The Duke’s Madness

Yenica met Elin’s gaze and shut her mouth.

“… Jenika?”

Yenica, who belatedly came to her senses at Arthur’s call, murmured.

“You are a friend of Confucius.”

“Are you my friend?”

“yes. Elin Leverkusen.”

Arthur groaned.

“Oh really? I was worried for nothing.”

With these words, Arthur walked away.

The warmth that disappeared at the same time made Jenika tremble without realizing it.

In the meantime, Arthur waved his hand and said hello.

“Ellin! hello!”

Elin, who had her mouth open, flinched like Jenika.

“Uh, uh hello… … .”

“yes. But what happened?”

To Arthur’s question, Elin explains in gibberish.

“Oh, no… I have something to tell you, Arthur, while I was on my way to visit you, I suddenly ran into you… .”

“Oh really? What are you talking about?”

“uh… But you look busy?”

At her words, Arthur tilted his head.

“no? Aren’t you busy at all?”

Elin shuts up.

Yenika burst out laughing at the embarrassment and anxiety displayed on her face.

‘cute. A girl at that age… … .’

Thoughtful, Yenika looked away.

‘… But why isn’t this person cute? They’re obviously the same age.’

Yenica clenched her tongue, pondered, and then stepped forward.

“Hello Miss Elin.”

“… Hello, Yenika.”

“I was talking about group assignments with Confucius for a while. So, I hope you don’t have unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Elin’s eyes widen.

“yes yes? What kind of useless misunderstanding did I… … !”

Yenika burst out laughing again at her embarrassment, and turned around.

I could have teased you a little more, but today wasn’t the day.

‘Anyway, I owed it.’

Arthur Bayern says it’s okay, but that just didn’t suit my temperament.

In any case, thanks to this announcement, I also got an image of a model student, and this image will definitely help if I think about the ‘thing’ that I need to find at this school in the future.

In that sense, I had no intention of putting a second on this relationship.

It was the moment when he tried to avoid his seat for Arthur and Elin.

Arthur, who was next to him, grabbed his forearm with a snap.

“… … !”

Surprised, Jenika looked away, and Arthur tilted his head and asked a question.

“Didn’t you have something to say to me today? Jenika?”

Yenica stuttered in embarrassment.

“What, what do you mean? Confucius?”

“… … ? That’s what Jenika should ask. He said he had something to say today and said he would make time for it.”

At these words, Jenika shuts up.

Come to think of it, I was going to talk today as Arthur said.

A bizarre rumor spread in the underworld a few days ago.

In addition, it was to ask about Martial Durst, the industrial spy.

‘I forgot. but… … .’

Yenika, who was speechless, glanced away.

Elin Leverkusen’s expression was more shaken than before.

‘I don’t want to talk while being misunderstood like this.’

Yenika sighed and pondered, but eventually declined the offer.

“I’ll do it later.”

“hmm… Well, I don’t care, but it feels like the conversation keeps getting delayed?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it? You’re not going to tell me anything for free anyway?”

Arthur shrugged.

At the same time, the hand she was holding also moved away, and Yenica looked at Arthur’s hand for a moment before lowering her head.

“then.”

After saying a word, she walks away.

Arthur, who was watching the back, slowly turned his gaze to Elin and asked.

“Speaking of Elin… huh?”

“… … .”

“Why are you looking like that? What about Elin?”

At these words, Elin asked a question without hiding the corners of her mouth trembling.

“two people… You seem to have become very close?”

“Yenika and me?”

“uh. When did you become so close?”

Arthur tilted his head.

“Aren’t you friendly?”

“… … ?”

“It looks like Elin has misunderstood something, but I’m not close with Jenika.”

Elin’s gaze narrowed.

“lie.”

“Is it true?”

“Then why were you two so close?”

“Who suddenly hid his presence and approached me?”

Elin flinched.

“That, that! It’s because the two of them suddenly lowered their heads and lowered their posture!”

At her words, Arthur shrugged.

According to her own feelings, it was because Elin hid her presence first.

But it wasn’t something I had to point out, so I turned the topic around.

“By the way, what are you talking about, Elin?”

Elin shuts up at the question.

As Arthur blinked his eyes at the figure that seemed to be angry somewhere, Elin muttered to himself.

‘I sold my eyes for a moment, and then got involved with another woman?’

Of course, I’ve felt that I’ve been hanging out with Yenika Hazel since before, but I don’t think it’s been this far.

Because of that, Elin felt a strange sense of crisis.

It was difficult to define the identity of that sense of crisis, but it was clear that it should not be left as it is.

‘first… I need to make sure of the relationship. Then come up with countermeasures.’

Elin, whose eyes lit up with thoughts, snapped her fingers.

“I did, but suddenly I can’t remember?”

“… … ?”

“So let’s go eat something delicious. If something sweet goes in, I think I’ll think of it.”

Arthur blinked at the absurd suggestion.

But he soon burst out laughing and nodded.

This is because it was Elin Leverkusen who made such a proposal casually.

“What is it? Where shall we go, Elin?”

* * *

A total of three cafes existed at Arcane University.

They were all located on the lowest floor of each tower, but the most popular place was, of course, the ‘Strawberry’ cafe.

It was because there were various menus and the outdoor terrace was wide open to accommodate the largest number of people.

Thanks to that, many students used to use this place during lunchtime, and Elin and Arthur also took a seat for a conversation.

“Strawberry shake, cheesecake… And macarons, please.”

Elin finished the spell and looked at Arthur.

With that gaze, Arthur mentioned my favorite menu.

“I’d like an Americano with five shots, please.”

the employee asked in surprise.

“Is that really five shots? Will you spend a lot?”

“yes I’m okay. Please do so.”

The waitress looked at Arthur with a strange gaze, wrote down the order and said.

“Strawberry shake, Americano with five shots. Also, do you like cheesecake and macaroons?”

“yes.”

In response, the waiter left.

Elin, who watched the scene for a while, turned her head and said.

“Can I ask you a question, Arthur?”

At her words, Arthur nodded.

“sure. Do whatever you want.”

“How did you meet that girl, Jenika?”

“… With Yenica?”

At Arthur’s question, Elin nodded enthusiastically.

“hmm… It was the first time we met at school.”

“At school? By the way, that young lady, Yenika, sat right next to you?”

“ah. It’s because the people from Yenika’s side and I are familiar with each other.”

Elin raised her eyes.

‘Are there any relatives related to the Bavarian family?’

Anyone else would have suspected it, but it wasn’t too strange because it was a Bavarian family.

As for Hazel, the greatest family in the Empire and the giant Arcane corporation, it wouldn’t be strange if they knew each other.

‘… Then it seems that the Hazel family deliberately approached her.’

Along with the thought, Elin smiled coldly.

Again, this was no big surprise.

In the past, he was called the dumb Confucius and was teased, but now he is a full-fledged successor to Bavaria.

To be honest, the picture of making this and that situation look good to the successor was boring.

‘But it’s not as straight forward as it is boring.’

Along with the thought, Elin burst into a sigh.

How can you show such a gap in the thought of moving forward?

Even thinking about it myself, I was too complacent.

‘But I’m glad you noticed now… That Yenika.’

The way he looked at Arthur was unusual.

Something affectionate, yet sweet.

Recalling that memory, Elin was chewing her lips.

Arthur, who was silent, opens his mouth.

“I may ask you something. Elin?”

“… huh?”

“I suddenly have a question.”

Elin nodded her head.

With that permission, Arthur said while drinking an Americano that had arrived at the table sometime in the future.

“Elin doesn’t like me getting along with Yenika?”

“… … !”

Elin opens her mouth in surprise.

At her bewilderment, Arthur tilted his head.

“uh? Did you really hate it?’

Elin, who came to his senses, made an excuse.

“Muh, what? Go, all of a sudden, what are you talking about? Why am I close with that girl, Jenika… would you care?”

Arthur scratched his head at her question.

“hmm… Is that a lie?”

Elin shuts up.

“… … .”

Elin, who was conflicted in the silence, lowered her head and murmured.

“… What will you do if I say yes?’

Arthur tilted his head once again at those words, which were almost whispered, but answered meekly.

“I won’t be friendly.”

“… … .”

“I’m not really friendly. There is no reason to be friends in the future.”

Elin lifted her bowed head.

“Isn’t that a nuisance request?”

“Not at all? I told you. There is no reason to be friendly.”

Elin’s expression becomes ambiguous.

‘… Are you taking care of me now?’

The situation that was flowing, it seemed like that for once.

Arthur Bayern worries about his feelings, and says that he won’t be friendly with Jenika, even if it’s empty.

I could see enough in this situation.

Elin, who was in a good mood because of that, raised the corners of her mouth.

‘Mildang… Well done, Arthur Bayern.’

I’ve felt it before, but I’m really good at tug-of-war.

The skill of unexpectedly digging into my heart and shaking it around was not normal.

‘I guess I was born with this… I heard you don’t have a girlfriend before.’

I liked it, but I just couldn’t let it go.

Traditionally, pushing and pulling means pushing and pulling for interaction.

In that sense, I had to take a step back here.

With a suitable excuse.

“no… what. It’s good to be close, but isn’t Arthur the heir to the Duke of Bavaria?”

“… … ?”

“Then you should always be careful. If you are from a noble family, rumors always follow. Of course, it doesn’t matter if we can get along with Miss Jenika… It’s something I don’t know again, right?’

Arthur burst into exclamation at her explanation.

“oh… Did you mean that?”

“yes. So, no matter who you meet, you should never do anything that could be faulty.”

Arthur nodded.

‘It’s also Elin. You said you were hiding this meaning?’

Well, a sociable person like Elin would have instinctively noticed Jenika’s insidiousness.

‘So it seems to be warning you. I’m worried about me hanging out with Jenaka.’

After all, Elinda was kind-hearted.

How can you act like this to yourself, who is only a friend?

Arthur, who was in a good mood, raised the corner of his mouth.

“Okay, Elin. I will continue to keep my distance from Yenika.”

“hmm… what. If Arthur dares to think so, yes!”

With these words, Elin throws off her dark expression and smiles brightly.

After watching that smile for a while, Arthur asked a question that suddenly came to his mind.

“Oh, but didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

Elin groaned.

“Oh right… … .”

“… … ?”

“I almost didn’t want to talk about this.”

With these words, Elin explains.

“that… The opponent for the swordsmanship midterm test has been decided.”

“A midterm exam?”

“The professor told you. I’m going to have my midterm exam in a week. But the opponent for the match has been decided.”

Her words reminded Arthur belatedly.

‘Come to think of it, it’s midterm season now.’

It’s been 5 months since someone went to Arcane University.

That said, it was the midterm exam season.

And the swordsmanship lecture, as Elin said, took the midterm exam with sparring.

‘It seems that the match opponent has been decided… hmm. Who am I going to be?’

Actually, it didn’t matter who it was.

Whether I use mana or not, I am confident that I will not lose to anyone with my current skills.

Because of that, Arthur asked with a somewhat comfortable feeling.

“hmm… okay. Then who is Elin’s opponent?”

“you.”

“… … ?”

“It’s you, Arthur.”

Arthur’s eyes widened at these words.

On the contrary, Elin’s eyes swelled with anticipation and twinkled.

“This midterm exam… I think you and I will stick together.”