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“Rebecca. I’m sorry, but could you go back first? I think I’ve forgotten something for a moment.”

“Uh, okay.”

Rebecca, seemingly shrunk down from facing Elena, answered timidly. Just how scared was she that the usually confident Rebecca Rose had become like this? The aftermath of the battle practice seemed to have quite an impact on her, as she still hadn’t fully recovered even after some time.

Michelle could also understand Rebecca’s behavior to some extent, having witnessed how she exterminated the monsters in the south with her own eyes.

Honestly, Elena Edelweiss’s power was astonishing, and considering her an enemy would blind even the bravest Michelle in terror. If only I had known this fact beforehand, perhaps I wouldn’t have made such a mistake. It’s like spilling water and then thinking about it, but it’s not like I don’t have regrets.

Elena Edelweiss was not just some frail girl as the rumors suggested. It was a mistake to think I could test a girl who had been appointed as the lady of the south in the first place. Although I have my grievances, it doesn’t excuse my actions.

“Well, see you later.”

“Alright, see you at the Merchant Guild Building.”

After sending Rebecca off, Michelle stood not far from the research lab, waiting for her to come. She had sent a message via magic, so unless she disregarded it, she would come out.

Of course, it wasn’t a certainty that Elena would come this way, but maybe it was just an instinct.

For some reason, it felt like she would come to meet me. And this feeling of Michelle’s became reality.

“Michelle.”

A clear and pure voice resonated in Michelle’s ears.

Despite being the same gender, this breathtaking beauty could make one’s heart race. Elena Edelweiss appeared before her with her clear amethyst eyes. Was this the first time they had been alone like this without anyone else around? Despite knowing she was coming, Michelle almost lost her senses staring at Elena.

Usually, one shines more brightly when compared to others around them, but she seemed to radiate even more when alone. It felt like looking up at a full moon shining brightly after the clouds had cleared.

As her wandering senses began to return, the first emotion Michelle felt was jealousy.

In looks, talent, and family, Elena lacked for nothing. A person where it was impossible to find any fault. That’s why she would be engaged to Damian Kraus and would become the lady of the south in the future. But that was precisely why Michelle felt this emotion.

Michelle buried her burning feelings deep down. It was enough to have tested her once blinded by jealousy. There was no need to repeat the mistake of the past.

At this point, it was nothing more than a fleeting regret that she was smart enough not to ignore. Dispersing the feelings of defeat and jealousy, she reminded herself why she was standing here and spoke to Elena.

“Thank you for coming, Elena. I know this may be sudden, but I have something important I need to say.”

“Was it something you couldn’t say earlier?”

In response to Elena’s question, Michelle slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I don’t intend to go around gossiping about my mistakes to others. It may feel a bit insincere, but Lady Elena Edelweiss, I would like to ask for your forgiveness for my actions and words during the last hunting tournament. Will you forgive me?”

“Um, what are you referring to?”

“Everything. Please erase all memories of me that you hold from that day. I will accept any request within my abilities, so I ask for your leniency.”

Michelle bowed her head toward Elena, and Elena gazed down upon her with a steady look.

A year is not that long, but it is not short either. Although the events of that day had not been erased from Elena’s memory, she harbored no ill feelings towards those present at the venue, whether they were heretics or not.

The pettiness of the southern noble ladies?

From her perspective, it felt merely cute, like the tantrums of a child. In the first place, Elena didn’t care about others’ opinions and was indifferent to anything outside her interests, so there was no real grudge to speak of. They had just stuck to their bounds without crossing the line.

On the contrary, it was Michelle who had overstepped, drawing a line that the other noble ladies dared not cross, and Elena was well aware of that.

Thus, now, Michelle’s apology felt sudden and out of place for Elena, a mere capricious event. The fact that she felt the need to confirm something that could have simply been let go was likely because she was the daughter of a merchant faction in the south, while Elena was Damian’s fiancée.

The reason her behavior differed from when they had met previously at the venue was likely because Michelle had accepted Elena’s position. Although recognition from others was not necessary for her place anyway.

Elena responded to Michelle’s apology in a flat tone, without a hint of inflection.

“I know very well that you prevented the other noble ladies from crossing the line that day, Michelle. I don’t think that’s something that requires forgiveness.”

With Elena’s indifference, Michelle once again bowed her head in thanks.

“Then that concludes my request, doesn’t it? You mentioned you would write a letter for me earlier, right? I’m looking forward to it.”

The conversation between Elena and Michelle ended there. The flow of conversation had been in Elena’s hands from the beginning, and since she had no desire to continue talking, Michelle simply accepted this and stepped back.

She hadn’t even thought of making elaborate excuses, but Michelle hadn’t imagined Elena would accept her apology so easily, leaving her feeling a bit flustered. However, she shook off her surprise at Elena’s next words.

“Ah, as for matters related to Kraus, please write them in that letter. Or have me come to you. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other often from now on, so we should get used to it. Well then.”

As her amethyst eyes met Michelle’s, she felt as if Elena’s gaze was piercing through her heart. Was this feeling merely an illusion? Watching Elena walk away, Michelle bowed her head once more and left.

*

On the way back to the research lab, Elena wasn’t feeling particularly great.

When she first met Michelle again in the lab, she didn’t feel anything special. It was one thing for Rebecca to be like that, but Michelle had never done anything to annoy Elena.

The incident at the venue hadn’t really crossed any lines to warrant much concern either.

However, when Michelle had called her out separately to apologize, Elena sensed a resignation on her face that hadn’t been there before. What she was resigned about was irrelevant. What mattered was that Michelle’s demeanor reminded her of her own past self.

It felt awful to see a reflection of her past self that she had abandoned. Ironically, it was she herself who had caused Michelle to be like that.

There was no guilt. She had simply avoided repeating past mistakes. That was all.

“Ahhh…”

Letting out a deep breath, she tried to dispel the memories of the past.

The Elena Edelweiss who had blindly kept silent without knowing her own feelings no longer existed. Therefore, there would be no repeating of the past. Regrets and lamentations were enough for just once.

“I should go back… to his side…”

It was a trivial matter, but unexpectedly, it had drained her energy.

In times like this, the face that naturally came to mind was, of course, Damian’s. Just thinking of his smiling face brought her a sense of recovery, but how could imagining him be the same as reality? Elena quickened her pace toward the research lab.

His touch. His voice, scent, heart. Each and every one of them was a treasure she couldn’t give to anyone else.

The path back was not far, but for her heart racing with anticipation, it felt distant. Running down the hallway at a speed that couldn’t even be compared to when she had exited, she finally returned to the lab.

“Damian…”

Just as she grasped the doorknob and was about to open the door, an unexpected gasp stopped her in her tracks.

Oooooooh!!!

?

Even though she hadn’t opened the door yet, his voice of awe could be heard. What could possibly have happened? Regaining her composure, she opened the door, and there was Damian, gazing at the sphere that Elteman held, exclaiming in wonder.

“Ah… this is called an Artificial Elemental.”

“It’s truly magnificent!! Teacher!!!”

Wowwwww!!

“Eh?”

 

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