WICE 26

Chapter 26

Sharon visited Shaligan Castle with Roni to enjoy the festival. It was the first time she had been invited to Roni’s estate, and she was more excited about that than the festival itself.

“Welcome, Sharon.”

“I arrived a little early, hehe.”

“Just wait a moment. I’m not quite finished getting ready.”

“Take your time.”

After apologizing once more, Roni disappeared. Left alone in Roni’s room, Sharon began to look around with sparkling eyes.

Unlike her own room, the atmosphere here was very simple and tidy—something that suited Roni very well.

It was the height of summer, and the weather was scorching. Sharon was cooling off by eating shaved ice brought to her by a maid. That was when an unexpected person opened Roni’s door.

“Noona! I finished all my work for today—let’s go hang out!”

“Guh!! Cough cough… Hiccup!”

Startled by Gale’s sudden appearance, Sharon swallowed her shaved ice in a hurry and ended up hiccuping.

Gale froze in surprise when he realized it wasn’t his sister but another woman in the room.

Sharon’s clear turquoise eyes stared at Gale like a deer caught by a hunter, her mouth covered with both hands as she tried to stop the hiccups.

“I—I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t know you had a guest. I’m Gale Shaligan.”

Snapping out of it, Gale quickly apologized to Sharon. He had been buried under a mountain of work lately and hadn’t been able to spend much time with his sister.

He had rushed to finish everything just so he could attend the festival with her, which was why he hadn’t realized she had company.

Sharon, who had finally stopped hiccuping, smiled warmly at the apologetic Gale.

“It’s fine. I’m Sharon Vernique.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Lady Sharon.”

“You really resemble your sister. Especially your black hair—it’s so beautiful.”

At Sharon’s compliment, Gale awkwardly cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair before bowing deeply.

“…My lady…”

“Pardon?”

“Y-Your eyes are very beautiful.”

“Oh… thank you.”

Sharon smiled shyly at the unexpected compliment. Gale’s ears had turned slightly red without him realizing.

At that moment, Roni entered the room, now ready.

“Huh? Gale, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, I wanted to go to the festival with you…”

“Ah… I actually made plans to go with Sharon today. How about tomorrow?”

“I-It’s okay. Have fun, then! Lady Sharon, I hope you have a great time too!”

After hurriedly saying goodbye, Gale rushed out of the room. Roni wondered why he suddenly bolted like that, but Sharon only smiled without saying anything.

As Roni and Sharon took a carriage outside the castle, Gale stood by the window, watching them leave. His face turned bright red as he recalled Sharon’s large, sparkling eyes.

✦ ✦ ✦

“You said you experienced an illusion spell with Sir Allen?”

After walking around enjoying the festival, the two took a break at a nearby café and shared what they’d been up to lately.

“That’s right. I trusted Allen, thinking he wouldn’t lie to me, and followed him… Ugh. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.”

Roni spoke as she checked that her head was still firmly attached, recounting the nightmare. Sharon winced in sympathy and placed a hand on her own neck.

In front of them was a basket filled with various things they had bought at the festival.

“By the way, Sharon, have you decided on your dance partner for the last day of the festival?”

“Well, I’m not very good at dancing, so I was just going to watch. What about you, Roni?”

“Well actually…”

“Wait, isn’t this Lady Shaligan, Allen’s fiancée?”

Someone suddenly chimed in with exaggerated friendliness. The overly casual attitude and voice could only belong to Hadellio.

What is he doing here?

Roni frowned at Hadellio, displeased by his intrusion. But he ignored her completely and introduced himself to Sharon before casually sitting next to her. Was it really okay for a system administrator to appear just anywhere like this?

“I’m Hadellio Lucin. I work with your brother in the student council.”

“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you. I’m Sharon Vernique.”

Sharon smiled brightly, her guard lowered upon hearing he was her brother’s friend.

“Sharon, don’t go smiling like that at just anyone. The man in front of you? Getting close to him won’t do you any good. Actually, he might not even be human.”

Roni still didn’t know much about Guinness (Hadellio’s real identity), but the situation felt uncomfortable. It felt like the administrator was trying to interfere in time that belonged only to her—apart from the original plot.

Why is he getting in the way of my sweet little moment?

“I saw Lady Shaligan from afar and just had to come say hello.”

Hadellio smiled slyly, clearly noticing Roni’s displeased expression.

“Ah, I see. Well, now that you’ve said hello, how about going back to what you were doing?”

“Could you please just go away?”

Roni forced a fake smile and hinted for him to leave, but Hadellio pretended not to notice.

In the end, Hadellio naturally inserted himself into the conversation and responded quite enthusiastically to Sharon’s stories.

Then he turned to Roni with a meaningful look and said:

“I heard Lady Shaligan turned down Allen’s offer to be his partner.”

“What? Is that true, Roni? Do you already have someone else?”

Why did everyone assume she refused Allen because of someone else? And why did Guinness have to bring it up now of all times?

Roni had planned to tell Sharon privately, but clueless Hadellio beat her to it.

You’re supposed to be helping me, aren’t you?

Her head throbbed at Hadellio’s ambiguous expression. Was it okay to talk about this in front of someone acting as Allen’s friend?

Usually, when someone was brought into a world like this, the administrator was supposed to be helpful. But Guinness only ever gave cryptic hints and left all the choices up to her.

Roni glanced sideways at Guinness. She didn’t trust him, especially when he acted without consulting her. But she let it slide—he had brought her here because he didn’t like how the original story ended, and she chose to believe he wouldn’t do anything to harm her.

Still, thanks to him, her original plan now looked like an excuse.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Roni reluctantly turned to Sharon and said,

“Actually… I agreed to dance with Sir Eyan.”

“What?! With my brother?”

“Wow~ If Allen finds out, he’s going to be so upset.”

Hadellio feigned surprise with an exaggerated expression. Roni was impressed by how well he acted. After all, she had already told Guinness about dancing with Eyan.

She didn’t know why he was suddenly pretending to be surprised and bringing it up now, but he was the only one in this world who knew she was Sohee. Since he’d offered to help her, she decided to trust him for now.

“I just… wanted to try dancing with someone new this time.”

“Hm, but won’t Sir Allen be hurt? His fiancée dancing with his friend…”

Sharon looked a bit disappointed at Roni’s choice. It was a natural reaction. She had expected people to talk if things looked too suspicious.

Still, Roni didn’t want to mess things up just because of people she didn’t even know gossiping behind her back.

Sharon carefully studied Roni’s expression. Roni looked unbothered and didn’t seem to have any hidden intentions behind her choice to dance with Eyan.

Even so, it was a shame. Roni didn’t attend social events often, but many noble ladies secretly admired the idea of her and Allen together.

They were both stunning, and people often saw Sir Allen doting on Roni.

Does Roni just not feel attracted to someone who’s good to her? Sharon wondered. I thought she felt the same way about him…

No matter how she thought about it, Roni’s decision was still puzzling.

“Well… it’d be better if he is upset.”

“What kind of answer is that…”

Sharon furrowed her brows and scolded her softly. Roni gave an awkward laugh and quickly changed the subject. Her role, after all, was to be the cupid between Allen and Biana—nothing more. She had to say things she didn’t mean and keep pushing them together.

Even if she didn’t want to hurt him, she had to.

“Oh, I almost forgot—I have something I need to do. I’d love to chat more with such lovely ladies, but I’m a bit busy.”

Just in time, Hadellio stood up from his seat.

Good choice. Please leave now. I’m trying to enjoy some quality time with Sharon here.

Roni gave him a dazzling smile that clearly meant go away and don’t come back soon.

Guinness briefly considered sticking around to tease Sohee a bit more, but the look she gave him made him hurry out with a quick farewell.

As Hadellio walked away from Roni, he addressed the person following behind him.

“I know you’re there, Allen.”