I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 89

 

“I hear that you and Carson are deeply inseparable, especially since my son Carson is so fond of you?”

 

“Not quite the relationship the Duchess has in mind, but I can’t deny the latter.”

 

Her eyes widened a little at the bluntness of that statement, but then she nodded meekly.

 

“I see. I suppose you could say it was my fault for looking the other way. To be honest, I didn’t think your relationship would last long.”

 

No, it’s not a relationship.

 

I wasn’t sure if I should correct her or not when she spoke up.

 

“I’ve heard things about you. Even when I try not to pay attention, I hear it.”

 

The Duchess’s gaze fell on me. I met her eyes without averting them.

 

Carson’s upturned, catlike eyes reminded me of the Duchess’.

 

“I hear you were admitted directly to Senior through the transfer exam. I figured she’s a smart kid, so I knew you’d use good judgment.”

 

The Duchess lets out a heavy sigh as if this has complicated things.

 

“That’s why I thought I’d wait a little longer, and that’s how things got so out of hand.”

 

“I didn’t think it would go on this long either.”

 

Her eyes flicked upward as if she didn’t like what she saw.

 

“Do you think Carson is a good person? He’s more than you can handle. Do you think you can live with him for the rest of your life?”

 

She seemed to be testing me to see what answer would come out of my mouth.

 

If so, I’d have to live up to expectations. I tugged at the corners of my lips into a slight smile.

 

“I dare say, in front of the Duchess, no.”

 

“If you knew that, why did you continue the relationship?”

 

“Because Caon was kind to me, and I was sure he wouldn’t hurt me, and he’s as infatuated with me as the rumors say.”

 

I enviously picked an answer that would offend her.

 

If I was going to be rejected, I’d rather the Duchess think badly of me. I’d need her help to cut ties with Carson quickly.

 

The more she didn’t like me, the more she’d try to distance us. But I didn’t see much change in her face.

 

Should I have been more forceful? But it might be dangerous to provoke her anger any more than this.

 

“…Caon. So that’s a pet name. I thought I was the only one who could call him that forever.”

 

No, it must have been my illusion that the blow seemed to come without consequence.

 

The Duchess took a deep breath, her shoulders heaving as if to swallow her anger. Then she pulled a pouch from her bosom.

 

“You needed money, then take this and part with Carson. I didn’t want you to feel bad.”

 

Speechless, I stared at the thick pouch the Duchess held out.

 

A bribe…

 

It was expected.

 

Anyone else would have refused, shaking with humiliation, or choked back tears and taken the money.

 

But that was not enough. Just as I wanted Carson’s status and money from the beginning. I had to appear to have no feelings for him.

 

Instead, I cupped my chin in my clenched hands and forced myself to look serious.

 

“We’re not dating, we’re friends. Do you think I can disassociate myself from Carson as of today?”

 

At that, the Duchess jumped to her feet, shivering.

 

She must be furious to hear that I’ve been hanging out with him for money.

 

Well, it’s only natural to feel bad when a gold digger has bewitched your precious son.

 

Do you want to slap me? Or splash some water on my face?

 

“Pass!”

 

“…What?”

 

The Duchess suddenly grabs both my hands and swings them briskly up and down.

 

“When I saw the look on Carson’s face, I thought I’d have to rip him apart if he was deluded, but what a wise boy!”

 

Her cheeks were flushed, showing how excited she was.

 

“The way you never hesitate to say whatever you want to say, even in front of me. An objective assessment of Carson, and the mindset that you can dump him at any time!”

 

Suddenly, her eyes began to sparkle.

 

“You won’t be swayed by Carson, and I’ll take good care of my son in the future!”

 

My face slowly rotted with embarrassment. This was not the reaction I was expecting.

 

🍃

 

Sylvia suddenly remembered what had happened earlier in the day and chuckled.

 

‘He’s been so assertive that all my worries have been for naught.’

 

As much as I thought Carson resembled my husband in personality, it turns out he also has a way with women.

 

In fact, the first time I saw Leen’s face, I was so excited I don’t remember what words I said.

 

Leen looked exactly as Carson had described her, which always made my mouth water.

 

It was a very strange feeling, having only known Leen through descriptions for years.

 

Moreover, the more I spoke to her, the more I found myself liking her. I had to struggle to keep a calm expression on my face.

 

‘Ugh. Now that I think about it, I probably cut off some words because I wanted to sound like I knew her.’

 

A faint regret crept up. What a way to ruin a first impression.

 

But there were many opportunities ahead. If she marries Carson, she would be my daughter-in-law.

 

‘My goodness, Leen is my daughter-in-law.’

 

Sylvia briefly envisioned her future with Leen, then called her husband in delight.

 

“Honey.”

 

“Yes, Sylvia.”

 

The Duke stopped what he was doing and looked up at her, his voice a tone higher than usual. The corners of his mouth curved into a faint smile.

 

“You know, my dear.”

 

“Yes, I’m listening.”

 

Sylvia had expected the Duke to respond to anything she said, but he stiffened at her next words.

 

“What do you think we should name our grandchild?”

 

“…What?”

 

🍃

 

After the meeting with the Duchess, I was in a state of confusion for over a week.

 

So much so that I don’t even remember how I took my graduation exams. I tried to imagine what it would be like to have my subconscious take the test for me.

 

“Well, I still passed.”

 

Crumpling up the graduation exam results paper I’d received as an individualized notification, I shoved it into my pocket. 

 

Then I slumped down on my desk and sighed. I had pushed Carson away until now, thinking that the Duke of Lysianthus would not welcome me as a commoner.

 

“And yet she seems to welcome me…”

 

The image of the Duchess’s smirk as she told me that she thought her son would never marry was still fresh in my mind.

 

After I returned to my dormitory, I was still a little nervous, but I was certainly happy for a few days.

 

I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, I would be able to continue my relationship with Carson.

 

But that thought was quickly extinguished, I realized in hindsight.

 

‘Rex Begonia.’

 

There was still one thing standing in my way, Rex Begonia.

 

The Duke of Begonia and Lysianthus have been at odds since ancient times.

 

They represent the sword and magic of the Empire, respectively.

 

A twist of fate or something.

 

The two future rulers of the Duke of Begonia and Lysianthus are obsessed with me.

 

Perhaps future was too vague a term.

 

Rex Begonia was already in power. If I were to come between them, there could be bloodshed.

 

Besides, even if the Duchess had taken a liking to me, there was no guarantee that the Duke of Lysianthus would welcome me.

 

Even the Duchess’s words were questionable in retrospect. She liked the idea that I could dump Carson at any time.

 

“…Even if Caon is selfish, after all, he’s a man and a son.”

 

Besides, no matter what Carson’s disposition was, there were plenty of eligible young noblewomen who wanted to marry him.

 

If the Duchess could persuade him, the sky was the limit.

 

It was an easy conclusion to draw from the fact that Carson had students who adored him, even as his reputation was in tatters.

 

Not sure if it’s because they really like him or because they want to sit next to him. So, after much deliberation, I decided to consult someone else about the matter.

 

I excluded Jane because she’s close to the Duchess and might be biased.

 

Someone who could advise me on my relationship from a strictly adult perspective.

 

There was no way I could consult my aunt. I couldn’t discuss it with my aunt, because she’s convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rex Begonia and I are good for each other.

 

That leaves Arcandus and Mister.

 

Arcandus wasn’t a nobleman, and he’s never been married…

 

In the end, I wrote him a letter and sent it off.

 

Truth be told, I think I was secretly hoping even as I attached the letter. Hoping that he’d tell me it was okay, that I should give it a shot.

 

I continued to think about this in the noisy classroom.

 

The back door of the classroom slammed open, and a cheerful voice called out.

 

“Jane, Leen, I passed my graduation exam!”

 

The voice belonged to Hans. My sloth-like body jerked upward in surprise at his announcement.

 

“What? Really?”

 

As if I wasn’t the only one who was startled, Jane, who had been fast asleep, muttered, her mind still barely awake.

 

“…Was it a dream? That’s weird. There’s no way Hans is going to pass his graduation exam.”

 

‘Yikes, you just said that out loud.’

 

Luckily, Hans didn’t hear the comment, and was still beaming with excitement.

 

“Look!”

 

He unfolded a piece of paper in front of Jane and me with the word ‘Pass’ written on it.

 

We both rubbed our eyes in disbelief, but the writing didn’t change.

 

‘Wow, that’s great. Congratulations.’

 

“Oh my gosh. You crammed for the written exam.”

 

Oops…

 

In my shock, I accidentally said what I thought I meant. Hans looked even more triumphant as he explained.

 

“Honestly, I thought I was going to fail, so I prepared myself.”

 

Yeah. I thought the same thing.

 

“I barely avoided failing the written exam by cramming, but I wasn’t confident in the practical exam.”

 

That’s right, cause you suck at taking notes…

 

“But then they asked me what kind of medicine I was going to make, and well, I got painkillers!”

 

“Wow.”

 

I blinked rapidly, I could only describe how lucky that was.

 

Hans was overcome with emotion and clung to me, sobbing.

 

“Thank you, Leen! You’re my salvation!”

 

I pushed him away in annoyance.

 

“Get away from me. You’re being disgusting, and your girlfriend is watching.”

 

The painkiller that Hans had distributed in second grade was now the national painkiller of the entire country.

 

Other researchers have long since figured out the recipe.

 

However, due to its reputation as an aid, most people only bought the painkillers distributed by Hans’ Top.

 

The fact that the price was reasonable and not extortionate also played a role.

 

Anyway, the bottom line was that this painkiller became an open recipe.

 

Since it’s a herbal medicine, we were taught how to make painkillers at the academy.

 

No wonder it didn’t show up on the graduation exam. Painkillers were one of the few things Hans could make perfectly.

 

He’d learned how to make them from the top, in mass production.

 

I grinned, a smug smile on my face.

 

“You really don’t know what you’d do without me.”