Chapter 146
The old tree, rotting from within and destined to fully die soon.
After felling this tree, which had stood tall in its territory for a long time, it is placed right in the center of the plaza for a ritual.
The ritual is conducted by the clergy of the Church, and the festival atmosphere remains solemn at this moment.
Once the priest completes the long, chant-like ceremony, they bring out the prepared torches.
They slowly set the massive tree ablaze.
Normally, the flames would wrap around the tree and extinguish shortly after, but the process is slowed down to keep the darkness illuminated for a long time.
Then, participants, regardless of being students or outsiders, start to dance with their partners.
The priests don’t interfere in this process; however, dancing until the end of the day signifies the conclusion of the ritual.
This is the Sacred Tree Festival, decorating the night of the fourth day of the festival at the Academia. Typically, a couple, lovers or engaged, dance together to share their love.
“Shall we go now?”
The old tree burns, lighting up the surroundings as people gradually gather and move to the music.
Emily said to everyone.
“Well… it seems it would be better to share here, right?”
Upon her words, Liam turned to look. Vargan casually mentioned that they had already stuck together for too long and to do as they wished, while Alicia stood still with a somewhat tense expression.
Looking back at Emily, she gives a hint to escape. It seems she had pre-discussed this with Alicia.
Although somewhat dense, Liam wasn’t completely oblivious. He knows it’s best to slip away appropriately from here.
However, he had a critical problem.
“Emily… I have no idea how to dance…”
“You’ll naturally figure it out as you go! Come on, Liam.”
Emily grabbed Liam’s hand eagerly, pulling him along. It was as if she’d forgotten the embarrassment of having momentarily held hands and then let go when they were caught.
But, she couldn’t help but hide her blushing cheeks in the light.
The two moved away.
“……”
Only Vargan and Alicia remained.
This place, a bit quieter than the center, was filled only with the sounds of the crowd and music, as they sat in silence.
The flickering lights reflected off Alicia’s transparent face. Her eyes gazed at the slightly distant ground, and her clasped hands held a strength similar to that of gripping a spoon.
A few hours earlier, Emily and Alicia had a private conversation.
When they had a conversation.
Emily said to Alicia.
⎯But don’t give up, Alicia.
⎯There’s still an opportunity.
What is it that she means by not giving up?
What opportunity could there be?
Could it be that Emily is still misunderstanding her feelings for the Young Master as something romantic?
…It’s not like that at all.
It’s not an impure feeling toward the Young Master.
She had only said she wanted to make the Young Master happy as a servant and that she respected and thanked him personally.
Why does it keep happening…?
“…….”
Alicia’s hands crumple like paper.
Her heart feels constricted.
Words are stuck like a prayer that can’t break free.
‘It’s stifling.’
What on earth is this feeling she’s experiencing right now?
Since serving the Young Master, she has felt an endless number of new experiences and emotions.
But since a certain moment, an ‘something’ has taken root.
This wrong ‘something’ makes her have negative thoughts and imaginations she shouldn’t be having, constantly tormenting her.
No matter how much she pretends not to notice and tries to suppress it, this thing won’t listen…
She can’t turn her head to look at the Young Master. It’s too frightening.
It seems like those black eyes wouldn’t reflect her at all. They seem to be staring off at something entirely different.
…This fear, too, is surely a result of this unknown ‘something.’
Distant sparks flying. Ash carried off by the wind.
The spot prepared by Emily will come to an end soon. Why did Emily say such things?
⎯Don’t give up, Alicia.
“…….”
Alicia released her tightly clenched hands.
Slowly, she turned her face to the side.
Vargan was looking at the blazing old tree. He was fixated on something else.
But that was her own weak heart.
If she doesn’t call him, he won’t turn around.
“Young Master….”
Alicia called out to Vargan.
Hearing her gentle voice, Vargan gave her an emotionless gaze. His eyes reflected a white hand.
With a tense expression, anxious eyes, and irregular breaths, she reached out her hand.
“I know my actions right now are inappropriate as a servant. But… I beg you.”
She proposed to Vargan.
“Would you… dance with me?”
*
Near the sacred flames.
Vargan and Alicia were matching each other’s movements.
One of Vargan’s hands was holding Alicia’s, and his other arm was supporting her waist.
Since Alicia wasn’t accustomed to dancing, Vargan constantly guided her direction to help her move naturally.
Whenever she seemed like she might dart off suddenly, he adjusted her with the arm that supported her.
If her steps seemed to tangle, he subtly redirected her to avoid collision.
The harmony created between them stretched out like two parallel lines, sometimes rotating and occasionally coming to a stop.
Alicia’s face was positioned close to Vargan’s chest.
Not only could she hear her own heart pounding, but it felt like she could even hear Vargan’s heartbeat if she leaned in just a bit more.
Even though her body kept stiffening with tension and her movements became awkward, Vargan skillfully led her and helped her relax.
…Honestly, she didn’t really know if he would accept her proposal.
Even though he seemed submerged in sorrow, Vargan acted completely normally in front of others, and his reactions were the same.
So it was.
In the worst case, she thought she might listen to overflowing words of her station with one ear, despise them, and criticize the speaker.
However, perhaps due to the complicated emotions caused by that person.
Vargan, without any real rejection, took Alicia’s hand. And that brings us to now.
People were glancing over and watching Alicia and Vargan.
Vargan, who has a fiancée.
And Alicia, known as his servant.
Alicia felt a sense of guilt for taking a place that seemed indecent, considering that the recognition of her being Vargan’s mate was already ingrained in others.
Even though they had a servant-master relationship, it wasn’t typical to be dancing together in such a sacred space.
Vargan and his fiancée had stood on stage in front of everyone at the welcoming party during their entrance ceremony.
At that time, Alicia did not exist on the stage.
She quietly observed from the side where the light didn’t shine.
“……”
Alicia looked at the two hands she was holding with him.
She mustered her courage, but felt her ears getting hot.
She must be making a terrible face right now…
Alicia gently raised her head. She could see Vargan’s sharp jawline. He didn’t turn his head to look down.
At the very least, she wanted to know what kind of expression he had…
“You’ve been watching my face all day, haven’t you, Alicia?”
After the dance, this was the first thing that came out between the two. Vargan spoke first, and Alicia’s lips almost parted but then closed again.
When she fell silent, Vargan cast a sly glance at her.
“It’s not just today. You’ve been like that for the past few days.”
Vargan guessed the reason.
“Did I look dispirited from something Erica said?”
“……”
“Speak freely, it’s not blasphemous.”
Alicia, hesitant to reveal, finally spoke.
“…That is correct.”
Her head dropped.
Unintentionally, her hands supporting his back pressed against Vargan’s outer garments.
“…I noticed you seemed a bit drained today, so I was keeping an eye on your complexion.”
“I see.”
Vargan sighed as if in disappointment.
However, he acknowledged Alicia’s keen observation.
“You usually act clueless but have significantly progressed in this regard.”
“……”
“I would have expected you to say something like ‘Thank you for your compliment,’ but I see that’s not the case. I suppose you’ve gained some experience.”
“…Young Master.”
Alicia’s voice seemed deflated.
She leaned slightly but didn’t rest against his chest.
To hide her expression, she kept looking down.
“Thank you very much for taking the time today.”
“It’s amusing, considering that’s not how someone should speak when expressing gratitude.”
“…I mean it. I know how much you value time, Young Master. If I didn’t express my gratitude, I wouldn’t even deserve to be a servant.”
Alicia continued speaking.
As her voice gradually trembled, she felt she wouldn’t be able to finish if she didn’t say everything now.
“I think I’m quite fortunate. Having such a kind Young Master has given me experiences and dreams I never could have had in my lifetime.”
“Are you spouting nonsense again?”
“It’s never enough to express it a few times. Didn’t you even protect my mother?”
She mentioned how Vargan had sent someone to take care of her mother, who had received 100 gold.
She mentioned the matter of taking care of the money.
It had been since the day she cried while communicating with Vargan.
It was a topic she hadn’t brought up.
There were still 100 gold left intact. She wasn’t ready to face the changes that would come if she paid it back.
Vargan quietly asked, “What is your intention in bringing this up now?”
“I have no other meaning. I felt I couldn’t express myself properly last time because I was crying, so I wanted to take this opportunity to speak again.”
“Don’t tell me you want to pay back the money and distance yourself from me?”
Vargan said lightly, as if joking.
Given what had transpired between them and Alicia’s character, he knew that it didn’t mean she was the type to flee upon repaying her debt.
However, suddenly.
Alicia’s footsteps came to a halt.
An unexpected change occurred.
“Please don’t say such things, Young Master…”
The line they had been drawing together came to a stop.
The gazes that were moving ahead became two fixed points, locking onto each other.
She lifted her head, which had been lowered all this time.
Her eyes were glistening with tears.
Alicia spoke.
“…I, I…”
From her trembling throat.
In a quavering voice.
“I don’t want to leave your side….”
She revealed her true feelings.
“I want to be by your side….”
“……”
Alicia looked very unstable.
Vargan faced her.
In Alicia’s glistening blue eyes.
Within that swirl of emotion and the rolling waves.
Vargan felt something she had tried to hide.
“…W-what am I even saying…?”
Alicia felt a change as well.
The words she had just spoken had slipped out from her subconscious.
She wanted to be by his side.
It had to be that something within her was speaking up.
What exactly was this identity?
Why could it not be controlled…!
⎯Don’t give up, Alicia.
Emily’s words.
Why did that suddenly come to mind….
Could it be… could it possibly….
No. But….
That can’t be….
⎯There is still a chance.
…This shouldn’t be happening.
This is the greatest betrayal possible…!
Why did she have such feelings……!
A single tear, long held back, flowed from Alicia’s eyes.
It ran down her cheek, representing her heart.
“I’m sorry…”
She hurriedly wiped her tears.
Alicia finally fully realized her feelings.
It wasn’t just Vargan who turned his gaze away.
She herself had also been turning away from herself.
She didn’t speak.
She only muttered apologies, without revealing the reasons.
Even bringing this much to light was overwhelming for her.
“I’m sorry, Young Master….”
Somehow… somehow, I—
⎯Somehow, I seem to have feelings for you.
She held back words she couldn’t speak aloud, suppressing them.
At that moment.
The music stopped.
Deng⎯ Deng⎯ Deng⎯
Twelve bell chimes rang out.
Someone shouted.
“Surprise attack— surprise attack!”
Another voice echoed.
“A group wearing white masks has attacked the Academia!”
Fifth Day of the Festival.
The second-year group that had been preparing.
Begins their final event throughout the Academia.
