Based on Ophelia’s teachings, Merlin felt that conversation was like playing chess—you could only respond according to a prescribed template, with no room for improvisation. The evening gala was suffocating for her.
What’s more, without her even noticing, more and more people were crowding around her. Merlin didn’t know a single one of them, yet they all acted like old friends.
Even the foreign nobles had pushed aside the students who originally made up the majority.
Really… nowhere is peaceful. Just when she wanted to catch her breath and slip away to the balcony alone, she got cornered by Mahina again.
Merlin really didn’t like this kind of event. Thank goodness Orino was there to cover for her.
She had already secretly changed out of her evening gown and, with Orino’s help, snuck out of the venue.
After successfully escaping, Orino waved vigorously at Merlin.
“Your Highness Merlin! Go on ahead—I still have things to take care of!”
Merlin didn’t mind at all. She was much more relaxed on her own.
“Alright.”
Orino seemed really busy lately. Was she messing around with that orange ice cream stuff again?
But at least she kept the housework in perfect order. As a maid, her skills were absolutely top-notch.
Oh well, never mind that.
Back in her school uniform, Merlin strolled alone down the silent campus avenue.
At this moment, all the noise and commotion were locked away inside that brightly lit auditorium.
The avenue was empty, with only the streetlights casting dim, elongated shadows. Merlin walked with her hands behind her back, stepping lightly on the seams between the paving stones, taking a path she wouldn’t normally walk.
Sure enough, she just couldn’t get used to that aristocratic style. Living a carefree life was far more pleasant. Even though Ophelia wanted her to learn to adapt, if she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t.
Ophelia… She had just been spoken to by the Empress of the Amber Empire, which gave Merlin the perfect chance to slip away. Otherwise, she would have been nagged again.
Her footsteps unconsciously came to a halt.
Ah…
Merlin looked up and realized she had unconsciously walked to the very place where it all began.
The autumn night wind carried a touch of bleakness, rustling through the treetops with a soft whisper.
Dry dead leaves scraped against the ground, making a sharp, grating sound. For some reason, it made Merlin’s originally lighthearted mood suddenly sink like a stone dropped into a deep pool.
That day, this was where Merlin had reunited with Mahina, and also where she had received that slap.
That person who once… just thinking of her name would make her heart race.
And now there was an empty hole in Merlin’s heart. It didn’t affect her daily life at all, yet something felt off.
Without love, she would never be hurt again, but that also meant no more storms.
Was this really the right thing to do?
But… Merlin really didn’t want to be hurt anymore.
Amid the rustling of leaves, Merlin heard the irregular crunching of dry dead leaves.
Crunch. Crunch.
It was the sound of leather shoes crushing dry leaves.
Logically, all the students should be at the banquet right now. Who would come to such a remote place?
Merlin followed the sound, her gaze cutting through the dappled tree shadows. The figure she had just shaken off at the banquet stepped into her sight without any warning.
It was her again.
Merlin pressed her lips together and turned to leave. There was nothing left to say between her and Mahina now.
Just as she turned, the footsteps behind her stopped.
“Ah…”
Under the cold moonlight, separated by a few meters, they locked eyes once more.
But this time, Mahina didn’t rush forward like before, nor did she wear that pleading expression.
Maybe it was because of what Merlin had said—
“She’s already gone, along with the heart that loved you.”
Those words were too devastating.
Even though Mahina could see Merlin again, she only froze for a moment, then, as if burned, she violently turned her head away.
She clenched her teeth and lowered her head, not wanting Merlin to see her weakness.
Using the shadow of the tree as cover, she didn’t want Merlin to see the tears welling up in her eyes.
Yeah… even Mahina had a heart made of flesh.
Even though she had told herself countless times that she had brought this upon herself, even though she had mentally prepared herself to endure cold looks, to love the current Merlin meant bearing a thousand times the pain.
But pain was still pain.
Yeah… Merlin’s heart that once loved her had been driven away by her own doing.
So Mahina was self-aware. She wouldn’t complain to anyone, and she didn’t want to show weakness to anyone either.
Merlin had once said she liked seeing her smile, so Mahina decided to swallow all her tears in silence.
Since they had already met, since she had been mercilessly rejected, there was no point in staying at the gala. She just wanted to sneak away, find a secluded corner, and wipe away those unshed tears. After all… being rejected so many times, she needed some time to mend her heart… haha.
Mahina didn’t want Merlin to pity her. She wanted to show Merlin her best side.
This time, she didn’t call out to Merlin. Instead, she pretended not to see her, hoping Merlin would just leave.
After all, the current Merlin didn’t like her anyway. If Mahina didn’t take the initiative to speak, Merlin definitely wouldn’t pay her any attention.
Mahina turned her head and glanced at Merlin’s moonlight-stretched shadow from the corner of her eye, silently urging in her heart.
Just go. Why aren’t you leaving yet?
If you don’t leave now, I won’t be able to hold back the tears.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally, tonight was still the most painful night.
Mahina stared at that long shadow, which remained motionless.
Tonight’s moonlight was too cold, so cold that her wounds throbbed.
Mahina took a deep breath, forcing down the sting in her nose.
If you won’t leave, then I will.
She stood up, deliberately turning her head away, and walked in the opposite direction from Merlin.
That path led to a dead end—a flower bed, not at all the way back to the dormitory—but she didn’t care anymore.
Mahina just wanted to lick her wounds in a secluded corner, to present her best self to the person she loved.
Tomorrow… tomorrow she would surely perk up.
But just as that lonely silhouette was about to disappear into the darkness—
“Wait…”
Mahina’s footsteps jerked to a halt. Tears finally spilled uncontrollably onto the back of her hand.
When I wanted to talk to you earlier, you said such cruel things. Now that I want to rest quietly, you won’t even let me do that.
You’re really mean, aren’t you?
After all… saying something so harsh just means you don’t want to see me.
“What is it?”
Mahina’s voice was already choked with sobs.
Do you hate me that much? You have to bully me when I’m at my most vulnerable.
“I have something I want to give you.”