Chapter 65

Axel’s eyes wavered.  

It was as if he had just heard something completely unexpected, perhaps even shocking.  

Soon, he slowly shook his head from side to side, as if denying a truth he couldn’t believe.  

For some reason, that reaction made Judith laugh. It was such a typical Axel response.  

Maybe that’s why, before Axel could even open his mouth, Judith took the lead.  

“What? Are you going to say it’s just a misunderstanding again?”  

“……!”  

Axel’s eyes widened at her words.  

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Judith no longer wanted to hear it. She didn’t want her feelings to be dismissed as a misunderstanding anymore.  

How could she make him believe this was real?  

At that moment, she noticed the tie in front of her swaying. It looked as though it was begging to be grabbed.  

On impulse, she pulled on his tie, and his pale face drew closer without much resistance.  

Deep, ocean-like eyes, long lashes half-covering them, and smooth cheeks.  

From this close distance, where she could even see the fine hairs on his skin, her gaze trailed lower to his plump lips.  

She hesitated for a moment, then gently pressed her lips against his.  

Peck.

From the point where their lips touched, her heart began to race uncontrollably.  

“……Does this still feel like a misunderstanding to you?”  

A heavy silence followed.  

Axel didn’t say a word for a long time. Judith glanced up at him.  

His expression was unreadable. The soft curve of his lips, which had been there moments ago, was now gone.  

For some reason, her throat felt dry, and she swallowed hard. Maybe it was anxiety. Waiting for Axel’s response felt like a prisoner awaiting their execution.  

“……So that’s why you’ve been avoiding me all this time. Not because you hated me for what my mother did.”  

That was what he said after a long pause. It seemed Axel had finally unraveled the mystery of why Judith had been avoiding him.  

“…….”  

Axel quietly looked down at Judith. He appeared lost in thought, his expression calm.  

Under his persistent gaze, which seemed to scrutinize every inch of her face, Judith swallowed nervously.  

“Judith.”  

When Axel called her name after a brief silence, she finally raised her head.  

His face was still completely serious, devoid of any trace of his usual gentle demeanor.  

How long had they been holding each other’s gaze like that? Eventually, Axel spoke.  

“If I accept your feelings, will you stay by my side?”  

For a moment, she doubted her ears. Thinking she had misheard, Judith asked blankly.  

“What did you say?”  

As she stared at him in disbelief, Axel slowly continued.  

“If what you want is my heart, I’ll give it to you. So… will you not leave me?”  

Axel, still gazing at the silent Judith, reached out and cupped her cheek.  

His thumb slid down and brushed against her lips, as if he were trying to confirm something.  

When his firm fingers grazed the seam of her lips, they instinctively parted. Axel leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her like a soft breeze. His black hair swayed right in front of her eyes.  

Reflexively, she leaned back. She almost hit her head on the back of the chair, but Axel reached out and cradled the back of her head.  

Her trembling breaths were swallowed by his lips. The hand that had been supporting her head slid down to caress the nape of her neck.  

It was warm. Or perhaps Axel wasn’t warm, and it was her own body that was unusually cold. When she shuddered at the chill, his kiss grew gentler, as if to soothe her. It felt like she was melting.  

But strangely, while her body was wrapped in this peculiar sensation, her heart didn’t race.  

It was dry and hollow, like a kiss given out of charity. That’s how it felt to Judith.  

The deeper the kiss became, the colder her heart grew. At some point, she regained her composure and thought to herself.  

So this is Axel’s answer to my confession.  

But it wasn’t really an answer. It was just his way of begging her to stay by his side, no matter what form that took.  

It was nothing more than pity, thrown like a scrap to the pitiful Judith, who had dared to harbor unrequited feelings for him.  

In the end, Judith pushed Axel away. His lips lingered for a moment, as if hesitant to part, before finally retreating.  

“Do you do this with your friends too?”  

Axel tilted his head and looked at her.  

“What do you mean?”  

His fingers gently wiped her damp lips. It was a delicate touch, but it didn’t stir any emotion in her.  

“Would you go this far just to stay close to a friend?”  

“…….”  

“Your behavior… it’s strange no matter how you look at it.”  

Axel remained silent for a moment. He seemed to be reflecting on his actions before he asked her instead.  

“……Is it strange?”  

In Axel’s light gray eyes, a myriad of emotions flickered—affection, desperation… and perhaps even a hint of longing.  

It didn’t seem like there was no love in his gaze.  

Clinging to that last sliver of hope, Judith asked him.  

“To you… what am I? Do you even like me?”  

Axel’s eyes trembled slightly at her words.  

“……I… you’re…”  

His face was filled with confusion as he struggled to continue. His lips, which had been moving as if to speak, eventually closed again.  

As she watched him hesitate with furrowed brows, a sudden certainty struck Judith’s mind.  

Perhaps Axel Fedelian was afraid of the future they might have together.  

Afraid of the risks and challenges that would come with their changing relationship, he couldn’t bring himself to be honest about his feelings.  

Finally, Axel managed to finish his sentence.  

“……I think of you as someone more precious than anyone else.”  

Of course. In the end, he chose not to reveal his true feelings.  

Judith let out a sigh filled with disappointment.  

What had I been expecting all this time? 

Her fragmented emotions scattered, leaving behind nothing but an empty echo.  

With her heart now hollow, she reached a conclusion.  

“There’s no need to pretend you like me.”  

“……Why?”  

“I’ll sort out these feelings on my own.”  

She no longer cared what expression Axel was making. No matter how he reacted, nothing would change.  

As soon as she finished speaking, Judith quickly turned away. She heard no sound from Axel behind her.  

He made no attempt to stop her. It was as if he had resigned himself to silently watching her walk away.  

*Rustle, rustle.*  

The sound of leaves crunching underfoot seemed endless. She didn’t want to hear it.  

Her chest ached as if it were breaking, but no tears came. It was as if she had forgotten how to cry.  

When had I become someone who couldn’t even cry properly?  

Looking back, it had probably been that way ever since her father’s death. Ever since the tragic day she realized she loved Axel.  

There had been someone who cried for her when she was overwhelmed with sadness. Someone who had said they would cry in her place.  

But that person was gone now, so where should these tears go?  

***

There was a time when Judith thought unrequited love for Axel was a gift from the heavens.  

When all the misfortunes and sorrows in her life seemed to fade away whenever she looked at him.  

When it felt like he was healing her wounds. Like he was saving her from unbearable despair.  

Like he was helping her escape from pain.  

There was a time when she cherished every day she spent with Axel as a precious memory.  

Even though those memories became heavy chains that kept her from leaving him.  

Even though she clung to his meaningless kindness, feeling more miserable but still living each day because of it.  

There was a time when she felt comfort just sitting beside him, thinking she was his friend.  

Even if she couldn’t be the most important person to him, she was content just being by his side.  

There were moments when she picked up the scraps of affection he tossed her way, deluding herself into thinking she was someone special to him.  

It took her over ten years to realize that her unrequited love was a curse. How foolish. How pathetic. How pitiful.  

But now, she would stop all of it—all the messy, lingering feelings.  

Her unrequited love was over.  

***

Judith left the eastern garden of the academy and began walking aimlessly. She wasn’t heading anywhere in particular.  

Her only goal was to get as far away from Axel as possible.  

Since the fireworks had just ended, the garden was still bustling with people.  

Pushing through the crowd, Judith walked toward the dormitory without stopping.  

She had been walking long. Eventually, the noisy atmosphere around her began to quiet down.  

At the same time, her legs began to ache terribly, and she came to a halt.  

The uncomfortable shoes she had worn for the occasion felt unbearable.  

Maybe that was why she felt like she couldn’t take another step.  

Like a puppet with its strings cut, she collapsed to the ground and let out a deep sigh.  

“Haa…”  

At that moment, a shadow fell over her bowed head.  

The shadow didn’t disappear even after a long time. Curious, Judith raised her head with a puzzled expression.  

Her eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, gradually focused on a familiar figure.  

But what stood out the most was the silver hair that shone brightly even in the dark.  

Judith blinked, doubting her eyes, and then opened her mouth after a moment.  

“……Chase?”