Misunderstanding
The next day. After school.
“Leje. Are you free to hang out today?”
Rudell packed his things, stood up, and approached Leje.
He’d noticed her unusually somber expression lately, likely due to the recent incident.
However…
“Sorry, I’m a little busy today.”
“Well, I can’t force you…”
He couldn’t drag someone out if they were busy.
With a sigh of disappointment, Rudell turned to leave.
It wasn’t like today was the only day they could hang out. They could always find time later…
Or so… Rudell thought.
But the next day…
“Leje. How about we go out today…?”
“Sorry, I’m a bit busy today too.”
And the day after that…
“Leje, today…”
“Sorry, maybe later.”
And the day after that…
“Leje…”
“Later.”
Thus, a month passed.
“…”
“[Y-Young Master Weinstein…?]”
Silfier looked at Rudell, sprawled on his desk with a haggard face, and spoke with a worried voice.
“What’s wrong? If you have something on your mind, we’ll listen.”
Kurt, observing the scene, also spoke.
It was rare for Kurt to concern himself with others' affairs, but even he could see the severity of Rudell’s condition.
His eyes were devoid of light and life, and dark circles had settled under them. If it weren't for the occasional blink, he could have been mistaken for a corpse.
“It’s just that…”
Rudell raised his head, let out a long sigh as if hesitating, and slowly opened his mouth.
“Leje… I think she’s avoiding me…”
Over the past month, the total time Rudell and Leje had spoken was less than an hour.
Rudell was immensely stressed by Leje’s changed behavior since the incident in the slums.
[…]
“…”
Kurt and Silfier were speechless.
As the saying goes, nothing is more complicated than human relationships.
It was the nature of interpersonal connections to drift apart and reconnect over trivial matters.
“[S-Shouldn’t you, shouldn’t you just ask her directly…?]”
“Well, it’s… how should I put it… it’s a difficult situation to ask about…”
Rudell was well aware of the change in Leje’s demeanor recently.
And he was also aware that he was the cause.
That's why he hadn't dared to ask her about it.
“[I… I think I understand…]”
‘It's not easy.’
With those words, Silfier nodded as if understanding the situation perfectly.
Just then…
“How about asking the Student Council President?”
“The Student Council President?”
Kurt, who had been watching him, spoke, and Rudell turned his head with a puzzled expression.
“She seems quite close to her, though maybe not as much as you. She might know something.”
“That’s…”
“[T-That’s right…!! The Student Council President might know something…!!]”
At those words, life returned to Rudell’s eyes.
Indeed, she might know something.
As his mind raced with possibilities, Rudell slowly lifted his head.
And he spoke to Kurt and Silfier.
“Thanks, both of you. I’ll go straight there after class!”
* * *
As soon as class ended, Rudell headed straight to the student council room.
“So. You’re saying Leje has been avoiding you lately?”
“Yes…”
Rudell nodded towards Cayley, who was sipping her tea.
A low groan escaped Cayley’s lips.
“Sorry, but I haven’t heard anything about it, so I don’t know.”
“Is that so…”
Rudell’s face fell.
Even Cayley, whom he had trusted, knew nothing about Leje’s changed attitude.
It was understandable, as Leje was Rudell's closest friend, just as Rudell was to her.
“So, you’re saying Leje started avoiding you after ‘that’ incident?”
“Probably…”
The False Thorn Carpenter incident in the slums.
Despite some misunderstandings, Rudell had thought the matter had been resolved reasonably well.
However, the aftermath was beyond his expectations.
“Hmm…”
Cayley let out a low groan and looked at him.
“Did I do something wrong to Leje…?”
“That’s unlikely. Leje isn’t stupid.”
The Leje she knew wouldn't be callous towards someone’s goodwill, especially not towards someone as close as a childhood friend.
The fact that she was avoiding him piqued Cayley’s curiosity.
“Hmm… Anything else?”
“I’m not sure. She seems to be going somewhere every night…”
“Ah.”
A low murmur escaped Cayley’s lips at his words.
Rudell, with his half-dead eyes, stared at her, sensing her reaction.
“Do you know something?”
“Well… whether I know or not…”
With a troubled voice, she recalled the events of a month ago.
[You want to use the training grounds?]
[Yes.]
[What for?]
[I’ve realized my weakness.]
[…]
Cayley felt a strange sense of unease from Leje’s overly calm demeanor.
There had to be a reason for her unusual behavior.
It didn’t take long for Cayley to deduce the reason.
‘It’s because of Young Master Weinstein…’
She recalled the events of the previous night.
-Rudell!! Rudell!! Please wake up!! Please!!
-Calm down, Leje! He’s alive! For now, we need to trust the healers…!!
-It’s my fault…!! I’m too weak…!! It’s all my fault…!!
The image of Leje, screaming like a madwoman in front of a heavily injured Rudell being carried in.
Cayley had been speechless.
‘She thinks it’s because she’s weak…’
Knowing Leje, it was entirely plausible.
On the surface, she was the perfect princess of the Dukedom, capable of anything.
But Cayley, who had known her for a long time, knew that she had a hidden fragility.
Having lost her mother at birth and raised under a strict Duke, she had been deprived of proper affection and unknowingly yearned for it.
Yet, she couldn't form deep relationships with others due to her status as a princess and her exceptional abilities.
Most people who approached her were after her position.
Even if, by some slim chance, she connected with someone who wasn’t, they would often be intimidated by her status and abilities and keep their distance.
Therefore, Young Master Weinstein was a precious existence to her.
The shock she must have felt upon discovering he was involved in dangerous activities without telling her must have been immense.
“Sigh…”
Even if it meant clearing up misunderstandings later, Cayley felt she had to play along for Leje’s sake. Refusing her request now could lead to further problems.
[Alright, I’ll grant you permission. But promise me one thing.]
[A promise? What is it?]
[You’ll talk to Young Master Weinstein about this. Understand?]
[…Alright.]
[Good. You can use the training grounds until ten at night.]
‘This should prevent any unnecessary incidents.’
Though Leje’s brief silence had bothered her, Cayley nodded with a satisfied smile.
* * *
And so, back in the present…
“Hmm… How should I put this…”
With a low groan, Cayley crossed her arms and frowned.
Based on what Rudell had said, it seemed Leje hadn't kept her promise.
Honestly, that girl…
She couldn’t have forgotten.
Did she intentionally avoid telling him?
With a short sigh, Cayley looked at Rudell, whose expression was filled with desperation.
“I’ll fix whatever I did wrong! Please, just tell me.”
“No, it’s not like that…”
This guy is just as troublesome…
Cayley made a troubled face.
It wasn't that she couldn't tell him the truth, but her feminine intuition screamed at her to keep quiet.
Just then…
-Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the student council room door, drawing Rudell and Cayley’s attention.
As the door opened, a familiar face appeared.
“Rudell…?”
“Leje…?”
As the two stared at each other with bewildered expressions,
“Leje~? This older sister has something to say to you~?”
Cayley said, glaring at Leje.
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Thank for the chapter!!🥰🍿
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