Encounter
As Sheila was walking alone down the corridor leading to the library, Wilfrecht came from the other side with an escort knight.
As Wilfrecht passed by, he gave her a slight look. The promised day was still ahead.
Sheila was pretty convinced he knew her gender. Still, she wasn’t upset because there was no need to keep him quiet.
It must have been more than two months ago that Wilfrecht realized the secret of her gender, but he didn’t seem to have told anyone about it.
Sheila leaned against the open window as she watched his back. Then, she remembered the day she met him as Lady Sheena. His dainty figure was so beautiful that it would have been a shame if he hadn’t dressed up as a woman.
‘He was really lovely….. If possible, I would have liked to see him in a beautiful dress, not in a town girl outfit.’
As Sheila was immersed in thought while receiving the lukewarm breeze coming in through the window, an arm stretched out from behind her. She was so startled that her movements slowed down, and in an instant, she was embraced.
“Wha―”
“It’s been a long time, I’ve missed you. My dear Sheila-kun.”
It was a very familiar voice that whispered something near her ear. Sheila hadn’t seen his face in a month.
“Jornwerner-sensei…..”
When Sheila turned around, she was greeted with a gorgeous smile from up close. Blue-gray hair and azure eyes. The bewitching beauty that captivated those who saw it showed no sign of fading.
Sheila didn’t expect to be restrained by the window, but it seemed that his unpredictability, which threw everyone around him into confusion, was the same as ever. Moreover, the whispered greeting was in the ancient language.
‘I have a feeling that something would go wrong if I don’t reply to him correctly….’
“….. I didn’t really want to see you.”
Jornwerner raised his eyebrows in surprise, as if he didn’t expect Sheila to speak properly.
“While we couldn’t meet, did you remember me a little?”
“Oh, yes, I did. It was surprisingly helpful.”
It was still fresh in her memory that she referred to his atmosphere and facial expression when she confronted Count Gilgner.
“I have always thought of you. Without you, the world seems somehow faded.”
“It is a pity that there are f-fewer people to tease…. Haven’t it?”
Jornwerner’s smile slowly widened in response to Sheila’s reply. It looked like a smile for a lover reunited after a long time, but in reality, it was the same as a cat that tormented a mouse. She thought she pronounced it well, but Sheila realized her mistake.
“That’s too bad. It seems that supplementary lessons are still necessary twice a week.”
“Please give me a break….”
Her bad premonition was right on target.
The supplementary lessons were exempted during the training period. Sheila desperately wished that it would just disappear naturally.
…. Instead, it was safely revived.
As Sheila looked into the distance, feeling that the world wasn’t so sweet, her slightly longer hair was picked up. She felt something soft against the exposed nape of her neck, making her body stiffen.
“W-what are you doing?”
“You made a mistake, so I’m going to punish you.”
When Jornwerner spoke, a warm sigh hit the nape of her neck. In other words, this soft feeling was――his lips. The moment Sheila realized it, she felt creepy and gross all at once.
She quickly tried to twist her arm away as quickly as possible and distanced herself.
Sheila felt sorry that she was taking up his time for her studies, but she should be able to complain about this behavior of his.
She turned around briskly and glared at him sharply.
“If that’s your punishment, then you’re being fair to the other students, aren’t you?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not interested in anything other than your pretty little nape.”
“That’s the same as torture for me.”
“It’s cruel to compare it to torture.”
With a chuckle, Jornwerner laughed with extreme joy.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well as usual…. I was worried when I heard a rumor that you were involved in a kidnapping.”
It was tricky because his azure blue eyes even seemed to have a hint of affection in them. Sheila knew that his true feelings go much deeper and were carefully hidden.
“…. Truly concerned people don’t laugh like that.”
“I see. I’ll be careful next time.”
“I’ll be in trouble if there’s going to be another disaster.”
Sheila calmly pointed out to him, but he only laughed with increasing glee.
“――As expected, it’s because of you. Without this novel counterattack, the teasing didn’t feel worth it. I’m the one who’s in trouble because I’ve been forced into a body that can’t live without you.”
Sheila stared back at Jornwerner, who began to say strange things again.
“I don’t intend to make a novel counterattack, but if that’s the reason you’re teasing me, I’ll fix it immediately.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. You’re a natural at it. That’s why you’re interesting because there’s nothing to mend.”
“Natural? Isn’t natural, as it is….. In other words, isn’t a wild child like me just being looked down on in a roundabout way?”
While arguing in the middle of the hallway, Sheila was suddenly pulled by the arm.
“What are you doing?!”
It was a bloodthirsty-looking Leidyrune who pulled Sheila to him. He seemed to be quite impatient and had forgotten how to control his force. Her wrist hurt when he grabbed it.
“It hurts―”
“I’m sorry! Are you all right?”
Leidyrune pulled his hand away in panic. Jornwerner watched this with an amused look on his face.
“L-Leidyrune-senpai….”
As for Sheila, she was in a desperate situation. To think that Leidyrune, with whom she had been avoiding encounters for so long, would catch her in a place like this.
But for some reason, he began to flare up at Jornwerner.
“Jornwerner, you’re not doing something indecent again, are you?”
“You have poor speculation about other people’s reputations. I was simply conducting an unannounced test.”
Jornwerner was smiling as he was grabbed by the collar. Sheila wondered if it was okay to behave roughly toward him, a teacher.
Sheila was shaken and stiffened by the unusual occurrence of Leidyrune acting violently.
“I’m in charge of Sheila-kun’s supplementary lessons.”
“You’re his make-up teacher? So, it’s just the two of you…?”
“Ah. What did you just imagine? You’re such an indecent child.”
“You’re noisy.”
Somehow, it was an exchange so familiar that there was no room to interrupt. Were they more than a teacher and student?
“――More than a teacher-student relationship….”
Sheila couldn’t help but mutter to herself, perhaps because she had been influenced by Jornwerner.
The two people who had been listening attentively looked back at Sheila at the same time.
“That’s too disgusting to hear.”
“I wouldn’t want such a bad-looking child either. If I’m going to cross the line, I’d really like Sheila-kun to be my partner.”
“You’re finally showing your true colors.”
“I always live according to my instincts, though?”
“How many times do I have to tell you that it annoys the hell out of people!”
The argument only got more heated and showed no sign of ending. Was it okay for her to just run away from both of them?
Noticing Sheila, who was slowly starting to distance herself from the two, Leidyrune turned to look at her.
“Sheila Danau. That, I’d like to talk to you about―”
“Come on, let’s go, Jornwerner-sensei! We have to do a supplementary lesson right now!”
Sheila shouted to drown out Leidyrune’s voice. She pulled Jornwerner’s hand with a fake smile.
It was Leidyrune who hurriedly stopped Sheila.
“No! To be alone with a lawless man like him――”
“But it’s class time!”
Sheila’s loud voice reverberated through the hallway.
Leidyrune’s eyes widened at the rejection from the person with whom he had been so familiar with until now. His pale purple eyes eloquently said ‘why’.
….. He rarely changed his expression, but Sheila wondered how much thought was put into the emotions he revealed.
Her heart ached, but Sheila turned her back to escape his gaze. Leidyrune didn’t come after her.
