They were huddled close together and seemed to be talking about something.
I instinctively inched closer, hiding behind a tree, straining my ears to hear their conversation.
But their voices were so quiet that I only heard vague murmurs-- even though I was only around 2 meters away from them.
An extremely uncomfortable feeling rose in my chest, more painful and sore than ever before.
What were they talking about?!
I wanted to scream and shout at the two people, asking them how they could be so disgraceful as nobility, doing something so obviously scandalous.
And why did they have to be together precisely at the time that I happened to pass by?
Why did that girl have such familiar black hair?
Why must Lancera be the one that's there?
I believed you were caught up in some important matter… yet you're here fooling around with a man?!
Why?
The more I thought, the more scrambled and nonsensical my thoughts were, and for a moment, I thought I was surely insane.
Why am I feeling so upset?
Just because Lancera showed herself to be a clingy and infatuated fangirl in front of me, I got attached and believed that she would always put me first?
From the very start, I don't even know WHY she liked me in the first place.
Her affection was very sudden, and now, her disappearance was just as unexpected.
Suddenly, a terrible but possible thought implanted itself in my mind.
Did she get bored of you? That devil in my inner-conscious whispered.
No!
No, of course not! I have everything she could ever wish for: my beauty, intelligence, kindness, and wealth… even the royal prince of Loen wouldn't dare say that he felt no admiration for me… how could she ever get tired of me?!
No…
A wave of queasiness hit me as I realized that I might not be able to see that Violet-eyed girl in my daily life, be showered with her sincere and naïve praises, nor receiver her love anymore.
There was a warm and wet sensation on my cheeks, and with trembling hands, I reached up and touched the source.
Eh?
Why… Why am I crying?
I hurriedly wiped my tears with the back of my sleeve, forgetting about how unladylike it was.
It was no use.
Before I could let out a sob, I quickly peeked at the clearing.
The male companion had left, leaving the black haired girl to stand alone.
Letting out a breath that I didn't know I was holding, I carefully stepped away from the tree, preparing to leave unnoticed.
Crack!
I froze in place, not daring to move further.
Shit.
F**k.
Damn you, god.
Damn you.
As I expected, before I could take back my curses, I felt footsteps approaching behind me.
"Miss Asura?"
Eh? This voice...
I turned around, forgetting about my puffy eyes.
Damn you, God.
Damn you and your super unfluffy beard.
T-T-Those eyes... they... weren't purple.