Chapter 18: Chapter 18
"Why didn't you come to the gathering?"
Claudia said with a soft tone.
"Does it matter whether I came or not? You're going to be there as my fianceé anyway"
Leonhardt shrugged his shoulders.
"As the successor of the Elsword house, you have a duty to meet other nobles and make connections with them for your future"
"Those people only want to make connections with the the son of the hero, not me"
Leonhardt snickered.
"Besides, I'm busy"
He continued.
"You mean eating lunch with her?"
Claudia retorted as she looked at Lily.
"Is spending time with her more important than building connections for the future of your house? Last year, you didn't came either because you went out with her"
Claudia said in a harsh voice.
"Can't I even get the chance to spend time with my friend?"
Leonhardt replied in annoying tone.
"Even though you never took the chance to spend time with me?"
Claudia said in calm tone. However, fury was hidden in her eyes.
"Both of you, calm down"
Lily interrupted.
"I understand that you're upset Claudia. Leonhardt, you too should apologize to her"
Lily tried to calmed both of them.
"Stop acting innocence! In the first place, it's all because of your fault!"
One of Claudia's follower couldn't hold back anymore.
"Shut up! Outsider shouldn't interfere with our business!"
Leonhardt raised his voice and glared at the girls.
"But, it's true it was her fault. Or what? Are you saying that it's your fault?"
Irina butted in.
"Scarlet!"
He gritted his teeth.
"If you know that it was your fault, shouldn't you apologize to Claudia? Do you know what kind of pressure she has to withstand because of the rumors between you two?"
Irina said in trembling voice. She was trying her best to suppress her feelings.
"Stop it, Irina"
Claudia stopped Irina before she said anymore things.
"Is the rumors true? That Leonhardt-sama fell in love with that girl and doesn't pay any more attention to Claudia-sama?"
"So the rumors about them breaking up their engagement is true?"
The surrounding people started to gossip.
Leonhardt seemed to be annoyed hearing their talks.
"Fine, I admit that it was my fault for neglecting you. But! Just because you're my fianceé doesn't mean you can interfere with my life!"
Hearing this, Claudia sighed.
"You can associate with whoever you wants. I have never forbids you from doing so. You can also get as many lovers as you want. However, please fulfill your responsibility as the succesor of the Elsword family and also do your duty as my fiancé"
Claudia looked at him with a cold gaze.
"Enough! Don't you see that you and your followers are causing a scene here? This is the academy!"
Leonhardt gritted his teeth and glared at her.
"Please excuse my discourtesy."
Claudia slightly bowed her head then took a glance at Lily and left.
Her followers followed behind.
Before they left, Irina glared at Lily with a cold stare.
"What a cunning bitch"
She left after saying so.
The crowds was dispersed soon. When no one was around, Leonhardt suddenly hugged Lily.
"Are you alright, Leo?"
Lily asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry, Lily. It's my fault for getting you involved with my business"
Leonhardt let out a wry smile as he apologized.
"No, it's fine. I should be the one who apologized since it was my fault to begin with"
Lily casted her head down.
"Leo, you should go and apologize to her. No matter what, she is still your fianceé"
"It's fine. I have never agreed to our engagement. However, I couldn't just break it up because it will destroy our family reputation"
Leonhardt complained.
"I never asked to be the son of the hero and I never wanted to get engaged to her. Everything was forced upon me. What is so great about being born as a noble? I couldn't even do the things that I like. Everyone just forced their expectations on me. I wished I was born as a commoner just like you"
Leonhardt said in a bitter voice.
"Leo..."
"Sorry, Lily. Let me stay like this for a while"
∆ ∆ ∆
"Did you see that, Cia?"
"Un"
Lucia nodded as she munched a chocolate bar that I gave her.
"What do you think?"
"It's bitter. Like this chocolate"
Umm, well I guess so.
"If it's bitter then stop eating it. I still have some that taste sweet"
"Wasting food is bad"
She looked at me with serious eyes.
"But, I will gladly accept your remaining chocolates"
She extended her arms with hopeful eyes.
I smiled wryly as I took out all my chocolates and handed it to her.
"Anyway, I hope you're aware by now that handsome guy is either a scumbag or a pervert. Especially if that guy is smilling at you. Also you have to be wary if a guy give you sweets. They most likely have ulterior motives. So, if you meet a handsome guy just stay away as far as possible. It would be better if you just run away as soon as you see them"
"I don't really understand, but I will keep it in mind"
Lucia tilted her head and nodded.
"One day you will understand about it. In short, love is a trap. So stay away from it as far as possible"
"Un. Then, I will run away as soon as I finish eating this chocolate"
"Why?"
I looked at her with dubious eyes.
"Because Rain is also a scumbag"
Crack!
I could hear the sound of my heart getting smashed into pieces.
Huh? I'm what?
I blinked at her to ask for an explanation. However, she blinked back at me. Her pure eyes just makes it hurt even more!
"W-Wait a minute! What do you mean by I'm also a scumbag?"
I asked in a trembling voice.
"According to what you said, Rain is also a scumbag or a pervert. Rain is handsome. Also, this morning you were looking at me while smiling"
I was dumbfounded.
Thank you for your praise! However I didn't meant to looked at you!
"N-No! I-I'm not! I'm definitely not a scumbag or pervert! You have to believe me! T-That's right! I just woke up at that time, so my mind was still processing my thought!"
The more I explained, the more I feel guilty.
"But, you also gave me sweet"
Checkmate!
I was shocked that my heart stopped beating.
What is this empty feeling in my heart? Is this a void?
"Kidding. Hehehe~"
She laughed as if she was enjoying my reaction.
Damn! Her joke almost made my heart stopped for a moment!
I feel relieved after hearing that she was kidding.
"Don't worry! I won't run away from you because Rain is my friend!"
She patted my shoulders.
"T-Thanks, I guess"
We chatted until the second period started. There is only 2 periods in this academy. The first period start from 09:00-12:00 and the second period start from 14:00-17-00.
The first period was about theorical lessons and the second period was about practical lessons.
However, because it was the first day of school. The upperclassmens will demonstrates about club activities on the second period.
There are two kinds of clubs in this academy.
The first type is social clubs like tea ceremony club, book club, art club etc. It was a place for people with the same interest gathers around.
My sister Irina was a member of the tea ceremony club. This is why she likes sweets so much. Moreover, Claudia, the villainess was the president of this club.
The second type is dungeon clubs. It was a place where they are looking for members to join their team for exploring the academy dungeon. Basically, it was a party recruitments.
I don't have time to explore the dungeon, so I won't join any party. After thinking for a while, I decided to join the tea ceremony club.
Seeing the scene of Leonhardt confronting Claudia makes me think about the most possible way to save my family from ruins.
Making Claudia fall in love with me to change my family fate is impossible. I don't want to be a scumbag who tricks girl just to save my life. Besides, she won't fall for someone like me.
Killing her is even more impossible because Einsworth and Scarlet has ties. On top of it, Irina and Claudia are close friends.
Moreover, she is not necessarily evil. She became evil because she couldn't control her overflowing jealousy and was tempted by the demons.
Irina was blinded by her fury because her beloved friend were being treated unfair because of a certain bitch. She only wish for Claudia happiness. To do so, she was even willing to make a contract with the demons just to have power to kill Lily. Which in turns, let the demons had the chance to corrupt her and Claudia.
Killing Leonhardt is impossible. If he died who is going to save the world? me? I have confidence in destroying the world, but not saving it.
Making him forget about Lily is also impossible. As the heroine, she has important role to gathers the 4 holy items along with Leonhardt.
Claudia was burdened with expectations to be a lady fits for the future hero. Changing her feelings about Leonhardt will be hard but not impossible.
After thinking about a lot of things, I came upon one conclusion.
I have to slowly teach her about self-respect and let her be a little selfish. If she values herself more as a person, she might forget about her feelings for Leonhardt and slowly releases herself from the expectations that burdened her. This way, she won't became a villainess but just a normal girl.
In the game, she was fated to become a villainess no matter the routes. But, even a villainess deserve a good ending.
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