Page 305

The pastry club managed to secure first place at the club fair for the second year in a row. It wasn’t particularly surprising, as we had anticipated this result even before the club fair began. This year, the cookies made by the Mage Duchess herself were counted towards our club’s performance. If we couldn’t get first place with that, we’d have to suspect foul play.

And now, it was time to think about other things beyond the small honor of first place.

“Here, this your share, Erich.”

“…Thanks.”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly as a heavy pouch was placed in my hand.

After selling the cookies made by the Mage Duchess, it was decided that half of the proceeds would go to the pastry club. No matter how I looked at it, this wasn’t money we should be keeping, but what could we do if the Mage Duchess said she didn’t need it? The academy also reluctantly took only half, and even that seemed forced.

So the club—and its leader—suddenly found themselves with a large sum of money. Louise, who had literally become rich overnight, was overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do.

The club members, including myself, comforted Louise, telling her to use it freely. Or more accurately, we treated it like it wasn’t our problem, as if we were watching a fire from across the river.

“Let’s divide it among everyone!”

And this was the result. In the end, Louise counted the gold coins with trembling hands, committing the outrageous act of dividing all the profits equally among the club members. Unable to shoulder the burden alone, she used a merciless tactic to make everyone her accomplice.

What should I do with this?

It was a terrible method, but it was certainly effective. I now felt the same burden that Louise was carrying.

Of course, Ainter, Rutis, Lather, and Tannian weren’t fazed. As members of the imperial or royal families, why would they be surprised by money? They were surprised that selling cookies could earn such an amount, not by the amount itself. So they just smiled at Louise, who was insistently begging them to take it, without showing any other reaction.

But I was an ordinary noble. Honestly, it was a bit disingenuous to call the Krasius family ordinary, but compared to the imperial and royal families, we were.

Moreover, I was just the second son and not even the heir. I wasn’t in a position to treat such amounts casually.

“This is Sarah’s share!”

Louise’s voice grew strangely brighter with each share she handed out. By the time she reached Sarah, her last victim, her voice was almost sing-song.

“I-I really don’t need it. I didn’t do anything.”

“There’s no one here who did nothing. Everyone worked hard, so it’s okay to accept it.”

Louise forcibly pressed the pouch into Sarah’s hands, ignoring her protests.

It was strange—the conversation seemed heartwarming on the surface, but why did it feel like an act of villainy? Sarah’s teary-eyed expression looked less like she was touched and more like she was terrified.

It’s understandable, though.

I couldn’t help but smile, understanding how Sarah must feel. If even I, from an Imperial Count family, found this burdensome, then how did Sarah, from a mere baronial family, feel? Moreover, Sarah had mostly stayed in the mansion and was far from luxury, so she must’ve found the very concept of gold coins unfamiliar.

And now, she had received several of them.

“Please take it. I think I’ll feel better if you do.”

At Louise’s sincere words, Sarah looked at me with trembling eyes, as if begging me to stop Louise.

I’m sorry.

I gently shook my head at Sarah. I’m sorry, but it’s impossible. I wouldn’t have accepted it myself if I could have stopped her. Hyung might’ve been able to stop her, but he was currently absent.

“If it’s too burdensome to keep, then why don’t you send it to Nanny? She’d be happy to know it’s the first money you’ve earned yourself.”

“Should I…?”

Not wanting Sarah to feel betrayed, I offered a suitable suggestion. Fortunately, it seemed like a good answer, as she nodded.

Now that I’d said it out loud, it did seem like a good idea. I should send mine to Mother too. Then, she could use it for the family, for the territory, or however she saw fit. Even if it ended up as her personal funds, she’d probably use it more wisely than I would.

***A banquet was held on the evening of the club fair’s award ceremony. The competition during the club fair was just an academy event, so this banquet was meant to put all emotions to rest—or so they say, but in reality, it was just a banquet. It was all about ending the festival on a happy note.

Since most guests usually leave before the award ceremony, the banquet was essentially just for the academy students. For students who had been dealing with their seniors in the name of their junior club members, it was a comfortable and welcome occasion.

“Erich.”

“Oh, noona?”

So, I didn’t expect Zenobia noona to still be here.

Of course, guests leave early because they are busy, not because the academy urged them to. But wasn’t Zenobia noona a Countess of the Empire? She must be busier than anyone else, so I assumed she’d left already.

“Congratulations on first place. You worked hard.”

Zenobia noona handed me a handkerchief with a bright smile. I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected gift.

“I was thinking of giving you a bouquet, but I thought a handkerchief might be better. Do they still wear out quickly these days?”

“Always. That’s a long time if it lasts three months.”

Rolling around during training caused my handkerchiefs to wear out quickly. It had been like that since I was young, so it hadn’t changed, and I’d been regularly buying new ones.

I was just about to buy a new one, and now I’d received this?

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“Good. Be careful with it this time.”

After saying that, Zenobia noona turned to Sarah and spoke first.

“Hello, Sarah. It’s getting late, and you still have to attend the banquet. Aren’t you tired?”

I couldn’t help but smile at her concern for the somewhat frail Sarah. It was nice to see them getting along, considering they had just met during this club fair.

“I’m fine. If I couldn’t handle this much, I wouldn’t have enrolled. I’m more touched that you, Countess, are still here despite your busy schedule.”

Sarah seemed pleased by Zenobia noona’s words since she responded with a slight smile.

To be honest, I was touched, too. I would’ve understood if she’d left after just one day, but she stayed until the last day of the booth’s operation, contributing to sales. And now she’s even staying for the banquet to congratulate us. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful.

“I’m the one who said I’d help you, noona, but you beat me to it. I feel a bit embarrassed.”

I joked, and Zenobia noona’s eyes widened in surprise.

I guess she didn’t expect me to bring up our childhood memories suddenly. It’s embarrassing for me to talk about my childhood too, but after being teased by Sarah about my knight talk, I figured one more embarrassing memory wouldn’t hurt.

“You remember that?”

I nodded at Zenobia noona, who muttered in surprise. I might not be perfect physically, but my memory wasn’t too bad.

“I might forget what others say, but I remember what I say.”

Of course, the best would be to remember both. If that was impossible due to memory limitations, then I should at least remember what I had said myself.

Maintaining relationships becomes much easier that way.

***Unlike last year, we decided to go to the banquet separately this time. Louise would enter with the advisor and Erich needed some quality time with Sarah, so moving as a club would be inconvenient.

Besides, with Louise, Erich, and Sarah gone, only four gloomy guys would be left, and I didn’t particularly want to enter the banquet hall with just them. Armein’s knights escorted ladies to banquets, not other men.

So, I was planning to rest in my quarters before heading to the banquet when—

Well, this is a mess.

I spotted Erich, Sarah, and Countess Horfeld gathered near the banquet hall. I didn’t expect an outside guest to still be at the academy.

At the same time, I was impressed. Someone who defied common sense for their goal was a rare, indomitable spirit even in Armein. I just didn’t expect to see it in a love triangle.

At least she’s an outsider, I guess.

Fortunately, Countess Horfeld was an outside guest and not an academy staff member. That meant she’d be able to stay for the banquet as part of the club fair schedule, but that she’d have no reason to be at the academy after this. At least we wouldn’t have to witness the confrontations between Sarah and Countess Horfeld anymore.

That aside, I was impressed for a different reason now.

Why… doesn’t he get it?

I couldn’t help but think this after looking at Erich, who was stuck between Sarah and Countess Horfeld.

I knew Sarah had feelings for Erich the moment I saw her, and it was the same with Countess Horfeld. Even a dense guy like me who could barely take care of himself could see it, so why couldn’t the person involved? I’d understand it if Erich was completely uninterested in romance, but considering he had a crush on Louise, that wasn’t the case at all.

He even noticed it when Louise fell for our advisor. He wasn’t oblivious to love, so why on earth…?

Is he doing this on purpose?

I even started to wonder if he was pretending to be dense because he didn’t know how to make a decision.

However, that expression was genuine. It wasn’t an act but one of pure denseness. I almost wish it were an act, to be honest.

“Rutis?”

I heard Ainter’s voice behind me as I was watching the three with mixed feelings.

“What are you doing hiding—?”

Ainter, who had turned his head following my gaze, quickly shut his mouth and hid behind the tree like me.

“…Shall we turn back?”

“That might be best.”

I nodded at the wise suggestion. I definitely didn’t have the courage to get between them.

He’ll figure it out.

Just before turning away, I looked at Erich, who was still wearing that serene smile.

Yeah, he’d sort it out eventually. Even though he was shockingly oblivious now that he was the one being loved, he wasn’t someone who neglected his responsibilities. At the very least, he wouldn’t end up hurting either of them—hopefully.

The advisor was like this, too.

Suddenly, I remembered last year’s second semester. Back then when we were all acting ridiculous over our crushes on Louise, and the advisor had been pulling his hair out trying to help us. But when Louise started to show her feelings for him, he was completely oblivious—a miraculous feat.

Erich was now showing that same miracle.

I never expected he’d show off his brotherhood with the advisor so blatantly.