It's chilly.
A feeling so cold that it sends shivers down my spine.
It's clearly sumr, and the heat should be scorching, but a coldness stimulates my nerves through the skin.
The coldness is so intense that I feel like I'm in a glacier region.
Yet, the actual place I'm in is the bustling royal road, bathed in the blazing sunlight.
The reason I feel this intense cold is precisely...
At this very mont, two girls are giving icy stares, making feel paralyzed.
"Haha..."
I tried to break the tense atmosphere with an awkward smile, but...
"Do you think this situation is funny?"
"How dare you deceive the princess? I must admit, you have guts."
Why are they exuding such coldness?
I tentatively speculate that perhaps my wrong choice has incurred their resentnt... Thinking back to the events at the academy yesterday.
In retrospect, was it so sort of cosmic joke? If Marika and Aris had been in the sa place back then, would the situation have been different?
"Harold!"
While Marika montarily left her seat, Aris approached .
"Do you rember our promise for tomorrow?"
The storm of events from the first day of enrollnt had passed, but the following four days leading up to the weekend went smoothly without any incidents.
The mories of what might happen to in the future began to fade, and by the ti this morning arrived, they had vanished from my mind.
It was as if the information that was provided to , hinting at future events, had disappeared as soon as the imdiate crisis was over.
What phenonon was that? Those fragnted mories that seem to hint at future events...
I don't have an answer, but I should make a note next ti if it happens again.
Other than the kidnappings of Marika and Aris, there were many mories engraved, but they disappeared as if they were lies.
"As I ntioned before, I'll dress up nicely, so look forward to it!"
I personally thought it would be a casual al with a friend, but did she have a different idea?
She seed to be daydreaming, which made worried.
Over the past four days, the only students I beca close with were Aris and Marika.
Perhaps because of the incident on the first day, other students were not very welcoming, except for the two who I had helped.
Of course, it's too early to make a definitive judgnt, but I mostly spent ti with them.
There were tis when all three of us were together, but there was always an awkward atmosphere, so I mostly hung out with one at a ti.
Even if Marika and Aris weren't best friends, they were on good terms, so when the three of us were together, it wasn't too uncomfortable.
"I have so work at the student council, so I'll go ahead!"
In the midst of our casual conversation, Aris ntioned her tasks and promptly exited the classroom.
"Harold, I have sothing to discuss."
At that very mont, as if tid perfectly, Marika approached .
"What is it, Your Highness?"
Although I addressed her formally, she seed a bit dishappy.
"I told you to be casual. In the academy, there's no strict hierarchy, so you can speak freely if I allow it."
"Alright, Marika, what's up?"
When I responded casually as she wished, she gave a satisfied smile and then started discussing our eting tomorrow.
"Rember our lunch date tomorrow? How about we go straight to a restaurant? I know a luxurious place that many nobles frequent."
She shared her plans, but honestly, I didn't mind either way.
Initially, I didn't save them for any reward, and their excessive gratitude even felt burdenso. I just thought of having a simple al.
"It's about us having a al together... and..."
However, unlike my attitude, Marika seed nervous and expectant, not fitting for her royal status. She fidgeted with her fingers and murmured sothing under her breath. "Hehe... I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."
Both Aris and her seed to be preparing sothing solidly, unlike who took things lightly...
Maybe I should have been more thoughtful about this...
Did they know from the beginning that all three of us would gather?
As I ntioned before, the atmosphere was a bit awkward when the three of us t, so I planned to use this weekend's eting as a chance to bond and improve our relationship.
So, I set the appointnt ti and place identically for both of them...
But I just realized I didn't ntion that it would be the three of us.
Should I tell them now?
I briefly considered it, but...
"Would it really matter?"
Thinking that the more the rrier, I carelessly overlooked it. And such a casual decision led to the current situation...
"Harold... I didn't hear anything about the princess joining us."
"Weren't we supposed to spend ti just the two of us? When did you make plans with Aris?"
She questioned with her cold, piercing eyes.
"I just thought it would be nice for all of us to et..."
I made a small comnt, hoping to lighten the heavy atmosphere between us, but...
"It's not polite to rge appointnts without prior notice, is it?"
"I'm a bit disappointed."
The situation only worsened...
Despite the scorching weather, our atmosphere felt as cold as a frosty winter.
It felt so out of place, especially compared to the surrounding people who looked at with pity.
"I was a fool to expect! Now my mood is ruined!"
Complaining to herself, Marika turned on her heels and stord off.
"Whether you two spend ti together or not, I'm leaving. Consider our appointnt canceled!"
In the end, she left angrily without looking back.
The pressure from her gaze lessened, but another girl was still glaring at , making unsure of how to react.
"Um... Aris?"
I cautiously called out her na, but her response was cold.
"I'd prefer if you didn't call by my na."
She spoke gently, but her tone was as if addressing an enemy, making involuntarily lower my head.
"I'm sorry..."
"What for?"
Every word I spoke felt like an accusation because of her monotone yet piercing replies.
"Ha..."
I lowered my head in an apologetic manner, took a deep breath, and her cold gaze finally softened.
"Really... I thought we'd spend ti just the two of us. I took great care in getting ready... What's this?"
As Aris murmured to herself, I noticed her attire. The outfit perfectly matched her silvery hair, a beautiful yet simple dress, with a design blending black and white that harmonized wonderfully with her. I could tell she had genuinely prepared to impress .
"You always look beautiful, no matter when I see you."
Attempting to lighten her mood, I sincerely shared my feelings, which seed to shift the atmosphere once again.
"Why... all of a sudden?!"
Her previously stern face reddened, and she began to fidget.
"You can't... you can't just say that all of a sudden!"
Although she was pretending to be angry, she seed genuinely flustered by my complint.
"I'm just speaking my heart."
"Hmm..."
However, my sincere expression left her hesitating about how to respond.
"Well... I did prepare all this to hear that..."
She looked flustered, sotis hesitant and sowhat confused, but...
"That's really unfair..."
The atmosphere lightened again, and she muttered sothing that sounded slightly discontented, but the familiarity returned.
"So... shall we go?"
I cautiously suggested starting our plans for the day. She briefly glared at with displeasure, but soon relented. "I have to do my best today, right?"
Responding with the brightest smile I could muster, I follow the path she leads. After Aris left Harold's side,
There was a girl who had been closely watching him for a while.
From the mont Marika and Aris abandoned him until he disappeared from view, there was soone who never took her eyes off Harold.
Step... step...
The girl, with an appearance resembling a fragile maiden, walked with surprisingly heavy steps. She stood where he was just monts ago, blankly staring at the street where he had vanished.
"Harold...?"
In a voice filled with fondness and longing, as if they had known each other for ages, the mysterious girl murmured his na.
Whoosh!
At that mont, a strong gust of wind blew through the area...
"Is it really you...?"
Her red hair fluttered in the wind, and with an anxious expression, she posed a question that might never be answered.
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