Chapter: 193
Chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp!
Amidst the chorus of cicadas, someone was swiftly wielding two daggers.
As the moment her violet-tinged dagger was thrust through her short black hair, a water shield rose up to meet it.
Boom!
The poison laced in the dagger exploded, sending splashes everywhere, but the water shield staunchly held its ground.
Beyond that water shield stood a woman with healthy skin beneath her flowing red hair.
The two were none other than Haring Lagrain and Karandis Poseus.
“That’s enough.”
One of the Unnamed Academy’s vice professors, Kairan, called for the battle to stop, and the two immediately disengaged.
Taking a breath, they slowly descended from the arena.
“Great job!”
As Haring wiped the sweat from her brow, Karandis approached her.
Karandis, usually lively, wore a rather stoic expression while looking at Haring.
This attitude of hers had developed after the midterm evaluations.
And Haring knew exactly why.
“... You did well,” Haring replied, and a somewhat awkward atmosphere lingered between them.
Haring was already somewhat aloof, even more so without Kraush around.
With Karandis quiet too, their conversation dwindled to nearly nothing.
As the silence stretched on, Karandis finally spoke.
“So, do you have any idea about when Kraush will arrive?”
She too found the silence unsettling.
Haring gazed up at the World Tree, feeling the sunlight streaming through the leaves.
“Nope, he didn’t tell me.”
Her eyes were filled with a sense of disappointment.
Karandis, catching onto that feeling, also looked up at the World Tree.
“... What kind of relationship do you want to have with Kraush?”
It was a question she’d been holding back.
After all, with Kraush conveniently absent, it felt like a prime opportunity.
A little embarrassed, Karandis kicked the ground with her foot.
“... What kind of relationship?”
Haring paused, contemplating her words.
If anyone could claim to have developed a profound bond with Kraush since coming to Rahern Academy, it would definitely be Haring.
After all, she was always hanging around him.
But if asked what kind of relationship she wanted with Kraush, it put her in a bit of a dilemma.
The desire was strong enough to cloud her rational thoughts.
“I’ve mentioned it countless times, but I want to be Kraush’s wife.”
Karandis boldly stated, and Haring felt a twinge of envy at her straightforwardness.
“Is that because you’re a princess of Poseus?”
Haring wondered.
She too wanted to stay close to Kraush; it was only natural to be curious about the objectives of someone like Karandis sharing the same aspirations.
“Of course, that factors into it.”
Karandis expressed herself candidly.
Being the ninth princess of Poseus placed her in a slightly ambiguous position.
Sure, she could live comfortably in the kingdom, but Karandis was an ambitious one.
If her status was such, she’d want to ascend even further, even at the cost of that status.
Thus, she chose Kraush.
She believed he would reach heights that everyone would look up to.
“I’m not gonna spin some romantic fairy tale about how a prince rode in to save the day and fell in love with the princess.”
Karandis smiled, dispelling any notions of a clichéd love story.
To be honest, being a princess was one of the most precarious positions.
“But I can say that as much as I prioritize myself, I can love and follow someone who can elevate my status more than anyone else in this world.”
Karandis was confidently unwavering in this belief.
For that person, she’d willingly dedicate her entire life without a second thought.
That’s why Karandis always strived to prove her love.
“I believe someone who loves themselves more than anyone else can love others just as much.”
“... But if something goes wrong with Kraush, wouldn’t that love become meaningless?”
The moment Karandis heard those words, her lips curled into a smirk.
Her face beamed with a confidence that surpassed all doubt.
“How could the person I love ever go wrong?”
“... Is that so?”
“The countless storytellers spinning tales of love often revolve around taboo themes. Especially tales where heroes give themselves wholly to the goddess, they’re classics.”
As Haring visualized Kraush alongside Astoria, things became clearer.
Now it was evident that, as Karandis noted, Astoria’s gaze indeed pointed towards Kraush.
“Plus, just look at her striking figure, that’s not something one our age should have.”
Karandis clenched her fists in frustration.
“No matter how much Kraush is uninterested in women, he might still fall for such a striking figure.”
As Haring observed Karandis, she realized just how closely she had been watching Kraush.
Indeed, her fixation wasn’t mild.
“That’s not all. There’s also the matter of Aslan Ignor’s exclusive maid who visits Kraush every day.”
“Maid?”
“There’s a maid particularly close to Kraush’s personal maid, Alicia. For some reason, Kraush can’t seem to be harsh with that one.”
She grumbled under her breath.
Having always been treated harshly by him herself, Karandis didn’t hold back.
At that moment, Haring recognized just how oblivious she had been to those around Kraush.
No way could a maid harbor feelings for him too!
Lost in her serious expression, Karandis let out a long sigh.
“There are many others distributed everywhere. Like Darling Danphelion, our senior and a master of alchemy from the same kingdom as Kraush, or even Doma Lacroix, the disciple of Bellok Lacroix. And now, there’s even the top of special mathematics, Biolen Sedney, whose intentions are suspiciously unclear.”
“There are that many?”
“Oh, absolutely. Tremendously many. I know good men attract women, but with Kraush, it’s off the charts.”
“That’s just because he’s a nice guy.”
Karandis turned to Haring.
Although to others, Kraush couldn’t possibly be described as a nice guy,
to a girl in love, even a bad boy’s actions seem redeeming.
Thus, she didn’t bother contradicting that statement.
Especially since she herself wanted to have a shot at winning Kraush’s heart.
“Above all else, there’s one big issue.”
Karandis sighed, as if unable to help herself.
“Bianca Hardenhartz.”
“Kraush’s fiancée.”
“Exactly. We haven’t even seen her face.”
Shadows clouded Karandis’s expression.
“Nothing else matters, but I know for a fact that Kraush definitely has feelings for her... and they’re significant.”
“......”
Haring fell silent.
She wasn’t unaware of that fact either.
However, recalling it now made her heartache.
“Even if we surpass all the other mountains, if we can’t overcome that one, it’s all for naught.”
Karandis sighed in resignation, brushing a hand across her forehead.
She regretted not proposing first, wishing she’d beaten Bianca to the punch.
As she swallowed that bitterness, Haring, still dazed, muttered,
“... A wife doesn’t have to be just one.”
Karandis couldn’t believe her ears.
Turning to Haring with disbelief, she noticed Haring also flinching, covering her mouth.
She couldn’t believe she had spoken those words either.
Could it have been that she was still reeling from her father’s talk of betrothal a few months ago?
Or was she just getting caught up in everything?
Caught off guard, Haring blushed fiercely, and Karandis found herself chuckling lightly.
“Well, I guess that holds some truth.”
After all, her father had quite a number of wives.
Honestly, there wasn’t really any reason someone as capable as Kraush shouldn’t have multiple wives.
“If you’re a part of that household, then it’s all about competing for his affection.”
Karandis reignited her determination.
Meanwhile, Haring remained frozen in disbelief, unable to utter a word.
“I just hope we don’t gather more rivals.”
It was at that moment.
Ka-boom!
A sudden explosion erupted from outside the Unnamed Academy.
The two startled and turned their heads towards the source.
Soon enough, they recognized it was coming from the Theology Hall.
Something had gone down over there!