After Linking the Villainess and Male Lead (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 34
“Lady Rosentia.”
“Marquess Warren.”
We greeted each other by name.
“It’s been a while since we last met.”
Blake beamed and opened the conversation first.
“Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
His words from our last parting suddenly came to mind, so I deliberately lifted the corners of my mouth even wider into a smile.
“Did you come to the academy on business?”
“Yes. I came for a personal matter.”
“A personal matter… Could it be regarding the study-abroad application?”
“Yes.”
I nodded slightly in reply.
“So you’re planning to go abroad for studies.”
“Yes. I thought it would be a good opportunity, so I applied. What brings Marquess Warren to the academy?”
I wasn’t particularly curious about him.
Still, since he’d asked me first about my recent life, it would’ve been impolite for me to end the conversation abruptly.
So, feeling rather resigned, I asked him a question.
“I also had some business to attend to, so I dropped by briefly.”
“I see.”
“Do you happen to know something?”
“Hm?”
“That I’m the overall manager of this study-abroad program.”
“Oh….”
I hadn’t known that at all.
Surprised, I found myself opening my mouth and asking him back,
“You, Marquess?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Blake gave me a peculiar smile as he looked at me.
“As you may know, a substantial budget has been allocated to this study-abroad initiative, so you needn’t worry much about whether you’ll be accepted.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Unless there’s a disqualifying factor, you’ll certainly be selected.”
“Thank you. I truly appreciate your reassurance.”
Relieved by his positive words, I didn’t forget to express my gratitude.
“But it’s rather unexpected to hear you’re going abroad for studies.”
“Hm?”
“I assumed you’d soon be marrying the Duke of Lavellion.”
“Well….”
I paused briefly to gather my thoughts before speaking.
“I told him I still have much I wish to learn, so I’d like to go abroad for studies.”
“You did?”
“Yes. And the Duke told me to go ahead and take the trip without worrying.”
“I see.”
Blake’s eyes glinted as if he’d just spotted something interesting.
“But won’t that make you uneasy?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Surely even you know that every woman in the Loiyden Empire covets the Duke of Lavellion.”
“Oh….”
Understanding his implication, I replied in agreement.
“I know.”
“And yet you’re still going abroad?”
“Yes. Because I’m not uneasy at all.”
“Not uneasy….”
Indeed, I had absolutely no reason to feel uneasy.
After all, I’d never once thought I’d actually claimed Kaern Lavellion for myself.
“It seems your relationship is even closer than I imagined.”
Blake appeared to have completely misunderstood my meaning.
However, I didn’t feel the need to correct him and chose to say nothing further.
Truthfully, I still had no desire to spend prolonged time speaking with him.
“I should be going now—I have an urgent matter to attend to.”
Thus, I invented a nonexistent errand and lied.
“Oh, I see. I suppose I’ve been thoughtlessly keeping you here, Lady.”
“Not at all.”
“Still….”
Blake paused mid-sentence and hesitated for a moment.
“I feel… you seem a bit more at ease with me than last time.”
That couldn’t be.
Contrary to his words, just as before—and even today—I still found him uncomfortable to be around.
Yet I neither affirmed nor denied his statement; I simply offered a faint smile.
“Isn’t that so?”
“Oh—no, not at all. I feel the same way.”
As if he’d somehow perceived my true feelings, Blake prompted me with another question, and before I realized it, I’d agreed.
“Then perhaps before you depart for your studies, could you spare me some time?”
“Time?”
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to have a proper conversation with you, and if you’d like, I could offer some advice regarding your studies abroad.”
“Oh, yes. If my schedule permits, I’ll come see you.”
I had no intention of meeting Blake alone, but there was no need to reject his goodwill outright.
So I concluded my answer by saying I’d do so if circumstances allowed.
“Then I’ll await your message. Since you mentioned an urgent matter, you’d best go quickly.”
“Yes. I should be off, then.”
“Take care on your way.”
After exchanging farewells with Blake, I left the academy, got into my carriage, and returned home.
[This is the timeline separator]While waiting for the results of the study-abroad application, I decided to visit the orphanage for the first time in a long while.
If I were accepted, I might not see the children for a very long time.
Adelia began supporting the orphanage a few years after the Late Duke and Duchess of Lavellion passed away.
It was because she now understood the sorrow and pain of the children—something she hadn’t known before—and wanted to help them.
I’d always accompanied Adelia whenever she visited the orphanage, but today was the first time I came alone.
I loaded small gifts for the children into the carriage and headed toward the orphanage.
“Helena Unnie!”
As soon as I stepped down from the carriage upon arriving at the orphanage, the children rushed to greet me.
“Wooow, Unnie!”
“Unnie!”
I made eye contact with each child and greeted them individually.
“Have you been well, Catherine?”
“Yeah… No, actually. I haven’t been well.”
“Oh? Why not? Did something happen?”
“Well… you and the other unnie haven’t come to see Catherine.”
Her adorable complaint drew an involuntary smile to my lips.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been too busy to visit.”
“But what about Adelia Unnie?”
“Adelia Unnie really isn’t here.”
“Didn’t Adelia Nuna come?”
The children peered into the carriage and even checked behind it, searching for Adelia.
“Adelia couldn’t come today.”
“Why? Is she very busy?”
“Yes. She’s very busy—and also, Adelia Unnie married the person she loves, so she’s living far away over there now.”
“Unnie got married?”
Mary, the oldest among the orphanage children, asked me.
“Yes. She married and now lives somewhere that takes more than a week’s travel from here.”
“Whoa, a whole week? That really is far!”
Chris, a year younger than Mary, widened his eyes in astonishment.
“Yes, it really is far.”
“Hiiing… then Adelia Unnie won’t come to see Catherine anymore?”
Catherine’s eyes instantly welled up, and her voice trembled as she fought back tears.
“No. She won’t be able to visit as often as before, but she promised me she’ll definitely come see you whenever she’s in the capital.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
In truth, I hadn’t made such a promise with Adelia, but it was easy enough to fabricate one.
After chatting with the children for a while, one of the teachers approached me.
“Welcome, Lady Helena.”
“Hello, Teacher. Is the Director not here today?”
“The Director had a personal errand and went out.”
“I see. Ah—I’ve brought some small gifts for the children, nothing special. May I give them out?”
“No matter what it is, the children will be delighted with any gift.”
“A gift? Unnie, do I have one too?”
Catherine, who’d been clinging to my waist, looked up at me and joined the conversation.
“Of course you do, Catherine. Everyone, gather over here!”
Holding a gift in each hand, I called the children together loudly.
Then, one by one, I handed each child a present carefully chosen to suit their preferences and gently patted their heads.
Having known them for so long, I already knew exactly what each child needed or wanted.
“Wow, Unnie—how did you know my shoes were all worn out? Hehe, I ruined them playing soccer with the others a while ago!”
After giving Jimmy a pair of sneakers, he grinned brightly and ran around happily, thanking me repeatedly.
The other children also seemed thrilled with their gifts.
After distributing all the presents, I went with the children to the small hill in front of the orphanage.
The hillside was covered in wildflowers—perfect for making flower rings or bracelets.
“Now, what should we make today?”
“I’ll make a flower ring!”
“I’ll make a flower bracelet!”
“Then I’ll make a super, super big flower necklace!”
“Alright. Once you’re finished, bring it to me to show me, okay?”
“Yes!”
At once, the children scattered in all directions.
They sat on the ground and began carefully weaving flowers into shapes.
“Helena Unnie!”
As I walked around checking on the children, Catherine poked her head out and called to me.
“What is it, Catherine?”
“I can’t do it. Unnie, help me.”
Catherine held a handful of flowers in her small hands and asked for my assistance.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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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!
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