Author: Nikss

 

‘???’

 

I laughed and asked again, thinking I must have misheard something.

 

“Sorry, what?”

 

Carson said lightly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

 

“How about joining us, the Dukes of Lysianthus, after you graduate?”

 

My jaw dropped. I must have misheard wrong.

 

“Caon. What are you…”

 

“My mother has been looking for a companion maid for a few years now. But she’s a bit of a character, so it’s hard to find someone suitable.”

 

My tension ebbed and flowed as he continued. I thought he was going to ask if I wanted to live with him again.

 

“I’ll provide you with room and board, and you can quit whenever you want.”

 

After hearing the shocking offer and then having the misunderstanding cleared up, I felt like it was no big deal.

 

On the contrary, I was thrilled.

 

After all, I don’t have anywhere to go after graduation.

 

Right now, with graduation the day after tomorrow, finding a place to stay that wouldn’t be touched by Rex Begonia was next to impossible.

 

But…

 

Still, I wouldn’t say it would be easy.

 

For there was more than one thing that was bothering me.

 

“I’m not a noble, Caon.”

 

As a commoner, I could be a maid, but not a handmaiden.

 

“It’s a companion maid, not a maid of honor.”

 

Carson laughed leisurely, as if it didn’t matter.

 

“And this is my prediction, but I think my mother will be very fond of you.”

 

I thought back to my previous encounter with the Duchess.

 

She seemed to like me very much, and she wasn’t as intimidating as I thought she would be…

 

At first, I was going to decline, of course, but then my mind wavered a little.

 

I reached into my pocket and squeezed something inside. It was a letter to my future self that I wrote at the end of my freshman year.

 

I had forgotten about it, and it was a strange feeling to get it back so close to graduation.

The letter wasn’t long.

 

I’m doing well, better than ever. How about you?

 

Well… I don’t think I’m doing well enough, Leen.

 

It was a time when I was free from Rex Begonia’s clutches and experiencing so much. I made friends, took Professor George’s classes, learned new things about herbs, and started my first love…

 

But now I’m just waiting to be separated from all those precious relationships I’ve made.

 

With the fear that Rex Begonia might come looking for me at any moment.

 

“Hmm? Leen.”

 

Carson’s pleading eyes reached mine.

 

“Caon, I…”

 

My mouth didn’t move with ease, even though I knew I had to say no.

 

‘The truth was, I didn’t want to part with you.’

 

I want to keep looking into those pretty eyes of yours.

 

…That’s right. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could just work at the Duke’s until I found a new home.

 

That would give me more time to be with Carson.

 

As Duke of Lysianthus, Rex Begonia won’t be able to come to me at random.

 

I was uneasy about being caught between the Duke of Begonia and the Duke of Lysianthus, but I knew that I would just have to find a home and get out as quickly as possible.

 

In the end, I rationalized with myself and decided to accept his offer.

 

“Good.”

 

Carson’s face brightened at once.

 

“Really?”

 

“Mmm. But I’m afraid that if I go to the Duke’s, the others will misunderstand.”

 

“Misunderstand what?”

 

“The relationship between you and me, or…”

 

I lifted my teacup to my mouth, feeling parched for some reason.

 

“I don’t see why that’s a problem, Leen.”

 

Carson lowered his eyelashes and said shyly, “We did have a hot night together, after all.”

 

Poof—!

 

I spewed the tea I’d been drinking. It was a perfect blast that would have created a small rainbow if I’d done it outside on a sunny day.

 

“…Leen?”

 

When I looked up, Carson, who was sitting across from me, was covered in the spewed tea. I opened my mouth without thinking in embarrassment.

 

“Cough, I was watering the flowers.”

 

It was a moment that created dark history.

 

Only after I spat out the words did I realize what I had done. I should’ve just apologized and called it a day, you bloody mouth!

 

“Pfft, puhaha!”

 

My face slowly heated up as Carson started laughing out loud.

 

“Don’t laugh…!”

 

I gritted my teeth and took out my handkerchief to wipe Carson’s face. With a little bit of anger in my voice.

 

He meekly turned his face to me, still smiling.

 

“To anyone else, one would think I was going to eat you, Leen.”

 

Carson’s eyes narrowed and he whispered in my ear.

 

“You’re the one who ate me.”

 

He tilted his head lazily as I pulled away, shuddering at the nakedness of the statement.

 

“Didn’t you?”

 

🍃

 

After returning from my date with Carson, I immediately wrote a letter.

 

It was in response to a letter I had received from Mister the day before.

 

In his letter, he had asked me to let him know if there was anything he could do for me.

 

The way he emphasized ‘anytime’ made me think of a loan shark.

 

For a few days after reading the letter, I thought about asking him for help…

 

Now that the fire has been extinguished, I didn’t have to think about it.

 

Thank you for your concern.

 

I’ve actually been in a bit of a bind lately, but fortunately, with the help of a friend, it was resolved.

 

Oh, and I’m afraid I can’t make it to the town of Abseur in the Gharir estate.

 

I’ll write to you later, when I’m free to settle down again.

 

🍃

 

The graduation ceremony went quickly. There was no rousing speech from the chairman, which would normally be boring.

 

The diplomas were not handed out one by one, but were distributed in advance by the class professor.

 

At the time of the award presentation, I expected the chairman I nominated to receive the merit award to come out…

 

“The chairman of the board of directors, who is to receive the merit award, is unable to come out due to unavoidable circumstances.”

 

There were sighs in the hall. They were disappointed because they thought they would know the identity of the chairman before graduation.

 

“Therefore, one of the students will accept the award on her behalf.”

 

I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to meet the chairman. But that was it.

 

Nominating the chairman wasn’t because I wanted to see his face, but because it was my way of saying I was thankful.

 

For keeping me safe from Rex Begonia for four years.

 

If it weren’t for the Arena Academy, it would have been impossible for me to run away from him.

 

Even though I always managed to walk into the Academy without a care in the world…

 

In fact, it was never easy for an outsider to break through the Academy’s security magic spells.

 

“Then, student Carson, please come forward.”

 

The class erupted in applause at the unexpected substitute honoree.

 

I was as surprised as they were. If the Academy needed a blow, I’d give it to them, but why Carson, who hadn’t done anything to earn merit…?

 

Carson was surprisingly obedient and went to accept the award.

 

I thought he’d reject it, asking why the hell he should get it.

 

Instead, he looked like he knew this would happen.

 

The students chattered about why the chairman had asked Carson to accept the award on his behalf.

 

They said it was because he was the one who had collected the most monster cores on the graduation trip.

 

Others said it was because he was graduating at the top of his class. But no one questioned whether being the scion of a duke gave him an advantage.

 

It was clear that the students trusted the Academy and its president.

 

After the awards were handed out, the graduation ceremony came to an unnervingly quick end.

 

“…This concludes the graduation ceremony of Arena Academy. May the blessings of the goddess be upon you all.”

 

And so it was finally over.

 

After the ceremony, the students exchanged greetings with their friends.

 

I greeted every one of them. Jane, Hans, and the rest of the class.

 

By the time I was done greeting everyone.

 

Fjord shook off the people who were barely clinging to me and approached me.

 

“Leen, I hear you’ve been hired by the Duke of Lysianthus?”

 

“Yes. It happened by accident, but I won’t be staying long.”

 

I nodded, then smirked and opened my mouth in a teasing manner.

 

“What are you going to do now, get torn to shreds by your knightly seniors?”

 

Fjord had joined the Imperial Knights immediately after graduation.

 

Fjord decided to pursue his dreams and gave up the title to focus on pursuing his career.

 

The words were given up, deferred to his brother. He takes the joke as he always does.

 

“You’re going to work for that dreadful duke, and you’re going to have a harder time than me, so be careful not to fall head first.”

 

“Do you think Caon will be still when I die?”

 

“…Destruction will come. Try to save your life for the continent.”

 

“I will try.”

 

Fjord shrugged his shoulders, and his lips curled up into a smile.

 

Just then, he heard a voice behind him, calling for him.

 

“Fjord!”

 

“Eek. I’d better get going.”

 

He scratched the nape of his neck and turned back to me one last time.

 

“You’ll come to my brother’s succession banquet, won’t you, Leen?”

 

“I suppose.”

 

If I’m still working at the Duke’s by then.

 

“It’s nice of you to come. He’ll be glad to have you.”

 

Fjord gave me a look that said he had no doubt I’d be there, then walked away.

 

“That’s very nice of you.”

 

I said in disbelief, but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I hope he’s fitting in as well as he wanted to in the Imperial Knights.

 

Now that I’ve greeted Fjord, all that’s left for me to do with Kun…

 

He had to leave for Abascanthus, and I felt even worse for him than the others.

 

I was afraid to look for him, but then he came into view. He was walking toward me, carrying a bouquet.

 

The bouquet was usually given to the family after the graduation ceremony. There was a rule against outsiders.

 

Bouquets were rarely exchanged between fellow graduates.

 

I wondered who Kun had gotten it from. Kun walked up to me and handed the bouquet to me with a small smile on his face.

 

“Huh? Are you giving it to me?”

 

I asked, pointing my index finger at myself, and Kun nodded.

 

“Yes. This is for Leen.”

 

I smirked and took the bouquet.

 

“Oho, no yellow roses this time. They’re shimmering or something.”

 

“Well, then…”

 

While Kun panicked, I checked the flowers he handed me and raised my gaze.

 

“It’s a forget-me-not, isn’t that supposed to bloom in the summer?”

 

“I happened to save one with a preservation spell on it.”

 

“Well, thank you anyway. I’m getting a bouquet from you, a fellow graduate, when I can’t get one from my family.”

 

“That’s because it’s not just for graduation.”

 

“What? What do you mean…”

 

“More than that.”

 

Before I had a chance to clear my throat, Kun looked around as if something was amiss.

 

“Where did Carson go?”

 

“What are you looking for Caon for?”

 

“He was chasing after Leen, and now he’s not around, which is even more suspicious.”

 

Ah. So that was it.

 

“Caon said he’d drop off a proxy for the award. He must be on good terms with the chairman.”

 

Well, after all that smashing around the academy, he should have gotten a meeting with the chairman at least once.

 

“Good, because I had something to tell Leen.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Kun smiled weakly at me and said, “I like you, Leen.”

 

Author's Thoughts

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