Chapter 31

A boy she had never seen before stood in front of her. The boy, with brown hair and green eyes, was dressed in fencing practice attire, suggesting he was from the Swordsmanship Department. However, instead of holding a wooden sword, he held a box in his hands.

‘Wait a second, is this…?’

“Yes, that’s me. Are you here to ask me to deliver chocolates to Alice?”

It was an annual occurrence. Alice was popular, but her unique aura made it difficult for many students to approach her.

As a result, they often turned to Elena, who frequently hung around Alice, to deliver chocolates on their behalf.

She assumed this boy was the same, but his expression seemed unusual.

“Alice? Who’s that?”

“What? You don’t know her? Then Penny, maybe? But that won’t work. Penny already has a boyfriend…”

“What are you talking about? I…!”

His voice grew louder, and his face quickly turned red. He mumbled nervously.

“It’s for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes. Will… you accept it?”

For me?

Elena blankly accepted the box he handed her.

It was the first time she had received chocolates on Valentine’s Day from someone other than her older brothers.

“Th-thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

When she whispered awkwardly, the boy’s face turned even redder, as if it might burst if pricked with a needle.

“Um, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“You’re not… dating Felix Christian, are you?”

“What nonsense!”

Elena yelled without realizing it.

“Me and Felix? Don’t even joke about that.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Fortunately, the boy apologized sincerely. Elena graciously accepted his apology.

“It’s fine. But why would you think that?”

“Well, you and Christian are always together. Even last Valentine’s Day, you were with him.”

That was only because Felix wasn’t feeling well last year.

Now that she thought about it, she had been with Felix the year before last as well. She couldn’t quite remember the reason, though.

“Anyway, I’m glad.”

Glad? About what?

Before she could ask, the boy spoke again. Ah, come to think of it, he hadn’t even introduced himself.

“By any chance, would you…”

“Ah, there you are.”

Cedric Kaine interrupted, appearing out of nowhere. He glanced at the boy.

“Cedric Kaine?”

The boy looked between Cedric and Elena, then abruptly shouted, ‘Sorry! I didn’t know!’ before running off as if fleeing.

“What didn’t he know?”

“Who knows? Maybe he didn’t know you had connections in the Swordsmanship Department.”

Cedric replied casually and handed her a wooden sword.

“Here, let’s practice.”

“But it seems like someone’s waiting for you.”

Elena glanced behind him. The girls who had been talking to Cedric earlier were now watching them, clearly waiting for him.

“Cedric, shouldn’t you go?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s fine.”

“But they’re waiting.”

“It’s class time. I have to teach.”

Still, it bothered Elena. It wasn’t just any day—it was Valentine’s Day. Those girls had probably been waiting for this day.

She quickly stood up, grabbing her bag.

“I don’t feel well today, so I don’t think I can attend class. I just came to let you know.”

She decided to make a small sacrifice.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“It’s just a headache. Maybe from smelling too much chocolate.”

“Shouldn’t you go to the infirmary?”

“It’s not that bad. I’ll just rest in the dormitory.”

Elena rummaged through her bag and pulled out a box of chocolates.

“Here, take this.”

Cedric’s eyes widened slightly.

“What’s this?”

“Chocolates. I made them with my friends yesterday. They might look a little odd, but they taste fine.”

Feeling embarrassed, she added,

“But if you don’t like chocolate, you don’t have to take it. I saw you turning others down earlier.”

“No.”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to give him something, as Cedric quickly took the box.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

He seemed a bit excited. Worried he might misunderstand, Elena added an explanation.

“This is just a friendship chocolate.”

She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea and make things awkward between them.

“Alice said that in the past, people used to give chocolates to their friends on Valentine’s Day.”

“Ah, really?”

Cedric’s voice dropped slightly.

“Yes. So don’t overthink it. Anyway, I should go.”

The longer she stayed, the sharper the gazes from the girls became.

To prevent any strange rumors, Elena decided to leave.

“See you next time.”

“Elena! Wait a moment.”

Without waiting for her response, Cedric dashed into a building next to the training grounds.

Elena awkwardly smiled at the girls glaring at her while she waited for him.

Soon, Cedric returned, holding a box larger than the one she had given him.

“Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“Friendship chocolates. I can’t just take without giving back.”

“Thanks. I love chocolate. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Alright.”

Cedric smiled brightly.

“You said you weren’t feeling well. Go rest.”

“Okay.”

Elena placed the box Cedric gave her in her bag. The bag was now so full that there was no room for the box she had received from the unknown boy.

With no other choice, she carried the boy’s box in her hand as she left the training grounds.

However, contrary to what she had told Cedric, her destination wasn’t the dormitory but the bushes behind it. She was looking for Felix.

As expected, she found Felix’s silver hair among the bushes.

“What?”

Felix, who had been on guard, relaxed when he saw it was her and laid back down.

“How did you know I was here?”

“It’s obvious. You hide here every year.”

The space Felix had prepared was just big enough for two adults to sit. But it wasn’t exactly spacious.

Elena sat down, folding her legs neatly.

“Don’t you have swordsmanship class today? Why are you here?”

“Oh, I gave up my spot because there were so many girls waiting for Cedric. You’re smart to hide here. Otherwise, you would’ve been swarmed.”

Felix shuddered at the thought and then noticed the box in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, this?”

Elena held up the box the boy had given her earlier.

“Someone gave it to me.”

“Who?”

The tone of his question was strange, almost as if he were saying, ‘Who would give chocolates to someone like you?’

Maybe she was overthinking it, but knowing Felix’s personality, it was entirely possible.

She exaggeratedly flipped her hair back.

“There are boys who give me chocolates too, you know.”

Felix looked at her as if he wanted to throw up everything he had eaten.

Hmm, maybe that was a bit much.

Feeling awkward, Elena lowered her hand.

“Anyway, yeah. I got it.”

“Let me see.”

“Why?”

Felix took the box and opened the lid.

“I’m eating some.”

“What? You eat chocolate?”

“Yes.”

That was odd. Felix hated sweets. But since he wanted to eat it, she didn’t argue.

“Go ahead.”

As soon as she spoke, Felix popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

“Then I’ll have one too.”

When she reached for a piece, Felix raised the box high above his head.

‘What the…?’

Elena stretched her hand toward the box, but Felix raised it even higher. It was clear he didn’t want to share.

“That’s mine. Why are you trying to eat it all?”

“Hold on. I’m not trying to eat it all…”

Felix trailed off, coughing. At first, it seemed like a simple sneeze, but his condition quickly worsened.

His breathing grew labored, and his eyes seemed slightly unfocused.

“Felix?”

When she touched his arm, it felt burning hot, as if he had a fever.

“What’s wrong?”

Felix struggled to speak, each word forced out with difficulty.

“There’s something… in this.”

“What’s in it? Alcohol?”

She had heard of chocolates with alcohol in them. The symptoms—labored breathing and a hot body—could match those of someone who had consumed alcohol.

But Felix shook his head.

“It’s not alcohol.”

“Then what… Oh, no.”

A thought crossed her mind. The thing Penny had tried to put into her chocolates yesterday.

‘A love potion.’

Could it be that this chocolate contained it?

But she couldn’t be sure. She needed to find the boy who had given her the chocolates and ask him.

Meanwhile, Felix, struggling to breathe, had undone a couple of buttons on his shirt. Elena tried her best not to look as she stood up.

“Wait here. I’ll find out what’s in this.”

Felix grabbed her wrist firmly—stronger than ever before.

Of course, his hand was also burning hot.

“Don’t go.”