How to End a One-Sided Love – Episode 19 (19/110)
“Ah… ahy.”
The disinfectant slowly trickled down over the wound.
As I wiped away the tears that had welled up, Dad spoke in a deliberately stern voice.
“I clearly made a promise. That I wouldn’t hold you responsible even if you got hurt.”
“I know……”
“Then you must take responsibility for your own actions, Kate. Right?”
I quietly nodded.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I had just interfered unnecessarily, which made me feel a bit depressed.
“Then rest.”
Dad, who had been looking down at my wound with a complicated expression, left the room with Linus and Aiden.
Only Noah-senpai was still standing by the bedside.
“Senpai…….”
Aren’t you going out to rest?
I was about to ask that when his face suddenly came closer, and I inhaled sharply.
“Why…….”
Through the glass-like lenses, his golden eyes trembled slightly.
He paused for a moment, as if taking a breath, then a low voice settled near my ear.
“Why did you do that?”
I didn’t need to think hard to know that the emotion in his face was concern.
Still, I didn’t let myself entertain any foolish misunderstandings. Senpai was kind. Senpai was a good person.
If he had gotten hurt because of me, I would have felt terrible too.
I smiled casually and lifted my bandaged arm.
“Getting a small scar on my arm is better than seeing senpai’s face get hurt.”
At that, senpai let out a small sigh.
“You……”
A wound on a noblewoman’s body meant more than just a scar. Scars could become a disadvantage later when it came to marriage.
But since I wasn’t planning to marry into some prestigious family, something like this was trivial to me. However, I realized that senpai, being a high-ranking noble from the capital, might think differently.
Wait… then he must be feeling a huge amount of guilt right now. A junior weaker than him got injured trying to protect him.
Damn it, should I have just stayed put? But I couldn’t just let his face get hurt.
As I mulled over all sorts of thoughts in my head, furrowing my brows—
“S-senpai.”
“You’re in pain.”
Senpai said as he wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corner of my eyes.
They must have come out when the disinfectant was applied earlier.
My heart started pounding again without any restraint.
“It’s just a physiological reaction… I mean, it did hurt, but—”
I was so flustered that my words came out all over the place.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and composed myself before speaking again.
“If I’ve eased your burden, I’m sorry, but I’m truly glad you weren’t hurt, senpai.”
Then I scratched the back of my neck and smiled.
“Mr. Norman said I’ll recover quickly. I’ll probably be able to remove the bandage before the next semester starts.”
Senpai remained standing still. His golden eyes, filled with a somewhat complicated emotion, trembled faintly.
The atmosphere felt suffocating, so I gripped the bedsheet tightly with one hand. Only then did senpai finally turn away.
“…Get some good rest.”
Was it just my imagination that his face, seen through the closing door, looked a little dark?
I was forbidden from going out for a week.
That was fine, but the problem was that today was the last day of that week—and the day the town market was being held.
“Dad, pleeease… hmm?”
“No, I said no.”
Dad, who was handling documents, firmly refused.
He used to say I was the most precious thing in the world… Dad, I’m starting to dislike you.
“You don’t even have anyone to go with.”
“What do you mean no one? I have Rita!”
At my glance, Rita shook her head.
“I already made plans to go with Rina……”
Oh, really now?
Dad said with a stern expression,
“There will be crowds. You can’t go alone without someone to escort you.”
“Hmph.”
As I pouted, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. I leaned on Dad’s desk and my eyes sparkled.
“Then what about senpai Noah? Can I go with him?”
He’s an outsider, and he doesn’t even know about the market. It would be a good chance to ease the awkward atmosphere and also introduce him to the territory.
“Linus and Aiden could come too, right?”
No awkwardness at all—perfect.
I clasped my hands together, satisfied with my idea.
“……”
Dad let out a small sigh, dipping his pen into ink.
“…If that’s the case, then go ahead.”
“Really? Yay!”
“Just don’t spend too much money.”
As I clapped happily, I tilted my head.
That’s unusual. Does Dad like senpai? Or maybe he likes Linus.
Humming softly, I left Dad’s office.
Senpai seemed to like Dad’s study. He spent most of his time there.
Dad, aware of this, gladly allowed him to use it.
“Senpai.”
Since he wasn’t in his room today either, I came to the study.
I placed tea and cookies on a nearby table and smiled.
“Please have some while you work.”
Senpai, who had been reading while seated, looked slightly flustered.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to bring all this.”
It was originally the servants’ job. But today, I had something I wanted to ask.
“Do you have time today?”
Noticing a hint of curiosity on his face, I quickly explained.
“There’s a market in town. Ah, it’s nothing special—just stalls selling food and little things to enjoy.”
“I see.”
“Well, um… so…”
Was it really necessary to be this nervous over one question?
I cleared my throat a couple of times before speaking.
“Would you… like to go together?”
Since I had my arm bandaged, I hadn’t really had a proper conversation with senpai. We just hadn’t had the chance to meet, but somehow things had felt more awkward than before. Maybe going out together today would help ease that.
After a moment of silence, senpai glanced at my arm and asked,
“Is your arm okay now?”
“Of course. Honestly, I could take the bandage off already.”
I waved my arm to show I was fine, and his pupils widened. His complexion also seemed to turn slightly pale.
When I slowly lowered my arm, his expression relaxed a little.
With a calmer face, he moved his lips slightly.
“I’d like that.”
“Of course, Linus and Aiden too.”
They’ve worked hard as well.
Just in case senpai felt burdened, I added quickly.
“……”
“Oh! You did mean yes, right? Shall we go ask them?”
I clapped my hands excitedly and headed toward Linus’s room.
“Pardon?”
“I’m sorry, young lady.”
Contrary to my expectations, Linus refused outright.
I looked a little deflated and asked again,
“You’re not going? It’s fun……”
“I’m sorry, young lady. I need to finish a report to submit to the tower lord……”
Linus, holding an unfinished report, answered apologetically.
Aiden also glanced at Noah-senpai and shook his head.
“Ah… I see.”
I lowered my head and murmured.
Stealing a glance at the senpai beside me, I pouted slightly.
So… is it canceled?
Tch, what a shame. I should ask Rita to bring back some food. What should I ask for… cotton candy? Skewers?
“…What are you doing?”
I was in the middle of thinking about food when senpai turned around, and I asked him.
“I was about to head out.”
Senpai blinked and asked,
“You don’t want to go alone with just the two of us?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
Ah… ah. Ah?
I finally understood and pointed at myself.
“Oh, just the two of us.”
Senpai gestured casually with his chin.
“Shall we go?”
Seeing how proactive he was, it seemed like senpai also wanted to go out and have some fun.
Right, even though it’s vacation, he must have been busy dealing with missions and hadn’t had time to relax.
As someone who received his help, this much was the least I could do.
“…Yes.”
We’ll just enjoy a little. We still have to return home when the sun sets.
With about three hours until sunset, that’s exactly how long we’ll stay.
Calculating the time in my head, I started walking forward.
