Chapter 18
“You could’ve asked one of the nearby servants to bring it. Why would you come yourself in this heat?”
“If I’m hot, then you must be hot too, Vivi. Besides, the drawer was locked with a key anyway. They wouldn’t have been able to bring it.”
Vivi felt a prick in her heart at Roni’s words. Who would ever consider the heat endured by the lower staff?
She was moved by the way Roni treated her, a maid, as an equal. With a face full of admiration that seemed to say, “As expected, my lady is an angel!”, she sent Roni off despite Roni’s insistence that she didn’t need to.
Once in the carriage, Roni fiddled with the pendant. Though she didn’t consciously realize it, her heart fluttered slightly.
The magic school was the most frequently featured setting in The Play of Vienna. Since this world had been shaped by her own hand, she was genuinely curious about the setting she had poured her soul into.
After talking with Gale the day before, Roni had changed her mind. Since she had to spend a year here anyway, she decided she would help Allen make lots of friends—so that when she disappeared one day, he wouldn’t be so lonely.
She figured this way, she could also make precious memories for herself. Maybe then, she could go back and still be happy.
Of course, she had no intention of dating Allen. For one, she had never considered him as a romantic interest.
Even if Sohee was technically still 28 and stuck in Korea, she’d spent five years here. Though Roni’s emotions sometimes made her act immaturely, she was in her thirties deep down.
“Dating an 18-year-old? No way.”
She planned to give Allen a stern talking-to. She checked his schedule again.
* * *
“You said you’d never come, didn’t you?”
Allen smirked as Roni handed him the note, clearly expecting her arrival.
“You took it, didn’t you?”
“Hmm, did I?”
“Don’t play dumb. You and Gale are the only ones who know about the access card.”
“Well, then I guess I did take it.”
Oh, for crying out loud.
Roni was thoroughly irritated by Allen’s nonchalant response. His backtalk was getting worse and worse. Putting on her most stern expression, she said:
“Give it to me. Now.”
“Nope.”
“Allen!”
“Well, as you can see, I still have to finish my sword training. If you want it, you’ll have to wait.”
Allen gripped his sword again and restarted the magical training program. With no other choice, Roni sat down in a nearby chair.
Well, Allen had his own schedule, so she figured she’d just wait and grab it afterward. She had already finished her morning classes at the art school, so she had time.
Roni watched as Allen resumed his training. He moved with the grace of a butterfly, yet struck with the precision and speed of a hawk.
Even though the program level was high, meant for upper-class students of the magic school, Allen showed no signs of strain.
Virtual targets materialized one after another, attacking him without rest—but they were swiftly and helplessly defeated. Roni couldn’t take her eyes off his movements.
Then suddenly—
“Wait… is he doing all this just to show off?” The thought made her feel oddly uneasy.
Knowing Allen, it wouldn’t be surprising. A crowd had gathered around the training area to watch him.
There were more girls, obviously drawn by his good looks, but quite a few guys as well—probably there to learn by watching someone of royal rank train.
Even if the plot had become twisted, Allen’s popularity was clearly intact. A strange motherly smile crept across her face. Was there anything this guy couldn’t do?
She continued watching for a while, until—out of the corner of her eye—she saw a flash of red hair that looked like Guinness pass through the open doorway.
Startled, Roni jumped to her feet and ran out. But the red hair—and Guinness—were nowhere to be found.
“Was I seeing things?”
Just then, Allen finished his training and stepped out of the classroom, frowning slightly when he saw Roni waiting outside. But when she turned around and walked back toward him, he smoothed his expression as if nothing had happened.
“If you’re done, hand over the drawing already.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s eat first, then talk.”
“Ugh! Are you seriously doing this?”
“I’m really hungry… but if you’re that unwilling to eat with me, I guess I’ll go alone.”
Allen pouted at her words.
Ugh, stop using that pretty-boy charm, you little devil…
Roni kept repeating to herself that she shouldn’t fall for that look. But Allen’s expression was more than enough to melt any fan’s heart.
Sigh… fine. We all need to eat. Let’s talk after lunch.
And just like that, Roni found herself dragged along to a late lunch with Allen—completely unaware that everything was going according to his plan.
Sitting across from him at the table, Roni noticed Allen’s still-damp hair from a recent shower.
“Your hair’s not fully dry.”
“Because someone didn’t dry it for me.”
“Please. You’re not a kid.”
“Weren’t you the one who said good kids should be back at the dorm early?”
Ah, there he goes again.
Allen remembered every little thing she said. That was so like him. He really was a pro at getting under someone’s skin.
Roni suddenly had a strange realization. What if Allen hadn’t been the one getting trained over these five years—what if it had been her?
Like a cat that acts like it owns the place, while the owner tiptoes around it as if they’re the servant… but in truth, the cat has been domesticated all along.
“Something feels off…”
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she sensed that things weren’t quite right.
When the food arrived, Allen neatly cut his portion and swapped plates with hers.
“I’m better with knives than my Roni, after all.”
“Thanks, but this knife’s not the same kind as that knife.”
Though she spoke kindly, Roni shot Allen a sideways glare for his subtle teasing before taking a bite of the meat. The moment she tasted it, all her irritation melted away.
Wow, this is amazing.
Roni’s face lit up in delight. She had eaten lots of delicious food since becoming Roni, but this dish easily made her top ten list.
She quickly forgot all about Allen and focused solely on the food. Allen ate too, but he kept sneaking glances at Roni’s ever-changing expressions.
He knew her taste perfectly. That’s why he had visited this restaurant in advance—to make sure it would suit her.
Just imagining the look on her face when he took her to the next place made him smile.
“Good?”
“Yeah! It’s amazing. How do you always find places like this?”
“Just instinct.”
Allen smiled as he watched her enjoy the food. If only she knew—how much effort he put into scouting these places just to see her smile like that.
After lunch, Roni even followed him to a dessert café, then to a performance. By the time they were done, the stars had come out.
Standing in front of her castle, Roni berated herself.
“You idiot. All that just for some food? That was basically a date!”
Allen, who understood her better than she did herself, had steered her effortlessly through the day. And she hadn’t even realized it.
“Now give me the drawing!”
“I already did.”
“…What?”
“I brought it over before you even came to find me.”
Allen laughed, clearly enjoying himself. Roni stood there dumbfounded, and then—furious—kicked him in the shin.
“Ow!”
Caught off guard, Allen clutched his leg and let out a yelp. Roni, afraid he’d try to kiss her again, turned and ran inside without looking back.
“Allen, I really hate you!”
Meeting was always so hard, but parting was so easy and quick. Allen remained standing outside until the light in her room flickered on.
She says she hates me… But does she hate me as much as I love her?
It was always Roni who pushed him away unless he forced his way in like this.
Despite the bitterness, Allen decided today was good enough—he got to see her, after all. He wanted to keep their relationship going, even if just like this. Slowly, carefully, but closer.
As he walked back to the dormitory, Allen began planning his next scheme to tease Roni.
