The reason for Noah’s actions was because of Meriel.

Finally, Noah’s incomprehensible actions began to make sense.

His reluctance to be alone together, his serious expression when seeing me despite laughing well otherwise, and his ambiguous expression when I tried to touch Noah to release magical power.

When Meriel was factored into all these reasons, it became the key that solved all the questions.

In a state where the hearts of the two were connected, if some commoner girl was by his side all day, it would be unsettling even for someone as beautiful as Meriel.

‘Yes, so that’s what it was…!’

As the problem that had been gnawing at my mind was solved, my vision suddenly cleared as if it had opened up.

The sky that had been unpleasantly sticky and resentful all day now revealed various subtle shades of blue, and the lush trees could be seen preparing to change colors.

And soon, motivation welled up.

“Then, shall we start the group assignment again?”

“…What?”

Even Ashton, who had been managing his expression well until now, looked pretty as he revealed a face that seemed to say he was dying.

Ashton, seeming to realize his mistake, quickly returned to his usual relaxed expression.

“Didn’t we completely move on to talking about Lord Beselion? Well, I’m happy to be able to spend more time with the lady.”

“If you really want to get close to me, adapt.”

“As you wish, lady.”

Ashton chuckled at Nigel’s firm voice. Then he carefully pulled Nigel’s hand that was firmly holding the pen and kissed the back of it, treating her like a lady of a noble family.

“Now you’re playing strange games.”

“Do you really think it’s just a game, lady?”

Ashton asked playfully as he released Nigel’s hand, which had deeply furrowed brows.

Nigel quickly took out a handkerchief and rubbed the part where Ashton’s lips had touched at a rapid pace.

Thud!

It was then.

A loud sound of books falling was heard.

“Noah, are you okay?”

At the same time, a pleasant female student’s voice was heard.

“Yes, I’m… fine.”

Noah, who had been in a daze, belatedly reached out to pick up the book.

“You look very pale. Are you running a fever?”

At this moment, the female student walked over lightly and placed her fair hand on Noah’s forehead.

“…?!”

Suddenly, the intense waves that Nigel thought had disappeared came rushing back.

And Nigel’s head was filled with Noah Beselion.

More precisely, whether Noah had received a Bluming Bell or not spun around in her head, tormenting Nigel terribly.

Not knowing the cause properly, she couldn’t understand why she was falling into this mood.

“Lady, you look quite unwell, are you alright?”

Nigel was about to nod to Ashton but then stopped the motion.

“…I think I’m broken somewhere.”

Ashton, watching the suffering Nigel, gave an ambiguous smile.

Ashton not only guessed but was certain of the reason, but unfortunately for Nigel, he had no intention of telling her the reason with his own mouth even in the future.

“Well, we’ll have to stop the group assignment here for today.”

Ashton quickly began to neatly organize Nigel’s belongings. The various piles of papers, writing utensils, and books that were scattered about quickly regained order.

Finally, he placed the blue teleport stone that was at the edge of the desk on Nigel’s palm and made her wrap her fingers around it.

“You should go now. It was fun, lady.”

Nigel nodded absent-mindedly. And soon disappeared with a blue light.

As soon as Nigel disappeared, a beast with a greedy look in its eyes that couldn’t have been imagined when the owner was present was glaring at Ashton as if it would devour him at any moment.

Nigel, who had woken up from sleep, left the dormitory with a damp and heavy body like a sky full of clouds.

If she stayed cooped up in the dormitory like this, she felt she would be helplessly consumed by unknown emotions again.

“…Ah, the book.”

The moment Nigel grabbed the doorknob, she remembered the book Ashton had given her.

Nigel picked up the book, tucked it under her arm, and only then left the dormitory.

As soon as she left the dormitory, a fresh breeze carrying the scent of the forest greeted Nigel.

The dark blue sky, as if painted evenly and beautifully with navy paint, was dotted with pale yellow stars and the moon.

Nigel settled on a bench near a brightly lit luminous stone streetlamp and opened the book.

『The Lady and the Maid』

It was a short novel about a noble sir foolishly wavering between honor and love, famous for its detailed descriptions and realistic ending, but it was a book that Nigel herself had never thought of opening even once.

That thought still hadn’t changed, so Nigel fidgeted with the old book cover for no reason and then opened the book with wide eyes.

Rustle. Rustle.

With the sound of insects as company, Nigel began to read the book.

The process and delicate emotional descriptions of why the noble sir was captivated by a mere shabbily dressed maid in front of a beautifully adorned lady were of no interest, so the book was quickly skimmed through.

Then, as Nigel’s eyes, which had been mechanically turning the pages, stopped at a certain passage, her eyes, which had been like rotten fish, regained life.

It was the part where the noble sir, after denying his feelings of liking the maid, finally admits it.

The noble sir, who had always been kind to his fiancée out of courtesy, becomes colder than the winter wind overnight, but still unable to completely let go of the honor and wealth of his fiancée’s family, he leaves room for his fiancée.

“…Isn’t this garbage?”

From this point on, Nigel became completely immersed in the contents of the book.

The noble sir persistently courts the maid, avoiding his fiancée’s eyes, but the loyal maid speaks of her loyalty to the fiancée and repeatedly refuses. But like small droplets of water piercing a rock, the maid’s heart begins to open little by little, and the two begin to fall in love in earnest.

However, there is no such thing as an eternal secret. The fiancée, who wakes up late at night after having a nightmare, goes out for a night walk. And by chance, she discovers her fiancé and the maid exchanging flowers and affectionately kissing each other’s cheeks in the garden.

The fiancée feels an inexplicable anger rising to her head at the intimate sight of the two. Her heart aches but there’s nothing wrong with her body, yet her emotions seem to engulf her whole body with an unpleasant feeling. The name of that emotion is…

“…Love?”

Thud.

Nigel closed the book almost simultaneously as she uttered the word.

And she covered her mouth, startled by the word her own lips had uttered.

…It couldn’t be.

The unnecessarily delicate and lengthy description of the fiancée’s emotions was exactly like Nigel’s state of mind over the past few days.

But such a filthy emotion couldn’t be love. Love was beautiful and noble, like the family members who cared for her. Love was a soft, warm emotion that cared for someone.

Objectively speaking, the emotion of getting angry for no reason whenever she saw someone, like herself, was closer to a mental illness than love.

‘Yes, this can’t be love.’

This must surely be a different form of emotion.

Nigel closed her eyes tightly and composed herself. Her heart, which had been raging like an untamed beast, gradually calmed down as time passed.

When she opened her eyes slowly after her mind had settled, a particularly bright star caught Nigel’s eye.

Nigel began to walk as if enchanted, following the direction of that star.

Come to think of it, the priestess she met at the Northern Temple had also met her after getting lost in the temple and walking aimlessly following a shining star.

Nigel enjoyed the star’s guidance with a faint smile.

And at the end of it was Noah Beselion.

‘What is he doing here at this late hour?’

Just as Nigel was about to open her mouth, she saw another person hidden behind Noah’s body.

“…!”

It was a lovely female student with light aqua-colored hair and round eyes.

Nigel unconsciously quickly hid her body behind a building.

And she peeked out only with her eyes and watched them.

As they were conversing for a while, the female student gave a shy smile and then held out her hand that she had been hiding behind her back all along. In it was a Bluming Bell that hadn’t been delivered yet.

The Bluming Bell, receiving moonlight in the dimly lit surroundings, shone even more beautifully.

Noah and the female student were also receiving the love of the moonlight. Their blue hair sparkled like precious gems under the warm light.

It was so different from her own hair that absorbed all kinds of light.

She wanted to see what expression Noah was making, but all she could see was his tall blue-silver hair, not his eyes, nose, or mouth.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart seemed to be completely broken, beating so loudly that she worried if this sound would be heard outside.

Surely Noah wouldn’t smile and accept a Bluming Bell, leaving Meriel behind? But didn’t the noble sir in the story also have his heart stolen in an instant and turn away? No, even if they became partners, what does it matter to me?

Numerous uncoordinated thoughts flew around in her head, pricking at Nigel.

Unable to bear seeing how the situation was unfolding, Nigel slumped down against the wall and tightly closed her eyes.

She wished this time would quickly pass, that when she opened her eyes it would be the next day.

“…Nigel?”

At that moment, someone called Nigel’s name.