Chapter 14

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Herwin's Arrival

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"Huh? Something's noisy."

Suddenly, the sound of murmuring reached their ears. Following Ares's gaze, the Agnes siblings turned their heads as well.

"Did some celebrity show up?"

"Yeah. People are gathering."

Just as Ares said, a crowd had formed around someone.

"......Seeing that takes me back to when we first entered the academy."

"Ugh, don't even mention it. Just thinking about it is nightmare fuel."

Lucas and Ares reminisced about their freshman days, chatting idly.

Only Lucia carefully scrutinized the person at the center of the crowd.

"Herwin!"

Lucia let out a short cry. At her words, Lucas reacted.

"What? Herwin?"

"......Herwin? Who's that?"

"Oppa, Herwin's over there!"

Lucia hurriedly dashed toward him.

The figure buried in the throng was unmistakably a man with black hair and red eyes.

Lucia craned her neck this way and that, desperately searching for a gap to squeeze through.

"Ex-excuse me...!"

She somehow managed to wedge herself in, but she couldn't push any further inside.

"Lucia! Where are you?!"

Lucas called from behind. But Lucia was already trapped, unable to budge.

"Ah, ack! Don't step on me!"

Smaller than most her age, Lucia found herself completely buried among the others.

"W-what do I do?"

Regret flooded her for getting involved. But Herwin hated crowds, so her body had moved on instinct to help him.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, the pressure around her grew even stronger. Several students let out cheers.

At that moment, someone grabbed Lucia's wrist and yanked her out of the crowd with overwhelming force.

"Mmph!"

"It really is you. What are you doing here?"

Rubbing her nose after colliding with something solid, Lucia broke into a wide grin at the familiar voice.

"Herwin!"

Herwin, towering over her, looked down with a bewildered expression.

"Who's that girl?"

"Is she close to the Peneus Young Lord?"

"No way she's his girlfriend?"

Hearing the murmurs around them, Herwin clicked his tongue.

He shrugged off his outer coat and draped it over Lucia's head.

As Lucia flailed in confusion with her vision blocked, Herwin coldly swept his gaze over the surroundings.

"Don't bother people. Scram."

A thick wave of killing intent rolled off him. Those who'd approached hoping to make friends paled and slunk away one by one.

Herwin had been holding back his mounting irritation ever since the mob descended.

He usually tried to brush it off peacefully no matter how annoyed he was, but he couldn't stand idly by while Lucia suffered in their midst.

Herwin took Lucia's hand and slipped through the now-thinned crowd.

"Huh? Hyung."

Spotting Lucas belatedly, Herwin's icy expression melted into a soft smile.

"You punk. I wondered who it was—it was you? When did you come down to the capital?"

"Got in last evening. If I'd arrived earlier, I would've swung by your place."

"I see. Anyway, you've shot up even more since last time. I'm pretty sure you weren't this tall before."

Lucas pouted and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Herwin to compare heights. Still, Lucas had the edge—for now.

"I'm smack in the middle of my growth spurt. My knees ache, so yeah, I think I'll keep going."

"Quit it already. It's getting ridiculous."

"Can't stop now if I wanna catch up to you, hyung."

It had been quite a while since they'd last met, so Herwin and Lucas dove into all the stories they'd missed.

Suddenly left on the sidelines, Lucia pulled off Herwin's blazer blocking her view and smoothed her tousled hair.

Right in front of her stood Herwin, laughing heartily as he chatted with Lucas.

'He's gotten even more handsome.'

Lucia found her mouth hanging open without realizing it.

He looked even more striking than the last time she'd seen him.

His jawline had sharpened, his neatly trimmed black hair swayed gently in the breeze, and those piercing red eyes curved softly as he talked with Lucas.

How could he just keep getting handsomer with every passing day? Herwin was so utterly perfect that she couldn't even dream of letting go of these feelings.

Thump, thump. The pleasant pounding spread through her chest, lifting her spirits.

"By any chance, is that freshman the Peneus Young Lord?"

"Eek!"

Lucia let out a short squeak. Ares had crept up and whispered right in her ear.

The two men, deep in conversation, whipped their heads around in unison.

Lucia steadied her racing heart.

"Y-yes? Oh, yeah, that's right. Herwin Peneus."

"Knew it. I met Duke Peneus once before—he looks just like him."

"He takes after the Duke a lot, doesn't he?"

Wobble.

Mid-conversation with Ares, her balance suddenly shifted backward. Someone had tugged her from behind.

At the same instant, Lucas shoved himself between them, glaring daggers at Ares with gleaming eyes.

"You, slinking up to my little sister like that!"

"Busted, huh?"

"Stay away from my sister! No— you're banned from coming near her from now on."

True to form from the start, Lucas eyed Ares warily, while Ares dodged around with his trademark sly grin, chuckling airily.

"Who the hell is that guy?"

A low, velvety voice murmured in her ear.

Herwin's voice, striking like a sneak attack, turned Lucia's ears bright red. Still, she forced herself to stay composed.

"Oppa’s friend. Ares Lydia. From the Lydia Ducal House—like you."

Herwin's eyebrow twitched. He stared pointedly at Ares, his unease fading slightly.

"Lydia, huh. Explains the purple eyes."

"Yeah. I had no idea you were close with the Lydia Young Lord."

Watching the two bicker brought a smile to her face. As Lucia giggled, Herwin shot her a sidelong glance.

"Even if he's Lucas hyung's friend, be careful around him."

"Huh? Why? He doesn't seem like a bad guy."

"Just trust me. Forget good or bad—my instincts aren't great on him."

"Hmm... if you say so."

"Hey, you guys—we should head to the entrance ceremony soon."

Ares, fleeing Lucas, pointed at his watch. It was nearly time to start.

"Yeah, let's go then."

"Okay. We'll head out now. See you later, oppa."

As Herwin and Lucia turned to leave, Lucas yelled after them.

"Lucia! If you need any help, come straight to me anytime! Got it?!"

Ares, snagged by Lucas, chimed in too.

"If you run into my sister, give her my regards! Drop my name—she'll listen! Swing by if you're bored!"

"Why would Lucia ever go to you?!"

Lucas flew into a rage and lunged at Ares.

"......Lucia, let's go."

Herwin, who'd been watching the scene, scowled before wrapping an arm around Lucia's shoulders and heading toward the ceremony hall.

"So many people."

Lucia gaped as she looked around. The auditorium hosting the entrance ceremony buzzed with students.

"Let's head over there."

"Okay."

Lucia scanned for a decent spot alongside Herwin.

But moving with him drew stares from all sides.

Even standing next to him felt burdensome—how must Herwin feel?

"Herwin."

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay with that now?"

Worried others might overhear, Lucia covered her mouth with one hand. Herwin naturally leaned down to her level.

"The stares, I mean. You used to hate being the center of attention."

"Oh, that."

Herwin shrugged it off casually.

"Got over that ages ago. Doesn't faze me anymore."

"Still, today's stares feel even more intense than usual."

She knew his long counseling and therapy had helped him overcome his fear of public scrutiny, but she couldn't help worrying.

A frown creased Lucia's smooth forehead, and Herwin straightened up indifferently.

Smack.

"Ow! That hurts!"

A crisp sound rang out as Lucia clutched her forehead.

"Quit fretting over nothing and watch the front. It's about to start."

"You could've just told me. Did you have to hit me?"

Lucia pouted, rubbing her throbbing forehead.

She thought she heard stifled chuckles from behind and turned, but Herwin stood stone-faced.

"Sheesh, don't laugh."

"Ahem. Who's laughing?"

His tone was deadpan, but his lips quivered. Lucia called him out again, but he feigned innocence.

Then he turned her head forward with a nudge.

'Like a squirrel.'

Another laugh bubbled up, so Herwin bit his lip. Even so, gazing at Lucia's back made the smile inevitable.

It had been ages since he'd grinned so foolishly—reuniting with Lucia and Lucas after so long must be why.

As he chuckled softly again, Herwin noticed Lucia wasn't standing still; she was swaying side to side.

"What're you doing?"

Herwin asked, observing her.

"Herwin, do you see that blonde girl over there?"

"Plenty of blondes. Which one?"

"Um, that one!"

Lucia rose on tiptoe and pointed far off.

Herwin peered in that direction, scanning for the blonde.

"The one surrounded by people?"

"Yes! Think she's the Lydia Duchess's Daughter?"

"Definitely purple eyes."

"Ah! Told you! She looks just like the Lydia Young Lord!"

He'd just glimpsed Ares's face earlier—yep, definitely his sister.

"He asked me to pass on his regards... Should I go say hi?"

"Nah. She looks swamped with everyone else."

Herwin described her situation, leveraging his height.

"Oh?"

"Besides, that was just talk. No real need to bother."

"But he's oppa's friend..."

Lucas treated him so casually, they had to be tight.

"Wouldn't it be good to get along?"

"......Just stay put. If it's meant to be, it'll happen."

As Lucia took a step, Herwin's large hand clamped onto her small shoulder.

Even that tiny gesture sent her heart into a frenzy. Afraid her face might betray her blush, she quickly straightened up.

Thankfully, Herwin's hand soon lifted away.

The voice, amplified by a magic amplification tool, boomed through the auditorium.

The entrance ceremony had officially begun.