Chapter 224 (2/2)

「Wh-What?!」

「Long time no see, man! It feels like forever since we saw each other in the academy!」

「Oh, Ivan and… Claude?!」

Ivan, Jarazack's representative in the student alliance, and Claude entered the room. Claude Zahard Kirihal, who despite being a Spirit Elf, looked exactly like his age suggested. The man who was supposed to be married this coming spring.

「H-Hey there…」

But his eyes were swollen, a clear sign that someone beat him up.

「Wh-What happened to you?」

「Well, you see…」Ivan seemed to hesitate.

Claude heaved a deep sigh.「Luka ran away, and then Lord Alexei beat me up. He said I should keep this look for a while.」

「What in the world happened?」League asked, forgetting that he was here as Rumania's representative.

He quickly realized his mistake and felt relieved that his attendants weren't in the room. Claude looked at Ivan who only gave a shrug.

「Actually…」

「So in short, it became known that Claude was as skilled as Alexei with the sword. After becoming famous, he grew arrogant and neglected Luka.」Hikaru said, holding his right palm on his forehead.

They were in Hikaru's apartment. Paula came to the academy to pick them up, her face flushed, so Hikaru and Lavia returned in a hurry. They chose the apartment since the topic was not something that could be talked about in the open.

「That idiot…」Hikaru let out a groan.

Catherine visited Jarazack to attend to some family business. Also, she was a member of the Student Alliance. After seeing Luka all sad and alone, she learned about the situation and snapped. She then dragged Luka with her all the way to Scholarzard.

「But isn't it dangerous for Luka to be out of Jarazack?」Lavia asked.「I thought the plan was to let her stay there until right before the wedding.」

「I know, but I don't think any potential a.s.sa.s.sins were aware. They probably didn't even notice my arrival and only learned about us leaving long after we left.」

「Really?」

「Jarazack is especially cold. People drink for long hours.」

Jarazack's alcohol consumption increased during winter season, mostly because of tradition, but it also helped the body overcome the cold. Hikaru glanced at Luka. She was completely silent, her eyes on the floor.

「What do you think?」Hikaru asked Luka.「Do you really think getting away from Claude was the right choice?」

From Hikaru's perspective, Claude was not completely in the wrong. For the most part, it was his fault, but it felt like Luka was acting differently than usual.

「I… don't know. I just didn't expect for things to get this big…」she answered.

「By that, you mean?」

「There are plays about us, over a thousand couples applied for the wedding… Almost every day, women in Jarazack pester me, asking me questions. I don't even have the time to think about the future…」

「I see.」

Hikaru nodded. Pre-nuptial doubts. The people around her and Claude's att.i.tude made it worse. In that case…

「Luka, I think there's only one thing you can do.」

「What's that?」Luka stared back at Hikaru like a believer seeking salvation.

「You should confront Claude. Only he can solve your problems and he's the one you'll spend the rest of your life with.」

「I—」

「Let's go to Jarazack immediately.」Hikaru said as he got up on his feet.

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