Shadow Queen

Chapter 37

Reeling.

Her legs were weak. Her head thought she shouldn’t do this, but her body didn’t work out. She was no longer able to stand on her two feet, so she collapsed as if she had fallen into place.

“Miss Lucia!”

There was a cry of surprise from Cecilia. Her head and vision were spinning. The mental panic caused her body to collapse without being able to stand it up.

And the focus of vision that turned white gradually returned. The light that had been pouring out whenever she blinked helplessly gradually became in shape. He had a fairer skin than most young people. He also had a high nose. Also, his eyes full of melancholy were deep enough to want to see them all the way, and they were jet black.

“…!”

Elena’s eyes were strained by the fact that it was black. Her whole body’s senses returned, and she realized that it was someone’s arm that was firmly supporting her back and waist.

‘Y-Your Majesty.’

It was Prince Sian who reflexively supported Elena, who lost her balance and collapsed.

“… Let me go.”

Elena’s eyes, which were barely waking up, collided with Sian’s eyes looking down at her.

Oh, how hurt she was by that indifferent look. It remained a place of entertainment that would not be erased by any ointment or treatment, and she has suffered until now. She didn’t want to face him anymore. Even for a moment. If she could heal this pain, she’d like to erase him from her memory.

“Let me go, please.”

At Elena’s urging, Sian felt strange. He tried to hide it, but the pitiful look in her eyes made him feel sad.

“Are you alright? You have to go see a doctor!”

Cecilia made a fuss next to her apparently worried. However, Elena shook her head, barely standing up with Sian’s support.

“Get some rest, and you’ll feel better.”

“Your complexion is not so good.”

“… I want to rest.”

With Elena’s desperate eyes, Cecilia could no longer force her to speak. Elena barely managed to recover her body and mind, but showed perfect manners as usual and thanked her.

“Thank you for the care of the Crown Prince.”

“…”

Sian’s eyes looking at Elena, expanded slightly. Even in the midst of not feeling well enough to fall over consciousness, the manners and movements shown by Elena were stubborn enough to use them as a model for the imperial family. The royal family was an exemplary figure that seemed to have transferred the word that there should be no disturbance until the moment of death.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I’ll take you to the dorm.”

“No, I really want to be alone. Let me go, please.”

Elena, who asked Cecilia for understanding, turned around. This was the end of the scandal. She clenched her molars and balanced the line to prevent her from collapsing. She didn’t want to look ugly even when she turned around for the last time. It was the pride Elena wanted to keep until the end.

“I can’t. I don’t feel comfortable sending her as it is.”

Cecilia could not resist seeing Elena walking and tried to follow her again.

“Are you worried about her?”

“How can I just let her go when she might fall again!”

Sian calmly held back as he watched Elena disappearing with a careless glance.

“I think she needs more respect than your worries.”

“Your Highness is saying something I don’t know.”

Cecilia was frustrated that she thought words were not working. Sian stood tall and watched until Elena was so far away that he was smaller than his fingernails.

Who the hell was that young lady? It was clear that she was simple-looking, but why did she qualitatively have the same discipline and theft that can only be seen in imperial adults?

There was a continuous question, but Sian was not free enough to be entangled in trivial questions. It was more urgent to take direct steps to the west side of the academy, which did not come well.

“Let’s finish the conversation, Cecilia.”

At that time, there was a girl who stole a glance at Elena, who was barely walking with her body that might collapse. The girl’s name is Mitchell. Once part of the Veronica princess faction, she was now following Avella, the eldest daughter of Duke Reinhardt.

“What, the fly’s entangled again?”

She came after Cecilia, who looked like a thorn in the eye, and saw Elena. Although she pretended to be sick, it seemed to be an obvious move to attract Sian’s attention.

“I’ll let Lady Avella know as soon as possible.”

Mitchell twisted her mouth as she watched Elena move away. She was already looking forward to seeing how Avella would punish the bitch who wagged her tail on Prince Sian.

***

“…”

Elena, who barely left her seat, leaned on the streetlamp. Her pale face looked like a sick man who could fall at any moment. Elena struggled to walk to the bench in the square. Then she collapsed like a fall.

She remained delirious. It was a square where countless students came and went, but at this moment, Elena seemed to be the only one left. Her head was blank. She didn’t think of anything. No sound was heard.

“Just… A little bit…”

Her pulse went off and her consciousness gradually dimmed. Her body and mind forced her to rest as if this was the limit.

Elena fell asleep while sitting on the bench. But her head picked up a memory that she didn’t even want to think was awake and bothered her.

“I will no longer be hung up on Your Majesty. I can’t see Ian hurt because of me.”

Elena struggled in a nightmare. A painful moan flowed through her lips. Her expression was sadly distorted and her forehead and neck were damp with cold sweat.

“Ah!”

Elena burst out of sleep with a short flurry. Her breathing was unstable and her complexion was still pale as if the nightmare’s linger had not gone away. Still, she had a little rest and her body was lighter than before.

Elena, having trouble getting up from the bench, felt a sense of incongruity. She felt uncomfortable and she had a tight back. Her head turned to the blatant gaze of someone.

“…!”

Elena doubted her eyes. It’s a pity that she didn’t have energy. If it were usual, the sound of evil would have popped out of her head. That’s how much she was surprised.

‘Why is this man here?’

Ren sat with his legs crossed at the end of the bench, staring at Elena with his unique stiff eyes.

‘Since when were you here? No, what’s more?’

If it were usual, she would have handled it quickly, but she couldn’t today. She couldn’t do her job as if her brain had hardened because she was not feeling well.

“Who are you?”

Ren snapped.

“What are you doing here?”

“…”

“I’m asking. What are you?”

Elena replied because she could no longer ignore what Ren said.

“Oh, hello, senior.”

“Introduction, not greeting.”

“A freshman who entered this year Lu…”

Ren cut the conversation off.

“Lucia, right?”

“H-how did you get my name?”

Elena’s eyes got bigger. It was not welcome that Ren already knew the name of her position to be hidden thoroughly.

“You must have a name tag?”

“Ah!”

Elena was relieved to see the name tag on her right chest.

‘Be calm, Elena.’

Even considering the circumstances before and after, they met by chance. No matter how good Ren was, there was no time to learn about Elena. Elena’s distracted spirit became clear as she calmly looked back and discerned the situation.

“Let’s continue with the introduction, shall we? Not a name, but something else first.”

As Ren continued to show interest, Elena asked back boldly and changed the topic.

“I know you, too. You’re Ren from the Sword Department, right?”

“That’s not the answer to my question.”

When Ren came out too hard, it was Elena’s side that was rather embarrassed.

‘I’m going crazy. I can’t just take it.’

Now Elena was not Princess Veronica. It was absurd to go out on Ren, who might lead the empire’s emerging nobleman under the status of Lucia, the daughter of a merchant. It would be frustrating and crazy, but there was no choice but to stick to the low profile.

“It wouldn’t be fun if you knew about me. It’s not a big deal.”

“You, am I funny?”

Elena kept changing her words, and Ren looked at her voice. The untamed look was threatening.

“No.”

“But why do you keep changing the subject? Why don’t we finish introducing ourselves?”

Elena was tense. She couldn’t think of any way out of this situation.

It was then. A big raindrop fell and soaked Elena’s nose.

‘Rain?’

The sky, which was sunny until a while ago, disappeared and dark clouds were thick. The number of raindrops that had been falling one or two drops by drop increased exponentially and soaked the shoulders. Elena was grateful for the shower, it was really timely.

“I’m not feeling well… Can I put off my introduction for next time?”

Raindrops quickly thickened. Students who were spending their free time in the plaza ran frantically to nearby buildings to avoid the rain.

“Isn’t it your consideration to be fooled by the excuses of your juniors? Goodbye then.”

Elena said goodbye with a smile that was just enough not to look ugly, and tried to escape as if she was running away without looking back.

‘I’m glad he didn’t catch me. The crisis seems to have been averted… Huh? Uh!’

Elena’s foot, which stood up from the bench and was only looking forward, caught something.

“Oh!”

Elena lost her balance and fell cheek-to-cheek as she weighed forward. Reflecting on the floor, her palm was peeled off, and her stockings were torn to the ground and wounded.

“I didn’t tell you to go?”

Elena, who fell on the ground, raised her head, and Ren, who deliberately tripped her, looked down with an evil smile.