༺ Quick-witted Reversal Club (3) ༻
Lately, my satisfaction with my working environment had soared significantly.
Now that the romance competition was over, I no longer had to endure the frustrating antics of the five idiots. It also greatly reduced my mental fatigue. It felt something like how a melodramatic TV show I begrudgingly watched had finally ended.
With the five’s mutual rivalry and desperate struggles gone, our club had become remarkably calm and peaceful. When those at the top were quiet, we, the subordinates, were happy.
“Today’s food is delicious.”
“Indeed, as expected from the club’s tenth-time leader. Your real skills are outstanding.”
“Thank you for your acknowledgment…”
This peaceful conversation warmed my heart. Yes, this is what the academy is all about. This is what a club should be. Living in constant fear of an imminent explosion was no way to experience the academy. This peacefulness is its true essence.
Of course, I didn’t join the academy just to have fun, but I believe I had every right to enjoy this peace, however late it may be. This was especially true when I thought about the school life I missed out on.
‘Everyone has a happy ending.’
A satisfied smile crept onto my face. It was a good ending for me, for Villar, for Louise, and even for those five idiots.
Had they been heartbroken over unrequited love, it might’ve been different. But seeing them enjoy themselves like this proved that having them all get rejected was the right path after all.
“You should have done this earlier.”
“Right? It’s a bit annoying.”
“Are we going to have an 11th club leader soon?”
“I made a mistake, so please let it go.”
Hearing the club members chatting around the cookies brought a smile to my face.
‘It worked like a charm.’
Louise’s record of nine consecutive impeachments was enough to shake her with humiliation and shame. That was probably why she put all her effort into making these cookies, and it seemed she had finally won the members’ approval.
Being impeached every other day was too much. That’s why even the term ‘1 Louise’ became a unit of measurement in the club.
“When is the counteroffensive?”
“Seven Louises later.”
It meant roughly 14 days later. When she heard this while kneading dough, Louise trembled so much that it was worrying to watch.
However, the people who said it seemed nonchalant.
Of course, it was just a joke, so it didn’t lead to any hard feelings. Outside the club, they seemed to talk quite normally.
If the royalty used ‘1 Louise’ outside the club, other students might start using it too. Just the thought of it made me shudder. Maybe Louise would even end up dropping out in tears.
‘But that’s unlikely.’
They were already platonic friends; there was no point in pushing her away.
It wasn’t just my imagination. The club members did seem closer now than before. It was quite surprising how the phrase ‘let’s remain as good friends’ really became true.
“Oppa, over here.”
I even wondered if the original story was actually more of a friendship fantasy than a romance fantasy after seeing how they quickly became close after reconciling. Then, a cookie suddenly appeared before my eyes.
Perhaps recognizing me as a regular who always enjoyed her cookies, Louise even personally delivered them. It was touching.
“Thank you.”
I smiled slightly and took the cookie offered by Louise.
The other idiots had also taken a liking to the cookies, so the amount I got to eat had decreased a bit. Maybe that was why each cookie now felt more precious. It was kind of bittersweet, as if my little hidden gem of a spot had become a well-known eatery.
“You’ve made these really well.”
After chewing and swallowing a few bites, I patted Louise on the shoulder.
The taste had changed compared to before, but that was probably because she had been adapting the cookies to the other members’ tastes.
***
I looked at hyung’s face. He looked as weary as usual. He seemed to smile sometimes, but it was honestly hard to tell unless you looked closely.
I also saw Louise’s face. Anyone could see the affection dripping from her eyes, her face flushed with emotion. It was unrecognizable compared to how she reacted like a cat with its tail raised whenever we teased her.
Hmm.
‘Is it winter already?’
Why are my sides so cold?
I absentmindedly rubbed my side, but nothing changed. The winter seemed to be a fickle fairy visiting not this world but my heart alone.
‘Then, is my brain frozen, too?’
Since I’m even making these kinds of strange analogies, I guess my mind has also lost its edge. But it’s not my fault. Blaming this situation on me would be too harsh.
Given the precedent set by Lady Marghetta, I expected hyung to be oblivious to Louise’s feelings. I even braced myself to watch Louise break down in front of him.
It was bittersweet, but what could I do? As the rejected one, I can’t exactly tell Louise to restrain herself in front of me.
But this was too much.
‘How can he be so oblivious?’
Even a passing dog would notice. If I asked that dog about their relationship, it would probably wag its tail to signal her obvious affection. Louise’s gaze towards him was that obvious.
Yet hyung, despite receiving such an obvious look, showed no response. If he was pretending not to notice, then he should be taught a lesson; but if he genuinely didn’t notice it, then his obliviousness was worrisome to the point that I would be concerned for both Lady Marghetta and Louise.
‘Poor Louise.’
If hyung is like this, then Louise should be more assertive. The courage she had to reject all five of us should be enough for anything. A simple love confession should be easy for her.
However, Louise said nothing. Not for 10 Louises (the ‘1 Louise’ unit that was mentioned before), and not even for 20 days. To be precise, she couldn’t.
‘I guess she’s still waiting for the lady.’
The first, or perhaps the only wife hyung would have, was practically confirmed to be a noble lady. The problem was that even she hadn’t officially established a relationship with hyung yet. Expressing direct affection for him in such a situation could incur the lady’s wrath.
That would drastically lower Louise’s chances of becoming his wife. Even though a husband could take a new wife on his own accord, being cautious was necessary when the first wife belonged to a ducal family.
…Although honestly, given hyung’s catastrophic lack of awareness, he might just go ahead regardless of incurring anyone’s anger.
Anyway, I just hope there will be some progress in their relationship. Whether it leads to something or ends in failure, having the result would at least be more comfortable than this torturous uncertainty. What was the point of being rejected if this was all I was going to see?
“Are you looking at your future sister-in-law?”
“Shut up.”
I instinctively responded to Rutis, who was whispering and nudging me. I was already frustrated, so his comments were rather annoying.
Rutis chuckled at my response, then followed my gaze to where hyung and Louise were.
“This is frustrating.”
“You’re right.”
I nodded in agreement. Hyung’s obliviousness was frustrating, especially since he was receiving the kind of looks we longed for. If he was my younger brother, I would have already smacked him a few times.
“How did he survive with such obliviousness?”
I sympathized with Rutis. As a high-ranking official, he must have navigated all kinds of political situations. How had he even managed to survive this long with such poor perception?
“We probably looked like that to him.”
“Probably.”
Rutis’s sharp comment took my breath away for a moment, but I managed to agree.
How I was looking at hyung now must be exactly how he felt in the past.
‘Did I really act like that?’
It’s horrifying. I’m ashamed of my past self.
Even worse, I wasn’t oblivious to affection; I was just frustrated by the lack of progress in the relationship. I was no better than hyung when it came to that.
At least the other four were in the same boat with me, which was a bit reassuring. It’s good to know I wasn’t the only idiot. Shame was lessened when it was shared, after all.
“Let’s just wait and see.”
I was surprised by Rutis’s unexpected suggestion. I thought that he, being the impulsive prince he was, would rush to help a friend’s romance.
As if reading my mind, Rutis chuckled and continued.
“Help from five love failure experts doesn’t seem particularly effective.”
I couldn’t argue with his logic.
***
I suppose I was finally able to relax after nearly three weeks of peace.
“Carl, is something wrong?”
If that wasn’t the case, then I wouldn’t suddenly be asked this.
Marghetta cautiously brought it up after observing me, making me flinch. It seemed like I’d inadvertently shown that something was on my mind. Naturally, Marghetta would be curious.
But I couldn’t just say to Marghetta, ‘Louise rejected all five of the club members, so I’m feeling comfortable.’ This was especially true since one of those five included Erich. It would be sad if I’d have the image of someone who rejoiced in the tragedy of his brother.
“It’s nothing much.”
“Really?”
Seeing Marghetta’s downcast look made me realize that having her look so down was even sadder.
I made a mistake. I resolved to be honest about everything no matter how trivial, so hiding anything was a problem, wasn’t it?
“It’s just club matters. The members have become closer.”
So, I decided to be honest.
“The members?”
“Yes.”
Marghetta looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected that.
That was understandably so.
Since Marghetta was close to me, she was occasionally involved with the pastry club and knew that it was a gathering of love-struck individuals. The idea of rivals in unrequited love becoming friends must be puzzling. She might even wonder if Louise ended up with five husbands.
“…I see.”
After I explained that it was the opposite, Marghetta nodded blankly. It was a miraculous story of a baron’s daughter firmly rejecting several princes and a saint candidate. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t possessed into this world, either.
“I was worried the club might break up over it, but they actually became more united. They’re as close as if they’ve been friends for over ten years now.”
“…”
“Mar?”
Marghetta, who had been silent, suddenly stood up and sat beside me.
“Carl.”
Then, she took my hand with a serious expression.
“I will always be by your side.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
“I’ll be closer to you than anyone else.”
“Then I’m even more grateful.”
Her serious face contrasted with the cuteness of her words.
***
Carl was happy about the members getting closer, but the reality was different.
While they might have become closer as individuals, romantically speaking, it was a completely finished situation.
‘Did they suddenly clear the air between them?’
There must be a reason for this sudden change.
Then, it struck me—excluding myself, Lady Louise was the closest female to Carl in the academy.
…Hmm.
I think I know now.
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