Chapter 10.9

“Herace?”

Brienne spotted Herace as she passed through the flower garden on her way to the dormitory at the academy.

She saw Herace sitting on a bench, looking over some documents. After checking that no one else was around, Brienne approached him.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were busy today.”

“I was waiting for you, Brienne.”

“For me?”

Herace smiled and set the documents aside, laying a handkerchief on the bench for Brienne to sit.

“Yes, I know Sir Kelton is always with you now, but I was worried about when you’d arrive. Did you meet Diashi?”

“I did. Thankfully, she’s healthy and not seriously hurt. She’ll get better soon. I wish you could have come with me.”

As Brienne sat on the handkerchief and spoke, Herace smiled apologetically and set the documents aside. Brienne glanced at him and sighed.

According to Aaron, Herace hadn’t had a moment’s rest since the semester started, spending long days as an academy assistant by day and handling family affairs at night. Ever since Duke Belif was injured and hadn’t returned to work, Herace’s workload had increased.

“Isn’t it hard, being so busy?”

Brienne looked at him with concern, but Herace had a different perspective.

“Well, I think you are busier, Brienne. Yesterday you said you couldn’t see me because you had to study. And the day before, too.”

“Oh, that was because of the written exam…….”

Brienne, embarrassed, fiddled with her hair and lowered her gaze. Preparing for the exam that assessed freshmen’s abilities, she had been studying harder than usual.

Brienne whispered as she glanced around.

“But I don’t think I’ll do well……. Professor Ruyten’s magic studies exam is supposed to be especially tough.”

She hadn’t made any new friends while worrying about Diashi, but Brienne always listened. She’d heard from classmates about Professor Ruyten and the infamous magic exam, and was nervous as she prepared.

“As someone who’s taken it before, I can’t lie and say it’s easy. But if you need help, I’ll gladly assist.”

Herace smiled gently and tilted his head toward Brienne. She looked into his eyes for a moment, then shook her head and whispered.

“I’m tempted, but I can’t. Getting help from an assistant would be favoritism. You should help everyone equally, not show preference to one student.”

“Favoritism, huh.”

Herace repeated her words with a laugh and nodded.

“Then let’s call it that.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m a bad senior who favors only you, Brienne.”

His teasing voice made Brienne blush and glance around nervously. What if someone overheard? She was always careful when meeting Herace, but in a crowded academy, it was impossible to avoid everyone.

Noticing her concern, Herace drew her gaze back to him.

“I don’t intend to trouble you, so don’t worry too much. If anyone’s nearby, we’ll notice.”

“But…….”

“If you’re still worried, here, let’s write on paper instead.”

Handing her a notebook and pen, Herace offered a solution. Brienne’s face lit up at the unexpected suggestion, and she gladly accepted.

“That’s a good idea.”

Brienne uncapped the pen and slowly wrote a word on the blank page.

[Herace, nice to see you.]

Herace saw her round handwriting and chuckled.

[Why are you laughing?]

Brienne tilted her head in confusion, quickly scribbled a response, and handed the notebook and pen back to Herace.

After pondering for a moment, Herace skipped a line and wrote in neat handwriting.

[Because you’re cute.]

Watching him write, Brienne flinched and looked up. Avoiding his gaze, she took the notebook back from him and whispered softly.

“……Don’t write things like that here.”

“Then, what should I write?”

“Anything except that.”

Brienne replied firmly, bowing her head and picking up the pen again. Herace gazed at her profile as she focused on writing.

She seemed to have made a mistake, wrinkling her nose slightly. Brienne crossed out the error and finished her sentence in even clearer handwriting than before.

[Anyway…… I’ll prepare for the exam on my own. Herace, just cheer me on and comfort me.]

[Cheer and comfort?]

[Yes, cheer for me to do well on the exam and comfort me afterward. That’s enough help.]

Herace read the determination in Brienne’s face and smiled softly, nodding slowly.

He knew by now that she liked to do things on her own. The crossed-out words proved it.

[But it’s a little disappointing. I wanted an excuse to spend even a few minutes with you.]

[……After the exam. Let’s go out for a meal together on the shopping street. We’ve never done that before.]

[When?]

Brienne furrowed her brow, quickly writing as if she’d just remembered.

[Before the weekend after next. I think I’ll get busier after that.]

“That’s when the exam ends, right? Do you have extra studying to do?”

[No, it’s not studying…….]

A hesitant smile appeared on Brienne’s face as she paused. Should she tell the truth about it? She didn’t intend to lie to Herace, but she doubted he would like it.

So Brienne chose to be vague.

[I’m going to look into something with Zen and Lusell. That weekend, we’re visiting the temple. I’ll see Miss Diashi, too.]

Herace’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked down at the paper.

“……Zen must mean Prince Garzen, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

But Brienne was too busy writing to notice.

“Herace, here…….”

“Is that something you absolutely have to do?”

Their words overlapped because of it.

“……What?”

Brienne’s eyes wavered as she looked at Herace’s suddenly subdued face.

“Herace, what do you mean, do I absolutely have to?”

Herace looked at Brienne’s face, momentarily at a loss. Her trembling eyelashes hid then revealed her pale green eyes as he finally managed to smile as usual.

Right, what’s so hard about putting up with one cocky guy?

“……Sorry if it sounded strange. I just worry because you seem so busy.”

Hadn’t he already resolved to support whatever she wanted?

Brienne being with that prince was certainly something to be jealous about, but Herace had no right to stop her.

So he just had to let it pass, like now.

“It’s later than I thought. You should get ready for your exam, so let’s get up. It’s getting dark; I’ll walk you to the dormitory.”

After organizing the documents he’d set aside, Herace reached out his hand to Brienne.

Looking at his hand, Brienne remembered the day she’d seen him cry.

That day, Herace returned to the assistant’s office and wrote a reply to his father, accepting the offer to return to Rontiano and inherit the title.

But he’d agreed to do so four years later, after Brienne graduated. By then, he wouldn’t need his mage’s credentials, and the best way to protect Brienne would be that one.

If he became Duke, he could help Brienne take a step closer to the world she wanted.

What would she be like in that future?

Herace wondered, but the question quickly faded like smoke.

As long as Brienne was right in front of him, nothing else mattered. Brienne was Brienne, and she’d always be lovely, no matter what.

That certainty was proof of his feelings.

But just then, Brienne’s cautious voice rang in his ear.

“Herace, do you… dislike me doing things?”

Brienne, with trembling eyes, studied his face and bit her lip.

Just moments ago, she’d been smiling and chatting, but now she clutched the notebook tightly.

Herace, puzzled, withdrew his unaccepted hand and tilted his head.

“……Of course not. I don’t dislike it.”

“Don’t lie.”

Brienne shook her head calmly and stood up.

“Herace, you’ve always had that look on your face since I said I’d enter the academy. You can fool others, but not me.”

“…….”

Brienne took Herace’s silence as confirmation and sighed, suppressing her frustration.

Every time things went well, their conversations seemed to turn out like this, making her uneasy.

“……Just be honest. Do you really not trust me?”

Brienne’s voice trembled as she forced a smile. She appreciated Herace’s concern, but she couldn’t be simply happy about it.

At some point, she felt like she’d become a bother to him. She didn’t want to be someone he had to help and protect.

Of course, Brienne knew she’d shown weakness to Herace many times, and could guess how he saw her. That made it even more upsetting. She didn’t want to be someone who always needed his protection.

From the moment she decided to enter the academy, Brienne wanted to be his equal. Not just relying on his help, but someone who could help him, too.

She wanted to discuss something more meaningful than trivial gossip about dress shops or famous tea leaves.

She wanted to stand before him as a full mage, not just a noble lady and a young master.

‘……Like Diashi.’

That was always Brienne’s wish.

But Herace always……

“No, it’s just that I don’t trust myself.”

“……What?”

Brienne stared, mouth open, at Herace’s completely unexpected words.

“Herace, what did you just say?”

Herace smiled calmly and replied.

“I said I don’t trust myself. I can’t live my daily life without you, Brienne.”

“…….”