Chapter 193
Maem- Maem-
Amidst the sound of cicadas echoing here and there.
There was someone wielding two daggers at high speed.
The moment her dagger, glinting violet between her short black hair, was thrust forward.
The water shield cast before her blocked her dagger.
Thud!
As the poison on the dagger exploded and water splashed, the water shield remained firmly in place.
Beyond the water shield stood a woman with healthy-colored skin beneath her red hair.
The two individuals were Haring Lagrain and Karandis Poseus.
"That's enough."
Kairan, one of the associate professors of the Martial Arts Department, told the two to stop fighting, and they immediately separated.
The two, catching their breath, slowly descended from the arena.
"You did well."
As Haring came down to the arena and wiped her sweat with a towel, Karandis spoke to her.
Karandis's face, looking at Haring, was unusually blunt for her.
This change in her demeanor had occurred after the midterm evaluation.
And Haring knew the reason behind it.
"...You did well."
As Haring responded, an awkward atmosphere lingered between the two.
Haring was usually blunt, except when it came to Kraush.
With Karandis also becoming quiet, there was hardly any conversation between the two.
How long did the silence last?
"You don't know when Mr. Kraush will arrive either, do you, Ms. Haring?"
Ultimately, it was Karandis who broke the silence first.
She also didn't find the silence particularly pleasant.
Haring looked up at the World Tree, feeling the sunlight streaming through the leaves.
"No, he didn't tell me."
Haring's eyes were filled with regret.
Seeing that, Karandis also looked up at the World Tree.
"...What kind of relationship do you want to have with Mr. Kraush, Ms. Haring?"
A question she had been holding back all this time.
When Karandis asked it, Haring looked at her.
"Mr. Kraush isn't here right now either. It feels like now's the only time I can ask."
Karandis awkwardly kicked at the ground.
"...What kind of relationship."
Haring chewed on her lips for a moment.
Since coming to Rahelrn Academy, the person who had built the deepest relationship with Kraush was undoubtedly Haring.
They had spent a lot of time together.
But if someone asked what kind of relationship she wanted with Kraush.
Her desires, overwhelming her reason, emerged in her mind.
It was such a strong desire that Haring questioned whether she could even say it out loud.
"I've said it many times, but I want to be Mr. Kraush's wife."
Karandis spoke with unparalleled confidence.
Haring found herself a bit envious of Karandis's usual boldness.
"Is it because you're the 9th Princess of Poseus?"
Perhaps that's why Haring was curious.
She, too, wanted to stay by Kraush's side, so she wondered what someone like Karandis, with the same goal, thought.
"Of course, that's part of it."
Karandis revealed herself without hiding anything.
The position of the 9th Princess of Poseus was an exceptionally ambiguous one.
While she could live comfortably in the kingdom, Karandis was an ambitious person.
Someone who, if her status was like this, would overturn it to climb higher.
That's why she chose Kraush.
Because she was certain he would rise to a position admired by everyone in the world.
"I don't have a romantic and sweet love story like others."
Like a princess falling in love with a prince who came to her rescue.
Such stories didn't exist for Karandis.
In reality, being a princess was one of the safest positions.
"But as much as I prioritize myself, I can love and follow someone who can elevate my value more than anyone else in the world."
Karandis was more confident in this aspect than anyone else.
If she were asked to dedicate her life to that person, she could wholeheartedly give herself without hesitation.
That's why Karandis always did her best to prove her love.
"I believe that someone who can love themselves more than anyone else can also love someone else just as much."
"...But if Kraush were to go astray, wouldn't that love become meaningless?"
At those words, Karandis curled her lips into a confident smile.
Her face exuded unparalleled confidence.
"How could the person I love go astray?"
She puffed out her chest and raised her chin.
"Preventing such a thing is the role of a wife, my role. Supporting and helping the one I love so they never falter. That's what I'm best at."
As if to say she hadn't lived as the 9th Princess for nothing, Karandis flashed a bright smile.
"And I don't doubt my own eyes."
Kraush would never falter.
She could confidently believe that.
Of course.
He was the man she had chosen as her husband.
"I don't think my way of loving will be understood by everyone."
She said that as she withdrew her smile.
Then Karandis looked at Haring.
"That's why I'm curious. What kind of love are you experiencing, Ms. Haring?"
Calculated love, romantic love, love at first sight.
Karandis asked why Haring liked Kraush.
Hearing the question, Haring hesitated and turned her gaze away.
The tips of her ears had turned red at some point.
Was it just from thinking about it?
Seeing that, Karandis thought she must have fallen deeply.
"...I don't know. I just can't see anyone but Kraush."
Haring placed her hand on her chest and pressed firmly.
Even just saying it out loud made her heart race uncontrollably.
"At first, I only thought about repaying my debt. But before I knew it, it became like this. That's why it's scarier."
If she had known why she liked him, she could have avoided it and escaped.
But now, Haring didn't even know why she liked Kraush.
She just liked him.
She wanted to stay by his side.
That was all she could think about.
Watching the girl in love, Karandis soon let out a short chuckle.
"You're beautiful."
And she spoke honestly.
A girl in love was the most beautiful thing.
Seeing it like this, she realized something.
Compared to Haring, her own love might seem insignificant.
Because it was indeed a materialistic kind of love.
However, she didn't think it was wrong for her to make an effort to be loved.
She could confidently say that this too was a part of her love.
She just felt it a little, unconsciously.
That even if she were a man, she would love someone with such a heart.
'Is this love?'
Even as she said it herself, sometimes she didn't know, Karandis thought quietly.
"Then, both Haring and I are in quite some trouble."
And since it had come to this, Karandis decided to have a proper conversation with Haring.
When Haring looked at her curiously, Karandis's gaze sharpened.
"Well, there are quite a few rivals besides us around Mr. Kraush."
"...Rivals?"
Haring tilted her head.
Since she only had eyes for Kraush, she lacked such information.
"Yes, rivals. For starters, there's a monstrous person who is utterly ruthless."
"There was someone like that?"
Haring looked slightly surprised.
Then Karandis let out a long sigh and gestured for Haring to bring her ear closer.
When Haring brought her ear closer to Karandis, she took a deep breath and spoke.
"None other than the Saintess, Astria Stigma Freeman."
"...The Saintess?"
Surprise filled Haring's eyes.
It was because the name of someone she hadn't even considered came up.
And at the same time, Haring recalled the relationship between Kraush and Astria.
Come to think of it, she did remember that they had been quite close.
"But the Saintess..."
"Yes, normally, she would be far removed from something like romance. After all, she is someone loved by God."
Karandis agreed with the point Haring was thinking.
However, even that point was a significant issue for Karandis.
"But humans tend to burn even brighter when it comes to forbidden love."
"...Is that so?"
"The love stories told by countless storytellers are the most representative. The love they depict always feels like a tale of forbidden realms. Especially the story of a Saintess who has offered her body and soul to a hero and God—that's the epitome of a classic."
Haring thought of Astria, who had been by Kraush's side.
And now, it began to show in her eyes as well.
Indeed, as Karandis had said, Astria's gaze was clearly fixed only on Kraush.
"And then there's that violent figure. That's not something someone our age should have."
Karandis clenched her fists tightly in frustration.
"Even someone as indifferent to women as Mr. Kraush could be swayed by that violent figure."
Looking at Karandis, Haring realized how much attention she had paid to Kraush all this time.
Indeed, her determination seemed considerable.
"And that's not all. There's also the matter of Mr. Aslan Igrit's personal maid, who frequents Mr. Kraush's room daily."
"A maid?"
"There's a maid who is very close to Alicia, Mr. Kraush's personal maid. For some reason, Mr. Kraush can't seem to treat her harshly."
Even though he treats me harshly every time.
Karandis grumbled about how unfair he was and cupped her cheek with her hand.
Meanwhile, Haring realized how much she had overlooked Kraush's surroundings all this time.
She never imagined that even someone else's maid would harbor feelings for him.
As Haring made a firm expression, Karandis let out a deep sigh.
"Besides that, there are plenty more scattered around. There's Darling Danphelion, a senior from the same kingdom as Mr. Kraush and an expert in alchemy; the Curse Master; Dorma Lacroix, the disciple of Veltoa Lacroix; and recently, even Violen Sedney, the Special Arts President, seems suspicious."
"There were that many?"
"There are. There are so many. I know women are bound to gather around a good man, but Mr. Kraush's case is excessive."
"Well, that's because Kraush is kind."
Karandis looked back at Haring.
To others, it was hard to honestly say that Kraush could be described as kind.
But to a girl in love, even a bad man's actions seemed kind.
So she decided not to correct her.
After all, she also wanted to become Kraush's wife.
"Above all, there's one particularly big issue."
Karandis sighed as if this was something she couldn't do anything about.
"Bianca Hardenhartz."
"Kraush's fiancée."
"That's right. For us, she's someone we've never even seen before."
A shadow fell over Karandis's face.
"If nothing else, this much is clear. Mr. Kraush holds her in his heart. And it's quite significant."
"..."
Haring fell silent.
Because she, too, was not unaware of that fact.
It was just that being reminded of it again made her chest ache.
"Even if we overcome all other mountains, it's meaningless if we can't overcome this one."
Karandis thought of the most troublesome obstacle and ran her hand over her forehead.
She even regretted not proposing an engagement herself first.
While she swallowed her bitterness, Haring, with a blank expression, muttered.
"...A wife doesn't have to be just one."
The next words made Karandis doubt her ears.
When she turned to Haring with an expression of disbelief, Haring also flinched and covered her mouth.
Because she herself hadn't expected to say such a thing.
Was it because her father had mentioned engagement a few months ago?
Maybe she had been caught up in it.
As Haring blushed deeply and panicked, Karandis, after staring blankly, eventually chuckled.
"That's true."
Even her own father had many wives.
Honestly, for someone as exceptional as Mr. Kraush, why should he be restricted to having only one wife?
"As long as you're included as a wife, the rest is a battle for the main position."
Karandis reignited her determination.
Meanwhile, Haring, who had said those words, still stood frozen, unable to say anything.
"I just hope the number of enemies doesn't increase any further."
It was at that moment when she said those words.
KABOOM!
A sudden explosion echoed from the building outside the Martial Arts Hall.
As the two startled individuals turned to look in that direction, they soon realized.
The place of the explosion was none other than the Theology Hall.
Something had happened in the Theology Hall.