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“Sniff…”

The place Wendy ran into after dashing out of the office was the women’s bathroom in the main building.

She locked the door and kept wiping her tears.

‘What was I thinking… What was I thinking, Wendy…’

Not only did she barge into the office without permission, but she also got caught in such an embarrassing situation.

Unable to bear the situation, Wendy ended up running away.

‘Sob… The Count must be so disappointed in me…’

At this rate, she’s undeniably a pervert.

In Wendy’s hand was a pure white shirt.

She was in such a hurry that she couldn’t even return it.

No matter how forgiving he is, he would never forgive something like this.

“Sniff…”

And on top of that, Wendy saw it.

Through the crack in the closet door, she saw two people chatting warmly.

The person talking to Tristan was Bella Izakhel, the duke’s daughter, praised as the most beautiful woman in the country.

Looking at them, Wendy thought they made a perfect pair.

Bella, with her noble character, lacked nothing in status or appearance.

In contrast, Wendy was of humble status, short in stature, and a bad girl who secretly sniffed someone else’s shirt…

Overwhelmed by shame and frustration, Wendy shed tears.

She never belonged in that place to begin with.

The person who should be by Tristan’s side during the festival was already decided.

And it was someone far more beautiful than her.

‘And I didn’t even realize that…’

How dare she think she could be his dance partner? How presumptuous…

Just as Myohail had said.

Tristan wasn’t her destined person.

To be precise, Wendy wasn’t qualified to be Tristan’s destined person.

“Sob…”

Wendy wiped her tears.

It’s for the best.

She had thought about using the miracle coin to ask the gods, but now she didn’t need to.

Asking for something like that would only make the gods laugh at her.

Yes. Her heart aches, but she must let go.

First, she should apologize to the Count.

No matter what punishment he gives, she’ll accept it gratefully.

Even if he kicks her out of the Count’s estate… She’ll make sure to thank him.

For taking care of her all this time…

She felt like crying again but held it back.

Barely pulling herself together, Wendy opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

Only to be greeted by a tall shadow.

“…Eek!”

Startled, Wendy collapsed on the spot.

“How…”

“I’ve never seen anyone cry so pitifully in my life.”

A cold voice came from above.

When she looked up, Tristan Ruelberta was staring down at her with an indifferent expression.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

Wendy bowed her head on the spot.

“I’m sorry for barging into the office! I’m sorry for running away!”

“It’s dirty, so get up first.”

“I’m sorry for being dirty. Sob…”

“……”

Wendy kept apologizing.

From above, Tristan let out a deep sigh.

“Eek?!”

Suddenly, Wendy was grabbed by the waist and lifted up.

Tristan’s face was right in front of hers.

A handsome man with a strangely tired expression.

For some reason, his abs were clearly visible through the gap in his coat.

Only then did Wendy realize she was still holding his shirt.

“Ah! S-sorry! I’ll give it back!”

“Hmm.”

Taking the shirt from Wendy, Tristan took off his coat.

His bare upper body was revealed.

Perhaps from consistent training.

His masculine muscles contrasted with his androgynous face.

‘Huh?!’

Realizing she was staring too much, Wendy quickly lowered her head.

Regardless, Tristan, now wearing the shirt, clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Don’t make a fuss.”

“I’m sorry… Count. I’m really sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

At his cold interrogation, Wendy sniffled and replied.

“Um… I-I’m sorry for eavesdropping! I didn’t mean to…”

“You heard my conversation with Bella.”

Wendy nodded.

Tristan brushed off the wrinkles on his shirt and spoke.

“…I don’t care about the eavesdropping. What I want to know is why you were there.”

“W-well, lunch…”

“Lunch?”

“Y-yes. I… I made lunch at the mansion and brought it to eat with you, Count…”

“Is that so…”

Tristan nodded as if understanding.

“Alright. Then let’s have lunch…”

“N-no! It’s okay!”

Wendy flailed her hands in a panic.

“S-someone like me can’t possibly have lunch with the Count…! I-I’m sorry for being so presumptuous!”

“What…?”

“I-I’m sorry for upsetting you… Sob… You should have lunch with the Princess… S-someone like me shouldn’t intrude… T-the festival too, you should go with the Princess-!”

Then, Tristan’s hand covered her mouth. He lifted her and carried her into a bathroom stall.

“?!?”

“Shh.”

Tristan whispered softly into Wendy’s ear.

Just then.

Click, click.

The sound of shoes echoed.

Someone had entered the bathroom.

If they had been any later, it would’ve been a disaster.

Only a handful of people in the school knew about their relationship.

If they were caught together, it would be a huge problem.

Especially since this was the women’s bathroom…

‘……!’

Then, Wendy felt a warm body heat behind her head.

Tristan was holding her, covering her mouth and embracing her from behind.

Thump, thump…

Her heart was racing uncontrollably.

Because of that, her breathing leaked through the gaps in his hand.

‘Please… Calm down, heart. If this keeps up, we’ll get caught…!’

Wendy trembled, trying her best not to make a sound. No matter what, she had to endure…

But shattering Wendy’s hopes, a sharp voice echoed through the bathroom.

“Who’s there?”

*

When she entered the bathroom, Ariel Rizeute, the magic professor, sensed something strange.

‘Hmm?’

Her sensitive ears caught a faint breathing sound.

If she weren’t from the Rizeute family, known for their wind magic, she might’ve missed it.

The urgent presence of someone hiding was transmitted through the air.

But there was only one locked stall in this bathroom.

And the presence wasn’t from just one person.

Which meant…

‘Don’t tell me someone’s doing something inappropriate in the women’s bathroom in broad daylight?!’

They’re just students.

While relationships between students weren’t forbidden in the university, to be so bold as to engage in such acts in the bathroom…

This calls for severe punishment.

Ariel calmly, but with as much force as possible, called out.

“Who’s there?”

No answer came.

But the atmosphere changed.

Through the air, Ariel sensed the hidden person’s agitation.

Click.

The sound of high heels echoed in the bathroom.

Ariel stood in front of the locked stall.

“Come out right now.”

Still no response.

Ariel sneered inwardly.

They had nowhere to run.

They must be panicking.

She spoke in a soft voice to coax them out.

“If you come out now, I won’t report you to the disciplinary committee.”

“……”

Silence again.

Tsk. Foolish kids.

Do they plan to hold out till the end?

This time, Ariel spoke more forcefully.

“Come out quickly. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait until you come out. If you keep this up, I’ll call someone else-.”

Click.

The sound of the lock opening.

That’s more like it.

How long did they think they could hold out?

Creak.

Ariel lifted her head stiffly, ready to see the shameless couple’s faces as the door opened.

But when she saw the figure stepping out, Ariel’s face turned to one of shock.

“Chairman?!”

The decadent-looking black-haired noble, Tristan, was staring down at her with cold eyes.

“What are you doing in the women’s bathroom-.”

“What are *you* doing here?”

“Huh?”

This was strange.

In this situation, where Tristan was in the women’s bathroom, it was clearly Ariel who should be questioning him.

But why did Tristan seem so uncomfortable?

“What am I doing…? What do you think I’m doing in the bathroom?”

“This is the men’s bathroom.”

“W-what?! M-men’s bathroom?!”

Ariel’s heart sank.

No. No. Really?

She quickly tried to recall.

Did she confirm this was the women’s bathroom before entering…?

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t be sure.

Was the symbol on the door for men or women…?

‘Did I make a mistake…?’

While Ariel was doubting her memory, Tristan spoke irritably.

“There are plenty of empty stalls in this bathroom.”

“That’s… true.”

“Did you want my spot, Professor Ariel?”

“Huh?! W-who would want…?! No, that’s not what I meant…!”

“And threatening to report me to the disciplinary committee for not coming out. Do you have the authority to do that?”

“No. That… I’m sorry.”

In the end, Ariel had no choice but to apologize.

No matter how she looked at it, she was the one who made the mistake.

Otherwise, Tristan wouldn’t be so angry.

“Move aside.”

“…Yes.”

Tristan stepped out of the stall, a thick-looking coat draped over his arm.

It looked heavy, as if to ward off the cold. No doubt it cost as much as her annual salary.

How annoying.

But she kept her thoughts to herself. The only thing she could say now was…

“I’m sorry, Chairman…”

“Hmm.”

She had no choice but to bow her head.

In this situation, it was clearly Ariel’s fault.

With a dismissive attitude, Tristan left the bathroom.

As he disappeared from sight, Ariel let out a sigh.

“Sigh… How did I make such a mistake…”

She should wash her face with cold water.

Thinking that, Ariel moved towards the women’s bathroom next door but stopped.

“…Huh?”

That was the men’s bathroom.

So there are two men’s bathrooms?

How strange.

Ariel tilted her head and checked the sign on the bathroom she and Tristan had just been in.

“……”

Just to be sure, she checked again.

And she realized, belatedly, that she hadn’t been mistaken after all.

“This *is* the women’s bathroom!!!”

 

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