EULE 113

Chapter 113

The major classes were over. There were no more lectures to attend today.

Jaelin decided that during her free time, she would go to the library and organize her graduation thesis. Studying alone was fine, but it would be nice to go with Stephan.

She spoke to Stephan, who was stretching in the seat next to her.

“Um… Stephan.”

“Hm?”

“Do you have any classes you need to attend today?”

“No, I don’t. I have tons of free time today!”

Stephan replied in an excited voice.

“Then… do you want to go to the library with me?”

The smile on Stephan’s face, which had lit up at the idea of spending time with Jaelin, suddenly froze.

“No? Why would I go to the library now? It’s not even exam period.”

“You have to work on your graduation thesis.”

“You’re writing it already? There’s still plenty of time.”

Stephan grumbled sulkily.

“B-but shouldn’t I start now? If I do it all at once, it’s going to be a lot of work.”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel like writing it. There’s still time before the deadline, so I’ll just do it all at once later. I’ve already decided on the topic, so it’ll be easy to write quickly.”

“Alright, fine.”

“Instead, let’s hang out today, puppy.”

Stephan clutched Jaelin’s arm and pleaded.

“I’m going to work on my thesis today… Sorry. Let’s hang out next time.”

“Tch. Well, I guess there’s no helping it.”

Stephan pouted. It was clear he didn’t want to go to the library.

In the end, Jaelin headed to the library alone. Just as she was about to enter, someone called out her name.

“Jaelin!”

She didn’t need to look back to know who it was. It was someone she had thought about repeatedly whenever she had a chance.

It was Lionel.

Ever since their kiss during the Founding Festival, Lionel had filled Jaelin’s mind.

The memory of his lips felt as if they were burning feverishly. The voice calling her name was too close for her to just ignore.

Suppressing the urge to run, Jaelin turned around.

Lionel, whose hair was slightly messy as if he had been running, stopped in front of her.

It was the first time she faced him since their kiss on the Founding Festival day.

Lionel caught his breath for a moment before speaking.

“Are you heading to study?”

“Yes. I’m going to organize my thesis materials.”

“I was on my way to work on an assignment too. Want to do it together?”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Jaelin nodded. She also had something she needed to return to Lionel.

She had wanted to contact him earlier to return it but had postponed it out of fear. Today seemed like the right time.

Jaelin walked with Lionel. They didn’t speak about where they were going, yet both knew perfectly well—their usual study spot.

“Wait a moment.”

Upon arriving, Lionel approached the chair Jaelin was about to sit in, pulled it out, and looked at her.

Jaelin hesitated but sat in the chair he pulled out. As she leaned in, Lionel gently pushed the chair in.

Lionel was kind, as always. Jaelin, feeling a tingling throughout her body, swallowed dryly and fiddled with her fingertips.

She pulled out her thesis materials and writing tools, sneaking glances at Lionel sitting opposite her.

Once Lionel had finished preparing to study, Jaelin took out the defensive magical tool she had kept since the Founding Festival and handed it to him.

“Um, here…”

She had completely forgotten to give it to him at the infirmary earlier because she had been too flustered. Lionel looked at her, holding the magical tool.

“You’re returning this?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you for lending it to me.”

Lionel nodded and tucked the tool safely under his arm.

When their eyes met, Lionel smiled brightly, crinkling the corners of his eyes. It was a smile so beautiful it almost blinded her.

Closing her eyes, Jaelin envisioned the Lionel from that day, slowly approaching her, superimposed over the current Lionel.

His long eyelashes fanned out like a fan, his straight nose tilted slightly toward her, full lips, and angular jaw.

Jaelin felt her face heat up.

Unable to look at him properly, she turned her gaze away. Yet like a magnet, her eyes kept returning to him. She stole glances, remembering that day.

Why had Lionel kissed her then? She couldn’t understand. He behaved as if nothing had happened that day, as if it were all perfectly normal.

It was clear he didn’t have feelings for her. The kindness he showed today was no different from what he would show anyone.

As Sasha had said, was he the type who could kiss someone he didn’t like without a second thought? Or did he perhaps have at least a little interest in her?

She wanted to ask sincerely, but she didn’t have the courage. If he awkwardly smiled and said the kiss had meant nothing, she wasn’t sure she could bear it.

Her mind was a mess. Even after sitting for quite a while, she hadn’t done anything yet. Jaelin quietly sighed.

Now was not the time for distractions. Struggling to shake off thoughts of Lionel, she stared intently at the magical formulas she had spread out.

After that, there was only silence. The occasional scratching of a pencil on paper and the fluttering of pages were the only sounds.

They focused on their work. Jaelin, initially distracted by Lionel, soon immersed herself in her thesis.

After working for a while, Jaelin stood up. She needed additional reference materials.

The chair squeaked as it moved backward, and Lionel’s eyes immediately followed her. Feeling as if she had interrupted his studies, Jaelin whispered softly.

“Sorry.”

“Already finished?”

“No, I need some materials.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Lionel smiled gently, narrowing his eyes, and waved his hand.

The materials Jaelin needed were nearby but on the topmost shelf, out of reach.

She brought over a footstool and stepped up. Stretching as far as she could, she barely managed to touch the lower edge of the books.

Seeing her struggle, Lionel got up and walked over.

“I’ll get it for you.”

“No, I can do it myself.”

Jaelin stood on her tiptoes, and finally, the book landed in her hands.

“Got it. Uh, uh?”

At that moment, the stool wobbled, and Jaelin lost her balance.

Lionel, who had rushed over, caught her as she fell. Their bodies tangled and hit the floor with a loud thud.

Jaelin braced for pain but felt nothing, thanks to Lionel supporting her.

“Ah! Senpai, are you okay?”

Jaelin panicked, trying to sit up from on top of Lionel.

A loud crash had echoed through the library, making it seem as if something in Lionel’s body had broken.

“It hurts.”

Sure enough, Lionel groaned, furrowing his brows with eyes closed. He had taken the brunt of the fall, so he seemed injured.

“Where… where does it hurt?”

Jaelin anxiously scanned his body.

“My arm… my arm hurts. And also…”

“Is it the spot where the monster hurt you last time?”

Lionel, intending to say his whole body hurt, nodded in response to her hasty question.

“Yeah… I guess so.”

Hearing this, guilt rose in Jaelin’s heart.

If she hadn’t borrowed the defensive magical tool from Lionel that day, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

Even if Lionel had offered it willingly, she should have refused.

Biting her lip, Jaelin struggled to help him lean against the bookshelf.

Lionel was so heavy that she was short of breath. Yet a smile bloomed on his face.

As he continued to groan, Jaelin’s face grew increasingly distressed.

“It seems the wound flared up. Let’s go to the infirmary quickly.”

“I don’t think I can make it all the way there… Can you check it?”

Jaelin nodded and tried to roll up his sleeve to examine the wound, but the sleeve was too tight to reach his forearm.

“This isn’t going to work.”

Unable to roll it up further, she loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.