Chapter 33

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 33

Chapter Title: The Scheme Unravels

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"I don't give a damn about what those people think. The most important thing to me right now is what you did."

"What I did? You've been grabbing people out of nowhere and saying weird stuff since earlier. What the hell are you even accusing me of?"

"What do you mean, what? You're the one who created this mess! I saw it with my own eyes. You lurking around the garden with the party committee kids!"

Bianca's eyebrow twitched.

"Instead of setting off fireworks, you hid a crystal orb in the bushes. You think I wouldn't notice?"

"That's all it takes to cause this chaos...?"

"That's all? Then why hasn't the fireworks show started yet? You told everyone it would happen. In fact, the fireworks were a lie, weren't they? This whole thing was just to embarrass Lucia."

Unable to hold back her anger, Arista shouted, and her words spread through the crowd.

"Now that you mention it... the sky's been awfully quiet."

"Yeah, they said there'd be fireworks, but then Lucia's voice suddenly came out of nowhere."

People who had been silent until now began murmuring their doubts one by one.

Seeing public opinion starting to shift, Bianca bit her lip.

"Ha, why are you blaming me for Lucia confessing to Herwin on her own? When did I ever tell her to confess in front of everyone? Why drag an innocent person into this!"

"You call that innocent...!"

"To be precise, it wasn't a public confession."

Just as Arista was exploding in fury, someone interrupted.

Turning her head, she saw Herwin had stepped forward alone.

The crowd naturally parted for him, stepping back to clear a path.

Everyone stared at him with curiosity, but no one dared approach.

A faint red aura flickered around Herwin's arms.

Seizing the moment when Arista's grip weakened, Bianca shoved her away and hurried toward Herwin.

Herwin looked down at Bianca with cold eyes.

The oppressive pressure bearing down on her shoulders made Bianca swallow hard.

"Me, putting you and Lucia in a tough spot? That doesn't make sense. I'm your friend. Right?"

"………."

"Still, Herwin, this must be awkward for you. Who would've thought Lucia had feelings for you? Confessing out of the blue in front of everyone... I was shocked too. Lucia, really? If you're gonna confess, at least do it somewhere private..."

"You talk too much, Bianca Lawrence."

"...Huh?"

At the sound of her own name from his lips, Bianca froze, mouth agape in shock.

"Have you been toying with Lucia this whole time with that loose tongue of yours?"

"Toying...? "

Bianca backed away, her eyes trembling.

"Did you think I wouldn't figure it out? You were the one who suggested having my birthday party here at this mansion out of nowhere, and you were the one who lured me to the garden."

"Suggested? The committee had already booked the place, I was just passing on the message! And you said you wanted to go somewhere quiet, with no people...!"

"But if it was somewhere without people, there were plenty of spots besides the garden. And then, like it was all rehearsed, Lucia was waiting for me there."

"Lucia was probably avoiding people, just like you!"

Herwin let out a scoff at Bianca's desperate words.

"She's the type who insists on going to class even when she's sick. You think she'd just waltz into a place marked 'No Entry'?"

Just as Herwin said, Lucia wasn't the type to ignore a No Entry sign. She followed the rules so strictly it was frustrating sometimes; there was no way she'd do something like that.

As Bianca was caught off guard, Herwin raised what he held in his left hand.

"And this."

"It was hidden discreetly by the gazebo."

Herwin's voice echoed through the hall just like Lucia's had during her confession.

Realizing it was transmitting through the crystal orb, the crowd gasped sharply.

"If what Arista said is true... it looks like you're the one behind all this."

Unlike his calm voice, Herwin's left hand trembled as he gripped the crystal orb tightly.

Crack!

A crack formed on the orb, and it shattered into pieces under his grip.

As red aura rose from his left hand and shards flew everywhere, people backed away one by one.

"If you think I'll let this slide, you're mistaken."

The choking killing intent turned Bianca's face pale.

Herwin shot his murderous glare around the room.

"And it's not just Bianca. I've got every single one of you who mocked me and Lucia etched in my memory..."

Those who had been blabbering right after the incident swallowed hard.

"Get ready."

A suffocating silence enveloped the entire hall. Despite the crowd, not a single breath could be heard.

Herwin glared around before speaking.

"Arista, Christine."

"Y-yeah?"

"Go check on Lucia."

His cold voice softened slightly.

"She's probably crying right now."

Arista stared blankly at Herwin, then noticed blood dripping from between the red aura rising from his left hand.

Though she thought she should treat his hand, she couldn't ignore the look in his eyes as he asked her.

"Got it, leave it to me."

"Y-yes, sir!"

Arista brushed past Herwin with a stiff expression. Christine shot a glare at the frozen Bianca before following Arista.

"Sob, hic... Lucia, you idiot fool...!"

Lucia had fled to a filthy storage shed no one ever visited and was sobbing quietly.

The makeup she'd carefully applied was ruined by her tears.

Lucia couldn't stop the tears no matter what.

At first, she'd been flustered by the sudden situation. But before she could even figure out what was happening, locking eyes with one person made her realize it was all planned.

Bianca. She had definitely been smiling at her.

As if she'd been waiting for this exact moment.

The fact that her closest friend had orchestrated everything was utterly horrifying.

She hated herself for never doubting Bianca's words of support, for believing them blindly.

She could somehow endure the idea that Bianca wasn't really her friend or that she'd been betrayed.

But Herwin being put in a difficult position because of her was unbearable agony that left her unable to think straight.

She knew she shouldn't stay here like this; she needed to go back and clean up the mess she'd made. But her body wouldn't cooperate.

Lucia bit her lower lip and pounded her unmoving legs.

"Move! Please move! Why won't you listen to me either!"

Her unheard scream echoed faintly. As her vision blurred again, Lucia buried her face in her knees.

"Lucia!"

At the familiar voice, she looked up. Through her teary haze, two silhouettes appeared.

"Lucia, are you okay?"

"Why are you here all alone like this?"

"Christine... Arista..."

The Lucia who always brightened everyone around her with her smile was completely broken for the first time.

Seeing the deep despair etched on her face, the two bit their lower lips.

Christine swallowed her surging emotions and silently hugged Lucia's shoulders.

Arista knelt on one knee in front of Lucia, gently wiping her tear-streaked white cheeks.

"It's okay, Lucia. We're right here with you."

Lucia's breath caught. Looking at Arista, she suddenly remembered how she'd fallen for Bianca's scheme, badmouthing her and trying to embarrass her.

"I'm sorry..."

Tears poured from Lucia's eyes again.

"I'm really sorry. Sorry. I'm so sorry..."

Christine and Arista pulled Lucia into a tight embrace.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. So don't apologize."

"Don't cry, Lucia..."

"Sorry... Hic, huuu...!"

Repeating her apologies, Lucia broke into sobs and clung to Arista's neck, bawling.

Before her cries could echo, a massive firework boomed, and the sky lit up with beautiful bursts of light.

What was she even crying for?

Being mocked by so many people? The betrayal from Bianca? Guilt toward Arista? Or regret for putting Herwin in a tough spot?

Lucia didn't even know herself.

Herwin's birthday party, which everyone had attended with excitement and anticipation, ended on a sour note.

Herwin's chilling threat silenced the mockery toward Lucia, but word of what happened spread throughout the school anyway.

It was revealed that Bianca and the party committee had orchestrated the whole conspiracy, but people focused more on the fact that Lucia had liked Herwin for a long time.

Whenever Lucia passed by, people whispered among themselves, and the murmurs grew louder when she was with Herwin.

Yet Herwin acted as if nothing had happened. On the Monday after the party, he greeted her normally and behaved just like always.

His other friends did the same, never bringing up the incident—whether out of consideration for her or not.

They just pretended it never happened and acted as usual.

Lucia appreciated their kindness but felt anxious all the same.

She kept doubting if things could really go back to normal, and the unease kept her from sleeping.

One day, Lucia overheard some students from another class talking to Herwin.

"Is it true Lady Agnes has liked you since she was eight?"

"I heard she's confessed multiple times too."

"Honestly, if she's liked you that long, shouldn't you accept her by now?"

"Yeah, Lady Agnes would make a great girlfriend. Think about it, Herwin."

They gossiped about the party, the mood shifting toward him accepting Lucia. Herwin, frowning, finally spoke.

"That's your wishful thinking, not mine."

"But the crush has lasted so long. And multiple confessions..."

"So you're saying because Lucia's had a crush on me for years and confessed many times, I should 'accept' her? Don't make me laugh."

"What... Why are you getting mad?"

As the situation soured, the boys backed away.

"If I accepted her just because you guys pressured me, wouldn't that be deceiving her? Dating someone you don't like because others say so."

"Well, if you put it that way..."

"Don't spout words you can't back up. And Lucia isn't someone you can gossip about freely. Try mocking her in front of me again, and I won't let it slide."

Lucia burst into tears hearing that.

Not because he still wouldn't accept her feelings.

Quite the opposite.

He saw her more clearly than anyone else ever had.