WICE 37

#37

“Allen is doing well.”

Biana brought up the topic as if she knew I was wondering about Allen. She said she had become Allen’s partner.

I already knew this, but it was still nice to hear. In the comic, Biana was Ian’s partner, but now she had become Allen’s partner.

It seemed their relationship had progressed quite a bit since the festival. Thinking that their connection with Ian had loosened because of this made me feel a little sorry for Ian, as if I had taken his partner away.

Biana said that she and Allen got along very well and maintained a pretty good partnership. The downside was that Allen was too enthusiastic about everything.

He kept pushing himself without taking breaks, so he was getting a bit exhausted.

Biana sighed deeply and said that ever since the festival, Allen had been signing up for classes and training sessions like crazy, and she had a hard time finding time to visit me because she was always following him around.

But I liked hearing her complaints. At least this way, I could hear how Allen was doing.

“Allen does tend to work hard. Biana, please help him a lot.”

“Working hard is good, but I wish he’d take better care of his health. It’s getting worse and worse. He pushes himself too much and doesn’t listen to me at all.”

Biana gave a helpless smile, as if surrendering completely. Well, who could stop him? That’s just how he is. When he learned swordsmanship, he practiced nonstop day and night.

I smiled unconsciously, remembering the one time he got seriously sick and I scolded him.

Seeing me smile, Biana looked serious, as if it wasn’t something to laugh about.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him eat or sleep properly. He mostly recovers his energy with potions.”

“What?”

I looked at Biana in disbelief. Sure, working hard is fine, but there’s a limit. Shouldn’t he at least eat?

Seeing my stern expression, Biana spoke awkwardly.

“He’s so passionate that even the professors are speechless. Not long ago, he joined a monster-experience class meant for advanced students.”

“Advanced class?”

“Yes. He used so much magic that one of the senior students nearby fainted.”

“Uh…”

“Honestly, I think Allen could just graduate now. Even the royal family has started to take interest in him.”

Biana sighed softly, probably recalling the senior who fainted because of Allen.

‘This is worse than I thought.’

I was worried about Allen. Pushing himself like that meant he was under a lot of mental stress.

I was relieved because he got along well with Biana and caused no trouble. But the news I heard from Biana felt like the calm before a storm.

Allen was different from the one I knew. The usual Allen would have made me suffer or taken out his frustrations on me, but now he showed no reaction at all.

“Actually, the gift is one thing, but I came because I wanted Ronnie to meet Allen a bit.”

“Officially, I’m still an enemy, so is that okay?”

“He’ll listen to Ronnie more than me. And besides, you’re not the fiancé, Ronnie is.”

Biana smiled as if it was nothing. Probably because she was thinking of me.

Such a straightforward and proper person. I smiled at how pure Biana’s feelings toward Allen were.

But I had no intention of accepting Allen’s feelings. My concern for him was different from his feelings for me. I thought it was more like fandom than love.

“Then I’ll have the butler deliver some food.”

“No, Ronnie should come herself. At this rate, I’ll be the one who dies from exhaustion before Allen does.”

Biana said firmly, more determined than usual. I looked at her awkwardly.

Now that I noticed, her face looked haggard. She looked exhausted from following Allen around all this time.

‘This could be troublesome…’

I smiled awkwardly to dodge the topic, but Biana was persistent. She kept asking me to help while we were together.

“You have to promise me.”

“Okay, you don’t have to say more.”

“It’s a promise. Really.”

Only after I gave a firm answer did she leave the castle. Now I realized she hadn’t come to congratulate me but to ask for a favor.

Ronnie hesitated in front of Allen’s dorm room. Even though she knew it might be better not to come, she worried and used Biana as an excuse to visit.

Before, Biana used to follow Allen around and tease him. But since the start of this year, Allen was the one approaching her first, so this was her first time visiting his dorm.

Ronnie fiddled nervously with the lunchbox in her hand.

‘Yeah, just deliver this and leave.’

With a trembling heart, she rang the doorbell. No response. She knocked cautiously, still nothing.

She knocked again.

“Allen, it’s me.”

Still no response. Thinking he might be asleep, she decided to come back later and turned to leave.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise inside, and the door clicked open. Allen, freshly showered and wearing a robe, with wet hair, looked out. He seemed to have come out in a hurry while washing up.

“What do you want?”

He said dryly, no longer calling her name affectionately or speaking informally. He clearly showed he was keeping his distance.

Ronnie’s heart stung as she watched his expressionless face, but reminded herself not to be upset.

She walked into his room casually.

“Biana asked me to come see you, so I stopped by briefly.”

When Allen heard Biana’s name, he sighed heavily and closed the door. An awkward atmosphere filled the room.

Allen said little. He just sat on the sofa, looking out the window.

Ronnie stared at his face. He looked a bit worn out. Like Biana, exhaustion was written all over his face, and she was worried.

Originally, she planned just to deliver the lunch and leave. But seeing his exhausted face, she couldn’t help but enter.

She wanted to talk to him a little more. To care for him. Selfishly.

Ronnie spoke with a bitter tone.

“I heard you’ve been overdoing it lately. Everyone’s worried.”

“It’s not something to worry about.”

“Surprised to see me?”

“……”

Allen’s gaze turned cold, as if looking at someone disturbing his rest.

Was he taking out his frustration on her for treating him indifferently? Was he asking why she kept bothering him while he was just sitting quietly?

Ronnie’s heart stung seeing his cold gaze.

Why had it come to this? Allen was still pushing himself too hard, and she hated it, but there was nothing she could do.

She wanted to scold him like before, but she was neither in a position nor situation to do so. She felt responsible for his change, yet couldn’t accept him, and that made her sad.

“I just came to check if you’re okay and to give you this. Sorry for dropping by suddenly.”

Ronnie quickly took out the food she brought.

They were dishes they used to cook together. When Allen first came here, he didn’t like the local food, so she often made Korean dishes for him.

The maids had warned her not to cook herself, but Allen liked the food she made. It was her joy to feed him well, so she secretly prepared the meal.

She hoped he would eat this.

Allen frowned looking at the steaming egg custard and bulgogi.

“You cooked again.”

“I heard you’ve been working too much lately… I’m worried since you don’t seem to be eating well.”

“You’re worried…”

Allen looked at her as the word ‘worried’ left her mouth, and his eyes noticeably shook.

Ronnie quickly said something to change the subject. She was afraid Allen would notice how much she cared if she looked into those eyes too long.

“…Of course, you probably aren’t happy to see me here… But since we’re still engaged, I thought I should do my duty.”

At the words ‘fiancé’s duty,’ Allen’s eyes, which had wavered, turned cold again.

“Hmph.”

He clicked his tongue lowly and let out a bitter sigh. It seemed that he was uncomfortable with the fiancé who always threatened to break off the engagement and told him not to interfere, but only used the fiancé title when it was convenient.

‘No wonder he’s upset.’

Even I thought that was unpleasant. But I still hoped that at least this way he wouldn’t skip meals.

“I’m going now. Take care and eat well.”

Just as Ronnie hurried to leave, Allen stopped her with a hoarse voice.

“…Let’s eat together.”