Chapter 30

One day, with spring break just around the corner, the academy began bustling for an entirely different reason.

Valentine’s Day was just a day away.

Students with lovers prepared in their own ways, while those without lovers also made their own preparations for the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

Among the group of friends, the one who should have been the most excited was Penny. Yet, for some reason, she had been feeling down these past few days.

“Penny, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

Alice finally asked during lunch. Elena, who was eating a sandwich, nodded in agreement.

That’s when Penny made a shocking confession.

“I’m thinking about giving Neville the love potion again.”

Alice raised her voice in surprise.

“What? Why?”

“Shh, keep it down.”

Penny quickly looked around and covered Alice’s mouth with both hands. Thankfully, no one was paying attention to them.

After swallowing her sandwich, Elena spoke on behalf of Alice, whose mouth was still covered.

“Did something happen between you and Neville?”

“No, not really…”

Penny twisted her hair nervously and glanced around.

“I just feel uneasy.”

“About what?”

“Well, we started dating because of the love potion, right? The senior who gave it to me never said how long the effects would last. So, I’m worried about when Neville might stop liking me.”

“He seemed affectionate enough when I saw him earlier.”

Penny let out a deep sigh.

“That’s true. But I asked him out on a date this weekend, and he turned me down.”

Alice dismissed it casually.

“Maybe he has something else going on.”

“Still, I’m worried. He’s been acting a little different lately.”

“You’ve been dating for over a month now. Isn’t it normal for things to change a bit over time?”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of hesitation, Penny slammed her hand on the table.

“This won’t do. You guys have to help me!”

Help her with what, exactly?

Alice and Elena exchanged blank stares, blinking in confusion.

***

Elena stared blankly at Penny, who was wearing an apron. Penny had even tied a headscarf neatly around her head and was now looking at her.

“Elena, what are you doing? Put on your apron.”

“Oh? Oh, right. I’ll put it on.”

Elena tied the apron around her waist. Penny, Alice, and Elena were currently in the kitchen.

Penny had asked them to help her make chocolates.

As Elena watched Penny place ingredients on the table, she muttered to herself.

“But I don’t know how to make chocolate.”

“That’s okay. I’ll guide you. It’s easier than you think.”

And so, under Penny’s direction, they began making chocolates. They tempered the chocolate, poured it into molds to set, and mixed in almonds.

Before they knew it, they had almost finished making the chocolates.

That’s when Penny pulled something out of her pocket. It was a tiny glass vial, about the size of a pinky finger, containing a transparent pink liquid.

Pink. The moment Alice and Elena saw that peculiar color, they immediately recognized what it was.

“Is that… a love potion?”

“You’re planning to add the love potion?”

Penny hesitated for a moment before swallowing nervously.

“Yes, I’m going to add it.”

Was this really okay?

Feeling uneasy, Elena voiced her concern.

“Are you sure about this? What if Neville finds out…”

She was about to say, ‘Wouldn’t he feel betrayed?’ but Penny quickly shushed her.

“Neville must never know.”

“But Penny, think it over one more time. I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Yeah, you can try harder in other ways. Just giving him the chocolates you made yourself might be enough to win him over.”

“Exactly.”

Even if the love potion worked and Neville started liking Penny again, wouldn’t she continue to feel anxious?

What Penny truly needed was confidence that Neville would like her even without the love potion.

After all, Penny was a charming girl, even from another girl’s perspective.

And if Neville ever found out about this, he would likely feel betrayed. That’s probably why Penny was so adamant that he must never know.

After much persuasion, Penny finally gave up on using the love potion.

“Are you sure this will be okay?”

“It’ll be fine!”

Alice and Elena continued to encourage Penny.

“Give him these chocolates and confess your true feelings.”

“Alright. I’ll give it a try.”

Penny fidgeted with her fingers before clenching her fists with determination.

“First, I’ll go ask Neville out on a date for tomorrow!”

“Yeah, good luck!”

Alice and Elena waved their hands at Penny’s retreating figure as she left the kitchen, holding the beautifully wrapped chocolates.

“I hope it goes well.” 

Elena murmured.

“It will. I’m pretty sure Neville already liked Penny to begin with.” 

Alice replied.

“By the way…”

Elena looked down at the finished chocolates with a troubled expression.

“What should we do with these?”

Making chocolates at Penny’s insistence was fine, but there were far too many of them.

‘I was going to eat them myself…’

If she ate all of this alone, it wouldn’t be good for her health.

“Alice, do you want to take some?”

When Elena offered her the wrapped chocolates, Alice grimaced.

“Ugh, just smelling chocolate makes me dizzy now. Besides, Elly, I already have my own chocolates to deal with. You’ll have to handle yours yourself.”

“But I can’t eat them all by myself.”

“Why are you eating them? It’s Valentine’s Day. You should give them to someone. These are handmade chocolates, after all.”

“Who am I supposed to give them to? If I give these out, people will think I’m picking a fight.”

Elena sighed as she looked at the chocolates she had made. Since it was her first time making them, the shapes were all uneven.

Penny’s chocolates, made with experience, and Alice’s, thanks to her natural dexterity, were beautiful.

Elena’s, however, were subpar.

“Who would refuse handmade chocolates?”

“They taste better when they look good.”

“Still, just give them out. I’m sure the recipients will be happy.”

Elena closed the chocolate box and muttered.

“And I don’t even have anyone to give them to.”

Alice widened her eyes.

“What, really?”

“Yeah. Valentine’s Day is a day to give chocolates to someone you like or your lover. I don’t have a lover or anyone I like.”

“You don’t like anyone?”

For some reason, Alice seemed a little surprised. 

Why? Was it so shocking that I didn’t have someone I liked?

“Why are you surprised?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. But did you know? Valentine’s Day wasn’t originally about giving chocolates to someone you romantically love.”

“Then what was it about?”

“Well, it was still about love, but of different kinds. Not just romantic love, but also love for family, friends, or even admiration for someone.”

“So, you’re saying I should give chocolates to friends or professors?”

“Exactly!”

Ugh. Elena groaned but decided to follow Alice’s advice.

“Alright. Then, will you take some of my chocolates?”

Alice firmly shook her head.

“As I said, no thanks. I already have enough of my own chocolates to deal with.”

“Ugh.”

Then who should I give them to?

Unlike Alice, who was popular and got along with everyone, Elena didn’t have many close friends.

Only a few people came to mind.

She returned to her room with the neatly wrapped chocolates, deep in thought.

Who should I give them to?

***

The next day was Valentine’s Day, a day the students had eagerly awaited. The academy was bustling from early morning.

The sweet scent of chocolates filled the classrooms as students exchanged them.

Elena gave her chocolates to Penny first. But Penny refused, for reasons similar to Alice’s.

“I made a lot of chocolates yesterday too… And you’re supposed to give these to boys, not me.”

“Originally, Valentine’s Day was also about giving chocolates to friends.”

“That was then, this is now. Go find a boy instead!”

Elena tried giving them to a few others as well, but the reactions were mostly the same. Still, one or two people accepted them.

Even so, her bag remained heavy.

She carried the bag of leftover chocolates and headed to the training grounds. Today was her swordsmanship lesson with Cedric.

Swordsmanship students were relatively more popular than those in the magic or alchemy departments. It seemed to be because of the romanticized image of knights.

As a result, the training grounds were packed with both male and female students. Cedric, too, was surrounded by female students.

Elena decided to wait quietly under a tree until Cedric was alone.

‘He’s really popular.’

She had expected as much, but seeing it for herself was overwhelming. Watching Cedric awkwardly smile as he declined the chocolates reminded her of someone.

‘How is Felix doing?’

As much as she hated to admit it, Felix was also quite popular.

According to Alice, it was only natural since he was handsome, skilled in magic, and even trained in swordsmanship, making him physically fit.

Elena didn’t really see the appeal of Felix, though. Of course, Alice always gave her a strange look whenever she said that.

Anyway, for those reasons, Felix had been swamped with attention from female students every Valentine’s Day since their first year.

So, he always skipped classes on Valentine’s Day and hid in a secret spot only he knew.

Of course, having known him for so long, Elena knew exactly where that secret spot was.

‘I’ll visit him later.’

To get rid of the chocolates, she had no choice but to give some to Felix.

As she was thinking about quickly handing them over to him, a shadow suddenly loomed over her.

“Um, you’re Elena Bellote from the Magic Department, right?”