Night had fallen completely, and the last trace of sunset on the horizon was swallowed by a deep indigo blue.
A cold crescent moon quietly climbed into the sky, casting a hazy silver glow.
In the single room of Silvia's dormitory within the student dorms, the lights were off.
In the dimness, only the moonlight outside the window and the faint glow of distant streetlamps barely outlined the vague contours of the furniture.
She was not sitting at her desk reviewing her lessons or offering pre-bedtime prayers as she usually did.
She simply sat in silence on the chair by the window, her back to the door and her face toward the window, remaining motionless like a delicate porcelain doll.
Her long pink hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering with a soft glow under the moonlight.
Those pink eyes, usually so clear and bright, were out of focus now, aimlessly gazing at the courtyard blanketed by the night sky and the silhouettes of the academy buildings farther off.
That afternoon in the Central Courtyard, she had confirmed two things.
First, Senior Greg really did like Victoria; perhaps he had been so good to her previously just so she could serve as a matchmaker between the two of them.
Second, Silvia knew there was a possibility she could come between them. When she tried to make intimate physical contact with Greg, he hadn't resisted; he had only cared about Victoria's gaze. In other words, as long as Victoria didn't find out, Senior Greg was willing to engage in intimate contact with her.
These two realizations intertwined in her heart like ice and fire, bringing an indefinable sour bittersweetness alongside a sliver of... secret excitement.
However, at the thought of the scene that afternoon when she grabbed Greg's hand and pressed it against her chest to leave a palm print—
Silvia felt a wave of scalding heat surge up her cheeks, setting her ears and neck ablaze.
Unable to maintain her contemplative posture any longer, she buried her burning cheeks into her crossed arms, curling up on the chair like a boiled shrimp as her slender shoulders trembled slightly from sheer embarrassment.
“Ahhh—! Honestly! Where on earth did I... did I get the courage back then to do something so... so shameless?!”
Her muffled voice emerged from her arms, filled with regret and unbelievable bashfulness.
Driven at the time by an intense urge to confirm and possess, her actions had been almost uncontrollable.
Now that she had calmed down and reflected, every single frame made her want to dig a hole and crawl inside, never to face Senior Greg again.
Yet amid this overwhelming embarrassment, a darker, more selfish, and even more alluring thought silently poked its head out from the most hidden corner of her heart, like a poisonous mushroom stealthily sprouting from the soil:
What if...
What if Victoria wasn't around...?
Then... would Senior Greg... belong to me alone?
The moment this thought surfaced, Silvia shuddered violently, as if stabbed by something sharp.
An immense sense of guilt and self-condemnation surged up like an icy tide, instantly suppressing the dangerous spark.
“No! I can't! How could I... how could I have such a terrible thought?!”
She jerked her head up and shook it frantically, her long pink hair fluttering messily over her shoulders, her pink eyes filled with panic and self-loathing.
“Victoria... she's my childhood friend who grew up with me, my best and most important friend in the academy! How could I harbor such... such thoughts just out of my own selfishness?!”
“Besides... Victoria and Senior Greg are the ones who like each other... I'm the latecomer, the third wheel coming between them...”
“So being able to occasionally touch Senior Greg like this, to feel his warmth, to receive a bit of his special attention and gentleness from time to time... I should already be satisfied and grateful. I shouldn't ask for any more... I can't...”
She warned herself over and over, trying to use reason and morality to build a dam that could hold back the restless dark tide in her heart.
However, once certain thoughts were born, they took on a life of their own.
The more she suppressed it, the more twisted it grew in her subconscious.
She couldn't even stop herself from fantasizing:
If Victoria weren't around...
Could Senior Greg and I walk hand in hand out in the open along sun-dappled, tree-lined paths?
Could we kiss passionately in a secluded corner without worrying about anyone seeing us?
Could we watch fireworks together at festival celebrations, making vows meant only for each other beneath the brilliant lights?
Could... in the end, I wear a spotless white wedding gown and, surrounded by everyone's blessings, walk toward him as he stands before the altar, smiling gently at me?
Scene after scene, as beautiful as illustrations from a fairy tale, played out uncontrollably in her mind.
Every detail was so crisp, so sweet, so captivating.
Everything in the fantasy was so perfect—so perfect she nearly drowned in that bubble of illusory happiness.
“Huh? Silvia? Why are the lights off in your room? I thought you'd fallen asleep.”
Along with the familiar voice, the light switch clicked on.
The soft light of the ceiling lamp instantly dispersed all the dim darkness, while piercing like a sharp sword straight through the fantasy world Silvia had been immersed in.
“Ah—!”
Startled by the sudden illumination and voice, Silvia let out a soft cry and practically bounced out of her chair.
She turned around in fluster, forcing a smile to her face that looked no different from usual, and turned toward the door.
Victoria stood there, one hand still resting on the light switch. Her long gray hair was slightly messy, and her face bore a sense of relief and excitement after completing a major task.
“V-Victoria? Y-You came back so fast?”
Silvia's voice still held an imperceptible quiver, but she concealed it well:
“That thing... you were going to do, is it already done?”
“Yep! All taken care of!”
Victoria shut the door and walked over to Silvia in a few quick steps, unable to hide her happiness, her tone light and cheerful:
“That guy Greg really didn't lie to me. Although the way that shopkeeper looked at me was... well, a bit weird and gave me goosebumps, I never imagined a beat-up glove with a few small gems could actually sell for a whole 40 gold coins at her shop! It was a total jackpot! Now we finally have money to buy some magic conduits or alchemy items!”
She excitedly shared her haul, her eyes sparkling, clearly thrilled with this unexpected windfall.
“I-Is that so... That's really... great then.”
Silvia curved her eyes as usual, displaying a gentle smile as she softly chimed in.
However, only she knew that the instant Victoria uttered the name “Greg” so naturally, her heart felt as if an invisible hand had lightly gripped it, giving rise to a faint sting and... displeasure.
Because of that, whatever Victoria enthusiastically said afterward about the shop details or plans for the gold coins went completely unabsorbed.
Those words reached her ears blurred as if filtered through frosted glass, leaving no trace in her mind.
After talking for a while, Victoria also sensed something slightly off with her close friend.
Pausing her narrative, her gray eyes carefully scrutinized Silvia before she asked with concern:
“Silvia, what's wrong? You look a bit pale... Have you not fully recovered yet? Are you feeling unwell?”
Only then did Silvia snap out of it, realizing she had just zoned out.
She waved her hands hurriedly, a bit of panic flashing across her face, but quickly composed herself and followed Victoria's lead, hastily changing the subject:
“N-No... it's nothing. I just suddenly remembered... before we parted this afternoon, Senior Greg seemed to mention... asking me to see if the three of us... want to find time to explore the second layer of the Academy Dungeon together?”
“Explore the second layer? With that guy Greg?”
Hearing that, Victoria's expression changed noticeably, as expected.
She scratched her slightly messy gray hair, her expression clearly showing she was engaged in an internal struggle.
Finally, she pursed her lips and said:
“Although I don't really want to travel with that guy... well, whatever. I really do owe him a favor, so I guess there's no helping it...”
She sighed, looking as though she had made a decision involving a great sacrifice.
“Fine, fine. I'll reluctantly agree to it, if only to pay back the favor and... well, see if we can find some more valuable gems or something.”
After saying that, she looked at Silvia again, her tone growing much more serious:
“But Silvia, don't force yourself this time. You just went through such a terrifying ordeal, and your body and mind need time to recover. If you feel you still need rest, it's totally okay—just tell me directly. I'll explain it clearly to Greg, and he won't force you!”
Feeling the genuine concern in her friend's words, the dark feelings that had just risen in Silvia's heart dissolved rapidly, replaced by a wave of guilt that nearly overwhelmed her.
Victoria... she always cares about me so unconditionally...
And yet I... because of Senior Greg, I harbored such shameful thoughts toward her...
I'm awful...
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, suppressing the turmoil back into the depths of her heart.
When she opened them again, her pink eyes had regained their usual clarity and softness, and she offered Victoria a smile even firmer than before.
“Mhm, I'm okay, Victoria.”
She paused, her voice soft and gentle:
“So... let's the three of us go together.”
Rate on N.U.
