Escaping from my friends, I found myself standing in front of a mirror in a hallway, staring at my reflection. And that’s when I realized why everyone in the dining hall had looked at me with such complicated expressions.
Anyone would, seeing a girl trying to force a smile while tears streamed down her face.
Wiping away the tears clinging to my eyes, I blindly made my way back to my room and threw myself onto the bed.
In the quiet room, the only sound was the cold wind rattling the window. The melancholy deepened, slowly overtaking my rationality.
<At times like this, moving your body is better than locking yourself up in your room.>
‘Do you think I don’t know that?’
If I pushed myself to the point where I couldn’t think, the gloom would naturally fade.
But to do that, I’d have to go to the training grounds. And if I went there, all those people would be staring at me with those same complicated looks again.
That would only make things more uncomfortable for me—and for them. So, I stayed here, in my room.
<You really are shy, aren’t you?>
‘So what? That’s just who I am.’
<I wasn’t criticizing, you little rascal.>
Ignoring the old man’s chuckling voice, I buried my face into my pillow. That’s when a voice I had momentarily forgotten about intruded into my ears.
“A beautiful woman’s sorrowful expression. That, too, is a delicacy.”
Turning my head toward the disgusting tone, I saw the foolish fox spirit, her lips curled into a grin.
Normally, she would’ve leapt at me, eager to lick away my tears. But now, she merely wore a perverted expression, too lethargic to move—evidence that the arrival of winter had overtaken her with drowsiness.
I watched her lazily flick her tail before standing up.
“Hm? I appreciate the teary gaze you’re giving me, but why are you coming closer? And why are you wriggling your hands like that? Wait. Stop! Surely you don’t want to touch a beast like me!”
Even a mystical creature like her was still a beast at her core. And with winter hibernation dulling her instincts, she couldn’t resist as I easily grabbed her. Ignoring her nonsensical protests, I buried my hands into her thick fur, relishing the warmth.
“Haaaa...”
Eventually, she stopped resisting, resigning herself to my touch.
“Since I like you, I’ll offer you a piece of advice.”
I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. Despite her usual perverted antics, the foolish fox was one of the wisest beings I knew.
“Emotions don’t disappear just because you ignore them. They only grow stronger. So, confront them and accept them. That’s the only way to move forward.”
Her tone carried the wisdom befitting the ruler of the forest, and I let out a small laugh. How could such a remarkable creature act so beastly most of the time?
If she stayed like this during winter, perhaps I should leave her sealed away for the entire season.
“Oh, and one more thing: I’d prefer if you didn’t suppress the revulsion you feel toward me. That look of disgust makes my heart race. Ah, yes, that expression right now. It’s perfect. I feel so happy I could die.”
I take back what I just thought. This creature needs to be sealed away for all eternity.
Meanwhile, Arthur sat in the dining hall, lost in thought while others prepared for training. His mind lingered on the sight of Lucy earlier—trying to smile through her tears.
The usually confident and arrogant Lucy showing such vulnerability brought many thoughts to Arthur’s mind.
Yes, she undoubtedly had incredible talent. She was someone who seemed utterly unshakable, even in the face of disaster.
He could clearly imagine her smirking defiantly even in the face of her own death.
But Lucy was still human. No matter how strong she pretended to be, she was human at the core.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.
“Joy.”
Hearing Arthur’s voice, Joy, who had been peeking out from behind a pillar, startled and tried to hide. Instead, she slipped and fell flat on her face with a loud thud that echoed through the dining hall.
It must have hurt, but Joy quickly stood, her face bright red, pretending as if nothing had happened.
“Don’t worry. Everyone else is busy preparing for training.”
“...Couldn’t you just act like you didn’t see me?”
“And have you complain about that too? I doubt it.”
“Ugh...”
Grumbling at Arthur’s nonchalant reply, Joy trudged over and plopped down across from him.
“This is perfect. I had something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know what Lucy Allen was searching for on the archipelago?”
Hearing Arthur’s question, Joy froze momentarily, but her hesitation was brief. She quickly composed her expression with the help of magic.
“Does it have something to do with her regaining her expression?”
But when Arthur followed up with another question, her carefully crafted expression crumbled.
“...You knew?”
“Of course I did.”
On the archipelago, Arthur had limited his sleep, focusing all his energy on studying to beat Lucy in their wager.
There was no way Arthur wouldn’t have noticed Lucy’s excursions—or her sudden change in demeanor.
“How could I not, after all the time I’ve spent with her?”
“Wow. That was a really romantic line you just said.”
“Joy, are you trying to make me curse?”
“I’m sorry.”
Arthur frowned at Joy’s remark, and she quickly adjusted her tone.
“But why did you pretend not to know?”
“Because she didn’t tell me.”
For some reason, Lucy Allen hadn’t shared her intentions with him. So, out of respect, he had chosen not to pry. She was both his benefactor and his mentor, after all.
“Then why ask about it now?”
“For the same reason you came to see me.”
“Huh?”
“You couldn’t just leave her alone, could you?”
“H-how did you...”
“Isn’t it obvious? You act tough, but you’re a softie at heart.”
Arthur smirked at Joy’s flustered reaction, and despite her protests, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“We’ve received so much from her. It’s only right to give back when we can.”
“...That was what I was going to say!”
“Haha, fine. That doesn’t matter. Now, tell me what you know.”
Joy sighed before continuing.
“To be honest, I don’t know exactly what Lady Allen was looking for on the island.”
From what she’d heard from the other knights, Lucy had indeed been searching for hidden dungeons.
But what she hoped to find within them? That was something only Lucy herself knew, and unless she chose to reveal it, there was no way of knowing.
“But I do think I know why she’s feeling so down.”
“And why is that?”
“Because the anniversary of Lady Mira Allen’s passing is coming up.”
Arthur’s lips pressed tightly together at the mention of that word—loss.
He, too, had experienced the loss of a loved one. The lingering sorrow that never truly faded was something he understood all too well.
“This is a tricky situation. It’s not something an outsider should meddle in.”
Arthur, who carried his own scars, was certain of one thing: any attempts to interfere would only deepen Lucy’s melancholy.
“That’s why I’ve been trying to come up with something that might cheer her up, even just a little. But I can’t think of anything suitable.”
Arthur could understand Joy’s dilemma. When the weight of grief was immeasurable, there was little that could bring comfort.
No... there was something.
Closing his eyes, Arthur fell deep into thought.
The answer came quickly.
Now that their business on the archipelago was over, he’d fulfilled his promise to that mysterious entity.
Even if it had just been a misunderstanding, it didn’t matter. If things went wrong, that entity would intervene on its own.
Arthur cast a soundproofing spell, a slightly modified version he’d created, and lowered his voice.
“Joy, listen carefully.”
“Yes?”
At the sudden seriousness in his tone, Joy’s gaze grew equally solemn. Whatever Arthur was about to say must be important.
“This is still just a theory, but I don’t think Lucy Allen acts brashly and speaks harshly by choice.”
Arthur waited for Joy’s reaction, expecting the typical wide-eyed surprise or an exclamation of disbelief.
But Joy’s expression remained neutral. In fact, she even looked a little... exasperated.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Prince.”
“What? Don’t believe me? I understand if it’s hard to accept—”
“No.”
“Then listen—there’s solid evidence for—”
“Arthur.”
Joy’s tone was unusually direct—something Arthur wasn’t used to from her. He blinked in surprise.
“Arthur, I’ve spent more time with Lady Allen than you have.”
“Well... that’s true.”
“I was the first one she saved. I was her first friend. I was the first one to train under her.”
“That’s... also true.”
“So, do you really think I wouldn’t know that?”
Arthur suddenly realized where Joy’s exasperation was coming from.
That’s right. She might be clumsy, but she wasn’t stupid.
When it came to relationships, Joy was even better than he was. She’d worked tirelessly to hide her awkwardness and become a key figure in the social circles of noblewomen.
If Arthur, who had spent so much time buried in books, had noticed Lucy’s odd behavior, there was no way Joy, who had lived through the cutthroat world of high society, wouldn’t have.
“But...”
One question lingered in Arthur’s mind.
“Why did you pretend not to notice?”
“I could say the same to you, Prince.”
“...She didn’t tell us.”
“That’s right. Lady Allen didn’t tell me, so I just watched her in silence.”
Arthur now understood that there was a version of Lucy Allen he didn’t know—a Lucy Allen that Joy had seen in the midst of noble society.
Back then, Joy had assumed Lucy’s behavior was just her personality.
But if that wasn’t the case? If her actions back then had been nothing more than a scream for help?
If she’d been desperately putting on a mask to endure the countless criticisms thrown her way?
Was it truly the right thing to tear that mask off?
When Joy finished speaking, she ran a hand over her face, restoring her usual calm expression.
“That’s why we need to find another way, Prince.”
Until she was sure of her suspicions, Joy would remain silent. She didn’t want to risk hurting Lucy by meddling with something she had long since decided to hide.
“...You’re right.”
Arthur nodded weakly.
“And what exactly are we supposed to do?”
Before they could discuss further, a sudden presence startled Arthur. He turned his head sharply.
Standing nearby was Frey Kent, gazing at them with innocent curiosity.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“There was a barrier around us. How did you...?”
“I cut through it. It was flimsy.”
Arthur ground his teeth at Frey’s nonchalant response.