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Chapter 32
But Johan didn’t stop there and continued speaking. His voice was warm, as if comforting my gloomy heart.
“Observe that person carefully. If you understand a friend, you’ll know what they need, or what they might like.”
It was a general principle.
Properly observing, paying attention, and thinking about what the other person likes.
But no matter how intently I looked at Aven, I didn’t think I could find the answer.
He already had everything.
“Let’s try switching the order.”
Seeing my sulking face, Johan smiled quietly.
Then, like a teacher gently embracing a failing student, he explained another approach.
“Try sincerely liking the other person first. Then you’ll want to do so much for them that one thing won’t be enough, and the process and your feelings together will definitely make them happy.”
Johan’s advice seeped into my ears like a song.
I nodded seriously, like a child claiming to understand the teacher’s words fully without really grasping their meaning.
“Yehiya looks at the heart, not the form. Humans, like him, are the same.”
Johan whispered softly and pointed with his elegant fingers to his chest.
In his eyes, telling me that I could find a good gift, a fleeting joy seemed to flash.
“…It’s very basic, so everyone probably knows, but the magical power that makes up this world has four main types: water, fire, wind, and light. Besides these, there are auras with other attributes, like sword energy and holy power…”
I let Professor Dakota’s soft explanation flow into one ear while staring at Aven’s round back of the head.
‘He’s saying I should like the other person first?’
Someone had said it: if you see someone often and for a long time, they become beautiful.
Unable to find a magical manual to fall in love instantly, I decided to follow the words of a nameless saint.
I, who overworked myself to the point of exhaustion, couldn’t think of a sharp way to like someone in a short time.
‘Sure, I guess seeing him continuously makes me feel more attached.’
He was already quite good-looking, so maybe my feelings were growing faster than expected…
“Archel.”
“…….”
“Archel?”
Hearing my name, I turned my head and met Marcel’s eyes.
She hesitated for a moment and then carefully pointed at the textbook on the desk.
“They said to solve the applied problems and compare answers with the person next to you…”
Suddenly, the surroundings had become noisy.
I quickly scribbled down the answers and leaned close to Marcel’s desk.
“This is what I got. How about you?”
“Me, me too.”
The answers Marcel and I wrote were exactly the same, without a single error.
As I nodded in satisfaction, Marcel spoke carefully.
“Um, I heard you got a birthday invitation from Aven Reiters… is it true?”
“How did you know?”
“Everyone’s talking about it… really amazing.”
Marcel bowed her head.
Purple hair slipped over her cheek near her ear.
“I didn’t get a birthday invitation, so I think I’ll just be reading books at that time…”
“It is amazing.”
Even if I went, it would just be a bunch of monkeys inside us, right? Since Aven invited me, I had no choice but to go.
… I wanted to say this reality, but it wasn’t a pleasant topic, so I chose my words carefully.
“Books have all sorts of knowledge, right? Even indirect experiences can give you many experiences in a short time, so it could be a very useful time.”
When I asked her to recommend a good book next time, Marcel nodded slightly.
And then I…
‘This is it!’
Something flashed in my mind, and I could no longer concentrate on class.
Like stars embroidered in the night sky, the subtle gems scattered on the navy fabric sparkled beautifully with every movement.
Her parted hair gave off a more mature vibe, and the round pearl at her ear that peeked through her hair made her face even brighter.
“I’m so pretty, aren’t I?”
I had known that Archel was pretty since playing the game.
But actually dressing up properly gave me a completely different feeling.
Archel in the mirror looked as beautiful as the protagonist of a game.
The more surprising thing was that ‘that’ Archel was me.
‘They say clothes are like wings.’
Wearing the outfit Lena had given me made me feel like I had put on a celestial robe.
However, as I went to find Lena with the feeling of flying, I… faced reality.
‘Let’s be honest, Archel Nodovan.’
Saying I was as beautiful as a game protagonist… what nonsense am I speaking?
The Lena standing in front of me exuded a gorgeous yet elegant atmosphere, as if the beauty she had shown me so far was just a prelude.
Her dress revealed not a single piece of skin, which could have looked stifling, but since the gaze naturally fell on Lena’s face, no negative impressions occurred at all.
“Today… you look beautiful.”
I thought my inner voice had spoken out loud.
‘Did she just say I’m pretty? Who says that…’
Blinking without answering, I saw Lena extend her hand in front of the carriage.
“Not getting on?”
I couldn’t even properly play the role of Lena’s friend and she stole my line.
I felt tricked. I had to stay alert.
The Reiters’ massive mansion was about an hour away from the academy.
For a moment, I wondered why the carriage kept moving past the luxurious city streets, but I soon realized the reason.
The branch where the Reiters’ mansion was located was vast enough to build a small amusement park.
‘It never ends. It never ends.’
I was sure I had heard that we had arrived at the Reiters’ estate.
Yet the carriage showed no sign of stopping.
“Lena.”
I called her name softly, and she raised an eyebrow.
“What gift are you going to give Aven?”
“I don’t remember.”
“What?”
“I probably got him something nice.”
Seeing her shrug as if she didn’t care, I finally realized.
Now that I think about it, I don’t recall seeing scenes in novels or movies where nobles give birthday gifts personally at a party.
‘Am I doing something that sticks out? No way.’
The shopping bag beside me suddenly felt like a terrifying presence.
Even though it was a pity to dress up beautifully, I had to do it. I had to give Aven the gift and escape immediately.
‘How can I deliver the gift without anyone noticing…’
“Arrived!”
While I was worrying, the carriage reached the banquet hall.
Holding Lena’s hand as she got off first, I stepped out and couldn’t close my mouth.
Even Udea had magnificent buildings, but the white building in front of me was exceptionally luxurious.
The curves in the design gave the illusion of modern architecture.
Even as the evening sky darkened, the building shone brightly with hundreds of lights.
Of course, Lena, whose beauty brightened the darkness, contributed to this effect.
Judging by how most eyes were on Lena, who got off the Udea-owned carriage with the family crest not of hers but of Udea, it was obvious.
‘As expected, Lena’s beauty…’
Though Lena herself didn’t seem to care.
A Udea-owned carriage, the most beautiful woman in the empire, and beside her, pink hair.
Anyone even slightly interested in the Udea Student Council would easily recognize this combination.
Wanting to keep a low profile, I led Lena quickly into the banquet hall.
‘I have to meet Aven quickly…!’
But the interior of the hall was more spacious than I imagined, making it hard to find someone.
A dazzling chandelier, red velvet curtains, voluminous dresses of various colors and fabrics.
The cheerful sound of dancing shoes in time with the orchestra combined to create perfect chaos.
But among that chaos, someone with hawk-like eyes found us…
“Archel, Lena.”
Crimson hair like a rose approached us.
Lehart, wearing a white dress coat embroidered with gold thread, looked exactly like a prince from a fairy tale.
At the same time, countless eyes in the hall were on us.
Whether it was because Lehart was a powerful figure in the empire, or because of Lena, the treasured daughter of the founding noble family D’Cliff, it was unclear, but either way, it was not the situation I wanted.
‘Wait, if I disappear while Lena and Lehart are together, won’t something happen between them?’
I tried to slip away at that thought, but Lehart didn’t let me.
“Archel, you…”
For a moment, he pointed at me with his finger, then blushed and moved his lips.
