Chapter 85: Under Others’ Gazes
It felt like a brawl. Although there were no flying fists, we struck each other relentlessly until one side was utterly tattered.
…To be honest, you might even remove the “brawl” part. This was a one-sided beatdown.
Perhaps it was my karmic debt for making Hoyeon this serious. She completely overwhelmed me without holding back.
“Dogeon. Dogeon? Who’s the prettiest person in this academy?”
“It’s obviously you.”
“Isn’t it? Then why do you keep trying to charm other girls? Seriously… I’m curious. Guess I’ll have to find out. Rock, paper…”
Whether it was because she’d snapped during her "heat" or she was venting everything she’d bottled up, she strangled my spirit with a demeanor completely unlike her usual self.
Her eyes didn’t glint with anger—it was more like something had unhinged within her. I had no clue how to stop her, and I feared where this would lead.
“Scissors, paper, rock!”
As if she’d seen through all my shallow tricks, she didn’t let me win a single round after the first few.
Originally, I’d intended to play just a few rounds, send her back, and move on, but one foolish mistake brought us to this.
I should probably accept this as my karma. Maybe I should think of today as settling everything that’s been building up.
She chose paper, and I picked rock. I had no idea what method she was using, but the game itself felt rigged. Judging by how she stared at my hand like she was about to tear it off, she seemed to be fully utilizing her sharp instincts.
“So… what exactly am I lacking? Strength? Height? Or is it my body? Influence? Huh? Hm?”
Even though I’d told her several times it wasn’t her fault, it didn’t reach her at all. Or perhaps she understood but was just venting her frustration.
If she were her usual quiet self, I might have noticed subtle differences in her demeanor. But now, she was rampaging like a wild beast, leaving no room for me to read her.
“…Like I said earlier, it’s not that you’re lacking. I’m sorry. I keep repeating myself.”
“Then why do you keep flirting with others—no, girls! I only have you as my friend!”
We’d already had this exact conversation just moments ago. I cursed my inability to say anything but the same words over and over. If I revealed the truth, I’d probably be labeled 100% crazy, and she might leave me.
Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear her slip of the tongue just now. She was trying, but it seemed like she silently cursed every time I mentioned another girl.
“I’m sorry. Still, you’re the most precious person to me, and we’re closest. Please… believe that much.”
“Arghhh!”
She was about to use an iron claw on me but stopped abruptly, as if blocked by an invisible barrier. The strange noise she let out left me at a loss for words.
Why not just hit me outright? What was she even doing? But thinking about how I was the cause of her torment made it hard to feel entirely at ease.
I’d thought I could navigate her obsessive tendencies like balancing on a blade. Turns out, I’m about to be sliced in half.
Cutting ties with her wasn’t an option, so this balancing act was inevitable. Even accounting for her slightly unhinged state due to her "heat," her attention was already suffocating.
…I knew. A happy ending would be much simpler if I just left it all behind and lived happily ever after with Hoyeon.
The other characters were, essentially, strangers anyway.
But still.
If there was a way for everyone to be happy, and if I was the only one who could guide them to it, how could I turn my back on that?
I couldn’t.
At the very least, I wanted to try as far as I could.
“…Sigh. Enough. It’s almost lunchtime, so let’s stop here.”
This was the result. Even Hoyeon, whom I thought would be the easiest to handle, ended up angry with me.
There was no way a happy ending for everyone could be achieved easily. Even so, I hoped for such an ending.
Hoyeon stormed out of the room, not giving me any gesture to follow her. She slammed the door so hard that Yeonho, who had been sleeping soundly, jumped up in surprise.
Come to think of it, it was probably this little guy’s mealtime too. After filling his bowl with a handful of food, I hurried after Hoyeon.
***
Anastasia had one concern these days.
“What troubles you, my love?”
“I’ve told you not to call me that, Eric. There’s no need to act when it’s just the two of us. Just use my name.”
Her fiancé was the reason. A childhood friend she’d known for years, Eric had been separated from her for a decade due to her circumstances. When they reunited at the academy, he had turned into a mountain of muscle.
Having seen everything about each other as children, Anastasia had never thought of him romantically. His appearance, far from her preferences, didn’t help.
The cute boyishness of his youth had been replaced by a bulky frame. His bald head, paired with a meticulously groomed mustache, had left her in shock when they first met again.
“Well then, Anastasia. But since you address me formally, how could I ever speak casually to you, even when it’s just us?”
Despite his rugged appearance, his overly polite demeanor was not the real issue.
Her biggest problem was that she was starting to see him as a man.
“That’s exactly it…”
“…? I’m afraid I don’t understand what’s troubling you.”
The problem was that he was utterly oblivious.
Anastasia had been the one to suggest they play along with her father’s plans and go their separate ways later. Having seen him at his worst, she couldn’t bring herself to confess first.
“…Do people often say you’re oblivious?”
“My mother often said, ‘You’re always dense at crucial moments,’ but I’d say I’ve grown quite perceptive recently.”
Why was this musclehead, so clueless, starting to seem attractive to her?
Anastasia’s worries only deepened. Still, even concerns need a full stomach, so they headed to the dining hall.
“Why didn’t you bring your entourage?”
Because of you. She swallowed her words and replied.
“Sometimes, I want some alone time… though you ruined that by showing up!”
“My apologies, and thank you for sharing such precious time with me.”
Did he even realize what he was saying? Anastasia doubted it.
“…Whatever, Eric.”
Knowing she’d only end up frustrated, Anastasia gave up and began filling her plate.
“Eating vegetables is good for you. To think you still have those picky eating habits…”
“B-Be quiet! And you’re one to talk with how much food you’re taking!”
“This much is appropriate for someone my size. Besides, I included vegetables too.”
Annoyed by Eric bringing up her childhood habits, Anastasia found her irritation quickly fading.
“…Huh? Aren’t those…”
Her eyes fell on Dogeon and Hoyeon. But the atmosphere around them was drastically different from what she knew.
Gone was the subtle connection between them. Instead, a frigid tension reminiscent of a northern blizzard swirled.
“Do you know them? They look like they’ve had a fight.”
“Quiet. Are you really that oblivious?”
“…Hmm. I’ll be more careful.”
Criticizing her utterly oblivious fiancé, Anastasia cautiously observed the pair.
The frosty air was emanating from Hoyeon, while Dogeon, seemingly guilt-ridden, silently accepted it.
So, Dogeon’s done something terrible to her again. Anastasia could tell immediately. She guessed it might have something to do with him meeting her without saying anything to Hoyeon first.
Though the suspicious duo tailing them was a bit concerning, Anastasia decided to let it slide.
Even I, as a grand duchess, have people secretly following me—how much worse must it be for a princess like her?
Resuming her observations, Anastasia noticed something else peculiar.
The two weren’t speaking a single word to each other. They simply focused on clearing their plates in silence.
It was a stark contrast to the usual scene of them chatting away whenever she saw them in the dining hall. Anastasia once again tried to gauge just how big of a mistake Dogeon had made.
But she couldn’t even begin to fathom what he might have done to make someone like Hoyeon refuse to speak a single word to him.
She resolved to visit Hoyeon later and offer her sympathy.