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Chapter 13
Herwin’s lips slowly curved downward.
“…You, do you like me?”
Lucia couldn’t even meet Herwin’s eyes. She fumbled, lips twitching, before finally nodding.
Thud!
Herwin’s heart dropped. Because she had been acting no different than usual, he thought she no longer liked him.
But if that wasn’t the case… A creeping unease rose inside him, whispering that the same thing that had happened six days ago in the hall might happen again.
Lucia had squeezed her eyes shut because of her pounding heart, but when she felt the quiet around her, she cautiously opened them.
Herwin’s face was pale as a sheet.
Lucia suddenly remembered what Heil had once told her and hurriedly spoke.
“Don’t worry. I won’t confess in front of other people.”
“…What?”
“I said, I won’t confess in front of others.”
Herwin, who had been nearly swallowed by fear, couldn’t quite understand her words.
“You said you like me?”
“Yeah, I like you! Honestly, I like you more than Mom and Dad! But you don’t, right?”
“……”
“Mom told me never to make trouble for the person I like. You don’t like it when I confess in front of people, right, Herwin?”
Herwin blinked blankly before nodding.
“So I won’t confess where others can hear.”
Lucia blew out a huff of air as if to prove her firm resolve.
“But… when it’s just the two of us like this, I can say I like you, right?”
She leaned her head against his knee and gave him a shy grin.
Her flushed pink cheeks and softly curved eyes made her look even cuter.
It was a smile he had seen before, but this time it felt completely different.
Her vivid blue eyes, framed by her curved lashes, shone with brimming emotion as they held Herwin.
It felt heavy, overwhelming… but at the same time, it tickled somewhere deep in his chest.
Still, the pounding unease in his heart was stronger, and Herwin couldn’t recognize the flutter stirring within him.
He understood what Lucia meant, and he understood the sincerity in her words…
That was why he answered seriously.
“…I won’t fall in love with you.”
“Then I’ll just confess again!”
“What?”
He had spoken, prepared to hurt her—yet Lucia responded with cheerful boldness.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said I won’t go out with you.”
“I know. But I still like you.”
Herwin, dumbfounded, kept refusing, but each time, Lucia responded like a broken record: I like you.
“You’re so persistent…!”
Finally, Herwin snapped in frustration as the situation repeated itself.
“No matter what, I’m not going to date you!”
He stood abruptly, breathing hard, but when he saw those clear sky-blue eyes gazing up at him, his heart softened.
“Do you really hate me?”
“Of course! I don’t… not like you, but…”
If only he could’ve clearly said he hated her—but he didn’t truly hate her, so the words stuck in his throat.
Lucia’s lips curled up in a wide smile.
“Then you like me?”
“How does that follow?”
“Well, you said you don’t hate me. And I like you.”
“Stop it! Even if you say that, I won’t accept it.”
“No, I mean… I like you as a friend too.”
Herwin froze, caught off guard.
“I like you as a friend, and also enough to want to date you. What about you? Do you like me as a friend?”
“…Yeah.”
Herwin pouted but nodded. Though his reply came late, it wasn’t unwilling.
“Then that’s enough!”
Lucia stood, beaming as if satisfied just with that.
“Let’s stay close friends! But I’ll keep confessing since I still like you.”
“What is that even supposed to mean…”
It was nonsense—saying she liked him but then also saying let’s just be close.
“Haha, weird.”
Still, he wasn’t anxious anymore.
When Herwin chuckled at the absurdity, Lucia laughed along with him.
After laughing together for a while, Herwin finally reached for her outstretched hand.
“Fine. Let’s get along as friends.”
All the awkwardness between them melted away. They felt closer now than they had back at the estate.
“Herwin, I like you!”
“It’s only been five minutes since we agreed to be friends, you know.”
Herwin no longer feared her confessions. He even felt relaxed enough to joke about them.
Eight years old, the height of summer. Even under the blazing sun, those days together had felt cool and pleasant.
Their briefly broken bond had been rekindled in the North.
“Thinking back now, no wonder Herwin panicked.”
Unable to sleep, Lucia eventually asked her maid to bring wine.
She sat on the terrace, sipping while gazing into the dark landscape.
It had been thirteen years since she had first fallen for Herwin.
To be honest, she could only recall the moment she first fell for him and the scene of her confession. She couldn’t remember the details of what had actually happened.
She couldn’t even recall exactly what she’d done a year ago, let alone thirteen years ago.
“Geez, I really am stubborn. To still be holding on after being rejected so many times.”
If only she could let go of her feelings as easily as others said one should… But since she couldn’t, she just felt foolish.
“So, the next one will be my 99th confession, huh.”
Her last chance—just one more.
“If possible, I would’ve liked to reach an even 100. What a pity.”
She muttered to herself, unsure if it was a joke or sincerity.
Chuckling, Lucia flipped through her diary.
It was her “confession diary,” which she had kept faithfully since she was eight years old, recording every attempt.
There were days she felt happy, thinking Herwin might accept her, and days she was miserable from rejection.
All the joys and sorrows of her heart were etched within those pages.
Lucia kept reading her raw emotions until she paused around her 60th confession.
“Was this when I started at the academy?”
At sixteen, when she had entered the academy, she’d spent three years living alongside Herwin.
“…So much happened back then.”
She had been happy being close to him, but the jealousy and gossip had made things difficult too.
She recalled her very first days at the academy.
The academy was bustling with returning students and new arrivals.
From among the many carriages, one bearing the Agnes family crest opened, and a young man stepped out.
Several nearby girls blushed and whispered at the sight of him.
That young man was none other than Lucas, now eighteen.
Tall—nearly 180 cm—with a lean, muscular build, chocolate-brown hair, and eyes clearer than the sky.
He was handsome enough to draw every girl’s gaze.
“Lucia, careful.”
Lucas reached out a hand from the carriage to escort her.
“Wow, this really is the academy.”
“Congratulations on your admission, little sister.”
He grinned, sincerely proud of her.
Like any new student, Lucia couldn’t hide her excitement as she looked around. Lucas smiled at her obvious joy.
“I told you before, the uniform looks great on you.”
“Really? It doesn’t look weird?”
“Weird? Not at all. What worries me is pests buzzing around you.”
“Ugh, you always say that. You’re great in every other way, but you’re way too overprotective.”
She smacked his arm, embarrassed.
“Overprotective? Look at yourself, Lucia!”
She blinked, confused, then glanced down.
“What about me…?”
“You’re this cute and lovable—of course guys will fall for you!”
Lucia sighed, shaking her head. Her brother was at it again, bragging endlessly.
But Lucas’s worries weren’t unfounded.
Her wavy brown hair, fair skin, delicate features, and gentle blue eyes made her resemble him—but with a cuter, softer charm.
Her small stature—barely over 150 cm—only heightened others’ instinct to protect her.
She insisted she would grow taller, but it was doubtful she’d even reach 160.
Lucas loudly listing her charms drew attention from those around them, and Lucia blushed, moving away.
“I’m going by myself!”
“Wait, Lucia!”
Lucas hurried after her. It took a long while to cheer up his sulking sister.
The Agnes siblings dropped off their luggage and began exploring the academy.
Since Lucas knew the grounds well, he explained the important buildings and school rules while walking beside her.
The campus was lively with people, and acquaintances greeted Lucas one after another.
“Lucas, how was your break?”
“Oh, Ares! Long time no see. You doing well?”
“Of course.”
Lucia hung back each time, watching quietly while Lucas chatted with his friends.
This particular conversation went on longer than the others.
The young man had pale blond hair and violet eyes.
Though his build seemed delicate, his presence was commanding, giving off an air that kept others at a distance.
Violet eyes…
“Ah, is this your sister?”
“Yeah. Lucia, this is my best friend, Ares Lydia.”
As she thought—violet eyes, a mark of the Lydia ducal family.
Lucia curtsied politely, impressed that her brother was friends with someone so distinguished.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lucia Agnes.”
“No need to be so formal.”
Ares waved awkwardly with a sheepish smile.
“By the way, didn’t you say you had a younger sister too? I think she’s the same age as Lucia.”
“Oh, you mean Arista?”
“Yeah. Where is she now?”
“No idea. She’s probably managing fine somewhere.”
“What? That’s not what a big brother should say.”
“You’re the weird one. Who fusses over their sibling like—oh, sorry, Lucia, I didn’t mean you.”
Ares, who couldn’t understand Lucas’s doting, faltered when he saw Lucia’s wide-eyed stare and quickly changed the subject.
“It’s fine. My brother can be a little much, I know.”
Her smile—similar yet different from Lucas’s—made Ares pause.
“…Now I get why you spoil her so much.”
“Hey, don’t look at her like that! Back off already!”
“Brother! Don’t say that to Lord Lydia…!”
“Hahaha, it’s fine. I was the one at fault.”
As Lucas protectively growled, Ares stepped back with a laugh.
