How to End a One-Sided Love — Episode 13 (13/110)
The Grania Forest wasn’t far from the Byzar estate. Since I was already going out to see Arhan off, I figured I might as well take a short detour toward the forest to see the knights after a long time.
It wasn’t anything serious, and I wouldn’t be going deep inside, so it should be fine.
“Just a quick stop on my end. You need to take a detour, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You’re not even listening to me, are you? Honestly, at least answer properly.”
I reached out and pinched Arhan’s cheek.
“Ow, ow.”
“Don’t pass through Grania Forest. Go around it, got it?”
As I bickered with Arhan, the dense line of trees quickly came into view.
So did the shattered remains of the old man’s house and the knights of the family surrounding the area.
“Huh, miss?”
The first knight who spotted me widened his eyes in surprise.
Another knight standing beside him nudged his side.
“Hey, don’t lie—… miss?”
“Oh, it is the young lady.”
From all around, voices murmured in confusion, calling out “young lady” repeatedly.
I awkwardly raised a hand.
“Long time no see, everyone.”
“Miss, why are you here?”
Sir Zeon, who had sheathed the sword he was holding, hurriedly bowed.
How many times had I heard that question today already?
“I thought the head of the family was coming tomorrow….”
“It seems there was a mix-up with the date.”
I smiled brightly and waved in greeting.
Only then did the knights begin to approach one by one, their faces lighting up with relief.
“Oh, right, this isn’t the time for this. Miss, it’s dangerous here!”
Sir Zeon drew his sword again and began scanning the bushes warily.
“That’s right. Why did you come here?”
“To see him off.”
I pointed to Arhan standing behind me as I replied.
In an instant, the knights’ expressions turned cold.
“…Ah… I see….”
“Why is the young lord of House Hiris…?”
“You’re all so harsh.”
Was it really necessary to dislike him this much?
Arhan shook his head lightly.
“There wasn’t a carriage, so she gave me a ride.”
“The head of the family messed up, then.”
The knights nodded in agreement and began whispering among themselves.
Honestly, they were all quite mischievous.
“The carriage is here. Go on.”
“Okay, okay, stop pushing me.”
As Arhan grumbled his way toward the carriage, he suddenly turned around.
Just as I was about to be startled and pat my chest, Arhan grabbed my hand and kissed it.
“I’ll be going, sis.”
“Hey, that shameless—mmph!”
Sir Zeon, witnessing this, shouted in outrage, but another knight quickly covered his mouth.
I stood there blankly for a moment, then flicked Arhan’s forehead firmly.
Where did he learn something like that?
“Ow, ow.”
“Stop fooling around and get in already.”
I pushed his back as he rubbed his forehead, wincing in pain.
“And make sure you avoid the forest, got it?”
“I told you I will.”
From inside the carriage, Arhan waved at me, then glanced toward the knights and narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Thanks for worrying about me.”
“Right. Give my regards to the count and his wife.”
“Bye, sis.”
“Yeah. Take care.”
I watched the carriage disappear for a moment before turning back.
“Goodness, why are all your faces like that?”
“Now that the young lady is grown, seeing that bothers us.”
“How dare that Hiris young lord—who we raised so dearly—try to lay a hand on her! Absolutely not, miss.”
“That’s right. Even if he’s the only son and heir of the Hiris count, there’s just something off about him….”
Sir Zeon, wearing a stern expression, replied, and the other knights chimed in.
Honestly, they worried about everything.
I waved them off.
“He’s still just a kid.”
“A kid….”
Sir Zeon frowned, clearly unconvinced.
Just as I was about to comfort him and tell him to relax his expression, a rustling sound came from the bushes.
“Danger!!”
Sir Zeon stepped in front of me, drawing his sword. The other knights surrounded me protectively. In an instant, the atmosphere became tense.
When the figure emerged from the bushes, I blinked and let out a small laugh.
“It’s a deer.”
“……”
“Probably came to steal crops.”
I picked up a nearby branch and slowly waved it toward the deer.
“Hey, get out of here.”
Startled, the deer turned and fled back into the forest.
“Phew.”
Sir Zeon exhaled in relief, relaxing as he brushed his armored chest. His face had turned slightly red with embarrassment.
“Good work, everyone. I’ll be heading back now.”
As I said my farewells and turned to leave for the estate, Sir Zeon opened his mouth awkwardly.
“You’re leaving? Already?”
“If I stay around, it might make things uncomfortable for you all.”
I smiled awkwardly and adjusted my collar.
“My father said he’ll take measures soon, so please bear with it a little longer.”
“Y-yes….”
“We’re not uncomfortable at all… please stay a bit longer.”
The knights muttered weakly, looking reluctant.
“Right, do you know how much we’ve missed seeing you?”
“We still have things to unpack.”
I smiled faintly and waved.
“See you all later.”
The moment I entered the estate, I realized something.
I hadn’t even changed out of my uniform yet. What on earth was going on? A monster that was rarely seen after the Second Era had appeared in our territory.
“I hope everyone is safe.”
I muttered to myself into the air, then walked down the polished hallway and entered my familiar room.
“Whoa.”
I raised my eyebrows, looking at the room that was so spotless it might as well have been renovated.
I had no idea what was going on in our house.
“Miss?”
As I was resting after setting down my bag, I turned around at the familiar voice coming from the doorway.
“Rita.”
I smiled warmly and hugged my personal maid.
“I was just about to go find you. I’m glad you’re here.”
Rita’s lips trembled with joy. She hugged me back and patted my back.
“It’s been so long, miss. Nothing happened, right? Did you do well on your exam? No one bullied you, right?”
“Let’s talk slowly.”
I sat on the bed and smiled.
“Oh dear.”
Rita frowned slightly at the wrinkled blanket.
She seemed especially meticulous today.
“Right, I should organize your luggage. Everyone’s been busy lately, so we’re short on help.”
Rita began unpacking the bag I had placed on the floor.
“Oh my, you carry things like this too? Isn’t it heavy?”
She pulled out a thick book and exclaimed in surprise.
I sat up and answered casually.
“Oh, that’s from the club.”
“A club? The reading club?”
“Yeah.”
I lowered my gaze slightly and murmured.
I remembered that the library copy had been unavailable at the time, so I ended up buying it myself. It was a hassle, but I didn’t want to look like someone who came to club meetings without even bringing a book.
“Come to think of it, it’s not really a book the young lady would read on her own. Cornu… no, Cor… what was it?”
Rita tilted her head as she read the title.
“It’s okay, I can’t read it either.”
It apparently had some influence from ancient pronunciations, but in any case, it was very classical literature.
Senior Flora pronounced it very elegantly. As for Senior Noah, she barely spoke, so I couldn’t tell… Maybe only Senior Flora in the world can pronounce it? Maybe her tongue is structured differently.
As I tilted my head at the thought, Rita picked up a familiar-looking notebook and asked,
“This is a notebook, right?”
A red cover with ornate gold embossing.
I had no memory of packing it, yet at some point it had ended up inside my bag. At this point, I was used to it and didn’t think much of it.
“Wow, you haven’t used it at all. Did you not study, or were you too afraid to ruin something so pretty?”
Rita asked after flipping through it, but I couldn’t answer.
“Miss?”
“….”
“Are you upset because I said you didn’t study?”
Rita tilted her head, looking puzzled at my expression.
“No.”
“Is something on your mind?”
“Hmm….”
I bit my lip slightly and thought it over.
If I told her I had been rejected by someone I liked, Rita would probably hug me and cry her eyes out. That would be touching, but in that case, the rumor that I got rejected would spread throughout the entire estate within a day—and I would rather avoid that.
“Nothing.”
“Now I’m even more curious.”
Rita pouted and urged me as she continued unpacking.
“By the way, why is everything so clean today? Is someone coming?”
I looked around the room with a curious expression.
Rita, neatly taking out and organizing my clothes, answered.
“Didn’t you know? A guest is coming soon.”
“Who? Did Dad invite someone?”
I hadn’t heard anything.
Blinking in confusion, I tilted my head.
Was my father that busy? He didn’t even tell me.
“Hmm, well… ah! I heard someone from the Magic Tower is coming to deal with monsters.”
Rita thought for a moment, then clapped her hands as she answered.
“What?!”
At her words, I shot up from where I had been sprawled across the bed
