Chapter 49

“Ah, that was a perfect meal.”

Following the appetizers, the steak and dessert completed a satisfying dining experience. The medium-cooked steak melted in her mouth, and the cake topped with rich ganache was just sweet enough to lift her spirits.

“Wait here for a moment.”

As Elena savored each bite of the cake, Cedric excused himself briefly. He returned just as she finished eating.

Seeing her empty plate, he extended his elbow once again, striking an escort pose.

“Shall we go?”

Perhaps it was because she was in a good mood; this time, Elena decided to humor him. She rested her hand on his elbow as they headed toward the counter to pay, but Cedric led her toward the exit instead.

“Cedric, wait. I need to pay—”

“Oh, I already took care of it.”

“What? Why? I said I’d treat you.”

Cedric casually answered as he guided her outside.

“Just because.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

He flashed her a playful grin.

“I just wanted to treat you to a meal.”

It wasn’t as if Elena was oblivious enough to insist on paying him back at that moment. Doing so would only make Cedric feel awkward.

Instead, she smiled brightly.

“Thank you. I had a wonderful time because of you.”

“No problem.”

“But I’m definitely buying Oliver’s dessert. Deal?”

Cedric smirked and winked.

“I wasn’t planning to pay for his anyway.”

“I’ll get yours too. I noticed you barely touched your dessert earlier.”

Chatting warmly, they headed to a dessert shop well-known among Verka Academy students.

Elena had no idea, as they entered the shop, that it would turn out to be the worst decision.

The bell above the door jingled as they walked in, and they approached the display case.

“What does Oliver like?”

“Hmm, maybe something simple like a fruit cake?”

“Oliver seems to like chocolate too. Wouldn’t a chocolate cake be better?”

As she pondered seriously, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

“Oh my, Elena. What are you doing here? And who’s that next to you?”

It was Penny’s voice. Elena turned stiffly, like a child caught doing something wrong. Penny and Neville were watching them with amused expressions.

Elena quickly withdrew her arm from Cedric’s.

“Uh, well…”

“A date?”

“No, it’s not like that!”

Despite her denial, Penny smiled knowingly.

“Sure, of course. But you were holding arms and came to a dessert shop together.”

“That was just an escort—”

“What kind of escort in a dessert shop, not a ballroom?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that!”

Penny linked arms with Neville and nodded.

“Got it. By the way, the fruit cake here is delicious. You should try it.”

With that, she disappeared with Neville.

Elena hurriedly bought fruit cream cakes for Oliver and Cedric and quickly left the dessert shop.

***

Back at the dormitory, Elena ran into Penny again—or rather, it seemed as though Penny had been waiting for her.

“Elena!”

There was an odd intensity in Penny’s approach. Instinctively, Elena tried to retreat to her room, but Joy, Penny’s roommate and a fellow magic department student, silently blocked her way.

Joy gave Elena a knowing smile that, to be honest, seemed a bit mischievous.

“What’s going on?”

“What’s going on? You know exactly what!”

Penny and Joy each grabbed one of Elena’s arms and dragged her to her room. Inside, Alice gave Elena a sympathetic look and shook her head.

It seemed there was no escaping this. Penny, sensing an opportunity, began interrogating her enthusiastically.

“What’s going on between you and Cedric Kaine from the swordsmanship department?”

“We’re just friends.”

“There’s no such thing as ‘just friends’ between a guy and a girl.”

“Why not? Felix and I are friends.”

“But you don’t go to dessert shops arm-in-arm with Felix.”

At Penny’s words, Elena imagined herself linking arms with Felix. Ugh, the thought alone was horrifying.

As she shuddered, Penny gave her a triumphant look.

“See? You wouldn’t do that with Felix.”

“But it’s not what you think. I treated Cedric to a meal to thank him for joining the club. And!”

Though she didn’t understand why she had to explain herself so thoroughly, Elena defended herself as best she could.

“I was supposed to meet Cedric and another junior from the swordsmanship department. But that junior couldn’t come because he was sick, so it ended up being just the two of us. I went to the dessert shop to buy something for that junior.”

Technically, she had intended to buy something. In the end, Cedric had paid for lunch, so she had essentially gotten a free meal.

However, Penny and Joy still looked intrigued despite her explanation.

“Hmm, I see. Joy, do you believe her?”

“Not sure. I’d sooner believe Elena was secretly a boy than that story.”

“I’m telling the truth!”

“By the way, how do you even know someone from the swordsmanship department? You don’t usually interact with students from other departments, except maybe Alice.”

“‘By the way’? It seems like you’re just believing whatever you want.”

Elena sighed and answered.

“I learned some swordsmanship from Cedric.”

“Swordsmanship? Why?”

“I thought I might need self-defense. It actually came in handy during the club’s freshman welcome party.”

Technically, it was the method Felix had taught her that worked, but she decided not to mention that. She didn’t want to imagine what Penny and Joy’s creative minds might come up with.

“Okay, but did you ask Cedric to teach you? You sly thing! They say the quiet ones are the boldest!”

She didn’t know why it was considered sly, but Penny, who had once used a love potion on Neville, wasn’t exactly in a position to talk.

“No, it wasn’t like that. I just asked Alice if she knew anyone in the swordsmanship department, and she recommended Cedric because he’s skilled.”

“Really?”

This time, Penny and Joy turned their attention to Alice. Elena hoped Alice would clear up the situation.

But Alice’s response was unexpected.

“Hmm, I’m not sure?”

“Alice?”

“Well, Cedric is skilled, but…”

“Alice, you know something, don’t you!”

Penny immediately pounced, shifting her target to Alice. She darted forward and began tickling Alice’s side.

For the record, Alice was very ticklish.

“Wait, okay! I’ll tell you!”

Did Alice really have something she hadn’t told me?

Elena felt a slight sense of betrayal toward her best friend.

Avoiding Elena’s gaze, Alice sat down on the sofa.

“It’s true I recommended Cedric and introduced you to him. But Cedric was the one who first offered to teach you.”

“Why would Cedric do that?”

Alice countered her question with one of her own.

“Didn’t you know? You’re pretty famous in the swordsmanship department.”

“I… am?”

This was news to her.

‘No, it wasn’t the first time I’d heard this.’

Both Cedric and Oliver had mentioned hearing rumors about her. Alice must have known about them too.

“What kind of rumors are spreading in the swordsmanship department?”

Alice crossed her arms with a displeased expression.

“You really don’t know?”

“No, I don’t.”

“There’s a rumor about a pretty girl with pink eyes in the magic department.”

“What?”

Elena couldn’t help but shout. Her face burned with embarrassment.

“How do they even know who I am?”

“You’ve been to the training grounds a few times to meet Felix, haven’t you? Someone must’ve seen you then.”

Mortified, Elena couldn’t stay in the room any longer.

“Anyway! There’s nothing going on between Cedric and me! Seriously! So don’t go spreading any rumors!”

She stood abruptly and shouted before rushing Penny out of the room.

However, Elena overlooked one crucial fact: Penny wasn’t the only Verka Academy student at the dessert shop that day.

“What are you going to do, Elly? The rumor that you’re dating someone from the swordsmanship department has spread across our department.”

“Neville, you’re dead meat.”

Elena clenched her quill tightly in her trembling hand. That’s right—she had stopped Penny, but not Neville.

Within days, the rumor Neville started had spread quietly through the magic department. If it had reached Elena’s ears, it was safe to assume that everyone in her year knew.

“I can’t live like this.”

As she buried her face in her hands and swung her legs in frustration, Alice gently patted her shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Penny and I are actively denying the rumor, so it’ll die down soon. Neville even apologized, didn’t he?”

Indeed, Neville had approached her earlier to apologize and promised to take responsibility for quelling the rumor. Whether he could succeed was uncertain, but Elena decided to trust him.

With that, she hurried to the clubroom after class, avoiding the students approaching her.

In the clubroom, Cedric, Oliver, and Felix were already there.

Cedric was examining a doll Oliver had modified, while Felix, as always, was seated with a book.

The moment Oliver saw Elena, he immediately apologized.

“I’m so sorry, Elena!”

“Huh? Why?”

“I heard there’s a strange rumor spreading in the magic department because of me.”

She didn’t need to think hard to guess what the rumor was.

“If I hadn’t been sick that day, none of this would’ve happened. I’m really sorry.”

Elena waved her hands dismissively.

“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t help being sick.”

For a moment, Oliver’s shoulders twitched, but she dismissed it as her imagination.