Chapter 43

What on earth is going on?

It seems Seldienne, who I thought had left the square, is standing right in front of my house.

She managed to outpace me on some hidden route, showing up at the destination first while I lagged behind.

“…How are you?”

And there she is, acting like it’s the first time we’ve met today, with a poker face, greeting me.

“…Wow.”

It was completely unexpected, but I approached her with a nonchalant expression.

Step, step—

Suddenly, Lucy’s words from before we parted flashed through my mind.

‘That girl may not hold grudges, but she’s incredibly stubborn. She might cling to you in a weird way, not to bother you but to get under your skin.’

Sure enough, this was a bizarre way to go about things.

What does it mean that she came alone, sending away her usual entourage, to chase after me outside the academy where she couldn’t fully exercise her authority?

Could it be that she wants to have a conversation with me as just Seldienne and not as the noble Elconja?

‘…And was that it?’

Before we parted, Haidiera seemed to be staring at something; maybe she sensed Seldienne’s presence.

If my guess is right, she probably left without saying a word so as not to disturb our private conversation.

Anyway, since Seldienne is standing there like that, I can’t just ignore her like I did in the square.

After letting her say what she wants, I might have to send her back.

I walked up to the girl with golden roll hair, arms crossed outside the entrance, and asked the most curious part first.

“How did you find our house, Miss Elconja?”

Seldienne, perhaps feeling awkward about explaining that herself, leaned on her fan to hide her gaze.

“Hmph… Is there a problem with this Elconja having access to an academy student’s information? It’s nothing special for a clever girl like you!”

“…No, even if we’re both students at the academy, there shouldn’t be a reason for you to know my home address. Could you just tell me frankly? If a noble is stalking me, that would be a bit scary.”

As I shrugged, Seldienne blushed and exploded in anger.

“What…! How dare you say such things about me?!”

“If that’s not the case, you could just tell me the reason.”

“Ugh…”

At a loss for words, Seldienne fanned herself to cover her mouth and mumbled something barely audible.

“What? Sorry, could you say that again?”

As I frowned, she took a deep breath and reluctantly revealed the real reason she knows my home address.

“Ha, I’ve been here once so I know! Eek!”

“…What?”

But my frown only deepened.

You’ve been here? When?

Looking at her face with the question in mind, Seldienne explained as if enduring shame.

“A few months ago… when you collapsed and took a break from the academy, I came to your house.”

“Oh… Is that so? But why don’t I remember you visiting, Miss Elconja?”

“Well, it’s only natural you wouldn’t know since I turned back at the door.”

“Hmm, was I inside and didn’t respond when you called?”

“That’s not it. You didn’t call; you just turned back.”

“What…? I really don’t get what that means…”

Every time I tried to understand, Seldienne’s actions grew more incomprehensible.

Of course, I might have been passed out at that time, so it’s possible I wouldn’t have woken up even if she knocked, but just turning back without knocking at all?

What was the point of doing something so unproductive? I was left in confusion.

As I stared at her with a look full of questions and doubts, Seldienne turned her face away, blushing in shame.

“I-it’s the duty of this Elconja to look after commoners! It’s only natural to check up on you, especially since you’ve been out of the academy for days!”

“Ah… I understand what you mean.”

“So I checked the student directory and came to your house! I was also planning to give you the medicine I had for you!”

Considering Seldienne’s personality, who often puts on a show of benevolence toward commoners while flaunting her status, I could more or less understand why she came all the way to my house.

But there was still one baffling fact left.

“But why did you just turn back? If I was asleep and didn’t hear you, that’s one thing, but you didn’t even knock and just left. Why?”

“Well…”

Seldienne flicked her wrist holding the fan, pointing at me.

“It’s because there was another guest. Someone with a definite reason to seek you out, unlike you.”

“You mean Tirisia…?”

“Hmph.”

With a disgruntled look, she crossed her arms again.

The words that flowed out in a sulky tone expressed confusion even she couldn’t understand.

“That girl… didn’t even pay you any mind and headed straight to your door, looking so complex it was indescribable…”

“Well, that makes sense; that was the case at that time…”

“After figuring out the whole story of events, I realized it was right after you were betrayed. Your words were true, weren’t they?”

“…That’s right.”

As if she expected it, Seldienne let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

“Seeing that Miss Bruerd was in a strange state, you had no choice but to back off… After all, you were only there for a formal visit, so there was no reason to disrupt a meeting with someone close to you. Hence, you turned back right away.”

“I get it; you weren’t stalking me. That’s a relief.”

“The very fact that I even considered you that way is disgusting! Please don’t ever associate me with the word ‘stalker’ again!?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. My bad.”

As I bowed my head, it seemed that only then could Seldienne get to the point, her expression relaxing slightly.

“In any case, I didn’t come here to discuss such trivial matters. May I have a moment of your time?”

Her attitude, asking for my permission unlike usual, made me shrug and nod.

“I doubt you’d leave even if I said no, so go ahead. If you have something to say, feel free to say it and leave. It’s better to wrap things up properly now than to have to arrange another meeting later. Miss Elconja.”

This girl has come all the way here on her own. There’s no way she’ll just go back if I ask her nicely.

Since in the square, she likely let me go because she was aware of the other students’ gaze, even the subordinates nearby might have picked up on it.

But seeing as she followed me this closely, it seems there was something she absolutely had to say.

With such a strong intention, I had no reason to avoid her anymore.

After all, I’m someone who also wants a tidy conclusion to our relationship.

I don’t know what she wants to say, but for now, let’s hear her out.

“Alright.”

Sighing deeply, Seldienne looked into my face with her trembling crimson eyes.

Before she started speaking, I reminded myself of what I had referenced in the square earlier.

“You remember what I mentioned earlier, right? It would be good if you keep those in mind while speaking.”

“Ugh.”

In that moment, Seldienne, about to speak, hesitated and nervously moved her lips.

“Ahem,”

After a long pause, clearing her throat, she finally said,

“Isn’t this a good thing?! Breaking up with a filthy woman who lusts after other men!”

“Huh?”

I was completely caught off guard,

“You two never matched in the first place!”

This is truly something I never imagined,

“As you’ve always said, this was your fate from the start! This was the conclusion destined for you two!”

Such outrageous insults were being thrown at me.

“There’s a saying about turning misfortune into luck! After breaking up with that dirty woman, you were able to train your open magic circuits with this Elconja, hasn’t that been fortunate for you?! Commoners should live according to their means to shine! Your insight has been absolutely correct! Oohohoho!”

Seldienne, fanning herself, burst into a fit of noble laughter.

No… Elconja.

You… really…

“……”

“Hoho… ho…”

As I stared at her with an emotionless face that made her nervous, Seldienne’s laughter gradually faded away.

Silence fell before the entrance,

“…Is that,”

I asked her in a lifeless tone.

“Everything you wanted to say?”

Something inside me felt like it was about to explode, making my speech falter.

Yet still, there was a part of me that held a sliver of faith in her.

Seldienne Elconja might be strange, but she wasn’t the worst.

Though she tried to erase me from the academy as a representative of nobility, that was her choice regarding her position and not a reflection of her humanity’s lowest respect.

With that minimal affection and consideration still lingering, I chose to end the relationship without harboring resentment toward her.

But it seemed that was just my misconception.

Seldienne Elconja was still spouting nonsense at this point.

She was bragging about how the outcome of my break-up with Tirisia was expected.

At this moment, one thought flashed through my mind.

This girl,

Is she crazy?

No matter how I look at it, she seems to be out of her mind in front of me.

There’s a limit to the inability to distinguish between what to say and what not to say.

But still, seeing her show a serious attitude and come all the way to my house, I thought she might be about to apologize or something.

Yet she stood firm, only preaching her justification while squashing the really important matters. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

“What’s with that look?! This Elconja is trying to comfort you after your heartbreak! There’s no need to cling to a relationship that was never established! So you shouldn’t be sad about it! The anger over being betrayed by that filthy woman is something you understand too. If you need stronger power going forward, I personally—”

“Enough, Miss Elconja.”

I raised my palm and interrupted her like a rapid-fire speech.

I couldn’t bear to listen to any more of it.

What meaning could possibly be drawn from such drivel?

I just wanted her to disappear from my sight immediately.

“I’ll take care of my training on my own from now on. Like I said, we’re going to live as perfect strangers from now on. So while I appreciate the offer, I’ll have to decline. Please go back now, Miss Elconja.”

“You…!”

Hearing this, Elconja tightened her grip on the fan, fuming at the rejection of her courtesy.

Her crimson eyes glinted with indignation at what was utterly unreasonable toward me.

“Are you seriously going to maintain such an indifferent attitude…?!”

“Well, you and I are now strangers. It’s true we have no connection. Is there a problem with my attitude?”

Snap!

Elconja’s fan twisted awkwardly under her strong grip.

“E-Erto… you…!”

She stepped closer and grabbed my collar.

I made no attempt to resist her.

I didn’t even want to touch her.

Those crimson eyes, so close, fired daggers of anger at me.

“Stop toying with me and treat me seriously! At least in the end, speak to me as your usual self!”

“Cut it out…”

“There’s no way I can accept ending our relationship like this! Show me your true feelings, Erto!”

“—Stop.”

With that cold word, Seldienne froze, her words abruptly stopping.

“I said stop.”

As a look of utter bewilderment fell on her face, she released my collar.

“Want to know the truth of what I want to say?”

“Huh…”

As she took a step back, growing pale, I finally revealed the emotions I could no longer hold back.

“You’re just so damn annoying.”

“Ah,”

“Just go away, please, I can’t stand the sight of you.”

“Is that… really how you feel?”

I frowned and turned away from her, opening the front door.

And,

“How are you acting friendly after you tried to expel me?”

Bang!

Leaving her standing at the front door, I slammed it shut.

I didn’t even hear her footsteps fading outside.

Nor did I hear any knocking.

It felt like time had stopped outside, but I ignored it and walked inside the house.

I thought this was still being somewhat polite.

---