TMDL 11

Chapter : 11

“Because of Lady Astella of the Vinok duchy, I’m already suffering harm. I looked into it, and it seems rumors are spreading widely in high society that she and I are getting married.”

“That’s right. It seemed like Astella was excitedly telling everyone.”

“She’s been going around talking as if it were true—saying things like we were lovers and that we’d be married soon. Things I’ve never even heard of. To be honest, I was completely dumbfounded. And very angry.”

“…I can see why.”

So… all of that behavior was a lie.

She remembered how Astella had told her those things with such a happy face. If what Raiden said was true, it was shocking—and incredibly bold.

“I did run into her often at the imperial palace, but it was all by chance, and we hardly even spoke.”

“I… see.”

She felt a little… guilty. After all, she herself had been arranging one coincidence after another to bring him and Astella together.

Pretending not to know, Freya watched Raiden’s expression and continued.

“Even so, I can’t meet with you, Duke. There’s no reason I should, and nothing in it for me.”

With rumors already widespread that Raiden and Astella were lovers, if it became known that she was meeting him, high society would be in an uproar.

Not just high society—this would make the front page of the capital’s newspaper. It involved two ducal houses everyone was watching.

And then a perfectly ordinary marquis’s daughter gets mixed in?

She’d be torn to shreds, accused of having driven a wedge between the perfect pair.

Absolutely not. She wanted no part of that.

‘In that sense, Astella sending me here still bothers me.’

Why had she sent her? If she wanted to hide her lies, she should have come herself.

Whatever the reason, the uneasiness wouldn’t go away.

“Then shall I… make you a reason?” Raiden asked.

Freya frowned.

“What did you say?”

“If I prove that meeting me would be beneficial for you as well, would that do?”

“…I don’t know how you plan to do that, but why are you going so far?”

By now, Raiden must know he was being unreasonable. Why wouldn’t he give up?

Seeing her look of confusion, Raiden lowered his brows and spoke with a wistful expression.

“Because I want to hold on to you, no matter what. More than anything, I don’t want people to keep misunderstanding my feelings.”

The hand that had been gripping Freya’s wrist slowly slid down. The fingertips that brushed past the back of her hand were very cold.

Freya watched his hand fall away, little by little.

‘Is he… nervous?’

Why would a man like this be so tense because of her?

She couldn’t understand Raiden’s feelings, yet for some reason, she couldn’t stop thinking about them.

Now that her wrist was free, she should hurry and leave.

‘That look in his eyes.’

Was it because his red eyes missed none of her smallest movements? Or because their ruby-like color drew her gaze?

Or perhaps because his feelings for her seemed deeper than she’d expected?

…Whatever it was, she had to admit she was getting drawn in.

Freya finally let out a long sigh.

“……”

And Raiden was watching her with gentle eyes.

Seven years ago, on the day of the academy entrance ceremony.

On his way to the main academy building to submit additional documents, Raiden witnessed a commoner being harassed by nobles behind one of the buildings.

He couldn’t just pass by, so he went to help—but he never expected such a misunderstanding to arise.

‘So there are people this upright.’

The feeling Raiden had when he first saw Freya was close to pure fascination.

Someone who couldn’t ignore injustice. Rare among nobles—especially among young noble ladies. She was the first.

“What do you think you’re doing right now? Don’t you know that here, everyone is equal regardless of status?”

“N-no, that’s not—”

When she looked at him with an expression of disgust, her sharp gaze somehow made him shrink back, yet he didn’t feel bad.

“Who do you think you are, treating him so carelessly?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that—”

He was clearly being misunderstood, but the fresh scolding he was getting for the first time felt amusing.

“No matter how big the gap between classes is, nobles—who enjoy more benefits than anyone in this empire—must not oppress commoners. If you can’t protect them, the least you can do is not step in to bully them yourselves… You should be ashamed.”

In her calm, clear voice, she pointed out his faults one by one, then helped the commoner who had fallen to the ground to his feet and brushed the dirt and grass off his soiled uniform with her own hands.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

…Ah, so she could speak gently like that too.

A soft voice, completely different from the sharp one she’d used to scold him. It made his ears tingle.

“Your uniform’s dirty. Are you a new student? The entrance ceremony will start soon—this must be troublesome.”

“Ah, um, well…”

“I’m a new student too, so don’t worry. If you’d like, I can ask my maid to bring a spare uniform. Oh, don’t worry—it’ll be a men’s uniform.”

It was strange. He usually disliked the coy voices of noble ladies—almost to the point of hating them. So why did this voice feel different?

‘I want to keep hearing her voice.’

For some reason, he felt jealous of the commoner who had all her attention, and disappointed that she hadn’t spared him a single glance.

What was this? What were these feelings?

He could feel all sorts of emotions surging inside him.

“Uh, th-thank you, no, I mean—”

The flustered commoner met Raiden’s eyes and turned pale. Noticing this, she tilted her head in confusion and then turned around.

“What is it? Do you still have business with this man?”

“That’s not it, but…”

She finally looked at him, but like this, there was no way they could have a proper conversation.

Raiden spoke with a troubled expression.

“Um, I already told you, but I truly wasn’t harassing him. I was just passing by and tried to hel—”

“What a transparent lie. Do you think dodging responsibility like that is proper behavior for a noble? People like you—”

“That’s not it!” the commoner suddenly shouted.

“Pardon?”

Her gentle voice sharpened again, yet to Raiden’s ears it still sounded pleasant. As she scolded him, the commoner hurriedly stopped her.

“It wasn’t him!”

“We were the ones who did it!”

“He stopped us!”

The nobles came to their senses and, together with the commoner, declared his innocence.

“…Is that so?”

Caught off guard, Freya asked the commoner, who nodded vigorously. Seeing this, her expression softened.

With a hint of lingering doubt in her eyes, she turned back to Raiden.

“Is it true? You really helped him?”

“Yes. I happened to hear something strange while passing by and helped him while he was being assaulted by those two.”

“…I see. Um, I’m sorry. I misunderstood.”

She apologized with an embarrassed face. Raiden found himself captivated by her straight, clear gaze.

‘How can someone’s color be so pure?’

Her transparent yet deep blue eyes—like the sky, like a blue lake—were beautiful. So much so that he almost wanted to reach out and touch them without thinking.

“I truly apologize for the rudeness. May I ask your name?”

“…Raiden Bethelheim.”

What on earth had he just been thinking?

Wanting to touch a noble lady’s eyes—he really wasn’t in his right mind today.

He almost failed to answer her.

“I see. I’m Freya Valce, Young Lord.”

“So you are Lady Freya Valce of House Valce.”

He’d heard that the eldest daughter of House Valce would be enrolling this year—so it was her. Her family belonged to the opposite faction from his, but that didn’t matter.

Raiden recalled the advice his mother had given him before he came to the academy.

‘That place is no different from a small social arena. Don’t make enemies carelessly. If possible, be kind to everyone.’

Yes, Mother.

He was a good son who faithfully followed what he was taught.

“I look forward to working with you, my lady.”

“…Likewise.”

When Raiden offered his hand, Freya carefully placed hers on it. As soon as he kissed it, she quickly pulled her hand back.

‘What an interesting young lady.’

If it had been another noble lady, she would have blushed, trembled, or stiffened. But her reaction was completely different to the very end, which only made him more intrigued.

‘I want to know more. What kind of person she is, what she likes and dislikes—everything.’

That was the day a new feeling bloomed in Raiden’s heart.