TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 144
Yuria cried for a long time in my arms.
She asked how I recognized her.
She asked why I recognized her.
Repeating her complaints about not wanting to show this side of herself, really not wanting to, tears continued to flow.
Yuria’s seemingly endless tears finally stopped with the words, “Thank you so much for finding me.”
Yuria took a deep breath and looked toward the banquet hall beyond the curtains.
It’s about time to return to the ball.
If we stayed here on the open veranda any longer, we would surely become targets for the Heretics. Moreover, if we continued to be absent, it would only make things difficult for everyone.
Holding Yuria’s trembling hand, I tried to think of a clever line. After all, it felt like she needed a word of encouragement to return to the ball.
“Miss Yuria.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be too scared.”
“…Is it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Yuria took a deep breath and patted her cheeks.
“Haah. Do you think it’ll be okay?”
“What will?”
“The fact that Ricardo is with me. I feel like strange rumors will spread.”
“It’s fine. If anyone says anything, I’ll just deal with them.”
“What?”
“Just kidding.”
It seemed like Yuria hadn’t realized her face had returned to normal. Since there was no mirror on the veranda, she couldn’t have noticed.
‘How should I explain this?’
Suddenly saying, “The magic has been undone,” felt too strange. Hmm.
I tapped Yuria’s cheek and pointed toward the faintly visible mirror between the curtains.
Yuria flinched at the unexpected touch, her shoulders twitching as she looked at me in surprise.
“Eek…! Why did you do that all of a sudden?”
“Would you look at the mirror over there?”
“What?”
“The mirror in the corner of the banquet hall over there.”
Following my outstretched finger, Yuria turned her head. The mirror faintly visible through the curtains reflected our figures.
The Boy with Red Hair and the Girl with a beautiful face.
The face that had received so much criticism was gone, replaced by the Heroine’s beautiful face reflected in the mirror.
“Huh…?”
Shocked, Yuria touched her face with her hands. Wondering if it was a dream, she pinched her cheeks and alternated between looking at the mirror and my face, eventually realizing it wasn’t a dream and letting out a scream.
“Huh? Huhhh? Huhhhhhh?!”
“Even if you look at me like that, I don’t know. I don’t know why Miss Yuria’s face changed either.”
To lighten the mood, I tried a clumsy joke with Yuria.
“Maybe you were kissed by a Prince or something.”
“What…?”
“Just kidding.”
“I don’t know.”
Yuria punched my shoulder, her face turning red. Complaining, “Don’t joke like that,” Yuria looked much better than before.
‘Now this feels like the real Yuria.’
In the novel, the Heroine Yuria had a bright energy. Seeing her gradually regain the innocent smile and cheerful demeanor that had stolen the hearts of many Men, I let out a sigh of relief.
I subtly extended my hand toward Yuria.
“Shall we head back now? It wouldn’t look good for the Protagonist of the ball to be sulking in a corner, would it?”
Like a scene often depicted in romance novels, I stretched out my hand toward Yuria.
Yuria, staring blankly at Ricardo’s smiling face as he looked toward the banquet hall bathed in Subtle Light, stood frozen.
“Why are you just standing there? You’re making this awkward.”
Seeing Yuria’s dazed gaze, as if she’d been struck on the head with a hammer, I let out an awkward smile.
‘Ah, maybe this wasn’t the right move.’
Realizing I’d gotten carried away with the atmosphere and done something overly cheesy, I awkwardly withdrew my extended hand.
At that moment.
-Grab.
Yuria’s soft fingers brushed against the calloused skin of my palm as she took my hand.
“Yes…! Let’s go!”
With her swollen eyes forming an Eye Smile, Yuria beamed at me brightly. Her smile, as clear as the autumn sky without a single Cloud, made me smile the same way in return.
“From now on, just trust me.”
“I’ve trusted you since before….”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
Today, Yuria was holding my hand tightly.
As if she would never let go.
*
-Click.
Seeing the two figures entering the banquet hall, Ruin set down the wine glass he was holding and spoke.
“What is this?”
-Just don’t be nervous and keep your eyes on my handsome face.
-What does that even mean…
-It’s not wrong, is it?
-Well… I guess not.
-What did you say?
-Nothing. I was just talking to myself.
Yuria was holding Ricardo’s hand.
Seeing the freckled woman who had fled to the veranda now shyly smiling as she walked in, Ruin felt a pang in his chest.
‘Why is Yuria coming from there?’
Seeing Yuria walking slowly in the dress he had gifted her, Ruin clenched his fist and glared at Ricardo in disbelief.
Because something unexpected had happened.
Lost in his complicated thoughts, Ruin heard the voice of the Student Council President beside him.
“What’s this? Isn’t that Yuria? When did she get here?”
“…”
“Ruin?”
“…”
Ruin didn’t hesitate and walked toward Yuria.
As he stomped forward, his shoulder collided with a female student who had once mocked Yuria, causing her to let out a Dying Scream, but Ruin ignored her and kept walking, focused only on his goal.
‘Why is she coming out with that guy?’
‘If she was here, she should’ve told me.’
Ruin was filled with rage. Yuria, wearing the dress he had gifted her, was with the person she hated the most.
Although he was pleased she had worn his gift, he was deeply displeased that the first person to see her in it was Ricardo.
Looking at Yuria, who shyly lowered her head while holding Ricardo’s hand, Ruin shouted.
“Yuria!”
Ruin’s voice rang loudly through the banquet hall.
Even though everyone in the banquet hall could hear his loud voice, Yuria firmly held onto Ricardo’s hand and ignored him.
“…”
It was Neglect. A cold Neglect he had never felt from Yuria before.
Ruin, who had never experienced such Neglect from Yuria, felt a chilling Shiver run down his shoulders.
As the thought of ‘Why…?’ crossed his mind, murmurs began to reach Ruin’s ears.
-It’s Yuria.
-When did she get here… Wow. But what is this? Why is Yuria so beautiful?
-Right? But who is The Man next to Senior Yuria? He’s totally my type.
-Ah… Damn. But why are those two together?
The envious gazes of the Students were directed at Yuria and Ricardo. Compliments about how well they matched and how handsome he was were all directed at the person Ruin hated the most.
Watching Ricardo steal the attention that should have been his, Ruin began to lose his grip on reason, and before he knew it, he found himself tightly grabbing Yuria’s wrist.
Yuria frowned at the painful Grip Strength tightening around her wrist.
“Ugh…”
Realizing too late that Yuria was in pain, Ruin hurriedly tried to let go of her hand, but Ricardo’s cold Voice stopped him.
“Let go.”
“…Shut up.”
“If you don’t want to die, let go.”
Ricardo glared at Ruin with a Red Glare in his eyes.
Ricardo’s boiling Voice, now laced with deep Killing Intent, made Ruin feel as though his legs were about to give out.
‘Son of a B*….’
Overcoming the chilling Killing Intent with difficulty, Ruin spoke to Yuria.
“Why are you so late? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”
“…”
“I couldn’t find you anywhere, do you know how worried I was?”
“…”
“But Yuria, you look really beautiful today.”
With a Small Smile, Ruin glanced at Ricardo.
“Thank you for wearing the Dress I gifted you.”
Feeling a sense of superiority, Ruin tried to revel in the fact that Ricardo hadn’t been chosen.
“Let go.”
As if to vehemently deny him, Yuria began to roughly shake off the hand holding her.
With eyes filled with disgust, Yuria glared at Ruin and spoke in a Cold Voice.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to associate with an ugly girl?”
“Huh…?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
When Ruin reached out to grab her hand again, Yuria irritably avoided him and spoke with a cold expression.
“That’s what you said to me.”
Clutching the hand that lingered awkwardly in Empty Space, Ruin responded to Yuria. Searching his memory, he tried to recall when he had ever said such a thing, his voice filled with confusion.
“What are you talking about? When did I ever say that to you?”
As Ruin stammered in confusion, his awkward gestures stopped when he noticed the Bandage Tape covering Yuria’s fingertips. Gradually, his words began to falter.
‘Huh…?’
Yuria answered Ruin’s confusion with a firm tone.
“Are you seriously pretending not to know?”
As countless ominous puzzle pieces began to fit together in Ruin’s mind, he started to piece it all together.
“You said it. Why are you pretending you didn’t?”
As Yuria vented her Emotions, her unfamiliar demeanor left Ruin’s gaze wandering.
The puzzle was coming together.
-I’m Yuria.
-Shut up. Yuria isn’t as ugly as you. Don’t run your mouth.
The sorrowful image of the Girl with Freckles began to stir up Ruin’s heart.
*
‘Oh…’
Yuria held my hand and said.
“Let’s go. Leave that Trash behind.”
Honestly, I was quite surprised to see Yuria showing such an unexpectedly resolute side.
‘I thought she’d forgive him with an “I understand,” but…’ Watching Yuria firmly cut ties, I couldn’t help but admire her.
‘Well, I’d have done the same.’
Who would like someone who openly insulted them? No one.
As I brushed past Ruin, who stared blankly at Yuria’s Back Figure, I bumped his shoulder and whispered softly.
“What did I tell you?”
“…”
“Mr. Ruin really can’t do anything.”
As Ruin hung his head, staring at our retreating Back Figures with Empty Eyes…
-Rumble…!
The lights of the Chandelier began to sway.
**
“Hmmph.”
Olivia was bored.
With the Butler on leave, there was no one to keep her company. Though he was always Nagging, she couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely without him around.
“I’m bored.”
‘What’s Ricardo doing?’
Olivia, feeling the boredom, stared at her Desk.
-If you’re bored, read this.
-No.
-Then don’t read it.
-No.
The book Ricardo had left behind.
A thick book with no title that looked utterly uninteresting.
“Not reading it.”
Yawning, Olivia gazed at the stars scattered across the Night Sky.
“One star.”
“Two stars.”
“Three stars.”
By the time the bored Olivia had counted stars into the triple digits…
-Thunderous Roar…!
Dark Clouds began to gather in the sky.
“Oh…”
-Flash!
Crimson Lightning began to rain down toward the Academy.