After Linking the Villainess and Male Lead (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 17
The sun had just set, and the sunset viewed from here was quite splendid.
“Sitting here like this after graduation feels strange.”
Evelyn spoke in a voice soaked with sentiment.
“Yeah. Maybe it’s because we’ve returned to a place full of memories—it gives me a peculiar feeling.”
I replied, gazing blankly at the sky dyed crimson.
“Why did you come to see the professor?”
“To get a letter of recommendation.”
“A letter of recommendation?”
“Yeah. I’m preparing to study abroad, and I need one to enter the academy I’m aiming for, so I asked the professor.”
“Wow, Evelyn, you’re going abroad to study?”
“Mm-hmm. I decided to go because I want to study more.”
“That’s impressive.”
I smiled, looking at her with admiration.
“It’s not that impressive. There’s just nothing much for me to do here, so I’m going.”
“Still, the fact that you even had that thought is truly remarkable.”
Hearing she was going abroad made me think, as expected, this was so like Evelyn.
Her proactive attitude—planning her own life and living by her own will—was deeply admirable.
“Then, where are you going?”
“I think I’ll go to the Yuspheon Empire.”
“Yuspheon? You mean the empire in the east of the continent?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I heard it’s really far from here… When do you leave?”
“If nothing unexpected happens, I plan to leave within this week.”
“This week? That’s soon. How long do you plan to stay?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I probably won’t be able to come back for a few years.”
“A few years?”
“Yeah. Since I’m going anyway, I want to finish all the studies I’ve wanted to do, and that’ll take quite a bit of time.”
“Oh… I see.”
Though we hadn’t seen each other often even before, the thought that physical distance would now keep us apart for a long while brought a strong sense of regret.
“It’s really disappointing.”
“Right? What about you, Helena? Have you ever thought about studying more?”
“Me? Hmm… I’m not sure. I’ve never seriously considered going abroad to study.”
Truth be told, I had thought about it.
Many times, in fact.
I hadn’t exactly neglected my studies at the academy.
Especially since I loved tending gardens, I always lost track of time whenever studying plants—it was that enjoyable.
I wanted to witness every plant in the world and learn more about them in depth.
But the hefty cost of studying abroad was an enormous burden for someone like me, who was barely managing to uphold the family name.
Besides, back then, I was emotionally dependent on Adelia and couldn’t even imagine being apart from her.
“Oh, maybe it’s a bit difficult because of your engagement?”
“Engagement?”
“You know, with Duke Lavellion. Didn’t he say he’d wait until you came of age?”
“Oh, yeah. Well… that’s true.”
Caught off guard by the word “engagement” from Evelyn, I hastily mumbled a vague reply.
“I see. It would’ve been a great opportunity if you went with me.”
“A great opportunity?”
“I heard from Father that the empire is implementing a support policy this time to encourage international students.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So people who couldn’t study abroad before due to financial issues might finally get their chance.”
“…I see.”
“If you’re even slightly considering it, think it over. Venturing into a new world is far more wonderful than you’d imagine.”
Evelyn spoke with an expression as if lost in a blissful dream.
Watching her, I almost felt I was sharing that very feeling.
“Oh, didn’t you study abroad when you were younger too?”
“Yeah. But I was young then and lacked experience, so I couldn’t fully pursue what I truly wanted. Also, the Waymon Kingdom I went to was, after all, a small country, so
there were limits to what I could learn there.”
I slowly nodded to show I understood her words.
“But the Yuspheon Empire is different. I’ve heard their academy offers diverse and fascinating subjects you couldn’t learn not just in the Waymon Kingdom, but even here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I truly believe it’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting to study abroad. You’d regret missing it for a long time.”
“I see.”
I… want to go too.
As her words convinced me, my mind gradually filled with the desire to seize that wonderful opportunity.
“Thank you, Evelyn, for sharing this with me.”
“I’m glad if it helped. I hope we can see each other again soon.”
With that, Evelyn beamed a bright, cheerful smile.
“Yeah, me too.”
While talking with Evelyn, the crimson sky had completely turned dark.
“Oh, right—I forgot I have a dinner appointment. I should go now.”
“Oh, really? Then hurry along.”
“Yeah. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Evelyn.”
Even after Evelyn left, I remained seated, lost deep in thought for a long while.
‘A great opportunity.’
Could I really seize that chance?
Would I be able to adapt well if I went all the way to a distant foreign land, far beyond our own country?
Though my desire to go was stronger than anyone else’s, I was undeniably nervous too.
After all, it meant embarking on an enormous adventure—leaving the place I’d lived in my whole life.
And I’d have to do it alone.
When it actually came time to decide, I couldn’t help but hesitate.
What would be the right thing for me to do?
Adelia, if you were here, what would you say to me in this dilemma?
Just as my wavering heart sought Adelia, it hit me.
“Oh, right.”
Suddenly, I remembered the note I’d found earlier.
I quickly pulled a small slip of paper from my pocket.
It was likely filled with the kind of casual chatter or jokes we’d exchanged back then—
something written just for fun, without much deeper meaning.
Yet somehow, I felt this note might hold the answer I needed.
Thinking that, I slowly unfolded the paper.
It was filled with Adelia’s familiar handwriting.
To Helena, who’s sleeping right before me now.
Hello, Helena.
When will you read this note?
At twenty? Twenty-five? Or perhaps when we’re both old grandmothers?
Maybe you’ll forget about it and never open it, or it might disappear into someone else’s hands.
Still, I firmly believe—we’ll always remain friends, no matter what.
Actually, maybe by then, we won’t just be friends—we might even be family.
Family?
Could she be referring to marriage with Kaern?
‘She’s probably just saying it casually.’
I tried to brush it off as something she’d written without much thought and kept reading.
Well, that part depends on what my brother decides, but the important thing is—you and I will always be friends.
I’ll never let anyone make you sad or hurt you.
Not even if it’s my own brother.
So don’t forget—
I’ll always be on your side, and I’ll always cheer for you, wherever you are and whatever you do.
And there’s something else I’ve always wanted to say.
Helena, thank you for becoming my friend.
After finishing Adelia’s note, a sense of fullness filled my heart, and a smile formed naturally on my lips.
‘Adelia.’
Just as I’d expected.
I’d believed Adelia would give me the answer to my dilemma.
‘I’ll think about it a bit more.’
I still had some time left to consider what the best choice truly was.
Having reached that conclusion after much deliberation, I rose from the bench and headed toward the carriage to return home.
Perhaps because my mind had grown calm, my steps felt light.
All the way home, my thoughts were once again wholly occupied by the idea of studying abroad.
So I easily brushed aside the mention of marriage written in the note.
[This is the timeline separator]Time passed endlessly.
Two full weeks had already gone by since he left the capital, yet I’d received no word from Kaern.
‘I need to tell him soon.’
After meeting Evelyn and reading Adelia’s note, I spent the entire day lost in thought.
Finally, I made my decision, and now it was time to act on it.
I had to speak to Kaern before anyone else, so I intended to go straight to the ducal manor as soon as I heard he’d returned.
‘When will he come back?’
While waiting for his return, an unexpected visitor suddenly arrived.
“Miss, Lord Lucas Aiker requests to see you.”
“Who? Lucas Aiker?”
“Yes. Should I show him to the reception room?”
“Oh, yeah. Please do.”
Why did Lucas Aiker come to see me?
Could it be…?
Feeling both uneasy and puzzled—perhaps this was somehow connected to what had happened at the banquet—I left my study and headed downstairs to the reception room.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
If there is a person checking these comments. Can you please add a word/letter count to the bottom. Also sometimes the comments don’t stay within the chapter you read but throughout the whole book, please fix that glitch. Another, per book- hour limited to how many comments can earn cookies – it’s better you write that somewhere or give a notification to the commenter about that. The notification about the 3/3 free reads glitch too, sometimes it says 3/1,1/3,1/1 or not work. The cookies glitch sometimes too, id have 10 but when I try to unlock chapter it keeps saying I have none. Love yalls work!
If there is a person checking these comments. Can you please add a word/letter count to the bottom. Also sometimes the comments don’t stay within the chapter you read but throughout the whole book, please fix that glitch. Another, per book- hour limited to how many comments can earn cookies – it’s better you write that somewhere or give a notification to the commenter about that. The notification about the 3/3 free reads glitch too, sometimes it says 3/1,1/3,1/1 or not work. The cookies glitch sometimes too, id have 10 but when I try to unlock chapter it keeps saying I have none. Love yalls work!
Thanks for your feedback—we really appreciate it. We’ll review your suggestions to improve the comment feature so it works more smoothly and conveniently. We’ll also look into the issues you mentioned and fix them as soon as possible.