Chapter 61

■ Chapter 60. Love (2) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

I often hear that I'm usually quite stern. I partly agree with that. Perhaps due to the influence of my past life, I have a rather calm personality. However, recently, I've been feeling so happy that I've been smiling a lot more. My lips would curl up, and occasionally, I would giggle like a mad person.

Especially when I'm with Mari, my lips wouldn't stop smiling. Just looking at her face, I couldn't hide my grinning mouth.

"Hehehe."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Then why are you laughing, Isaac?"

"I just can't help it."

"Me too. Me too."

Mari was also busy beaming, not hiding her feelings. I stared at her face for a while and then answered with a wide smile. On the first day of our relationship, we were cautious about showing affection, but as time passed, those feelings disappeared.

No matter what people whispered around us, or how Cecil and Lina looked at us suspiciously, or how others gave us complicated or pleased glances, we were too busy enjoying the sweetness of our first love to pay attention to anything else. Because of this, we occasionally couldn't concentrate in class and were scolded by the professor, but it was just a minor incident.

Anyway, it was a point in time when Mari and I had confessed our feelings to each other and some time had passed. All exams and assignments were over, and we had more free time, so we spent more time together.

Because of this, people's gazes toward us changed from suspicion to certainty. Even if someone was clueless, they would still think, "Ah, they're in a relationship."

And the result of this was evident at the training ground we visited on the weekend. We were planning to spend the weekend with our own personal time, so we had discussed it with Mari.

"Hey, are you in a relationship or something?"

"Huh?"

Adelia, who had just returned from a sparring session to take a break, asked me straight out. I looked at her with a somewhat flustered expression.

During this time, Adelia, who seemed quite frustrated, had casually taken off her top. She was wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath, so it was fine, but I almost let my gaze wander to the wrong place.

"Phew. It's so hot. So, when are you going to answer?"

Adelia flapped her sleeveless shirt and asked me with her characteristic husky voice. Her beauty, drenched in sweat, caught my eye.

I quickly regained my composure and opened my mouth. In my mind, I tried to recall Mari's face to suppress any inappropriate thoughts.

"...How did you know?"

"I saw you hugging a white-haired girl the other day. It was like you were openly advertising, 'We're in a relationship.'"

She giggled mischievously and poked my cheek with her index finger. I gently pushed her finger away with my palm.

"So what? Is that all?"

"Is that all? How can anyone not be curious when their close friend is in a relationship? Who made the first move? No, wait. What's her name? I can guess who it is from her white hair."

You sure have a lot of questions. I stared at Adelia, who was asking questions one after another with her sky-blue eyes sparkling.

If it were someone else, I might have said it wasn't any of their business, but Adelia is fine. She's just playful and curious, but her nature is good.

If her nature wasn't good, Nicole wouldn't have taken care of her. Besides, Adelia's playfulness felt like a strong desire for attention, making it hard to dislike her.

"Um... I think my sister might know who it is. Her name is Mari, and she's from the Rekilis noble family."

"Wow~ Our little cutie has good taste? Not just anyone, but the Rekilis noble family. Who made the first move?"

"Mari kind of made the first move, but we started dating because we liked each other."

"Ooh~"

After that, Adelia asked various questions with an excited look. I don't know why she's so interested in other people's relationships, but seeing her eyes sparkle, I couldn't help but answer.

"Youth, youth. Indeed, nothing can match the freshness of being a teenager. Have you thought about marriage?"

"...That's a bit too far, isn't it?"

In this world, you're considered an adult at 17, and you can get married then. But while you're 17 in name, most people get married around 22 due to the academy.

However, due to the influence of my past life, even that age seems quite early to me. But I can't apply my past life's common sense, so I can only give an ambiguous answer.

Adelia, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by her own words, scratched her head.

"...Well, that was a bit much, wasn't it? Sorry. I've seen a lot of kids get into trouble while in relationships."

"Getting into trouble means having a child, right? Not just a casual relationship."

"You know well."

"What happens if you get into trouble?"

There's no way nothing happens between a man and a woman. The same goes for Mari and me.

Of course, both Mari and I will be careful, but no one can predict the future. There's a chance that a series of coincidences could leave us alone in a room.

If such a situation arises, I doubt I could control myself. I couldn't resist Cecil's temptation, so the possibility of enduring such a situation is close to zero.

Or Mari might provoke me first.

"Hmm~ I don't know?"

Adelia stared at my face intently after hearing my question and then curled her lips into a sly smile.

"Who knows? I'm not from the Minerva Empire, so I don't know much."

"Then I'll ask my sister."

"That's no fun. If it's between nobles, there's no problem. Even if there's a class difference, they'll reluctantly get married. The problem is between a noble and a commoner. If the man is a noble, he can take the woman as a concubine or kick her out, but if it's the other way around, it's a different story. The family will disown him, and the aftermath is even more problematic."

"The aftermath is even more problematic?"

"Yes. Could you, who has lived as a noble, suddenly become a commoner? Noble ladies raised in a greenhouse?"

After hearing the explanation, I couldn't help but nod. As I always say, there's a huge gap between nobles and commoners, whether it's power or wealth.

It might seem a bit harsh, but that's reality.

"Of course, there are exceptions. It's a story you'd only see in a novel, but if the man tries to stop the bloodline, he can go to the woman's parents for permission. Of course, reality isn't easy."

"You know a lot for someone unexpected."

"I can't help it. I've seen many such cases. So, if you really want to make your girlfriend happy, be careful."

"That's a given, isn't it?"

If something happens, I'll take responsibility for Mari. Of course, her parents might look at me with disapproval, but once I reveal my true identity, things will change.

It's embarrassing to say, but I have a status that goes far beyond a simple cultural bomb. Mari might not care about such things, but her parents will.

"By the way, does Adel have a boyfriend?"

The topic naturally shifted to her as we talked about relationships. Adelia had been focused on my relationship and hadn't mentioned anything about herself.

Adelia's reaction to my question was more than just flustered; she looked bewildered. It was an unexpected reaction from my perspective.

"Um... Do I look like I've been in a relationship?"

"Yes. Adel is objectively pretty, and she's very skilled in the academy."

Adelia has a unique personality but is very charming. It felt a bit awkward to say as someone with a girlfriend, but what can I do if it's true?

Her sharp nose, sky-blue eyes that remind you of a clear sky, and long eyelashes. Finally, her short brown hair.

Overall, she has a handsome image, but her red lips add a feminine charm.

Frankly, it's hard to believe that Adelia is a commoner. She looks so beautiful that one might wonder if she's a hidden noble or a bastard.

While I was thinking this, Adelia, looking embarrassed, gently massaged the back of her neck. She then chuckled and gave a bitter smile, muttering softly.

"What am I saying... You should ask your sister instead. You don't know how popular Nicole was..."

"What are you two talking about?"

Just as she was trying to shift the topic to Nicole's love life, a familiar voice interrupted. Turning my head, I saw Nicole approaching, wiping her sweat-drenched face with a towel.

It seemed she had just finished sparring. Adelia, upon seeing Nicole return, jumped up in surprise and immediately stood up. She didn't forget to pick up the top she had taken off.

"Well, I'll be going! Keep up the good work!"

Is this the saying "the thief's heart beats faster"? Adelia fled to the sparring ground before Nicole could even ask a question.

As I stared at her in a daze, Nicole, who had approached me, asked with a curious tone.

"Why is she acting like that? Did she say something to you?"

"Um... No, nothing much."

"Hmm... Really?"

Her gaze didn't seem to believe me. Given Adelia's numerous misdeeds, it's a natural reaction.

"Phew. It's hot."

Nicole then took off her top, just like Adelia had, to dry her sweat. She was also wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath, but as my sister, my gaze didn't wander.

Instead, my eyes were drawn to the small muscles scattered across her body. It's said that women naturally find it difficult to build muscle, but seeing Nicole, I wondered if that was true.

"Oh, right. Isaac. I remember you said you're dating that girl? The white-haired girl from last time. Mari, right?"

Nicole, who was flapping her sleeveless shirt to cool off, asked me. I had told her everything last week.

So, Nicole knows that Mari knows my secret. I didn't feel the need to hide it.

But I couldn't avoid her concern. Even if Mari is a good person, Nicole's gaze would be the same.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Just curious if you're doing well. Nothing's wrong, right?"

"We're doing well."

"That's good. Phew."

Nicole left that comment and sat down next to me.

"Do you regret telling her?"

"Regret? No, I do regret not telling her sooner."

"You're quite severe. Well, you're at that age."

Nicole chuckled and gave a look that said I was beyond help. Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she asked with a slightly hopeful tone.

"By the way, are you still writing well?"

"Yeah. I think it'll be done in about two weeks."

"Fast. I guess you have more free time now that the exams are over. The story about the elf queen and Zyon's teacher in the tenth volume?"

"Yeah."

"Ooh, I'm looking forward to it. A love story between an elf and a human, it might be another hit. The elves will probably talk about it too."

Nicole giggled and acted playfully. I couldn't help but smile inwardly at her.

Yes, on the surface, it might look like a touching love story between an elf and a human. But as the story progresses, people will realize something is wrong.

Because the elf queen and Zyon's teacher won't end up together. It's not a melodramatic situation where one of them falls for someone else.

Both are confident in their feelings, but the elf queen is hesitant due to the lifespan issue.

'The tragedy will leave a lasting impression.'

In the future, Zyon's teacher dies. And not just by any means, but by 'jealousy,' who was once his student.

The elf queen, upon learning of the teacher's death, will weep bitterly. This scene is meant to awaken Zyon, but upon reflection, I think it will be quite interesting to write in detail.

I glanced at Nicole, who was looking forward to it without knowing anything, and then looked ahead, opening my mouth.

"Yeah, it'll be really interesting."

To me.