Chapter 85

After being called by three women and hearing a whole lot of noise,

I was training with my head all jumbled up.

‘How did Act 4, Scene 1 end…’

The series of events that followed made my brain feel like it had taken a ride on a rollercoaster.

There are so many things I need to do going forward.

Problems popped up from the most unexpected places.

“Feeling guilty? You should probably change that expression.”

At that moment, I raised my head, following the voice I heard.

There was Hania, taking on my sparring partner.

We’re technically “together,” but it’s all fake romance.

So, we tried to stick close during class as much as possible.

Of course, in reality, we didn’t have a shred of affection for each other.

Hania was head over heels for Iris, while I had lost all feelings of love thanks to the bandages of the curtain.

There was practically zero chance of us being actual lovers.

“Looks like you realize you’ve been caught by Iris.”

“I was also forced into this! But the other two aren’t my fault, right?”

Well, I kind of brought this on myself.

“…Hanon, I think Iris really needs you.”

I blinked, staring at her.

“Iris has grown up lonely her whole life. It’s a sad truth, but being the 3rd Princess isn’t exactly a cheerful position.”

In Haishirion, there are four princes and three princesses.

Starting from the oldest, it goes like this:

1st Prince > 1st Princess > 2nd Prince > 3rd Prince > 2nd Princess > 4th Prince > 3rd Princess

Iris, the 3rd Princess, is at the very end of that line.

However, her maternal grandfather is a man with ambitions to seize the throne.

That would be the Duke of Robliju.

The Duke of Robliju went as far as making a contract with the Evil Zone to pull Iris up by the roots.

As a result, Iris crushed her siblings right in front of her and entered a fierce competition with the 1st Prince for the throne.

From the position farthest from the throne, she climbed to be the closest to it.

Through that process, not a single person could dare stand by Iris, who was even called the final villainess.

Moreover, her only source of love, her mother, had turned into a nightmare.

Iris had no family left by her side.

“I can act as a subordinate, but I can’t be Iris’s family.”

Hania’s words were tinged with regret.

“But Hanon can!”

She stared at me with clear eyes.

“Hanon could even help solve Iris’s insomnia.”

No, I only put a temporary band-aid on Iris’s insomnia.

Until her nightmares are resolved, her insomnia won’t go away.

Because of that, I had a lot to do moving forward.

‘Above all, I’m not truly family.’

I had told Iris one important lie.

So I couldn’t approach Iris as family.

“Hania, that’s not true.”

I refuted Hania’s words.

“You’re the one who’s the most important person by Iris’s side.

You’ve supported and watched over her more than anyone else.”

I’m definitely going to solve Iris’s nightmares.

But to fill in the rest, Hania would be the better fit.

“You’re Iris’s friend, right?”

As I smiled faintly, Hania silently stared at me.

Then, for some reason, she frowned deeply.

“Are you trying to flirt with girls like this?”

What is she even talking about?

I looked at Hania in disbelief.

In response, Hania wrapped her arms around herself with the arm that wasn’t holding a sword.

“Don’t think about trying to ensnare me too.”

“I’ve never even thought of that!”

“So that means I’m unattractive?”

Is this some kind of magical academy thing? No matter what I say, a knife comes flying.

Seeing my dumbfounded face, Hania chuckled in amusement.

“Just kidding. I know you don’t feel that way about me. The way you look at me is different from how regular guys do.”

“Hania, I’m a guy too.”

For some reason, Hania smiled brightly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Why did her smile feel so sad?

Suddenly, my heart ached.

“No. Maybe this is what keeps attracting more girls to you.”

Hania pondered seriously.

To me, it felt like a bittersweet dilemma.

Not seeing women as potential romantic partners just allows me to get along with them—such a sad life.

‘This is like being mentally asexual…’

Sorry, my son.

I promise to find a way to bring you back once I save the world.

Until then, I have to stay dormant.

“Vulnerability.”

At that moment, Hania dove into my space, leaving me dumbfounded.

In the end, I had to allow her to sweep me off the floor.

＊＊＊

That night,

just like before, I sought out Iris’s room in the guise of Hania.

By now, sneaking into the girls’ dorm had become second nature.

I casually passed through the entrance, looking for Iris’s room.

Even when the other girls walked by, I greeted them cheerfully in Hania’s form.

Is this even okay?

I thought about it but didn’t have a choice since Iris had called me over.

Swallowing a sigh as I climbed the stairs, I suddenly realized someone was standing at the stairway.

My head slowly lifted.

And then, I met the gaze of a girl with honey-blonde hair leaning against the wall.

She was crossing her arms and silently staring at me.

“…Isabel?”

“Oh, so this is how you arrived.”

Isabel left those words and turned, walking away.

Did she really wait here until I showed up?

No, more importantly, how did she see right through me?

At the very least, the bandages kept my appearance on point, even if I messed up elsewhere.

There’s no way she would recognize me without Sharine, the one with the star destiny.

Was it a coincidence?

Or had she tested the waters?

I stared blankly at Isabel’s retreating figure, completely dumbfounded.

She hadn’t said anything else.

With an uneasy feeling creeping in, I knocked on Iris’s door.

“Come in.”

Hearing Iris’s answer, I opened the door.

Iris was sitting by the window, gazing silently at the sky.

The evening sky was dense with clouds, and not a hint of moonlight was visible.

For some reason, the room was quite dark, lit only by a small lamp.

“Iris?”

When I called her name, Iris turned to face me.

“I heard you helped with that Boycott Incident.”

So, calling me here was to grill me on that?

I closed the door slowly, sporting a dry smile.

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?”

I couldn’t quite fathom what kind of answer Iris was looking for.

But I knew she didn’t want any flowery words.

“It was necessary for what I aim to achieve.”

A vague answer, sure.

But since it was the truth, Iris tilted her head as if pondering it.

With that, her jet-black hair cascaded down gracefully.

It was still autumn, yet through the thin fabric of her clothes, I could catch glimpses of her skin.

In the darkness,

the only thing shining bright were her ruby-like red eyes.

Those eyes were undoubtedly imbued with an unknown enchanting magic that would become her vessel in the Evil Zone later on.

“What’s your purpose then?”

“To graduate Jerion Academy safely.”

The time when Jerion Academy ends.

That moment marks the conclusion of the Flame Butterfly story.

After that, I have no idea what the world will turn into.

So I’m planning to use the knowledge I’ve gained to live well until then.

‘Or I might just end up going home after seeing the ending.’

I don’t expect that option much.

By then, going home might feel even more awkward.

Iris drummed her fingers slowly on the table.

After a while of that, she turned back to me.

“So, this whole incident was related to your graduation?”

“Having been involved in the Student Council for a while, I learned there are some unscrupulous individuals among the professors.”

“To ensure Jerion Academy runs smoothly, I deemed it best if they weren’t there, so I took action.”

“And what about Senior Nikita’s situation?”

“That too is no different.”

It was something necessary for the progress of Jerion Academy.

So I acted.

“Alright.”

But a flicker of disappointment crossed Iris’s eyes.

Reading that, I tilted my head for a moment.

Did she want a different answer?

“So, it wasn’t done for me.”

And soon after, I recognized the loneliness reflected in her gaze.

The words Hania said earlier today flashed in my mind.

That loneliness within her was something she couldn’t overcome alone.

‘…The one who would free Iris from her loneliness would be Lucas.’

Under the Duke of Robliju’s manipulation, Iris had to vie for the throne like a puppet.

Lucas was a very unique figure in her life.

Someone who wouldn’t stand for injustice and would step up first when danger lurked.

Even if it meant bearing harm to himself, he would willingly throw himself into the fray.

So at one point, Iris found herself intrigued by Lucas.

Though that curiosity faded and disappeared after Lucas’s death, at that moment, Iris surely found Lucas fascinating.

Lucas, with his fiery spirit, was the key to resolving Iris’s nightmares.

Each night, while she couldn’t fall asleep, Lucas stood by her side.

Through that process, Iris gradually felt a sense of comfort and warmth she’d never experienced before, opening her heart to him.

On the day Lucas finally saves her from her nightmares, Iris genuinely fell in love with him.

That was the story of heroine Iris Haishirion.

It was a tale far removed from my own, lacking the flame of spirit.

So I couldn’t step into the main role that Lucas would fulfill.

And yet, this wouldn’t fix the fundamental loneliness Iris felt.

Her loneliness gnawed at her constantly.

And that directly affected her nightmares.

‘I am.’

I entered this place as Hanon Irey, her cousin.

And Iris yearned for the human affection she had never felt.

‘I can do this.’

If Iris gets better, I would gladly play the role of her cousin, Hanon Irey.

But is that really enough?

Is it okay for Iris to feel the false warmth of a family just through my act as Hanon?

No.

Absolutely not.

That wouldn’t truly be in her best interest.

What I want is not a fake happy ending, like a mere decoration.

I want a genuine happy ending where everyone is happy.

“Iris.”

“Yes.”

“Starting today, let’s do morning training together.”

“Huh?”

The warmth of a false family.

Let that be damned.

“Iris’s nightmares.”

Iris flinched at my words.

Everyone knew she had insomnia.

No one knew she had nightmares.

That’s why Iris looked startled, her eyes wide.

Seeing that, the corners of my mouth turned up.

“I’ll take care of that for you.”

I’ll forcibly create a life for her without insomnia.