I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 88

 

After a morning of seemingly unnecessary inquiries, Professor Walter glanced around at us and left the classroom with an uncharacteristically encouraging comment.

 

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not the end of the world if you fail one test, and you’ll graduate.”

 

He must have felt sorry for us for being half-crazed.

 

After he left, I let out a soft sigh.

 

No matter how I think about it, my mental age hasn’t changed much from when I entered school, but I’m already graduating.

 

Even most of the kids in my class were adults. Except for the ones with later birthdays.

 

From Carson to Fjord to Kun to Hans, not to mention Jane, they were already adults.

 

“…And I’m also an adult.”

 

Nothing had changed during my fourth year.

 

As usual, I studied herbs, went to clubs, and hung out with my friends. I thought I had maintained a good friendship with Carson.

 

However, there were changes around me, both significant and minor.

 

One of the big changes was that Duke Begonia had changed, and Rex Begonia had taken his place as Duke.

 

The former Duke of Begonia’s death, like the Duchess’s, was of unknown cause.

 

Not surprisingly, it was suggested that Rex Begonia had intentionally killed his father. But as the people who questioned it died off, one by one, no one spoke of it.

 

In time, everyone became convinced that it was Rex Begonia who killed the former Duke. But no one would say it out loud.

 

For all power in the Duchy of Begonia now rested with Rex Begonia.

 

There was nothing to stop him now.

 

The moment I graduated from the academy, he would claim me.

 

As if I were a trophy.

 

Of course, I had no intention of letting him have me. I hadn’t used Hans to finance this for nothing.

 

And there was one other thing that was different…

 

“Jane, you’re out!”

 

Not long after Professor Walter left, Hans burst into the classroom, looking for Jane.

 

“Hans, what about me?”

 

I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling the stare, and he smirked.

 

“Oh, I see you’re here too. How are you?”

 

He doesn’t care about his friend.

 

“My contract is up in a few days, and I’m thinking I should take this opportunity to switch places with a better deal…”

 

Frowning, Hans breaks out in a cold sweat at my sullen words, and he begins to pick up the pieces.

 

“Haha, you know I’ve got nothing but you, my soul mate!”

 

“Oh my goodness, Jane. Did you just hear your boyfriend say I’m the only one for him?”

 

Jane, who had been yawning slowly, quickly straightened up at my words and glared at Hans.

 

“Hans, I’m disappointed. If you’re going to cheat on me so openly, I guess your love for me has grown cold.”

 

Hans jumped up and denied Jane’s words.

 

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant! I meant as a friend, Jane, and you know full well that I’m only friends with Leen!”

 

Jane cried, shoving Hans violently out of the room.

 

“I don’t want to hear any of your excuses! Go! Get out of here!”

 

“Ja— Jane…!”

 

Thud—

 

As the classroom door slammed shut, Jane shook her head, wiping the tragic heroine’s face.

 

The tears that had been glistening in the corners of her eyes were now firmly in place.

 

“I kicked him out, so that’s good, right?”

 

“I’m good, but… he’s your boyfriend, is that okay?”

 

Jane raised an eyebrow in a nonchalant manner.

 

“Well, I’m sure he knows I don’t mean it. If he’s a little upset, we can just let him out later.”

 

“You’re such a tamer.”

 

It occurred to me now that maybe it was Hans, not Jane, who I should have discouraged from dating.

 

After all, they’d been together for two years now.

 

When I was disappointed in Jane and turned away, Hans’s presence by her side must have had a great effect.

 

I thought we were getting closer, and here we are.

 

Life was all about timing.

 

As I nodded and thought about the truth of life, I asked Jane.

 

“Have you been studying for your graduation exams?”

 

Graduation exams varied by major, with some requiring a written exam and others requiring a practical exam.

 

Of course, some, like our amazing herbalism major, Professor George, took both.

 

Jane laughs and explains, “Our costume design department is being judged on the dresses we’ve been working on all year. If you come in now, you’ll be late.”

 

“And you’re not nervous?”

 

Jane smirked and gave me a quick wink.

 

“I don’t think I’m going to fail. It’s my life’s work.”

 

Well, with Jane’s skill, there was no way she could fail. Especially not one that she could confidently call her life’s work.

 

“Carson and Fjord will definitely pass. Kun seems to be at the top of his class in Elemental Studies.”

 

So the question then becomes…

 

Jane smiled bitterly at my cloudy eyes.

 

“Hans is the problem.”

 

He’d been a bottom-feeder in herbalism class, and now he was so busy running the top that he was digging himself into the ground.

 

I was happy that the top had grown to the point where I needed Hans’ help. I’m happy for him…

 

“I wonder if he’ll graduate.”

 

Jane shook her head nervously.

 

“I bet he won’t graduate.”

 

“Well, he’s your boyfriend, after all, and you’re so cold-hearted…?”

 

“I want Hans to pass his graduation exams, but wishing and reality are two different things.”

 

I felt a little sorry for Jane, who seemed to have gotten over it.

 

“Don’t worry about it too much. He’s been asking me a lot of questions lately, just to make sure that he hasn’t given up.”

 

“Huh? No, I’ve never really worried about it.”

 

I blinked. If you’re not worried, who’s going to worry about Hans…?

 

“If it falls through, so what. He’s going straight to operations at the top anyway. How important is an academy diploma?”

 

“Then what was that bitter smile you had earlier?”

 

Jane said matter-of-factly.

 

“That’s because I’m afraid Hans will be upset if he flunked his graduation exam.”

 

“I see you do have a crush on Hans…”

 

“What’s new?”

 

“Well, you’ve been acting so different, I thought maybe you’re actually dating him out of kindness.”

 

Jane chuckled at my serious tone.

 

“Haha, of course not, I don’t know why you would think that. I mean, how cute and adorable Hans is, right?”

 

“…Oh, not at all.”

 

I was about to ask if he was cute in her eyes, but barely managed to keep my mouth shut.

 

Hans and Jane were in a relationship, but I was only friends with Carson, so there was no comparison.

 

Jane laughed, amused, then changed the subject.

 

“By the way, Leen, that’s ‘tomorrow’, right?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Have you thought about what you’re going to say?”

 

“I don’t know, I guess I’ll just keep it low-key and make it clear that we’re not a relationship.”

 

The other day, a letter arrived in my mailbox. The sender was none other than the Duchess of Lysianthus.

 

Carson’s mother.

 

She asked if I could spare a weekend to meet with her to discuss something.

 

If the Duchess of Lysianthus wanted to talk to me about anything, it had to be about Carson.

 

After all, it was rumored that Carson had a crush on me, and I was surprised she hadn’t contacted me before recently.

 

“Leen, you know I used to work for the Duchess, and she was…”

 

“Never mind.”

 

I cut Jane off at the pass, knowing that whatever came out of her mouth wouldn’t change anything.

 

Besides, even though she was of minor nobility, she was also strictly noble.

 

To think that she would treat me, a commoner, the same was to prove that she was a woman with a field of flowers in her heart.

 

Fortunately, few nobles I’ve ever met have had such a sense of entitlement.

 

But I knew I was lucky. I also knew that as graduation approached, I would have to prepare to leave Carson.

 

I managed a smile, trying to hide my heartbreak.

 

“It’s just as well. I can only push him so far, and if the Duchess won’t let me see him, what’s Carson going to do?”

 

🍃

 

“Here we go again….”

 

With great familiarity, I took my seat and looked around.

 

It was ‘the restaurant’ I’d been told belonged to the Lysianthus family, where I was supposed to meet the Duchess.

 

It was expensive, and I thought I’d never come here again.

 

I’ve been here often since I first came here with Carson, and by now, the owner and all the staff seem to know my face.

 

Although I think they’re trying not to show it…

 

The tension in their faces was clear to see.

 

As expected, they didn’t invite me to eat with them.

 

Carson tried to coax me every time, saying that friends can eat together.

 

Sometimes he’d attack my conscience with tears and sullen faces.

 

“I hope it’s just my imagination that he’s becoming more and more like a fox…”

 

As I muttered to myself, I thought I had been called, and the waiter approached me and asked cautiously, “Can I help you with anything?”

 

I was about to say I was fine, but then something clicked in my head and I asked.

 

“I’d like two glasses of cold water, please.”

 

Well, personally, I’m hoping it ends up being more water than cheek, but I’m not sure whether that’s going to happen.

 

How long had it been since there were glasses of water on the table?

 

The staff moved in unison, even the manager stood up.

 

The Duchess had arrived. I rise to my feet, ready to greet her.

 

A moment later, the door opened, and the supposed Duchess walked in, her heels clicking.

 

“Wow…”

 

I gasped as my eyes laid eyes on her.

 

With her long, pink, curly hair, the Duchess did not look like someone who had a grown man for a son.

 

The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned against her fair, wrinkle-free skin.

 

There was a dignified expression and gait that made her look even more graceful.

 

The Duchess noticed my dazed state and walked straight to me. Before I could greet her, she sat down and pointed to the seat across from me.

 

“You’re early, no need to greet me, have a seat.” said the Duchess.

 

She doesn’t even want me to greet her. I took my seat, replacing my greeting with a mild bow.

 

She gave me a curious look. There seemed to be a lot to say.

 

“I don’t think this is the time for peaceful dining, so I’ll get right to it.”

 

“Then let me introduce myself, Duchess. My name is…”

 

“Leen. Right?”

 

The Duchess smiled sheepishly and crossed her legs languidly.

 

“I know it well enough without you having to tell me. I’ve heard it from ear to ear.”

 

With that, I fell silent. I knew you knew, but I thought I’d be polite since we’re meeting for the first time.

 

Well, if you don’t need an introduction…