Rebecca-senpai’s engagement announcement.
I heard the story from Amelia, and it seems to go like this.
First, the announcement will be made right after the summer break. The fiancé is the eldest son of the Bernstein family, a noble family second only to three great noble families among the upper class.
Evan Bernstein.
Amelia mentioned that she has had acquaintance with him in the past and said that he has considerable skill in sorcery as well as a great personality.
At just twenty-five years old, he is a platinum-level sorcerer. He is also exceptionally handsome, and in terms of lineage, magical prowess, appearance, and character, he does not fall short at all when it comes to his engagement with Rebecca-senpai.
I’ve also heard from my master that excellent sorcerers tend to marry young.
This is important in terms of passing on genes, meaning the talent for sorcery, and it seems that most nobles marry and have children by their twenties.
I am not inherently against bloodline supremacy.
The issue is that balance is crucial in everything.
It is nonsensical to lean solely on bloodlines, effort, or environment. I believe that being a sorcerer is established on an exquisite balance of all these factors.
Well, this is just something I picked up from my master.
Even so, I’ve heard that it is not uncommon for noble daughters to get engaged early… but Amelia believes that getting engaged in one’s teens is simply too early.
The current mainstream seems to be that early engagements occur at the earliest in one’s early twenties.
It appears that the trend of early marriage has diminished compared to the past, and the average age for marriage is gradually decreasing. I’m not sure why Amelia knows so much about this, but it must be common knowledge for a noble lady.
“Is that so? So that’s how it is…”
“I was surprised too. I never expected Rebecca-senpai to be engaged.”
In a classroom where not many people had arrived yet, Amelia and I were discussing this. Afterward, more students from our class started entering, and sure enough, the topic of conversation was… the engagement of Rebecca-senpai.
“Were there any rumors about this before?”
“Hmm… I don’t think it was. I haven’t even heard such talk.”
“I see…”
Lost in my deep thoughts.
Back then, just before the summer break ended, I went to a book fair with Rebecca-senpai.
At that time, I thought she would continue her artistic activities. However, Rebecca-senpai, with a hint of melancholy, said that this would be her last time…
I can still vividly remember her expression from that moment.
On that day, she smiled more than I had ever seen before. Her entire presence radiated joy.
Senpai expressed how happy she was that people were buying her creations with such a smile.
In stark contrast to that moment, she parted from me in a way that seemed to reject my words.
Surely, the meaning of her words back then was something like that.
She probably wanted to say that she could no longer continue such activities now that she was getting engaged… but still, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“Ray? What’s wrong?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Huh? The bell is about to ring… Ray—”
I didn’t hear the end of Amelia’s voice as I dashed out of the classroom.
First, I tried to go to Senpai’s classroom, but she wasn’t there. When I asked her classmates inside, they said she hadn’t arrived yet.
Next, I ran to the gardening club’s room. But she wasn’t there either.
I went to all the places I could think of. But there was no sign of Rebecca-senpai.
Perhaps she hasn’t come to school today.
That thought crossed my mind, but I decided to head to that last place.
I climbed the stairs.
It was a staircase leading to the rooftop. I quickly ran up to it and roughly opened the door.
In that moment, what caught my eye was Rebecca-senpai, holding her flowing hair down while appearing lost in thought.
Usually, she smiles with a kind expression, but now her face was completely expressionless.
I had seen many different expressions on Rebecca-senpai’s face until now. But this one truly seemed somewhat lonely.
“Senpai. You were here.”
“Is that you, Ray-san…?”
Just as we exchanged those words, the chime rang.
The morning homeroom must have already started. I had never been late even once, but today, it couldn’t be helped.
“Ray-san, the chime has rung, you know?”
“But what about you, Rebecca-senpai? Aren’t you going back?”
“Sometimes, there are days when I just want to skip like this.”
“…I see.”
I slowly walked over and stood beside her.
“….”
“….”
We silently stared at the pure white clouds drifting in this blue sky.
It was already September. However, the heat was still present. They call it the lingering summer heat, but it was hot enough that it felt no different from summer.
A breeze blew.
It was just right, cooling down my overheated body. After about one or two minutes, Rebecca-senpai spoke first.
“You heard, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
Without facing each other, we continued talking while facing forward.
“I was planning to make an official announcement after the summer break, so I thought the rumors would have already spread.”
“…That’s right. Right now, everyone is buzzing about the rumors of your engagement.”
“I see. So, why did you come to see me, Ray-san?”
As Rebecca-senpai turned to face me, I also faced her. Her expression was serious, unlike usual.
Her jet-black eyes pierced through me.
I felt as if there was a certain resolve residing within them.
“Senpai, do you remember the last day of summer vacation?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Did those words mean this?”
“Yes. I am already engaged. I have no time to get lost in such things.”
“Such things…? But you looked really happy.”
“It’s fine. I am Rebecca Bradley, the eldest daughter of one of the three great noble families. I have always been prepared for this.”
“Isn’t it a bit too early for that?”
“That’s true. But it’s just a matter of a few years. It’s not a problem.”
“….”
Her responses felt almost mechanical, as if she had prepared answers to my questions in advance.
There was no will or emotion in those answers.
It was hard to believe that such words were coming from Rebecca-senpai’s mouth… but it was the truth.
I pondered once more.
In the end, humans can never truly understand others.
We arbitrarily label others as a certain type of person and define them as we wish. The true feelings inside a person can only be understood by themselves.
Even so, I couldn’t believe that the smile from that day was a lie.
So, I decided to continue the conversation just a little longer.
“Even if you’re engaged, and even if you get married and have children, can’t you continue doing what you love as a hobby?”
“…That is not permitted.”
“Why not?”
“Because I am the eldest daughter of the three great noble families.”
“Does that mean you have to be strict?”
“That’s right. The three great noble families lead the world of sorcerers. The blood that flows through me is from the esteemed Bradley family. It is only natural to pass on that lineage to future generations.”
“…I see. I apologize for being presumptuous. Once again, congratulations on your engagement, Senpai.”
I bowed my head at that moment.
I sincerely apologized and offered my congratulations.
However, I still wasn’t completely convinced.
The reason I came here wasn’t just to ask her to continue that hobby.
My true purpose was simply out of concern.
I felt that Rebecca-senpai was in a precarious situation…
Amelia had been uncertain for a long time. She didn’t know which path to take. So I told her that I would walk with her.
On the other hand, Rebecca-senpai had no doubts or confusion.
As the eldest daughter of one of the three great noble families, she was a remarkable person just trying to fulfill her role. I genuinely respect her.
If that were all, I wouldn’t have come to see her.
The reason I approached her was that I couldn’t shake the image from my mind.
Her expression from that day.
Because it seemed like she was asking for help.
Help me.
I felt as if those words had been spoken. Though I couldn’t hear them.
But I felt that her lips had certainly etched those words…
It might be a misremembering. It was just a fleeting moment, a brief occurrence.
Perhaps it was something I had conjured up in my imagination.
But no matter what, it was burned into my mind and wouldn’t leave.
Just as I was thinking this, she began to speak in her usual gentle voice.
“Ray-san, please lift your head. It’s not something you need to worry about so much, you know? Fufu… Ray-san, you are quite a serious person, aren’t you?”
When I raised my head, the usual Rebecca-senpai was there.
She didn’t have the tense atmosphere from earlier. Instead, she was smiling at me just like always.
“Ray-san, even though I’m engaged, I will still graduate from this academy properly. We have the cultural festival in the second semester as well. Our student council will do our best to run it, so please enjoy your first cultural festival!”
“Oh! I’m looking forward to it! I can’t wait for the cultural festival!”
“Yes! Well then, I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“Yes. Likewise, thank you, senpai.”
As Rebecca-senpai reached out for a handshake, I gently took her hand as if to envelop it.
Her smiling face was incredibly charming.
Simply beautiful.
However, in stark contrast to that beautiful smile, Rebecca-senpai’s hand was as cold as ice… and it was not just my imagination.
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