Chapter 31 (2) - A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Bastard Aristocrat

.After that incident,

Lucy did her best to erase Raiden's existence from her life.

The girl tried to forget the boy.

No, she tried to hate him.

Because she felt that was the only way she could stop crying.

Raiden and Lucy.

They completely ignored each other.

They despised each other.

They hated each other.

Their relationship had become worse than that of strangers.

Yes, that's how it was... S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NƟvelFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

'Why did he save me?'

Lucy recalled Raiden's awkward smile from behind his blood-stained mask.

The tender image of the boy's smile made her heart feel complicated, heavy, and pained.

She murmured softly to herself.

'Raiden...'

Why did you protect me?

Our precious promise was torn apart and shattered.

And you were the one who broke our vow.

-A promise? I've long forgotten about it.

-How foolish.

You mocked and ridiculed me with those words.

-Don't worry, Your Highness.

-Your knight is here.

Why did you come to my rescue so naturally?

-Raiden... sob, I miss you...

-It's so cold here... Everyone's just trying to use me...

When I was trembling with loneliness.

When I called out your name alone in my room.

-I need you... Raiden...

Because I couldn't erase your existence from my heart even after hearing those words and witnessing those actions.

When I hid under the covers and cried.

You, who had disappeared without a trace, who hadn't even shown me a shadow.

Why did you appear at the moment I longed for you the most?

'......I don't understand.'

The girl couldn't understand the boy.

He had always been difficult to understand, but it seemed to have gotten worse.

Lucy, who had been repeating meaningless questions to herself, hung her head low.

Her chest ached.

If.

Just if.

Raiden had truly come to keep his promise from the past.

If he had returned as her loyal knight, like a lie come true.

How should she react?

What expression should she make, what actions should she take when she saw him?

The girl hadn't decided yet.

That's why, when her eyes met the boy's as she was getting into the carriage a while ago,

she had simply avoided his gaze.

Lucy fidgeted with her fingers, replaying that moment in her mind.

'Still... should I have at least thanked him then...'

Lucy suppressed the suffocating emotions rising within her.

And once again, she turned her gaze towards the window.

***

Raiden and his companions traveled in the carriage.

They soon stopped in front of a large, navy blue building.

-Clatter, screech...

"We've arrived at the boys' dormitory."

The coachman got off and opened the carriage door.

Raiden, who had been wearing a blank expression, got up from his seat.

"Ah, yes... no, I understand..."

Raiden straightened his clothes and said goodbye to his younger sister.

"I'll go in first, Ariel."

"Okay, brother... see you tomorrow."

As he got out of the carriage, Rachel, who had been sitting next to Ariel, also stood up.

"Then, I'll see you later, Miss."

"Wait... Rachel."

Ariel lightly grabbed Rachel's sleeve as she was about to follow Raiden.

Then she hesitated as if she had something to say.

Rachel, quick-witted, smiled gently and nodded before the girl could even speak.

"Don't worry about the young master, I'm here."

"......Please."

It seemed Ariel was worried about Raiden, who had been looking downcast since the earlier incident.

Rachel patted her head with an understanding expression.

"You've grown up so beautifully, Miss."

"What... you're only two years older than me..."

Ariel grumbled but accepted her touch.

"The young master will be fine."

Rachel patted Ariel's shoulder reassuringly and stepped out of the carriage.

-Screech, thud...!

As Rachel got off and the door closed, the stationary carriage started moving again.

Ariel thought of her brother in the rattling space.

'Brother... will he really be okay?'

After encountering Allen and Her Highness the First Princess.

The expression on her brother's face in the carriage back to the dormitory.

It was definitely...

'......the face of someone who was hurt.'

Ariel quietly turned her head and looked at the boys' dormitory as it grew further away.

Worry crept into her heart, but she forced it down.

'Rachel is with him.'

Ariel repeated that thought, praying that Rachel would be able to comfort Raiden's heart.

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