“What do you think of Jaelin?”
At Nathan’s question, Lionel let out a short laugh.
There was no object in the question, but Nathan’s meaning was clear.
He meant how she would be as a romantic partner.
“Jaelin? She’s a commoner.”
Lionel’s voice slipped through the slightly open door and reached Jaelin’s ears.
At his indifferent tone, as if he had never even considered it, Jaelin’s heart plummeted.
“Hmm. Still, she’s cute. Watching that tiny thing wander around everywhere as if she’s doing something important, she’s kind of like a little puppy. And since she’s a commoner, there’d be no problem if you dated her casually and then ended it.”
There was a faint hint of mischief in the voice of Nathan, who always went around with Lionel.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Lionel’s voice, always as warm as spring cotton candy to his close friends, was unusually stiff.
As if even the thought of tying a commoner to him was dreadful.
Jaelin knew it well.
That she and Lionel could never be together.
Lionel was a great noble of the Flandel Empire who would someday inherit a ducal title after graduating from the Academy, while she was nothing but a poor commoner orphan.
Even if not for that, there was an enormous difference between Lionel and Jaelin, like heaven and earth.
A dazzling smile like summer sunlight, a warm nature, and even the title of youngest magic swordsman.
If the word “perfect” could be turned into a person, that person would be Lionel.
Lionel was always surrounded by people who wanted to be close to him.
He shone so dazzlingly that someone small and insignificant like her could not even approach.
She already knew well that it was impossible.
But when she heard from his own lips that there was not even the slightest possibility, it felt as if her heart were being wrung.
Suddenly, it became hard to breathe.
“Hmm, really? Then it’s okay if I seduce her, right?”
At Nathan’s playful question, heard beyond the door, tears fell silently from Jaelin’s eyes.
The luxurious wrapping paper she had bought by scrimping on a month’s living expenses became soaked with tears and ruined.
“Do as you like.”
She heard Lionel’s voice answering Nathan’s question.
Before the meaning of that voice could reach her, Jaelin wiped her eyes and fled the spot as if fleeing.
She could not bear to hear Lionel’s answer.
She knew too well what answer would come from his mouth.
Her vision blurred from the pouring tears, and she could not see ahead.
As she turned the corner, Jaelin’s small body collided with something solid with a thud.
It was Adrian.
“What’s wrong, Peanut…?”
Adrian, discovering Jaelin’s soaked face, called to her in a puzzled voice.
“S-sorry.”
After muttering an apology, Jaelin ran frantically.
She heard Adrian’s voice calling after her from behind, but she could not stop.
It was time to end it now.
The time had finally come to put an end to a long, long ten-year unrequited love.
