Chapter 23: Tangled Story III (part 2)

Dean Ender’s question was actually something I’d been asking myself for a long time.

Why am I working so hard for her?

What do I hope to gain by pushing through fear and enduring pain?

And yet, my answer had always remained the same.

“…Do you know what Miss Reina’s nickname is?”

I decided it was time to share with Dean Ender the answer I had been turning over in my mind.

“I know she’s called the Ice Princess.”

“That nickname came about because she never shows her emotions and always carries herself with an icy demeanor. Watching how strict she is with herself… honestly, it’s admirable.”

Reina and I are the same age.

But if I count my memories from my previous life in the original world, Reina would actually be much younger than me.

And yet, she’s always been far more mature.

From the moment we first met, she behaved like a true aristocrat. No matter how heavy the burden placed upon her, she never once complained. She believed it was the duty of those born into nobility.

“A world, where people who work so hard can’t even be happy. That’s a tragic reality.”

That was the conclusion I’d come to after getting to know Reina and learning about her world.

***

“I asked the Dean for permission to speak with you alone,” I admitted, “He agreed.”

“You two tricked me?” Reina’s cold gaze pierced through me.

There were only the two of us in the room, but the atmosphere was every bit as frosty as her nickname implied.

“It’s been a long time since I met my childhood friend, but last time we parted on bad terms. I wanted to make things right.”

“Even if you wrap it up nicely, this meeting is tinged with politics. I doubt those are the actions of true friends.”

“It doesn’t matter how we got here. The truth is, we are friends.”

“Three long years have passed. Relationships change.”

Reina didn’t waver.

Still, I had no intention of giving up.

“I’m not trying to talk about anything difficult. I just want to know how you’ve been.”

“Didn’t I already tell you enough yesterday?”

“It’s been so long since we saw each other, and our conversation ends in less than an hour?”

“Maybe.”

The clock showed it was already eight.

Classes were scheduled to start at nine, and Dean Ender had instructed us to finish by 8:50 at the latest.

But time ticked by without progress.

Reina wasn’t falling for any of my subtle questioning; she just kept circling the same topics, as if stalling.

Still, I didn’t want to prolong this any further.

“…Alright. I give up. I’ll tell you the truth.”

“There’s nothing I want to hear. Just send it in a letter—”

“Don’t lie.”

I cut her off firmly.

“If you truly wanted to leave, you wouldn’t have even sat down. You would’ve turned around the moment you saw me. But you didn’t. That means there’s something you want to say—or hear.”

“That’s because of Dean Ender…”

“Don’t deflect, Reina. I’m not trying to force a confession anymore.”

I took a deep breath and spoke clearly.

“What happened to Anna, Reina?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Reina’s expression stiffened. Anyone could see she was shaken.

“I mean exactly what I said. Your personal maid, Anna Margret. Where is she now?”

“She’s… at our family estate, of course. Arcana doesn’t allow personal servants on campus.”

“That’s not true. I heard from His Highness. When you met last month, Anna wasn’t with you.”

“At that time…”

Reina couldn’t finish her sentence. Her right arm trembled as she clutched it tightly with her left hand.

“What happened to her?”

“Anna… quit. She resigned as my maid and left House Rogelia.”

“That’s a lie.”

Others might not know, but I do.

I know Anna better than anyone.

She was the one who quietly passed on what I’d done at Heros’ Market, solely because it was for Reina.

Anna would never leave Reina without a reason. She swore to protect her—no matter what.

“That’s the truth. Anna—”

“—Lie.”

“She really—”

“—Lie.”

“She really…!!”

Reina screamed. 

A sound I had never heard from her before echoed through the room.

“She disappeared without a word! Three years ago, she left only a letter behind! And I never heard from her again!”

“She left a letter?”

“You’re all liars! She said we’d be together forever! I believed her—I thought she was like a sister. I thought she was family!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks before she even noticed.

“You’re the same, Ike.”

What happened?

“You said you’d help me! That you’d come running if I was ever in trouble! You said you wouldn’t leave me alone! That was a promise! But there were no letters, no visits—not even to the ball I attended! None of you kept your promises!”

“…What?”

“Liars. Liars. Liars!”

Reina sobbed, clutching her head in both hands.

“Tell me, Ike. Why did Anna leave me? Why did you leave me alone… why…?”

Faced with her raw, heartfelt anguish—I had no words.