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THR 62
“Over there, there too!”
The three of them visited the eerily decorated haunted house after enjoying the play planned by the Department of Political Science and the Swordsmanship Department.
“I’ve never been to a haunted house like this before. They say it’s a specialty of the Autumn Festival?”
The haunted house, which matched the eerie autumn weather, was quite popular among the students.
Ayla said with a worried voice.
“I heard it’s quite scary, are you going to be okay, Peony?”
“Of course, I’m okay!”
Peony, who shouted bravely, led Ayla and Felix inside.
And the Academy’s haunted house was quite... realistically decorated.
The fact that it was made by remodeling the Academy’s old building contributed greatly.
Thick fog surrounded the building, and blurry shadows could be seen moving quickly beyond the windows.
Ayla narrowed her eyes and looked at Peony.
‘Peony seems like she’d be easily scared.’
She thought that maybe they wouldn’t even get a few steps in before running away.
And as a result, Ayla’s prediction was correct.
They had to give up halfway through, not even reaching the halfway point.
It was because the terrified Peony was screaming non-stop.
“Kyaaaa! Kyaa! Kyak!”
Peony’s face, who ran outside in just a few minutes, was pale.
She trembled as if she couldn’t understand.
“No, how did the students make that? I saw someone laughing while looking at me from behind the mirror?”
“It’s mirror Magic.”
“Ayla, weren’t you scared? Felix, what about you?”
“I felt a little creeped out.”
“I think I was a little scared too.”
Peony looked at the two with disbelieving eyes.
“It didn’t seem like you were scared at all?”
“Well, because I know it’s Magic?”
“Even if you know it’s fake, you’re usually scared!”
Peony looked at the two with a pale face.
Then, as if exhausted by something, she said to the two with a pale face.
“Sorry, I’m going to take a break. You two go see the fireworks first.”
It seemed like she couldn’t stand because she had no strength in her legs.
“Are you okay? I’ll just stay with you. Or we can not watch the fireworks and go rest first.”
“No, I’m definitely going to watch the fireworks. So go ahead and save a spot.”
Peony waved her hand and stared intently in one direction.
Then Lona, who had been watching her from afar, ran quickly.
Peony staggered away with her support.
Felix, seeing that her condition didn’t look good, shouted worriedly from behind.
“Don’t worry about the fireworks, Peony! Ayla and I will definitely save a good spot for you.”
At that moment, Peony narrowed her eyes and looked back at Felix.
‘Come to think of it, that guy... doesn’t seem to realize that he likes Ayla yet.’
Felix had feelings for Ayla. And Ayla felt the same way.
Only the two of them didn’t know that fact.
‘...Should I just make time for the two of them to be alone? I think I’ve had enough fun.’
After thinking for a while, Peony decided to sacrifice herself for the oblivious two, though it was a shame.
“Yeah, please do. But I think I’m a little tired right now.”
Peony coughed and continued.
“I might not come if I’m too tired while resting, so you two go ahead and watch.”
Leaving only those words, she quickly left with Lona.
Ayla, left alone with Felix, looked worriedly at the place where Peony had left.
“Peony’s under-eye circles were really dark, I wonder if she’s really okay?”
“She had reason to be tired. She kept running around without resting.”
“She didn’t look like the princess who’s famous for being weak.”
Ayla smiled contentedly.
It was because it was so nice to see Peony, who had regained her health, enjoying the festival.
In fact, even if she didn’t show it, Ayla had also enjoyed the day quite a bit.
It was nice to see the well-decorated plaza, and the clumsy street food made by the students was strangely delicious.
In addition, the fact that Felix’s usually expressionless face was subtly flushed also made Ayla feel good.
Perhaps all three of them felt the same way without saying it.
Felix muttered softly as they walked side by side.
“This is the first time I’ve properly enjoyed a festival like this.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I always used to lock myself in the training grounds on days like this. So this is what it feels like to spend time laughing and talking with someone.”
Ayla listened to him without bothering to ask why.
It was because she knew how terrible Felix’s Academy life had been so far.
Not only did he not have any friends to enjoy the festival with, but he must have been constantly receiving negative attention from people.
He was still receiving attention from people now, but it was a different kind of gaze than before.
Jealousy, envy, and admiration.
Felix shrugged his shoulders and said.
“I’m having this experience thanks to Ayla, thank you.”
“......”
“Meeting you was the best luck of my life.”
Ayla quietly shook her head.
“I didn’t do anything that great.”
“What are you talking about? Ayla saved my life. How amazing is that?”
Felix paused for a moment and looked at Ayla.
His light green eyes held a warm and earnest light.
As if what was in front of him was everything, looking only at her.
Ayla received that gaze and blankly looked up at his face.
Bang!
As if the fireworks had started, brilliant fireworks burst into the sky.
The fireworks, blooming like huge flowers, quickly engraved golden afterimages on their faces.
Thanks to that, it felt like Felix’s face, which was facing her, was shining brightly.
‘It’s nothing new, but he’s really handsome.’
Her heart started beating fast.
The fact that there was someone who told her that meeting her was the best luck, somehow made her want to cry.
Even before being kicked out of the Noble house, Ayla was an existence that was not welcomed anywhere.
The people of the collateral branches, except for the direct family, always whispered about her being a disgrace to the Blanche Noble house.
“Irene doesn’t know how much dishonorable talk she hears because of that precious daughter.”
“If only the two young masters were here, we wouldn’t have to hear such insults.”
So Ayla had always been anxious even before Rosia appeared.
She, who had not inherited any magical talent, looked like she didn’t belong to this Noble house no matter how you looked at it.
The anxiety that she might be abandoned by her family someday always tormented her.
Perhaps that’s why.
She often had nightmares of being exposed as a fake and being kicked out of the mansion.
‘But in the end, Rosia appeared as I imagined and I was kicked out of the house.’
But after the incident actually happened, she felt more at ease.
Because she realized that she was the real daughter of the Blanche Noble house.
Now she knew that the negative words of the people around her were not even worth listening to.
Soon after, Felix bowed his head to Ayla. He whispered softly in her ear.
“Thank you so much, Ayla.”
Ayla thought that his appearance at this moment was somehow unrealistic.
It was like she was having a midsummer night’s dream.
A happy dream that seemed like it would soon end.
Before she knew it, the last day of the festival had dawned.
Kadin was moving with a bored face from early in the morning.
He decided to be Rosia’s partner at this festival and escort her.
‘We’ll meet at the ball anyway, why bother me from the morning.’
Kadin let out a soft sigh.
If the Noble house elders hadn’t been nagging him, he wouldn’t have had to go see Rosia from this time.
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