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Chapter 01
“How about Jaylin?”
At Nathan’s question, Lionel let out a short laugh. There was no subject specified, but the meaning was clear—he was asking what Lionel thought of her as a romantic partner.
“Jaylin? She’s a commoner.”
Lionel’s voice, slipping through the slightly open door, reached Jaylin’s ears. The indifference in his tone—as if the thought had never even crossed his mind—made her heart plummet.
“Hmm. But she’s cute. Seeing her scurry around like she’s trying to do something—she kind of reminds me of a little puppy. And since she’s a commoner, even if you date her for a bit and then end things, it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
Nathan’s voice, who was always by Lionel’s side, carried a slight teasing undertone.
“Don’t say such nonsense.”
Lionel’s voice, always as gentle as cotton candy in spring when he was with his friends, was unusually firm.
As if the very idea of being associated with a commoner was repulsive.
Jaylin knew all too well. She and Lionel could never be together.
Lionel was a high noble of the Flandel Empire, destined to inherit a dukedom after graduating from the academy. She was just a poor orphan, a commoner with no name.
Even without that, the difference between them was like heaven and earth.
A dazzling smile like the summer sun, a kind heart, and even the title of the youngest sword mage—
If the word “perfect” could be made into a person, it would be Lionel.
Lionel was always surrounded by people eager to be close to him. Someone as small and insignificant as her couldn’t even dare to approach such brilliance.
She already knew it was impossible. But hearing it from his own lips—that there wasn’t even the slightest possibility—made her heart feel like it was being wrung out. Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe properly.
“Hmm, is that so? Then I guess it’s okay if I try to woo her?”
At Nathan’s playful remark from beyond the door, silent tears began to fall from Jaylin’s eyes.
The elegant wrapping paper she had saved up for a month’s living expenses to buy was soaked and ruined by her tears.
“Do as you please.”
She heard Lionel respond to Nathan’s question.
Before the meaning of those words could reach her fully, Jaylin rubbed at her eyes and ran away, as if fleeing.
She couldn’t bear to hear Lionel’s answer. Because she already knew exactly what it would be.
Her vision blurred from the tears pouring down, making it hard to see ahead.
As she turned the corner, Jaylin’s small body crashed into something solid with a thud.
It was Adrian.
“What the—peanut…?”
Seeing Jaylin’s tear-streaked face, Adrian called out to her in confusion.
“S-sorry.”
Mumbling an apology, Jaylin ran off frantically.
She heard Adrian’s voice calling her from behind, but she couldn’t stop.
It was time to end it.
The long, ten-year one-sided love had finally reached its conclusion.
