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Chapter 17
“Wow… she’s a femme fatale. Not just men, even women fall for her.”
“A tough opponent. It’s not easy to get a reaction like that from Lucia.”
“Lucia, your face is red.”
Once Arista left, her friends belatedly started talking about her behavior.
Just moments ago, it had been obvious to anyone that Arista was trying to flirt with Lucia.
What was surprising was that despite Brian’s endless efforts, Lucia had never so much as flinched—yet with a single smile from Arista, her face had turned red.
Lucia rubbed her cheeks, wondering if her face was really that flushed.
Watching silently, Herwin furrowed his brow.
Something about it displeased him. He glared at the place Arista had disappeared, then suddenly turned on his heel.
“Herwin! Where are you going?”
“Just to wash my face.”
“Oh, then I’ll come too. Guys, I’ll fetch some water. If I’m late, go on ahead, okay?”
Lucia hurried after him, carrying an empty water container.
Hearing her footsteps, Herwin stopped striding so quickly. Once she caught up, he slowed down to match her pace as they walked to the pump.
Their friends noticed Herwin chuckling softly at something Lucia said, his face relaxed and gentle—very different from the mood he had around Arista.
“Herwin really looks out for Lucia, more than anyone else,” Christine remarked.
Ethan agreed.
“Look at him matching her stride. When I walked with him, he told me to just keep up on my own. What, does he pick favorites or something?”
“You think you’re the same as a cute girl like Lucia? If I were him, I’d do the same.”
“What? Are you saying it’s just because I’m not a girl?”
While Brian and Ethan were fooling around, Bianca spoke in her usual flat tone.
“No, it’s not that. Herwin doesn’t act that way with other girls either. Only with Lucia.”
Her smile was gone now, replaced by a stiff, unreadable expression as she stared in the direction the two had gone.
“Oh dear, it’s getting late. Break time’s almost over—should we head in first?”
It was better to leave now if they wanted to be on time for the next class. Since Lucia had told them to go ahead, the two would follow on their own.
As they packed up to leave, Ethan suddenly noticed something.
“Huh? Herwin left his towel.”
“Didn’t he say he was going to wash his face? He won’t have anything to dry with…”
“He’ll figure it out. Let’s not worry and just go.”
While they debated what to do, Bianca took the towel from Ethan’s hand.
“Give it here. I’ll bring it to him.”
“Really? You sure? If you go now, you’ll be late to class.”
“It’s fine. I can be late once. Without a towel he’ll show up soaking wet, and then all the girls will freak out.”
“Well… I guess you’re right.”
“Want me to come with you then?” Christine asked.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go alone. You guys head in first.”
With that, Bianca quickly followed after Herwin and Lucia.
Water trickled as Lucia filled the jug at the pump.
“Herwin, are you done washin—”
She turned to call him, but froze mid-sentence.
Herwin wasn’t just splashing his face; he had soaked his entire head under the running water. Droplets slid down his sharp jawline as his wet hair clung to his skin.
Watching him cool himself with his eyes closed, she swallowed hard without meaning to.
“Did you just call me?”
Straightening up, Herwin shook his wet hair roughly.
His red eyes glistened as though the water had seeped into them, too.
Lucia’s mind blared with warning signals. He looked more dangerous than usual. Hastily, she lifted the water jug to block her view and avoided his gaze.
“I-I just meant… are you done? I already finished mine…”
She was grateful no one else was around.
Her face had to be scarlet red. Even her hands gripping the jug were flushed.
She’d worked so hard not to let anyone notice her feelings for him—forcing herself to keep her expression calm, willing her face not to redden. But right now, she couldn’t control it.
Thankfully, she and Herwin had an unspoken rule: whenever she lost control of her emotions, he would politely look away or change the subject, as if he hadn’t noticed.
To others it might seem cold, but to Lucia, it felt like his way of caring for her. If he ever reacted awkwardly to her blushes, she would only feel more embarrassed.
Pressing the cool jug to her forehead, she prayed for the heat to fade.
After a deep breath to steady herself, she finally dared to face him again.
“Sorry, that must’ve startled you.”
Her cheeks had calmed enough to pass as normal. Forcing a smile, she met his gaze—only to freeze again.
Instead of brushing it off like usual, Herwin was glaring at her, his brow furrowed in irritation.
That was his tell whenever something annoyed him.
He strode toward her.
“Wh-what? Why are you coming closer?”
Panicked, her heart started pounding again.
“D-don’t come any closer!”
She shouted, but his eyebrows twitched and he didn’t stop.
As he closed the distance, she backed away until—
Thud.
Her back hit the wall. Her shoulders trembled. Opening her eyes, she realized his face was right in front of hers.
Still damp from washing, his features looked dangerously alluring.
“Why are you acting like this…”
Her voice shook as if she were frightened.
Herwin’s rough fingertips brushed gently across her cheek. Her blue eyes spun wildly.
‘Wh-what is this?!’
The way he caressed her cheek felt intimate—like what lovers would do.
Aside from holding hands as children, she had never experienced this kind of touch.
“Was your face always this easy to redden?”
“M-my face?”
“Yeah. It’s red now too. Like a tomato.”
His stern expression softened into a chuckle—one of those rare smiles he only showed close friends.
“And now it’s even redder.”
“A-are you teasing me?! This is all your fault!”
Feeling mocked, she snapped at him.
“Stop it! My heart feels like it’s going to explode.”
“…Do you still like me?”
His eyes turned serious. She struggled to keep her racing heart steady.
“Yes. I like you so much it’s driving me crazy.”
It was her first confession since entering the academy. Herwin’s expression stiffened as he slowly stepped back.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t asking for an answer. Well… it’d be nice to hear one, but…”
She didn’t even know what she was saying anymore.
“If you don’t feel the same way, then don’t act like this. You’ll only confuse me…”
Silence stretched uncomfortably. Normally, her confessions would pass quickly and things would return to normal—but today felt different.
Herwin frowned in thought, then looked her in the eye.
Once again, his hand brushed her cheek, this time pinching it lightly.
“Eh?”
“Just… don’t go blushing in front of everyone. People might get the wrong idea.”
“M-me? Whadaya mean? I only blush because of y—”
Her cheek pinched, her words came out garbled, but somehow he understood and let go.
Crunch.
The faint sound of a twig snapping made him whip his head around.
“Guys! There you are!”
It was Bianca, breathless as if she’d run.
“Bianca! Why are you here? Didn’t you go ahead?”
“I was going to, but Herwin forgot his towel. Here.”
“…Thanks.”
He accepted it reluctantly, his eyes sharp with unease.
Lucia, too, watched Bianca with a nervous heart.
‘Did she… hear everything?’
Her timing had been too perfect. Maybe she’d overheard the confession.
“Come on, we need to hurry! Next class is history, and the professor’s super strict.”
But Bianca seemed oblivious, acting completely normal.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”
She slipped between them and grabbed both their arms.
The instant her hand touched him, Herwin jerked away, shaking her off coldly.
The rejection was so harsh that even Lucia was startled.
“I don’t like people touching me.”
His low voice and towering height made him intimidating.
“O-oh, I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me. I won’t do it again.”
“…Alright.”
“Anyway, let’s really go now or we’ll be late! Lucia, come on!”
Bianca quickly brightened again with her usual cheerful smile and tugged Lucia along.
Herwin followed silently behind them.
Late that night, in the girls’ dormitory.
As usual, Lucia was gathered with her close friends, chatting about this and that.
“Yawn… I think I’ll go to bed now.”
“What? Already? It’s only nine.”
“I must be tired from running around all day. Sorry, I’ll head back first.”
With one person leaving, the group started to disperse, and soon everyone went their own way.
Lucia also stood to return to her room when—
“Hey, Lucia.”
“Hm?”
Bianca approached cautiously.
“Do you have a moment? There’s something I want to say.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Mm… it’s hard to talk here. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Her vague tone felt unsettling.
Following her uneasily, Lucia suddenly remembered what had happened earlier that afternoon.
‘Did she… hear me?’
If not for overhearing her confession, why else would Bianca call her out alone?
Biting her lip, Lucia trailed behind her like a guilty prisoner.
They ended up in a small storage room at the end of the hall.
After checking the surroundings, Bianca shut the door and walked deeper inside.
“Sorry for dragging you here. But I didn’t want anyone else to overhear.”
“It’s fine… What do you want to talk about?”
Lucia tried to keep her composure, though inside she was in turmoil.
She clung to the hope that Bianca had some other matter to discuss.
“I’m really sorry… but I heard you confessing to Herwin today.”
Bianca’s careful words made Lucia squeeze her eyes shut.
Oh, heavens.
“I pretended not to notice at the time since you both looked flustered… but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Bianca glanced at her cautiously.
“Didn’t you say you never liked him?”
She was referring to the conversation they’d had earlier on the stairs.
Lucia wrestled with herself endlessly.
If only she could say Bianca had misheard—but she couldn’t, not when the confession had been so clear.
In the end, the only choice left was to tell the truth.
