EP.59
—
Swoosh—
In the girls’ dormitory, inside Erekaya’s shower room.
There, Erekaya stood under the shower, letting the water drench her body while she stared blankly.
Today, Erekaya had indeed gone through a lot.
First and foremost, she successfully drew Jin into the Student Council.
Just as Altina von Rudel Seryas had established a master-student relationship with Jin, and Claire Delphin Mascarena maintained a meal-sharing relationship with him, Erekaya had finally transcended the boundaries of mere friendship to form a new relationship with Jin.
Moreover, she had been able to ‘persuade’ the other council members in a surprisingly peaceful manner, enabling Jin to smoothly take the position of secretary.
From now on, Erekaya would spend a lot of time with Jin in the Student Council, and she could use that opportunity to develop a closer relationship with him.
Just that alone gave Erekaya a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction as if she had gained the whole world.
…However, simultaneous to this, one matter had arisen that was causing her considerable confusion.
The Vice President, Serika von Valentine, had made a prophecy regarding her and Jin.
It was nothing less than the absurd declaration that one day, they would overcome everything and ultimately become one.
“…..”
Become one? Jin and Erekaya? How on earth? And in what way?
No, what does it even mean to become one in the first place? Is it a metaphor or simile? Or perhaps a concise term that symbolizes something?
…If not, could it really be suggesting that Jin and Erekaya would become ‘physically’ one?
“…Ugh.”
Although Erekaya didn’t know much about men, she had received education related to the need to bear offspring to continue her family line, so she was familiar with the subject.
Moreover, her synesthesia made the imaginative thoughts she had in her mind feel all the more real.
Unbeknownst to her, she had imagined the scene of lying in the same bed with him and sharing love—a scene that was simply shameless.
…No, that is certainly not shameless. It is a truly enchanting and beautiful scene where both care for each other, love each other, and can confirm each other’s affections.
*Thump—*
Her heart raced. Erekaya herself couldn’t understand why her heart was pounding, but it was beating more fiercely than ever.
…Calm. Yes, let’s stay calm for now. Serika von Valentine only stated that Jin and Erekaya would become one; she never said that they would develop into a romantic relationship.
First, objectively speaking, developing into a romantic relationship with Jin would be quite challenging.
This was because while Jin was a commoner of unknown origin, Erekaya was one of the noblest individuals in the Empire, aside from the Royal Family.
According to the Empire’s laws, no matter how much of a commoner one was, graduating from Nineveh would ensure a degree of noble treatment, yet that has its limits.
The House of Pendragon is considered one of the most revered families on this land, having shared its fate with the Imperial Family since the formation of the Empire.
To become a son-in-law of the esteemed House of Pendragon, one would at least need to be of high nobility to match their ‘standing.’
This occurs in a realm entirely unrelated to the intentions of either the Duke of Pendragon or Erekaya.
From a societal perspective, the very act of a prestigious noble family like the House of Pendragon marrying a commoner would be utterly incomprehensible.
Even if Jin were a hidden descendant of the Seven Heroes and had unofficially inherited the Pendragon bloodline, such things were certainly not the type of information that could be publicly revealed.
So, logically speaking, Serika’s prophecy about Jin and Erekaya becoming one clearly meant that they would live under the same roof and become a family.
…However, there were certain aspects that made it difficult to dismiss everything lightly.
‘The woman beside Jin…’
Serika von Valentine had stated that there were women around him. Not just one woman, but rather different women.
In fact, this was not entirely surprising.
Because at this very moment, alongside Jin, there were women, including herself, Altina, and Claire.
It was safe to assume that among the women Serika had foreseen in the future, Altina and Claire would certainly be included.
Then the question arose: why were they present in Serika’s prophecy concerning Jin?
Was it simply because they were friends? That they would maintain a master-student relationship and continue to share meals as they did now?
Or perhaps it meant that, someday, they would transcend mere friendship and become closer?
While Erekaya stood by him as merely ‘family,’ did it imply that those women would spend more time with him, whisper sweet nothings to each other, and end up caring for and loving one another?
“…..”
In truth, that wouldn’t be so bad. In fact, it might be a good thing.
While Altina von Rudel Seryas might not compare to Erekaya, she was still a capable woman with a good family and an inherent beauty. Claire Delphin Mascarena, on the other hand, was destined to become a great mage who would leave her name in history.
Jin, albeit a collateral relative, did undeniably carry the Pendragon blood. If such remarkable women became his lovers and ultimately formed a family with him, it wouldn’t be a bad thing from the perspective of the House of Pendragon.
Yet… why was her heart so confused?
Suddenly, the image of a certain man flashed through her mind.
A man whose face was just ordinary, whose actions were terribly rough, and whose words carried no trace of elegance.
At the same time, she recalled the scene of a man training relentlessly in the center of an empty martial arts arena in the early morning.
A man who recklessly charged towards an ogre, putting himself at risk to save a woman completely unrelated to him.
– Do your best when you come back. Regardless of the outcome, and so that you have no regrets later.
– If you’re going to fight, win. I will support you.
The sight of a man who not only led a weak and unremarkable woman to the level of a master without any cost but also threw her words of encouragement, was—
And the sight of Altina and Claire standing casually beside him, a feeling that made Erekaya uneasy, continued to occupy her mind.
“…Ah.”
She couldn’t understand why she felt such discomfort at the very thought of Altina and Claire being by Jin’s side.
Why did it frustrate her so much that while she existed simply as ‘family’ at his side, those women might become something closer, possibly owning everything about him?
I was the first to meet him.
I was the first to have a conversation with him.
And while you are merely strangers to him, we are tied together by an inseparable blood bond—
It is evident that I am a woman who is closer and more intimate with him than Altina von Rudel Seryas and Claire Delphin Mascarena!
So why do I have to stand at a distance, simply watching you two be together with him? Why?
“…..”
Erekaya lifted her gaze to look at the mirror.
Within it, reflected back was an exquisite beauty with purple hair, as beautiful as one could behold.
Her face spoke for itself, perfectly proportioned with no excess fat on her flawless body.
Objectively speaking, any man—or indeed anyone with eyesight—would surely be captivated by this appearance.
She was not inferior to some ignorant woman who could only wield a sword or the one who had shamelessly clung to his side despite having caused him trouble.
“…Will become one.”
Ah, in truth, I know nothing. I can comprehend nothing.
I am both clever and foolish at the same time. Wise yet simultaneously dim-witted.
I may hold all the knowledge of the world in my mind, but I cannot even grasp my own heart—what a clumsy woman I am.
Thus, I genuinely do not understand. Why do I feel this way? Why does it trouble me so much that there are other women by his side? Why can I not be satisfied with the mere fact of being ‘family’ with you?
I am a sinner in your eyes and your family’s, fully aware that the closer I become to you, the greater the betrayal you will feel someday.
And I know too well that I will feel the pain of your suffering even more profoundly—
So why can I not stop myself from approaching you like a moth drawn to a flame?
Why am I in such disarray, experiencing these feelings?
Why? And why?
“…..”
…However, even with all this confusion, there was one thing I felt I could ascertain clearly.
My instincts and intuition as a woman whispered softly in my ears.
If I remain still like this, if I simply gaze blankly at your back in hopes of becoming just ‘family’—
Someday, Erekaya Del Pendragon will surely regret this moment.
Erekaya placed her hand on the top of the mirror, applying pressure.
Crack—
With just a slight amount of force, the mirror shattered into pieces.
This was only natural. Although the structures in Nineveh were fundamentally sturdy, they were not designed to withstand the strength of someone who had attained the level of Master.
As the mirror cracked, shattered, and scattered, Erekaya quietly smiled at her reflection.
She saw someone so beautiful, seductive, and yet somehow twisted in her smile.
