What did I just say?

Lucy was surprised by her unexpected action. From the side, Jemima and Rita also gave her a bewildered look.

Why all of a  sudden?

They looked at her as if they were asking that question but Lucy couldn’t answer the question. Because she also didn’t understand what she just did.

What are you going to do?

Lucy asked herself.

Are you going to ask the princess what’s her relationship with sunbae? Why don’t you just ask Felix-sunbae directly?

Of course, she thought about visiting Felix first and asked him about the “engagement rumor.”

However, when he came into view, her handful of confidence was blown away by the wind like sand and disappeared. Not to mention the only words she heard from Felix were not a confession, just a sweet, ‘Please wait’. He did not express his feelings clearly, and they weren’t even in a formal relationship.

In that situation, she didn’t want to give the impression that she was ahead of herself by suddenly asking about the engagement rumor.

Lucy was not confident that she would not care about the rumors that were going through her head all day, so she blindly went out to guide the princess. She slowly opened her mouth to Princess Clothill.

“It’s true that it’s a restricted area for outsiders, but if you are accompanied by a custodian, you can enter.”

At Lucy’s explanation, the princess stood with a puzzled look on her face for a moment, and then briefly exchanged conversations in Bertha language with the servant who was standing one step behind her.

Only then did Lucy notice that the princess was not yet familiar with the Imperial language and did not fully understand her words.

It was not until the servant interpreted what Lucy said in Bertha that the princess looked back at Lucy with a big smile.

“Thank you. Then, please.”

The princess thanked her in a clear voice. Despite her young age, she looked polite and dignified.

Jemima smiled secretly next to Lucy and whispered in her ear.

“Yes, Lucy! You better face her head-to-head!”

From behind, even Rita was seen clenching her fist to cheer her up with a solemn face.

It was as if her friends had caught up with her concern for the princess. Embarrassed, Lucy turned around the return table pretending not to see their cheering.

“Then shall we go this way?”

Lucy hurried the princess down the stairs.

* * *

“The library is beautiful.”

Princess Clothill said as she followed Lucy up the stairs. She looked up at the library’s high ceiling with curious eyes, and then lowered her head again to look down at the beautiful hall. As a princess of a country famous for its art, she could not pass a single sculpture or painting installed in various places.

“The Bertha Library is beautiful, too. The ceiling is big and the floor is big like here.”

“Princess, you should say the ceiling is high and the floor is wide.”

A servant who seemed to be from the Beros Empire corrected Princess Clothill’s awkward sentence. Despite the criticism of her subordinate, the princess just burst into laughter without showing any displeasure.

The princess said to Lucy with a smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m learning the Imperial language now.”

“It’s alright.”

For a moment, Lucy realized that the princess was no different from any other girl. In a way, she seemed more humble and easygoing than any other noble student at the academy.

“I’m having a hard time because imperial language is hard.”

Suddenly, Princess Clothil sighed heavily and expressed her difficulty in learning a new language.

“I want to do better…….”

The expression of the princess who spoke as if muttering was gloomy.

As if to prove her desire to speak the imperial language better, the princess talked to Lucy using the imperial language throughout her guidance.

To be honest, Princess Clothill’s Imperial language skills were ambiguous.

Basic conversation seemed possible without difficulty, but it seemed not enough to enter the Xenomium Academy and take classes.

At this level, it would be difficult for her to fully understand the class unless she makes a lot of effort. The princess became more and more depressed as the servant continued to criticize her because she kept making grammatical mistakes.

When the servant went away for a while to get something for the thirsty princess, the princess asked Lucy;

“Is my imperial language hard to hear?”

The princess continued, drooping her eyebrows before Lucy could answer.

“I studied hard……. really hard.”

The princess, who looked mature, showed a weak appearance and confessed her innermost thoughts.

“My dad says he doesn’t want me to go to Xenomium. He kept telling me to go to the academy in Bertha. But I want to come here. I want to show my dad. I can do it well here. I want my father to believe me.”

For a moment, Lucy felt that her situation was similar to her a few years ago.

She recalled her memory of coming to the capital to take the entrance exam despite opposition from his father and mother. The thought of it made the princess look pitiful. She knows how scary it is to come to a strange place and start everything from scratch.

“You can do it.”

Lucy spoke in Bertha language. The princess erased her sullen expression and raised her head. She spoke in Bertha to Lucy, unable to hide her excitement.

“You speak Bertha”

“I’m still learning, so I’m not good at it.”

“No way! It’s great”

Lucy smiled.

“I have no problem having a basic conversation. In the past, I couldn’t even read Bertha’s letters. There was a time when I almost embarrassed myself in front of people.”

Lucy recalled the moment when she had to organize a complete collection of Bertha literature without being able to read the text. Just thinking about that time is making her break out in cold sweat.

“I’ve been studying hard since then hoping it won’t happen again. So even the princess can do it. No, you’re already doing well enough.”

Lucy’s words brought a bright smile to Princess Clothill’s lips. She nodded with a hopeful face, as her dejected appearance was gone.

“Yes, I can.”

The princess still spoke in an awkward but imposing imperial language.

* * *

“Thank you very much, Lucy.”

Princess Clothill thanked Lucy after touring the library under her guidance.

“Lucy, tell me the name of your family. I really want to thank you.”

Naturally, Lucy was embarrassed by the question, the princess probably thought of her as a noble. 

“Princess, I am not a noble.”

The princess looked surprised to hear that she was not a noble. This was because there were only a few academies in most countries where nobles and commoners could go together.

“Is that so? Lucy, but I really want to thank you.”

“Princess, I’ll just take your heart. I didn’t do anything in particular except guide you to the library.”

At Lucy’s words, the princess nodded with regret. She seemed to realize that it would burden the other person if she continued to return the favor more than this.

“Then I hope we can meet here next year as my sunbae.”

Princess Clothill expressed her true feelings in Bertha language.

After the princess left the campus with her servant, Lucy was overcome with despondency.

The princess was a good person. She was also an ordinary girl who was working hard for her dream.

Lucy was ashamed to approach her with ulterior motives rather than pure goodwill. How disappointed would the princess be if she knew what she was doubting her while she was guiding her?

Besides, she discovered nothing after doing such a thing.

After all, it was in place.

Lucy went to the backyard of the library, feeling guilty. She felt like she was about to cry. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

“Lucy!”

Then she heard footsteps running from behind, then someone grabbed her arm. It was Felix who followed her to the backyard.

Why did I have to run into you at a time like this?

“What are you doing here?”

Felix, who asked, looked at Lucy with a perplexed face.

Lucy realized a little late that something hot was coming out of her eyes. The tears that burst without knowing the reason why flowed nonstop. She hurriedly covered her face with her hand.

Are you serious, Lucy Keenan?

I can’t believe I’m crying in front of sunbae. This is the worst!

Then Lucy’s face touched a hard chest. At the same time, she felt the strength of his both arms holding her tightly.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

She heard Felix’s bewildered voice in her ear. He was asking Lucy in a really lost voice.

“Did I do something wrong? What is it?”

But it didn’t do anything to stop Lucy’s tears.

Why does his voice make me cry more?

Lucy couldn’t stop crying even though she knew how stupid she look.

“Sunbae… Are you engaged?”

The question that she hesitated to ask came out of the worst situation. Lucy wanted to cover her mouth, but her emotions that burst at once could not be stopped, it kept leaking like tears.

“Did you go to the west coast because of your engagement?”

“What are you talking about?”

Felix asked back, letting go of Lucy, who he was holding tightly in his arms. Instead, he wrapped his hands around Lucy’s cheek.

“Where did you hear all that crap? Damn it, I shouldn’t have agreed in the first place.”

He said with a look of regret.