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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“So, what’s going on here?”
The air was heavy, making it hard to breathe, as if an invisible weight pressed down on his shoulders.
An icy chill permeated the room, and their sharp gazes pierced through him.
Beside him, Melina was beaming, her arm linked with his, as if she had the world.
“Heehee~”
In stark contrast to her cheerful expression, Elisha and Eilly, sitting across from them, were radiating a palpable displeasure.
They both seemed to dislike Melina, but their reactions were different.
“You two seem to have gotten quite close while I wasn’t looking.”
Elisha puffed out her cheeks, her raised eyebrows clearly showing her annoyance, like a jealous lover.
“…Master…”
Eilly, on the other hand, bit her lip and seemed to be holding back a sigh. She was trying to suppress her emotions, but her eyes were filled with sadness.
Unable to contain herself, Elisha placed both hands on the table, her gaze fixed on Melina like a blade.
“So, what was your name again? Melina, right?”
“Yes,” Melina replied nonchalantly, clinging to his arm even tighter. She seemed indifferent to Elisha’s words, focused only on being close to him.
“….”
Elisha’s expression hardened.
“Arnold is your destined savior?”
“Yes!”
“What happened?”
Melina tilted her head slightly and smiled.
“Actually, I’m the princess of the elven kingdom~”
As soon as she said those words, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The awkward and tense air was instantly replaced by shock.
“What?!”
“What did you say?!”
“Melina is a princess?”
Elisha, Eilly, and even Varis, who had been silently observing the situation with a sullen expression, were stunned. They were all frozen in place by the revelation that a foreign princess was right before their eyes.
“That’s right. Actually, there’s a bit of a story behind it-”
Melina seized the opportunity and began to tell her story.
Her secret birth, her cursed fate, the despair and pressure she had felt, and how she had come to the academy seeking a sliver of hope.
She emphasized his role in saving her at the critical moment, describing the events in detail.
“I see…”
“Such a story…”
Elisha and Eilly were speechless for a moment, listening to Melina’s story.
“I understand the situation, but aren’t you being a bit too clingy?”
“…That’s true.”
However, they still seemed displeased by how closely Melina was clinging to his arm.
“So, Arnold charmed another girl?”
Elisha suddenly said, her gaze sharp. Eilly nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. Even though Master is kind, it’s a bit frustrating that he’s even captured the heart of an elven princess…”
The situation was becoming increasingly strange. It felt like an arrow on a drawn bowstring was suddenly aimed at him.
“I understand he had no other choice… but as a woman, I feel a bit uncomfortable!”
They seemed to sympathize with Melina’s story, but they still expressed their dissatisfaction towards him. They understood that he had no other choice but to intervene, but that didn’t change their feelings.
“Then, I’ll grant you one wish. How about that?”
He suddenly had an idea and offered to grant them a wish to appease them. It seemed to work; their expressions softened slightly.
“Really?!”
Elisha and Eilly asked simultaneously, their eyes sparkling. They still seemed displeased, but they were clearly interested in his offer.
“Uh… well, I’ll grant you one request, within reason.”
As he nodded, their expressions softened further. But Elisha still spoke in an annoyed tone.
“But I won’t tolerate you being so close to Melina.”
Eilly nodded silently.
He had managed to appease them, but there were still hurdles to overcome. Still, he breathed a sigh of relief that he had at least managed to defuse the situation with the offer of a wish.
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Ding-ding-ding-
The grand bell of the academy chimed three times, signaling the end of class. The atmosphere in the classroom instantly relaxed.
The turning of pages stopped, and the students, relieved from the fatigue of the lesson, filled the room with chatter.
“Haa.”
He sighed deeply and closed the book in front of him. It felt like he had completed a long journey. It had been an eventful day.
“Ugh~”
He left the classroom and walked down the hallway, trying to clear his mind.
“….”
The hallway was still bustling with activity. The laughter and whispers echoing from all directions were a familiar background noise.
But then, he overheard a conversation about him. The same old, tiresome story.
“Arnold…”
“You mean that notorious young master?”
“But I’ve heard he’s been quite kind lately.”
“Still, a love triangle? That’s quite something.”
He didn’t stop walking and passed them by. He was used to such conversations. They always revolved around him, and most of them were malicious rumors.
It was a slight relief that there were some positive comments mixed in recently. But he couldn’t let his guard down.
“Arnold, I need to talk to you.”
Just then, a familiar, gentle voice stopped him.
He turned his head. Elisha was standing there. Unlike usual, her expression was serious with a hint of nervousness.
“Huh?”
He looked at her curiously. She had stopped him at the perfect timing, as if she had been waiting for a moment alone with him.
She took a step closer and continued in a low voice,
“You said you would grant me a wish.”
She was referring to the wish he had offered. He nodded lightly and waited for her to continue.
She hesitated for a moment and looked around, as if it was difficult to speak in the middle of the bustling hallway.
“I can’t talk here. Let’s go somewhere more private.”
Without another word, Elisha started walking. He followed her to a quieter area. They arrived at a secluded spot within the academy.
The quiet space, free of any other presence, was perfect for a private conversation.
Elisha took a deep breath and spoke in a calm voice.
“Could you… return the contract pertaining to the termination of our engagement?”
Her request was unexpected. He stared at her in surprise.
“Return the contract?”
She nodded silently in response to his question. Even that small movement seemed hesitant. He could sense her nervousness.
“Yes…. As you know, we’re engaged. But that relationship is about to end.”
Elisha’s voice was filled with sadness and regret. She continued, lowering her head.
“I… I know I was wrong. I misjudged your character based on prejudice and treated you with contempt for so long. I now realize how big of a mistake that was.”
She confessed her past mistakes, her voice filled with shame and guilt.
“I even suggested breaking off the engagement. Back then, I wanted to end our relationship. Forever.”
She paused for a moment, as if catching her breath amidst a whirlwind of emotions. Then, she continued.
“But not anymore. Seeing and experiencing your sincerity and kindness has changed me. I believe your warmth saved me. And… I don’t want it to end like this.”
Her trembling voice was filled with sincerity. She had mustered all her courage to say those words. But her trembling hands and wavering eyes still betrayed her anxiety.
“Arnold, please. Could you give me another chance?”
He looked at her in silence. According to the original story, their engagement was supposed to end. But the current situation was different.
Now that everything had changed, did it still make sense to follow the original plot?
“Alright. If that’s what you wish.”
He decided to grant her wish. He had no reason to refuse, since he had promised to grant her a request.
“Really? Thank you….”
Elisha smiled in relief. But her smile was still tinged with self-reproach.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m just… sorry that I didn’t see what a kind person you are until now. I still can’t believe you forgave me after all the horrible things I said and did.”
She lowered her head in shame.
“But… I’m so happy that we can fix our relationship. Thank you, Arnold.”
And so, he decided to restore his engagement with Elisha; then it dawned on him that the termination contract was back at the mansion…
He would have to ask Eilly to bring it to him when she had time.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
Arnold deciding to give back the contract might seem confusing but, in my opinion, it is just an expedient to advance the plot. You will see what I mean soon.
No spoilers from me thought :^)
