Chapter 77

“Unknown boy.”

The boy, who was more developed than his peers, had an oddly mature charm despite still being a child.

His figure shining under the moonlight had a magical quality that even Seron, who knew nothing of love, found captivating.

“Y-yeah, it’s pretty.”

Seron, making his first debut in the socialite scene, was a perspective completely foreign to boys his age.

So, all that remained was a shy version of Seron, pushing aside his usual personality.

The boy smiled gently as he noticed Seron struggling to engage in conversation.

“Why aren’t you going into the party? Why are you here?”

He guided the chat naturally into common topics.

Suddenly, Seron’s face crumpled, and tears began to well up in his eyes.

The boy was slightly taken aback but swiftly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket.

He gently wiped away the tears from young Seron’s cheeks.

The boy had a younger sibling who often cried, so he was quite used to wiping away tears.

Perhaps it was the boy’s kindness that made Seron cry even more.

The boy waited patiently for Seron to let it all out.

After a good while, Seron finally started to calm down.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Y-yes, thank you.”

Seron felt embarrassed about having cried in front of someone, lowering his head.

He had unwittingly shown a vulnerable side, all because of the boy’s kindness.

“So why were you crying like that? Did someone bully you?”

Seron shook his head.

Instead, he began to share the events of the day.

Unloading his heart made him feel somewhat lighter.

But alongside that, he also felt a sense of injustice.

“I think the heavens must hate me. This kind of thing happens all the time.”

When he looked at each little mishap, none seemed like great misfortunes.

Yet collectively, even small misfortunes could become unbearable.

Especially, he could develop a sense of unworthiness about anything he tried to do.

“And because of this, if I go into the party, everyone will just laugh at me.”

Although a maid had cleaned him up, remnants of mud still clung to his dress.

Unless he wore new clothes, it was an unavoidable situation.

“Really? I think that dress looks pretty good on you.”

With that, the boy glanced toward the party room.

“Everyone is wearing shiny clothes, but no one reveals what’s actually inside.”

The boy slightly loosened his necktie, which was feeling constricting.

“It’s funny that nobody knows how dark or light the insides are while they just smile like that.”

When the boy sought agreement, Seron blinked in surprise.

Then the boy unintentionally chuckled.

“Sorry, that wasn’t meant to be a complicated discussion.”

The boy, slightly more mature than others, looked at Seron’s mud-stained dress.

“Honestly, you look much prettier just being honest than those refined girls over there.”

It carried a lot of meaning, but young Seron was simple-minded.

Simply feeling that he looked prettier than the pretty young ladies over there made Seron’s heart flutter.

“B-but if I look like this, I can’t dance. I’ve worked really hard to learn.”

Seron fidgeted, clutching the hem of her dress.

As she hesitated, the boy extended his hand in front of her.

“Well, if it’s okay with me, would you like to dance?”

Seron’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Even if there’s no music?”

Instead of the beautiful melody of music, rough sounds of nature’s insects filled the air.

“And no shining lights either.”

Instead of flashy lights, gentle moonlight lit up the night’s veil.

“But you can dance anywhere, right?”

And most importantly, he was there.

The boy, shining in the moonlight, looked like a painting.

The sound of insects now felt more beautiful than any music they had heard before.

Seron unknowingly reached out her hand toward the boy.

The boy took her hand, wearing a kind smile.

“Lady, would you like to share a dance with me?”

“Uh, e-excuse me!”

Seron tried to respond as she had been taught but ended up biting her tongue.

However, waiting for her, the boy smiled as she took a deep breath and tried again.

“Gladly.”

With that, the dance between the boy and girl began.

Under the moonlit night, draped in the veil of darkness.

Seron had the most beautiful moment of her life.

Seron Parmia, 12 years old.

The day she realized her first love.

And now, in the present.

Seron faced her first love from that day once more.

She clenched her eyes tightly, her heart racing.

“Back then, I didn’t even ask for a name.”

Back then, being so young, she leaned solely on the boy’s kindness and never asked for his name.

That day haunted Seron again and again.

“I’ve gone to many social events since then, but I’ve never seen him again.”

Seron had been unlucky.

Every attempt to see the boy ended in missed chances.

It was undoubtedly tragic.

But Seron had come face to face with her first love again.

And unbelievably, at a place she never expected.

However.

I keep repeating it.

Seron was not lucky.

My facial expression remained stern as I looked at Seron.

Seron met her first love again.

Yet, her first love was not present here.

The Bickamon who introduced her to first love was no longer in this world.

What was here was just me, who had taken Bickamon’s place.

I am not Seron’s first love.

I am just the scoundrel who stole away her first love.

It suddenly hit me.

I was merely an outsider who stumbled into the Butterfly of Flame’s side.

The reality I had been neglecting and avoiding until now finally poked its head through.

Seron slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, filled with love, looked at me.

Not this.

The place her eyes ought to turn to is not me.

Yet Bickamon was not here.

I couldn’t even imagine how Bickamon would treat Seron.

I was absent that night.

“Could you tell me your name?”

The question Seron had not asked that day was posed to me.

My name.

Hearing Seron’s question, my lips twitched.

Am I Hanon Irey?

Or Bickamon Niflheim?

Or perhaps.

My feet unconsciously shuffled back.

Was it a step too far? My clothes got ruffled.

At that moment, a dagger-shaped pendant slipped out from my attire.

Seron’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.

“That…”

Oh no.

This was an error brought on by my flustered state.

As I hurriedly attempted to conceal the pendant, Seron gazed at it, bewildered, then suddenly laughed.

“…So, it was the fool who called it a sweet potato.”

It seemed Seron understood the situation on her own.

It appeared she thought Bickamon had come because I had entrusted the pendant to him.

Fortunately, there was no need to resolve any misunderstandings related to that.

In the meantime, I struggled to regain my dizzying thoughts.

“…Sorry, the boy you knew is no longer here.”

And there was Seron’s face.

Her expression was one of deep hurt.

My previous words had sounded just like a rejection to her.

As I attempted to correct myself, Seron bit her lip and then smiled through her tears.

“It’s okay. The girl from that day is still here.”

Those words stirred feelings I could not describe.

“…I’m sorry.”

I could no longer talk to Seron and dashed out instead.

Rushing down the corridor, I hastily tightened the bandage around my neck.

My figure slowly began to morph into Hanon’s.

Consequently, my reflection appeared in the window.

There was no sign of me.

I barely managed to stop my hand, which had instinctively stretched toward the window.

‘Calm down.’

I never anticipated I’d waver like this.

Unbeknownst to me, my mind was deteriorating.

The pressure to avoid a bad ending mixed with the tension.

And ultimately, the realization that I was merely an outsider.

These two thoughts weighed down on my heart.

“You!”

At that moment, a familiar voice reached my ears.

Her honey-blonde hair caught my eye.

She rushed towards me, her face concerned as she checked my complexion.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

My pale face was already drenched in cold sweat.

Seeing this, Isabel reached for my face to wipe away the sweat.

Smack!

I accidentally swatted her hand away.

Isabel was also part of the Butterfly of Flames.

Moreover, she saw me as a reflection of Lucas.

I didn’t want her touch on me.

Pause-

Realizing too late that I had acted too sharply, but it was already done.

Then Isabel lowered her rejected hand and quietly stood next to me.

She didn’t say anything more.

“…I’m just feeling a little off. Just leave me alone.”

“Okay, I’ll wait until you feel better.”

“No need to…”

“Just like you did back then.”

Isabel interrupted my words.

“You did the same that day when you followed me without permission.”

The day Isabel had gone to the walls of Jerion Academy.

I had pushed my way to follow her.

“And before that…”

Isabel murmured words she still hadn’t found answers to.

Then she shook her head and said to me.

“So I have the right to do as I please.”

No more words could come out.

Yet, one thing became clear.

Isabel, who made eye contact with me beyond the window, was definitely looking at me.

Sunflowers were gazing at the moon instead of the sun.

That realization somehow helped me regain a fragment of warmth I had lost.

* * *

Thanks to my time with Isabel, I managed to regain some composure.

Today I learned how dangerous it is to be alone when you’re in a bad mental state.

Now that I said I was okay, Isabel smiled brightly and walked alongside me.

Her smile looked genuinely joyful.

Summer was on its way out, and autumn was beginning to come in.

Seeing the colorful fall leaves, I strangely felt they resembled me.

Because I too was gradually blending into this world.

“Isabel.”

“Yes?”

When she heard her name, Isabel turned towards me.

“Thank you.”

Even after I had treated her coldly, I was okay because she stayed beside me.

When I expressed my sincere gratitude, Isabel beamed at me.

Then, she suddenly leaned closer to me.

“So, are we not going to boycott anymore?”

“No, that’s a separate issue.”

I replied sternly.

This main heroine thought she could just eat off my script.

“But you said thank you!”

“Gratitude is one thing, but I’m still going to do what I have to do.”

“Wow, that’s cheating!”

Isabel huffed in frustration next to me, but I just scoffed.

That little bit of jeering wasn’t enough to bring me down.

Compared to all the insults I’d heard from women up until now, it was cute.

My gaze fell back to the window.

Finally, the season for the boycott was drawing near.

‘Now all that’s left is.’

Getting Iris to start the boycott.

Alright, I’ve set the table; all you have to do is set the spoon down.

I’m going to completely turn the Student Council upside down.