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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The silver-haired, blue-eyed girl recalled, over and over, that her first encounter with Lev Denec was truly awful.
“Go out with me. Go out with me, I said. You don’t seem to care about anyone anyway, right? Someone like me isn’t bad, is it? Don’t tell me you like that trash Edwin? Someone like him…”
She had received a confession from him, a boy with the worst reputation due to his high self-esteem and condescending, dismissive personality.
And with lines that sounded coercive to anyone listening.
“…”
Aria, unfamiliar with men, couldn’t help but be flustered.
‘Especially since we barely know each other…’
-Thud!
‘Ugh!’
As the situation escalated with physical contact, Lev Denec suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and froze. And then…
“Let go of me.”
His grip loosened as if he had lost his memory.
It was a bit strange, but she didn’t have time to worry about it.
“What are you two doing…!”
Melissa had discovered them and intervened. Aria thought she would never have anything to do with him again.
But in the end, it was Aria herself who sought him out first.
“Let’s party together.”
She had sensed the shadow of Andras within him. Andras. A great demon Aria couldn’t ignore.
Ignoring the whispers and rumors around her, she cautiously approached him. And as she got to know Lev Denec little by little, the truth she discovered was…
While the shadow of Andras within him grew more distinct, paradoxically, he was constantly struggling for others.
‘…’
She was confused. Despite wielding demonic power, his actions weren’t for personal gain.
‘Lev Denec, just what are you…?’
At first, it might have been just sympathy. She sensed an unknown loneliness within him, similar to her own feeling of being alone in the world.
Him heading to Ebenbahu’s Twilight Valley alone,
Him suddenly asking her to follow him after the duel, saying let’s eat,
Him taking her to a tavern outside the academy, saying he had some business,
Him teasing her with cryptic words whenever he was consumed by the demon,
Him suddenly giving her a ring as a gift,
And finally, him collapsing while desperately searching for Yeriel.
She had just pitied him.
But it wasn’t just Aria. Before she knew it, he had found his way into the hearts of Edwin, Yeriel, Selena, and Lily…
It was him who stopped Melissa and Abelline from choosing the wrong path.
And finally, Aria realized her true feelings.
‘I… liked him.’
That her feelings for Lev Denec weren’t ordinary. And that if she fell for him, she might get deeply hurt.
.
.
.
“I like you, Lev Denec.”
At those words, everything around me stopped. I didn’t even have time to check Yeriel and Selena’s reactions.
Aria was looking straight at me with her azure eyes, and I, too, had to face her without looking away.
In the silence that descended like an uninvited guest, Selena was the first to react.
“…Amazing. Lev Denec, you’re good with girls.”
“No, that’s…”
“And, Aria Bluebell.”
“…Yes.”
“When I asked you before… you said you didn’t have any personal feelings for Lev Denec… didn’t you?”
“…That’s right.”
Aria nodded, then continued,
“…I’ve been thinking about it recently.”
Her tone was a bit blunt as usual, but it was calm, with a hint of warmth.
“I’ve been wondering what this feeling is whenever I see you, Lev. I kept denying it, thinking it was just simple interest, but… it wasn’t. I think I’m more conscious of you than I should be.”
Being confessed to by a character I cherished. It was something I had never even imagined, whether reading novels or playing games.
Such dreams were fleeting. More than anything, having witnessed countless flags between Edwin and Aria in the game, I hadn’t thought of pursuing her while interacting with her.
‘It wasn’t my intention…’
But, funnily enough, my body was honest. I could feel the heat rising around my neck. I was conscious of Aria. My heart was beating faster than before.
“So, I thought I should tell you before it’s too late…”
“So?” Selena pressed.
“What are you going to do?”
“…”
“Are you going to ask her out?”
Ask her out? At that significant question, Yeriel suddenly turned to me.
“Lev…”
Eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears, trembling hands, and lips that seemed to struggle to form words…
She looked so pitiful that I felt the urge to comfort her even in this situation.
And then, like a pronouncement, Aria’s small lips parted.
“That’s…”
-!
All eyes were on Aria. She smiled serenely.
“I don’t… intend to.”
-!!!
Huh…?
At those words, we froze again.
“I just wanted to tell you before it was too late. I truly like you, but… these are my own feelings, and I didn’t say it expecting a response from you, Lev. I think… our relationship is good as it is.”
Selena glanced at me, seemingly unconvinced. Yeriel had an expression that was a mix of relief and bewilderment.
“Ugh, I’m hungry!”
“Leeev! Snap out of it! Did you even see Lily’s fireworks…?!”
As Edwin and Lily arrived late,
‘…’
I finally achieved a triple rejection after zero confessions.
.
.
.
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.
.
.
“Yes, I understand.”
Back at the dormitory after the bustling festival, Yeriel communicated with Artina through the dormitory’s communication crystal ball and sighed softly.
Her original plan to invite everyone to the mansion was canceled.
A sudden joint council of the southern families, led by the Heismans, had been convened. And Yeriel’s mother, Penelope, was also attending.
“Perhaps it’s for the best…”
Just now, Aria had confessed to Lev. It was a clear confession.
But if she introduced him to her mother with that atmosphere still lingering, things would get out of hand. So it was better to return to the academy immediately.
‘Aria really did have feelings for Lev…’
The words that stuck with Yeriel the most were, “-I just wanted to tell you before it’s too late.”
Those words.
The phrase “before it’s too late” felt like Aria was conscious of Yeriel.
Aria hadn’t demanded an answer from Lev. As if she implicitly understood his feelings, she simply conveyed her own.
Moreover, judging from the conversation, Selena also seemed to have anticipated Aria’s feelings to some extent.
If Aria hadn’t confessed today, while it might have been fine for a while, it would have eventually caused a huge ripple.
In other words, Aria’s confession was…
Like taking one step forward and two steps back.
‘……’
Compared to that, what about herself?
Recently, caught up in the atmosphere with Lev, she had tried to invite him to Artina to make a good impression.
It was her mother’s request, of course, but she had tried to take him without even confirming his feelings.
“…”
Even though there hadn’t been much progress between her and Lev.
Anyway, while the previous situation ended as a slightly awkward incident, Aria’s courage came across as consideration for Yeriel, though perhaps not for Lev.
‘It was me who probed Aria’s feelings in the first place…’
The most important thing now was Lev’s feelings. Aria had already revealed her feelings, and Yeriel herself would reveal hers if given the chance.
What remained was Lev’s choice.
Was Aria… prepared to accept the outcome?
‘Lev must also have feelings for Aria… right? He always healed her… even I would…’
Yeriel, with her considerate nature, knew well.
That no one had the right to force their feelings on another.
As Yeriel was lost in thought, contemplating a bittersweet ending, something touched her forehead.
-Tap!
“Ah?”
“Yeriel.”
A pleasant, low voice. It was Lev Denec, the one who had tapped her forehead. His ash-gray hair, still damp from a recent shower, peeked out from the towel.
A faint scent of mint, probably from bath salts, emanated from him. Yeriel’s mind went blank.
“L-Lev?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh…?”
“That just now.”
Lev pointed his chin towards the communication crystal ball. Understanding the situation, Yeriel apologized, shrinking back slightly.
“Ah, that. Sorry! The invitation to my home will have to wait… Something came up…”
“It’s okay. But…”
“Huh…?”
“Well, never mind. It’s late, so you should tell the others about the change of plans tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah… Lev, you must be tired. You should go and rest…”
He wiped his chin with a towel, seemingly lost in thought. Looking at his sharp, angular profile, Yeriel was conflicted.
She should let him go, but she wanted to ask. What he had felt when he heard Aria’s confession, and what he had intended to answer.
‘I’m really cowardly…’
As she was debating whether to ask, Lev spoke first.
“Yeriel, do you have a minute?”
“Huh…?”
Yeriel’s mind, already filled with thoughts of Lev and the unexpected encounter, was warmed up. His next words were enough to make her overheat.
“Let’s go to my room.”
“…?”
Instantly, as if magic circuits were being drawn in her mind, she began analyzing those simple words. My room. In other words, Lev’s room.
‘Yes, Lev’s room… Lev’s room. Lev’s room…?!’
“This way.”
“!”
-Tap.
He lightly grabbed her wrist.
“Lev…?!”
Finally, Yeriel’s precarious mind went pop! and exploded.
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Who has achieved the biggest collateral damage is yet to be seen. My money on yeriel
Miss selfdestruct.
I mean polygamy is a thing in this world they could always decide to cooperate