Chapter 15…
…Of course, the mistake was entirely mine, and as a result, Erik’s deep, forest-green eyes froze over like a dark woodland.
Still, if I could deflate his favor and act as if we were strangers, I might become a little safer.
I had no sword or shield, so the best defense I could manage was simply to widen the safe distance between us.
I entertained such a cowardly thought, and Erik, unexpectedly, gave me another chance.
“If you don’t say anything, I won’t know. I don’t have some magic that lets me read girls’ minds.”
“…So you do have things you can’t do.”
I clenched my teeth at Erik’s ridiculous expression and managed to part my lips again.
“It’s just… I can’t get involved with you. You know that too, right?”
As he stepped closer, his shadow fell across my vision.
“No, I don’t know.”
I wanted to tell him not to pretend he didn’t.
His gaze, looking straight at me, reflected me as if I were transparent, and somehow, I felt embarrassed.
But Erik and I are in completely different positions…! I didn’t sign any sort of pledge with him!
In the end, unable to answer, I fled from the library and ran straight to the dormitory.
Even though I was out of breath from running, it didn’t make me feel any better.
Among Branel’s many businesses, education represented the family most because it embodied the family motto of “Intellect and Honor.”
Erik Branel attending a high school under the Branel Foundation was, in fact, like the living, breathing emblem of the Branel family.
So the rumors that he was always on stage weren’t wrong.
It wasn’t difficult for him to say what people wanted to hear and show the faces they wanted to see.
Erik belonged to the kind who considered these things the easiest form of investment.
Even if they would forget the names of those students after graduation, a little smile wasn’t hard to give.
However, as he crossed the school grounds in the evening glow, his steps were unusually hurried, kicking up more dust than usual with each step.
Soon, the dormitory building came into view.
As Erik finally slowed his pace, someone caught up and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey, Erik! Why are you walking so fast? I barely caught up!”
It was Thomas from the adjacent room.
Erik forced a smile over his annoyed expression.
“You could’ve called me.”
“You think I didn’t? Were you too distracted to hear me?”
“Ah…”
Had he been so preoccupied with annoyance?
As Erik hesitated, Thomas burst into laughter, as if struck by some thought.
“What? Are you really worried about her? Watching you get distracted like that, the new student really is unusual.”
“…New student?”
“Oh, was it because of that? Never mind then.”
Thomas tried to move on as if it was nothing, but the word “new student” was like a magic spell that sharply struck Erik in that moment.
“Why the new student?”
“Ah…”
Thomas wrinkled his nose as if he had said something unnecessary.
“The bulletin board’s going crazy. Didn’t you know?”
Thus, Erik, returning to his room, finally opened the dormitory bulletin board he had long ignored.
WGStudentbostäders
Title: [Hammarskjöld] Saw Miss O again today.
She was being looked after in the cafeteria by the new student?
I thought she’d scold her for the scandal with Mr. W, but apparently not.
Reply
[Lagerlöf] She has her limits. Did you expect Miss O to try and restrain the new student?
↳[Tiselius] Judging by that, she must’ve been trying hard.
↳[Siegbahn] lololololol
[Hammarskjöld] Stop gossiping, it’s annoying. Go study instead.
↳[Tiselius] Poor Hammarskjöld, who knows no joy in life!
Even the very first post was terrible.
“Goal-!”
“Waaah!”
At the same time, in the neighboring dorm, Tiselius, cheers erupted almost daily.
“That’s it, Nicholas!”
“Hey, hey! Order the pizza already! What are you losers doing?”
Liam shook his head at the roaring voices after briefly stepping into the cafeteria.
With no seats left in the first-year dorm, freshmen had come to the third-year lounge to play FIFA, completely absorbed.
It was a fleeting moment of joy before exam season made third-years tense, so they should enjoy it while they could.
Nicholas, the hero of the victory, saw Liam passing by the corridor and quickly poked his head out.
“Captain! We’re ordering pizza. Want to join?”
“Nicholas, you’re managing your weight, right…?”
Liam, speaking like a captain, jabbed at him, and Nicholas frowned.
“Ah, I really don’t gain weight. Eating doesn’t matter.”
Liam patted the freshman’s head once in a cute, teasing way and was about to leave when the first-years in the lounge quickly shifted focus to another topic.
“Oh, right. I saw it in the library earlier—Erik Branel and the new student, there was a cold breeze between them.”
“See, it’s all just rumors. You have to trust what’s real.”
“No, I think it’s suspicious. From the Foundation’s perspective, it’s natural for Erik Branel to treat the new student well, right?”
Liam tilted his head slightly at the word “new student,” and Nicholas burst out laughing.
“Captain, you didn’t see it on the board because your phone broke that day, right? It was so noisy over the weekend!”
“Ah…”
I hadn’t seen it at all.
I had gotten a new phone and needed to verify it, so I planned to check the board only when grades were released.
“Then see it next time. Enjoy your pizza.”
Liam hurriedly said goodbye, fumbling with his phone to verify dormitory access.
The next day, during management class, a paper airplane flew from somewhere.
The word “Socialist” scrawled across its wing now looked almost like Johan Nordfeldt’s signature.
He hadn’t dared make a sound in front of Erik last time…
Meanwhile, the Branel heir, who had unexpectedly shown favor the other day, was sitting where he could see Johan’s mischief clearly—but today, he seemed determined to ignore it.
“Just… I can’t get involved with you. You know that too, right?”
Of course he would think that.
It was a good outcome, exactly what I had hoped for.
Yet, somehow, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
By the time I had received about three paper airplanes, class was over.
Heading to the cafeteria to meet Olivia, I saw a tall figure at the end of the hallway and finally smiled.
“Liam!”
He also spotted me and strode quickly over.
“Going to lunch? Come with me.”
After a few days of worry, even his sudden head pat this time brought relief rather than irritation.
“I’m eating with Olivia. Can I sit with you?”
“Of course. Looks like Miss Olivia Salvius’ moral education session came sooner than expected.”
I couldn’t help but notice him giggling, focused on me.
Only then did I realize this sudden meeting wasn’t by chance—it was Liam’s thoughtfulness.
Perhaps Liam checked the bulletin board more often than Erik Branel.
“Did you come because you were worried about me?”
I asked quietly as we walked toward the cafeteria, and Liam grunted back.
“Why would I? You were ignoring my DMs again.”
“Huh?”
I had probably kept my phone away, annoyed at the school app.
“Sorry. I didn’t see them.”
My simple apology prompted Liam to mockingly beg for civilization.
“Please, come back to the civilized world, Vivi…”
We laughed as we walked to the cafeteria and joined Olivia.
Despite saying she was only friendly enough to cheer as the rowing team captain, Liam treated Olivia with surprising closeness.
Well, Liam had been making friends with anyone since childhood.
Even as curious eyes stared, Liam’s presence made everything much more bearable.
Though I couldn’t see it anymore, I only felt sorry for Liam, whose name now appeared alongside mine on the bulletin board.
