Hey hey hey! This can’t be right!
Why are you two smiling so sweetly right in front of me?
The girl, still unsure how to describe their relationship, hesitated.
Then the boy came in to clarify everything and express his intentions.
What kind of romantic drama development is this?!
And I—I'm like that cliché bad woman who forces the heroine to confess?
Zervanie was falling apart.
The romantic scene she’d fantasized about countless times had finally happened.
Good news: the male lead was Felyn.
Bad news: the female lead… was someone else.
Damn it! Why did it have to be like this?!
“Viloti, how come you’re here so early? There’s still a lot of time before our meeting, right?”
“I just… I wanted to see Felyn a little earlier, so I came ahead.”
Enough already!
“Can you not say that? Please! I’m still standing right here, okay?! Show a little consideration for my feelings! I didn’t even do anything to you, alright? I admit I wanted to annoy you earlier, but I didn’t even succeed!”
Even though Zervanie was already emotionally bruised by Viloti, she still gritted her teeth and tried to keep up her likability in front of Felyn.
“Felyn, why did you come outside too? It’s so hot out here. You should stay in the shop where it’s cool.”
“I came out to meet Viloti.”
Oh, perfect. Just great.
Then what am I? Should I go crawl under a car now?
“But Zervanie, didn’t you say you had something this afternoon? Why are you still here?”
Here it is!
Zervanie’s ahoge (silly strand of hair) practically stood straight up.
This was her chance! Her counterattack was coming!
All she had to do in front of Viloti was say, “Felyn, I’m about to leave. Thank you for treating me to ice cream today. I had a lovely time with you this morning.”
Then throw in a wink.
That pink-haired lady would absolutely get jealous, right?
Then she’d finally get a bit of payback.
“Felyn, I’m about to leave. Thank you for treating me—”
Halfway through her line, Zervanie froze.
Because she heard something terrible.
“Felyn, Miss Zervanie wanted to give us some coupons, that’s why she was still here.”
Viloti answered Felyn’s question.
“Coupons? What coupons?”
“‘Karine the Witch. the limited edition dessert shop. Miss Zervanie said she couldn’t go today, so she gave them to the two of us.”
“What? Those super-hard-to-get dessert coupons? I tried booking them for half a year and still didn’t get a spot. Thank you, Zervanie! You’re seriously beautiful and kind!”
Felyn looked at Zervanie with surprise.
He never expected her to be so generous, giving coupons to him and Viloti.
She must have really let go.
I misjudged you, Zervanie!
But Zervanie’s face looked… strange.
Her expression was frozen stiff, as if glued in place.
This… this isn’t right?!
THIS ISN’T RIGHT!!!
She screamed internally.
Viloti and Felyn were going on a date, and she… she had handed over dessert coupons to make their afternoon even sweeter?!
Zervanie looked at Viloti, panic in her eyes.
She thought Viloti was just some clueless noble girl, but now it seemed she was hiding her true skill!
Was I just caught in her trap?!
Not only did my plan fail, I even handed her the sweet bonus myself.
Viloti… who even are you?!
Viloti tilted her head slightly.
Why was Zervanie giving me such a weird look?
Was she mocking me?
Was she really such a bad person?
…I misjudged you, Zervanie.
“Miss Zervanie, I’ll repay the favor.”
That was the most respectful thing Viloti could think to say.
But in Zervanie’s mind, it was a whole different story.
Trying to look innocent while taking advantage, Viloti really is an expert.
Trying to make me look petty in front of Felyn, huh?
Felyn chimed in:
“Zervanie, I’ll pay for the desserts. It doesn’t feel right to just take them.”
Even he felt bad.
He already had a pile of Zervanie’s autographed envelopes in his bag, and now he was accepting free dessert coupons too.
Zervanie was truly a saint, his personal money-printing machine.
“No need, no need. They’re about to expire anyway. Just take them.”
Zervanie gritted her teeth as she dug the two coupons out of her bag.
I’ve said it this far, I can’t back out now!
If she didn’t give them over, it’d only make her look worse in front of Felyn.
He’d think she was lying.
“Hope you two have a great time.”
Zervanie’s voice turned a little sharp.
She watched Viloti step forward and reach for the coupons.
But Zervanie wasn’t ready to let go.
It hurt. It hurt so much.
Those were the dessert coupons she’d been looking forward to for so long!
She’d saved up those two on purpose!
Originally, she wanted to use them to go out with Felyn.
Just imagining the two of them sitting in that shop, eating cake, saying things like:
[Your cake is so good, let me try yours too~]
And then… they’d be sharing saliva.
And she was the one who made that moment possible?!
Just kill me already!
“Zervanie?”
Viloti couldn’t figure out why Zervanie was so reluctant.
After a few more tugs, the coupons finally ended up in Viloti’s hands.
Zervanie saw her gaze fall on the two coupons.
Viloti even lightly traced the words on them with her fingers.
She’s definitely imagining the date with Felyn already!
Definitely imagining sitting next to him, letting him feed her cake!
With skills like hers, she’ll capture Felyn for sure.
No! Felyn, don’t fall under her spell!
“I-I’ll get going now. You two have fun…”
If she didn’t leave now, Zervanie was going to pass out from rage.
She didn’t even remember how she walked away.
All she knew was, after those two lovebirds waved at her like a newlywed couple on stage, her mind went blank.
By the time she came to, she’d already left
Holmholt.
How… How did it come to this?!
At the ice cream shop entrance—
Watching Zervanie’s figure disappear into the crowd, Felyn finally turned back toward the store.
“Did you say anything to Zervanie just now?”
Now that he’d cooled off a bit, Felyn found it odd how quickly Zervanie’s attitude changed.
It felt unnatural.
Maybe Viloti had said something to her?
“No. I didn’t say anything.”
It was all Zervanie talking.
Viloti had only answered questions honestly.
“…I see.”
Felyn relaxed a little and walked back toward the shop.
He still had stuff to pick up.
Since Viloti was already here, he might as well take her inside to rest.
But after a few steps, he realized Viloti was still standing in place.
She was looking at him quietly, with a gaze full of gentle anticipation, like a loving wife seeing her husband off at the door.
“Viloti? Aren’t you coming in? It’s hot outside.”
Viloti shook her head.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced little circles on the strap of her shoulder bag.
“It’s not time yet.”
“…Time for what?”
“The time I agreed to meet Felyn for our date. There’s still one more hour.”
“So…?”
“So I’ll wait outside until then. I don’t want to interfere with your personal time.”
(End of Chapter)