’t respond to Roho at all.

Whatever reason Roho had for revealing a bit of his inner thoughts so rarely, it wouldn’t benefit either of them now.

Normally, she’d have ignored him outright if Roho had spoken to her, though she didn’t say that.

“I’m sorry, but I already have plans.”

“…I see. Got it. Let’s talk later then. Anyway, tea time is coming up soon.”

Bellver responded as impassively as possible.

He worried his voice might have trembled.

The Bellatrix he knew never let her voice waver, and neither did the one Roho knew.

He wondered if he’d done well enough.

Still, Roho turned away surprisingly smoothly despite his curious demeanor.

Bellver tilted his head in confusion at the unexpected reaction, relaxing enough to slump into a chair.

“Phew… I thought we were in big trouble…”

“Yeah, why did he suddenly act like that?”

“Still, I’m relieved. I didn’t mess up, right…?”

Bellver remained uneasy.

Though he understood the relationship between Roho and Bellatrix, he wasn’t privy to all the details.

He mimicked what he thought was appropriate but wasn’t sure if it was correct.

“You did fine. Though your initial response was wrong.”

“Huh? What part?”

“For starters, I ignore him completely when he talks. You couldn’t have known, so it’s my fault. Who would’ve guessed we’d bump into him during such basic lectures?”

Bellatrix sighed deeply.

Because of Bellver’s excessive tension, she had become tense herself.

Pushing her sweat-dampened bangs back, she checked his condition.

Seeing his state raised another question beyond Roho’s odd behavior.

Why was he so worked up in an empty lecture hall where nothing happened?

He looked ripe, like a perfectly in-season fruit.

“Inappropriate…”

“What?”

This time, she genuinely didn’t understand.

There were things Bellver did that made no sense whatsoever, but they were all absurdly incomprehensible.

Now, she couldn’t figure out which element he deemed inappropriate.

Thus, she saw it as something worth probing further, her eyes gleaming.

What exactly did he consider inappropriate?

There was no one else around who could be deemed inappropriate except her.

“What are you seeing that you think is inappropriate? Care to explain?”

“No… I can’t… It was a slip of the tongue…”

Bellver quickly averted his gaze from the smirking Bellatrix.

Why did her seemingly normal appearance seem so inappropriate?

Even he didn’t fully grasp it.

Perhaps it was because he’d never seen her push her bangs back like that before.

Just that simple action made her look entirely different.

Her haughty aura combined with the previous situation made her look slightly… cool.

While Bellver usually found her cute and innocent when inhabiting her body, now he thought she looked cool.

He, a man through and through, shouldn’t feel this way about the woman within her.

Bellver glanced at Bellatrix again.

Their eyes met, and she smiled once more.

His face heated up immediately.

Until now, he’d only felt this flushed and embarrassed when subjected to s*xual harassment.

So, he must’ve been sexually harassed by Bellatrix.

‘Right… It must be!’

Every past instance confirmed it.

He decided to memorize this unknown form of harassment, thinking Bellatrix must’ve done something he didn’t recognize.

Feeling somewhat confident labeling it as harassment, he concluded he hadn’t erred.

His reaction was justified.

“s*xual harassment!”

“If that’s what it is, then I apologize. Let’s go now.”

“Yes…”

Bellver felt an inexplicable sense of defeat from Bellatrix’s smooth apology.

Not understanding the source of this defeat, his mood sagged.

Though unsure why, he decided to bury the truth alongside his flushed cheeks forever.

“By the way, there will be tea time in a month. Keep that in mind.”

“What’s tea time?”

“A social gathering for the daughters of the tower masters.”

“WHAT?! Do I have to attend?!”

“Of course, it’s mandatory. Do you think I’ve attended willingly all these years? I’ll prepare you over the next month, so just don’t cause any trouble.”

“Is that even possible?!”

Bellver glared resentfully at Bellatrix, who suddenly dropped some heavy ordnance on his head.

He knew attendance was compulsory.

The problem was the conflict between logic and emotion.

“Will Lord Roho be there too…?”

“He’ll come. He always does, and this time I’m certain he’ll attend.”

“Ah… I’m sick that day…”

“Even if you’re sick, you must attend.”

“I hate you, Bellatrix.”

“And even if you hate me, you must attend.”

“I really hate you!”

Hmph! Bellver stomped ahead, clearly sulking.

Though he knew his tantrum was irrational.

He went ahead mainly to hide his beet-red face.

He had to rationalize his own actions to justify his embarrassment.

‘I merely asserted my opinion firmly. I did nothing wrong.’

Technically true.

Asserting opinions is crucial in communication.

His assertion just happened to be “I hate you!” repeatedly.

Bellatrix stifled a small laugh watching Bellver march ahead.

He looked every bit the blushing maiden, despite trying to maintain distance.

Even his red ears were visible.

And when he thought he was too far ahead, he subtly slowed down, which was adorable.

If he wanted to do that, why not just walk together?

“Our little maiden, come here. Let’s go together.”

“No way! I’m a man among men! A total dude!”

“I don’t know what that means, but it definitely doesn’t suit someone like you.”

“That’s right, isn’t it?!”

Bellatrix confirmed once more that Bellver was indeed a celestial maiden and quickened her pace.

Clearly wanting to walk together but staying ahead due to pride, he needed some consideration.

She decided to hold off on her mischief for now.

Though tempted to tease him, she preferred saving it for a grander explosion later.

“What should we do now?”

“Hmm… How about dinner?”

“Sure!”

Unaware of Bellatrix’s sinister plans, Bellver happily agreed to dinner.

It was dinnertime anyway since he’d skipped lunch.

Plus, he wanted to try the food from this fantasy world, which he’d only seen in novels and games.

Bellatrix grinned watching Bellver ponder their meal options.

Where had such a pure maiden come from?

Having her around felt like a stroke of luck.

She erased all his former worries and troubles.

It was like having a younger sister to tease, and she promised to cherish this new joy.

Finally, she understood why the blue-haired ones always raved about how cute younger sisters were.

Bellver was irresistibly adorable.

Still, holding back too long might make her burst, so she decided to tease him a little.

“By the way, do you remember what we planned for tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow. Did you forget?”

“No…”

“I’m looking forward to it. Please wear something from the corner of your drawer.”

Whoosh! Bellver’s face reddened like a perfectly ripe fruit.

He knew exactly what was in the corner of that drawer.

He’d seen it this morning while dressing alone.

Hardly pieces of cloth—those black, risqué undergarments.

She was now telling him, a self-proclaimed macho man, to wear those scandalous scraps!

“s*xual harassment!!”

Unable to contain himself, Bellver drew attention in the middle of the street.

Adding insult to injury, he started hiccuping afterward, completing the embarrassing combo.

“Hmph.”