On a dark evening, as the festival drew to a close, the Academy still glowed brightly with lights.
Filled with a determination not to end the day just yet, an enormous bonfire illuminated the dark sky.
"Sigh."
"..."
And there was Erica standing beside . The sigh that escaped her lips was quite long.
"Are you worried? Perhaps there might be so strange rumors about you that might be going around because of ."
Due to her experience of directly refuting the rumors and gossip that surrounded in the past, Erica reacted sensitively to rumors.
Since I also felt that I had been getting complacent, I had nothing to say in defense of myself in this situation.
"In the morning, you had a secret eting with Princess Eleanor, then an outdoor date with a maid wearing quite a revealing outfit in the afternoon, followed by another date with a female student."
"...It was not a date."
Although I tried to explain, Erica turned a deaf ear to my words and kept speaking.
"And later, you were taken to the lab by Aria, right?"
Ultimately, there was nothing wrong with what was said. Because I couldn’t say anything in response to that statent, I simply turned my gaze towards the bonfire, where the Dark Spiritualist was spinning around, looking excited.
Even the last ti, I had noticed that she seed to like big fires like those.
"I did not do anything strange."
When I continued to remain silent, it felt like Erica's fiery gaze was stabbing into my side, so I eventually answered her. She let out a deep sigh upon hearing my response.
"Of course, you did not. I don't think you acted out of ulterior motives. You probably did sothing like counseling."
Erica's guess was unexpectedly accurate. When it involved personal feelings that couldn't be shared with others, it could indeed be seen as counseling.
"However, the problem is, people around us don't think that way. Despite that, rumors about you are already circulating, especially among the guests from outside”
"Who told you this?"
"..."
Erica's silence affird my words. No matter who she was, she wouldn't have been able to catch wind of the rumors this quickly.
Since Erica was my fiancée, that person must have told her out of concern.
‘Your fiancée is spending ti with other won,’ was probably what they said.
Sohow, being scrutinized like this by those around us, made it feel like we were the protagonists of a morning drama1.
If things continued like this, not only would there be misunderstandings, but Erica's image would also suffer.
"Well, I don't really care what other people think of . However, you're different. You're the first recognized Dark Mage in the kingdom, the Soul Whisperer affiliated to the Royal Family."
I could hear genuine concern only for from Erica’s voice.
"Be careful, as great as your position is. There will be many who are ."
Her response showed that she didn’t care what others thought about her; upon hearing that, I once again sensed the changes in her.
She was no longer a woman that a ruffian like Gideon Zeronia could sway. The fragile Erica, whose future had been forcibly taken away by her household's status, had now disappeared.
Her attitude of not being intimidated by the gazes of others, because she was confident in herself and her firmly held beliefs, perfectly suited her to be called a lady.
But strangely, I couldn’t help but wonder why I didn’t want to leave her alone.
"You seem to have misunderstood ."
"Huh?"
Erica tilted her head in confusion at my sudden words. While still staring at the blazing bonfire, I continued speaking.
"If my image as the Soul Whisperer is important, then naturally, as my fiancée, you should not get involved in such malicious gossip either."
"Hmm, that's true."
"It seems like there is a need to talk about our relationship."
I slowly stretched out my hand to Erica.
"If you do not mind, how about we spend so ti together?"
"..."
Erica stared blankly at my hand before chuckling, finally taking it cautiously.
"Do you usually flirt with won in Norseweden like this?"
"I do not really want to talk about those tis."
"Alright, I never imagined that my fiancé would be such a playboy either. They really investigated your past to make change my mind and force to marry into the Zeronia family, you know?"
"Indeed, that could be useful ammunition for the family eting this ti."
Knowing that they had researched my background would give more of an advantage when we finally visit the Bright household.
"Yes, that’s why I’m telling you."
Then, Erica smiled softly as if it were expected of her. Her fingers naturally and gently intertwined with mine.
Then, with a red face, she lowered her head deeply. When I kept staring at her after her bold action, she covered her mouth with her other hand and glanced at sideways.
"Don't look."
"The heat feels intense."
Blushing with embarrassnt, Erica spoke bluntly. Following her request, I slightly turned my head.
As I walked slowly towards the bonfire, her steps naturally followed mine.
"Oh."
"Oh, it’s Professor Erica and Professor Deus."
"Wow, they make a good-looking couple."
"They suit each other well."
Voices ca from around us. It was a perfect performance to quell rumors about our relationship.
"Let us stay like this for a mont."
At my words, Erica nodded without saying much, subtly moving closer to place her arm against mine.
Though her cheeks were still flushed, she seed to have cald down now. She looked at the bonfire before speaking again.
"Just a few months ago, I never thought we'd have a mont like this."
"... neither."
"Uh, well, you know…"
Erica's lips twitched as she looked hesitant. There was a look on her face that seed as if she wanted to say sothing but wasn't sure if it was appropriate.
To provide encouragent, I gave her a reassuring squeeze on her hand. Erica finally t my gaze and spoke her mind.
"When you first ca to the academy, didn’t we spend about a month and a half together?"
During that three-month period, we spent half of the ti together.
After which, our relationship soured; we hardly spoke and eventually, I was dismissed from my professorship at the end of the third month.
"Back then, did you ever feel a sort of flutter when you were around ?"
"..."
It was an unexpected question that it caused my brows to furrow slightly. Seeing this, Erica continued nervously.
"N-no! I an, it was my first ti seeing a guy! And I've never even been on a date..."
"Did we ever go on a date?"
"...Didn’t we drink coffee on the rooftop at night?"
Erica swung the hand she clasped with mine to hit my thigh.
Well, we did spend a lot of ti alone together.
"Although you said you didn't like , I still… wondered if I was the only one who managed to make you feel a flutter when I was around."
"Hmm."
Honestly, I couldn’t confidently say that I had ever felt sothing like that. At that ti, I didn't really understand what love was, and besides, I didn’t rember those few months that well.
However…
"During those three months, I was quite busy comforting the Angel and the residents of Setima."
"That's right."
Thanks to that, I was even accused of being a devil worshiper.
Anyway...
"But even in the midst of all that, I always made ti for you."
"..."
"I am not sure if I ever felt a flutter in around you. However, I did enjoy it."
When I confessed my honest feelings, Erica's gaze didn't waver from .
Then, she cautiously dropped another question.
"How about now?"
"..."
"I'm feeling extrely nervous right now."
Her usual cool-headed icy professor expression had lted away in the warmth of the bonfire, it was replaced by a face filled with earnestness that was only visible to .
"Your hands are bigger than I thought. You look so thin and need to eat more. You sll sweeter than I expected. What if you can also hear my heart beating so fast right now?"
"..."
"These various emotions and thoughts are making my head feel so complicated."
Erica exhaled deeply before speaking again.
"Deus, how about you? Despite our relationship being fake, are you... enjoying this ti with , with your fiancée?"
Her question gave a chance to ask myself.
Am I... enjoying this?
"Yes."
It was enjoyable.
"It is pleasant."
Spending ti with a woman nad Erica Bright wasn't bad at all.
Since we were both adults, there was no pressure, and we didn't force anything on each other.
While we didn’t care about the opinions of others, our ti together was quite special.
"I’m glad to hear that."
Erica slowly lowered her head and a faint sigh of relief escaped along with her voice.
Thud.
She released her hand, which was holding onto mine.
The warmth and weight I felt in my left hand disappeared, leaving only a hollow feeling behind.
Though the night breeze naturally seeped in to replace it, the empty space remained unfilled.
Erica took out a piece of paper from her coat pocket.
It was a familiar item— a docunt tightly bound with a red thread.
It was the annulnt letter.
"Here."
Erica slowly unfolded the annulnt letter she had handed . Next to my signature was hers, which wasn’t there initially.
"..."
I didn't feel the need to say anything. I calmly looked at her, waiting for her to explain her intention.
"You said I should bring this to you once I returned to being the radiant and beautiful Erica Bright."
"Yes, I did."
"How about now?"
She stood tall with confidence. Despite a slight tear glistening in the corner of her eye, her posture remained unwavering.
Seeing that, I answered.
"You are radiant and beautiful now."
Indeed, she was.
I had no choice but to answer honestly.
Erica spoke with a smile.
"Do you know that you've changed so much?"
I didn't deny it.
If I objectively looked back at myself, there were indeed many differences between who I was when I first ca to the academy and who I am now.
"To you, who could only faintly feel emotions and was more indifferent and blunt than other people..."
"..."
"This is the only apology I, Erica Bright, can offer. As the woman who betrayed you, I hope I can be of so help to you, even if it's just a little."
When she slowly lowered the annulnt letter, her tearful face ca into view.
Despite appearing distressed, she continued to speak.
"Just like when you gave this letter to for my sake, this ti I'll give it to you for yours."
When I handed her this annulnt letter, the words I said to her were…
- _Not even for a mont… I have never felt the emotion called love for you. _
"Because I have never stopped loving you, not even for a mont."
This ti, instead.
- However, you are worth loving. No, you are a woman deserving of love.
"That is how much you are worth loving, and deserve to be loved."
- That is why I spent ti with you and hoped to see you smile, I wished to love you.
"Therefore, I'll give you ti—ti for you to et soone who can make you smile, soone who you can truly love."
She returned those words to .
With tears streaming down her face, Erica took a deep breath and continued.
"Have confidence in yourself because you are an incredibly amazing man.”
"..."
"That annulnt letter, when you find a woman you truly love..."
Erica slowly closed her eyes.
"Use it then."
She seed to find it agonizing to just look at .
"When you find soone who can awaken your emotions..."
"..."
"Bring it to , and then we will finalize our separation."
"Erica."
Just like when Erica pushed Gideon away by using our engagent, she told to use her as a shield to prevent any won I might not love from forcing themselves on .
It would be a painful stage for her.
She would have to wait tirelessly for to make my decision, sacrificing her most brilliant years,and in the end, nothing would remain.
As long as we maintained our engagent, Erica couldn’t et anyone else.
No one else could love her.
"Those are the words I want to say to you, who has been my benefactor until now."
Flit.
The annulnt letter fell from her grasp and to the ground. Once again, Erica held onto my hand and as if trying to hide it, she buried her tear-streaked face in my chest.
Unaware of the situation, the people around us either protested, saying that we shouldn’t rub salt in their wounds or expressed envy, saying that our supposedly fiery display of affection was too much for their eyes.
However, we ignored them and simply focused on each other.
"But as your fiancée, if I were to voice my selfishness..."
That one phrase.
After uttering those words…
"Please, don't leave."
Erica continued to sob endlessly in my arms. She just cried, trembling with the fear of separation.
To prevent anyone else from seeing that, I gently embraced /genesisforsaken
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