Chapter 12

The plan sounded grand, but Rodesha’s strategy was simple. Become close friends with Judith and extract all sorts of information from her.

The plan to study diligently and surpass Judith to take the top spot had failed long ago, so it was time to resort to more cunning tactics.

After following her around for a while, Rodesha finally managed to get hold of Judith’s <Advanced Accounting Practice Problems> notebook.

Although Professor Karel caught her with the notebook, she didn’t feel sorry at all.

However, she pretended to feel guilty and teary-eyed in front of Judith. She thought it would help her become closer to Judith.

As planned, the soft-hearted Judith comforted her, and she even succeeded in coming to the cafeteria with her.

Sharing a meal from the same menu and chatting was the most effective way to become friends quickly.

But where did it all go wrong?

It seemed to have started when Chase Cardandy sat next to Judith.

In other words, Rodesha’s plan had gone completely awry from the very beginning.

Chase’s presence, which seemed unpleasant, made her feel uneasy, and after Axel Fedelian appeared, it felt like walking on thin ice.

Rodesha had long been unable to tell whether the bread was going into her nose or mouth.

She wondered if she was being punished for planning to use Judith and harboring such ill intentions.

If there was a god, she wanted to say she would abandon the plan immediately, so please end the punishment.

“Judith, fancy meeting you here.”

Axel Fedelian spoke in his usual gentle tone.

However, there wasn’t a hint of a smile on the student council president’s lips, which were always adorned with a polite smile.

His blue-gray eyes looked as if their warmth had cooled. It was a stark contrast to his usual elegant demeanor.

“It’s been hard to see you lately, but here you are having lunch with Chase.”

He glanced at Chase, who was sitting arrogantly, and then turned his gaze back to Judith.

“It’s not my imagination, is it? You’re avoiding me on purpose.”

Rodesha glanced at Judith, who was sitting across from her, but no answer came from her.

Eventually, it was Chase who spoke up instead. He said to Axel in a mocking tone,

“If you know she’s avoiding you on purpose, why don’t you just leave her alone?”

“Chase Cardandy, stop acting like Judith’s spokesperson.”

Axel sighed softly and muttered quietly.

“You’re annoying.”

Sensing the tense atmosphere, students began to leave the cafeteria one by one.

Rodesha also desperately wanted to join the crowd and slip out, but it was impossible.

Rodesha’s current seat was directly in front of Judith.

If Rodesha, located at the eye of the storm, moved even a little, those sharp gazes might turn toward her.

Rodesha remained motionless, holding her breath as if she were dead.

Before long, the cafeteria was empty, leaving only four people.

Judith, Axel Fedelian, Chase Cardandy, and… Rodesha Roziena.

She couldn’t understand why she was in this space. She felt like screaming if she could.

Then Judith’s gaze landed on Rodesha.

Seeing Rodesha frozen in an awkward position, unable to do anything, Judith gave her an apologetic look.

Rodesha couldn’t even say it was okay and just awkwardly nodded.

Judith’s eyes rolled and finally met Axel’s. Axel’s expression softened for the first time when he met Judith’s gaze.

Judith spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.

“Axel, let’s talk later.”

“When is later?”

Axel, who had paused briefly, continued to ask.

“How long should I wait?”

In response to his question, which felt almost desperate, Judith answered simply.

“Tonight.”

Only then could Rodesha be freed from the suffocating tension.

* * *

She had agreed to meet Axel. It wasn’t a bad thing.

In fact, no matter how much Judith tried, there was a limit to avoiding him within the confined space of the Academy.

There were overlapping classes, and it was easy to run into each other in the corridors.

Rather than walking around nervously, worrying about running into Axel, it was better to set a date and meet cleanly.

She had been prepared for this anyway. At some point, she might have to explain why she was acting this way.

This time, Judith planned to honestly tell Axel why she had been avoiding him.

Of course, she wasn’t going to say it was because she had a crush on him, that just seeing him made her heart ache, or that she was trying to forget her feelings for him.

Saying such things would only make Axel feel troubled and guilty.

Judith knew that her feelings for Axel would be a burden to him. It wasn’t just a guess; it was the truth.

Because Judith had actually confessed to Axel once.

Of course, she had long realized that she didn’t match with Axel.

She was well aware of her own circumstances, and Madame Fedelian’s words constantly echoed in her mind.

But there was nothing she could do.

Her feelings for him grew day by day, to the point where it felt like they would spill over if nudged even slightly.

Even when confessing to Axel, she didn’t expect it to succeed. Judith already knew the outcome.

The reason she said those words, knowing she would be rejected, was simple.

If Axel rejected her confession cleanly, then Judith could also fold her feelings neatly.

‘Axel, I actually… like you.’

It was really difficult to voice the feelings she had kept hidden for years. She had barely said a few words, yet her heart felt like it would burst.

Judith clenched and unclenched her skirt, avoiding Axel’s gaze.

Axel was surprisingly silent.

Was he very flustered?

She thought that perhaps Axel was more troubled than she was while waiting for his reaction.

Kind Axel might be pondering how to reject Judith’s confession without hurting her.

Judith didn’t want Axel to be troubled because of her.

So she mustered the courage to lift her head.

But Axel’s reaction was different from what Judith expected.

She thought he might be sweating nervously, but there was no such sign.

At that moment, their eyes met. Axel looked directly at Judith, slowly closed his eyes, and then opened them again. A beautiful smile appeared on his lips.

His blue-gray eyes were as warm as ever as they looked at Judith.

Did he not hear me? 

Judith momentarily thought that because his reaction was so calm.

Then a gentle voice fell on her ears.

‘…Everyone can misunderstand their own feelings, Judith.’

Axel spoke kindly and reached out to wipe away her tears.

His long, white fingers brushed past Judith’s eyes and cheeks as if caressing them. The places his fingers touched burned as if scalded.

‘Of course, since we’ve been together since we were very young, you might feel like it has to be each other. But that’s not love.’

Only after Axel wiped her tears did Judith realize she was crying pathetically.

He calmly looked down at the tearful Judith and whispered kindly for the last time.

‘We’re friends, right?’

I’m sorry. I don’t like you.

It would have been better if he had said that.

Then Judith could have folded her hopeless feelings. She could have discarded such a painful love without regret.

But Axel didn’t do that.

With the same demeanor, the same gaze, the same warmth, he gently whispered to Judith.

‘So, Judith, think again about what your true feelings are.’

Axel spoke desperately. As if casting a spell on Judith.

He didn’t even treat Judith’s confession as sincere from the start.

After smiling silently for a moment, he opened his mouth again. 

What would he say this time?

Judith thought there was no room left on her heart for more wounds.

But before he could say anything, Axel tilted his head slightly and lightly wet his lips.

The smooth lips glistened red under the light. For a moment, Judith felt a dizzying sensation as her mind soared.

‘If you remain a good friend, we can stay together forever.’

She thought there was no room left for more wounds, but she was mistaken.

With a single word, Axel bound Judith to his side.

Perhaps he knew. That after hearing those words, Judith would never be able to leave his side.

The vague hope that came from not being completely rejected.

Judith’s unrequited love continued in an ambiguous state, unable to fold or bloom.

Hot tears streaming down her cheeks, the gentle hand wiping them away. Judith closed her eyes and thought for the first time.

Axel Fedelian is a kind but cruel person.