Chapter 341: Worries in love…



Lorraine had been having a hard time balancing both her academy life and her personal life.

Or, more specifically-her love life.

It was becoming a tedious pattern at this point.

“I’m sorry, Lorraine, but we need to break up…”

The words came suddenly, catching her off guard.

She blinked, her expression still half-lidded from the grogginess of the early morning.

“… What’s this all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“It’s not you… it’s me. I just… found someone else.”

A pause.

“H-huh? But we-“

“I’m sorry. I hope you find someone better in the future.”

And with that, the man turned on his heel and ran-literally ran-away from her.

Lorraine caught a glimpse of his face before he disappeared, and despite the tears welling up in his eyes, there was something else there.

Relief.

Lorraine exhaled sharply through her nose, her once melancholic expression shifting into something else entirely.

“Tsk. Well, there goes a decent catch. His face wasn’t that bad either… what a bummer.” The sun had barely risen, and yet here she was, already dealing with this bullshit.

“If he was going to break up with me, couldn’t he have at least done it somewhere more private?” she muttered to herself, leaning her back against the hard wall of the dormitory. Although she could sense no one was around you never knew when it came to this noble infested academy… rumors would come flying in and out just because of a single glance. The whole situation was just… exhausting.

“I was actually starting to like him a little, too~” she mused, though there wasn’t much emotion behind her words.

Not that it mattered. Breakups like this were nothing new to Lorraine. She had been through plenty already.

A few guys here, a few guys there-it was all the same in the end.

‘Did he finally notice I wasn’t really interested?’

She hummed thoughtfully before letting out a soft chuckle.

Well, it didn’t matter either way.

It wasn’t like she had dated him for love in the first place.

His wealth had been only his most appealing trait.

‘In the end, boys will be boys, huh…?’ she thought with amusement, closing her eyes as the morning breeze ruffled her hair.

‘They can’t hold out for long when they don’t get what they want.’

Out of all the boys she had dated so far, the guy who had just left was actually the one who held out the longest.

That was surprising, considering they had never even gone past first base in their relationship.

But with all things considered, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

Lorraine wasn’t exactly heartbroken.

Dating had always been a pastime for her a source of amusement and a way to relieve stress amidst her busy life.

It had never been anything more than that.

Besides, she had bigger concerns.

Her schedule had been exhausting lately, packed with practical exams, endless coursework, and the looming deadline of their required thesis for graduation.

With all that piling up, this breakup was nothing more than an inconvenience at best.

“Now that my day is ruined, I definitely need some fresh relief-” she sighed dramatically, stretching her arms above her head.

Fortunately, she already had a perfect source of entertainment-someone who could wash away her mild frustration and provide her with a much-needed distraction.

Alice Holloway.

Her one and only best friend in the entire academy.

She should be in the cafeteria right about now, waiting for her.

They had already agreed to meet up last morning, after all.

Lorraine smirked at the thought.

Alice was always so serious about everything, reacting to even the smallest things with the most priceless expressions.

Considering how innocent she was when it came to romance, Lorraine was already looking forward to watching her cute best friend squirm as she detailed the ins and outs of her current

dating life.

‘I should dress up~’

Since there were no classes for the fourth years today, she could take her time indulging in

Alice’s reactions.

And she intended to enjoy every second of it.

….

Arriving at the cafeteria, Lorraine was surprised to see that Alice wasn’t there yet.

That was odd.

Alice was the meticulous type-someone who always made a point to arrive early if possible. It was unusual for her to be late.

But Lorraine didn’t dwell on it for long, assuming that Alice had either been held up or had

come earlier and left before she arrived.

For now, it wasn’t worth overthinking.

The cafeteria had a decent crowd, mostly first-years who had just finished their practical

exams.

With their classes scheduled to resume next week, many of them were taking the opportunity to gather in small groups, chatting and unwinding after what was surely an exhausting ordeal.

While the place wasn’t packed, it was lively enough for the early morning.

As Lorraine walked in, a few of the younger students stole glances at her, their eyes catching the brooch on her uniform that marked her as a senior.

She was used to it-fourth-years didn’t often hang around the lower-class cafeterias, after

all.

But she ignored their looks and made her way to an empty table, claiming it as her spot.

With a soft sigh, she leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm.

Her eyes briefly scanned the room, half-wondering if she should entertain herself by striking

up a conversation with some of the younger students.

A little harmless teasing, perhaps? It could be fun-watching the first-years fumble under

the attention of an older student.

But she shook her head at the thought.

Younger guys weren’t really her thing.

‘She sure is taking her time… Did something happen?’

She glanced at the entrance again, feeling a small pang of impatience.

She had some group meetings later regarding their thesis, so she wanted to savor some alone

time with Alice while she still could.

But if her best friend didn’t show up soon, she’d have to move on with her day without her.

And that would be a real shame.

Academic discussions and her love life weren’t the only things Lorraine wanted to talk to Alice

about.

In truth, she was deeply concerned about her best friend’s behavior.

Ever since the semester had started-no, even before that-Alice had been acting strange.

There were times she would suddenly disappear in the middle of their outings, vanishing without explanation.

Other times, she would show up in front of Lorraine looking completely exhausted, dark circles under her golden eyes, as if she hadn’t gotten a single hour of sleep.

It was obvious that Alice was going through something-something serious.

Something dangerous.

Or maybe it was both.

And yet, no matter how many times Lorraine tried to pry, Alice would always brush it off,

dodging the topic with her usual bright smile and cheerful voice.

She never gave her a real answer.

Lorraine wasn’t planning on forcing Alice to tell her anything.

She respected her best friend’s privacy.

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.

As her best friend, the least she could do was listen-to be there for her. Ensuring Alice’s mental well-being was probably the only real thing she could do for her.

After all, Alice was set to become a future Archmage-one of the strongest mages of their

time. And Lorraine?

She was just a simple woman who also happens to know how to handle a bit of the sword.

If Alice’s problems were magical in nature, then there was nothing Lorraine could do to help.

If they ever became physical, perhaps even political then perhaps she could do something.

“Hey, look! It’s Senior Alice!”

“Wow!” “She’s so pretty!”

“I want to marry her…”

“Ha, look at the mirror first before talking!”

“What did you say?!” Lorraine heard the murmurs ripple through the cafeteria, and with mild curiosity, she turned

toward the entrance.

Sure enough, there was Alice-her ever-enthusiastic best friend-walking toward her with that dazzling smile she always wore.

“Lorraine!” Alice called out with a cheerful wave.

Lorraine lifted her hand slightly in response, watching as Alice exchanged good mornings

with the first-years who had greeted her.

She wasn’t surprised by their reaction.

The moment Alice entered a room, she commanded attention without even trying.

Lorraine could see it in the way some of the first-year boys looked at her-eyes wide, filled

with admiration, maybe even infatuation.

They looked like eager little puppies, completely enamored.

Lorraine chuckled, amused.

But at the same time, she felt a tiny, irrational pang of jealousy. Alice could charm people

effortlessly, without doing anything at all.

She doubted Alice even noticed.

Unaware of her best friend’s thoughts, Alice took a seat across from Lorraine, still smiling.

“Sorry for being late,” she said, brushing a strand of pink hair behind her ear. “Something suddenly came up, so-“

“It’s fine. I just got here myself.”

“Is that so? I’m glad… Phew~” Alice let out a small breath, relaxing into her chair. “Ah, have

you ordered already? If you want, I can pay for you!”

Lorraine shook her head. “No, not yet, but the chef should’ve seen me come in, so she’s

probably already making our usual. And as for paying? Didn’t I tell you? This one’s, my treat.”

Alice blinked, a slight hesitance crossing her face. “Ah, I-I see…” Lorraine narrowed her eyes, picking up on the small shift in Alice’s demeanor.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look a little disappointed. Do you want to order something

else? I can signal the chef right now-“

“Ah, no, no! It’s not like that!” Alice waved her hands frantically, flustered. “It’s just… I’m a

little full right now, so I don’t really plan to eat anything.”

Lorraine frowned slightly. Alice? Not eating? That wasn’t like her at all.

Lorraine leaned forward slightly; her curiosity piqued. “Did something happen?”

“N-No, not really! It’s just that I ended up making something earlier this morning…” Alice

trailed off, looking away for a split second.

Lorraine raised an eyebrow. “Wow, you actually know how to cook?” “H-Hey! I’m not that bad!” Alice puffed up her cheeks in protest. “I can make something

simple, you know!”

Lorraine watched her with mild amusement, but something about Alice’s reaction didn’t sit

right. It felt like she was lying-just a little. But since Alice wasn’t outright avoiding eye contact or acting too suspiciously, Lorraine decided to let it slide.

“Hm, since you don’t plan on eating anything, I guess I’ll just eat your portion too,” Lorraine teased, resting her chin on her hand.

“E-Eh?! No, I’d feel bad if you did that! I can actually eat a bit more-“

“Don’t worry about it,” Lorraine waved her off with a smirk. “I’ve been training intensely recently, so I’m actually a bit hungrier than usual.”

“I-Is that so…” Alice murmured, though she still looked slightly uneasy. Lorraine tilted her head, watching her closely. “Since you’re not here for food, then I take it

you’re just here to listen to the wonderful tales of your best friend’s life?”

Alice fidgeted in her seat. “I-I’m sorry-“

“I’m just kidding, you know?” Lorraine let out a soft sigh, resting her elbow on the table.

“Haah-anyway, are you okay now?”

Alice blinked, tilting her head. “Hm?”

“Don’t look at me like that.” Lorraine shot her a knowing look. “I know you’ve been keeping

things to yourself lately. You’ve been acting weird, disappearing at random times, showing up looking completely exhausted… You don’t have to tell me everything, but if you’re in some kind of trouble, you do know I’m here to help, right?”

Alice chuckled lightly at Lorraine’s concern, her golden eyes soft with appreciation. “Fufu~ don’t worry. All my problems have been resolved at the moment.”

“At the moment?” Lorraine narrowed her eyes. “You mean it might continue?” “N-No! No, it’s nothing like that!” Alice flailed her hands slightly, laughing awkwardly. “It’s

just that… yeah! It’s currently under fixing status! Mm-hmm! That’s right!”

Lorraine sighed again, leaning back. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” Alice could only smile sheepishly in response.

Lorraine knew that forcing Alice to talk about it would be a bad idea, so she decided to ignore

the matter for now.

Besides, this was Alice she was thinking about-if she really put her mind to it, Lorraine was

sure she’d find a way to fix whatever was troubling her.

“Well, I won’t press you any further…” Lorraine sighed, folding her arms. “But if it ever gets

too much, don’t hesitate to call on me, okay?”

Alice’s expression softened, her golden eyes glimmering with warmth. “Yes… thank you,

Lorraine.”

There it was again. That innocent, almost childlike sincerity that made Alice Alice. Lorraine found herself smiling at her best friend’s cute demeanor.

Deep down, she knew that Alice would probably handle everything alone, just as she always

did.

But at least the fact that she had considered relying on her-just a little-was enough for

now.

And besides, looking at Alice now… something was different.

Instead of the usual tired face she had worn all semester, instead of the fatigue hidden behind

her ever-present smile, Alice looked fine.

No-more than fine.

She looked natural, happy… No.

Even happier than usual.

Brighter.

It was almost as if the sun had cast its light around her, illuminating her with an aura of

warmth and joy. Something about her was distinctly different, yet Lorraine couldn’t quite put it into words.

The way Alice subtly smiled to herself, the way she moved with an effortless grace, even the

way she talked-it was as if her usually clumsy, innocent friend had suddenly matured….?

Not in a dramatic way.

Not in a way that was immediately obvious.

But in a way that felt… strange.

Lorraine frowned slightly, tapping her fingers against the table.

What exactly happened to her?

Shaking her head, Lorraine pushed away her useless thoughts.

She had been looking forward to this conversation, eager to share her latest stories and see

Alice’s reaction.

But just as she was about to speak, Alice beat her to it.

“You know, Lorraine… you have a lot of experience with guys, right?”

“Hm?” Lorraine blinked, tilting her head slightly.

The question caught her completely off guard-it wasn’t something she had ever expected

Alice to ask.

“Well… yeah, I’d say I have a fair bit of experience with them. Why?”

Alice’s cheeks suddenly flushed bright red, and she averted her gaze, looking anywhere but

directly at Lorraine.

“T-The thing is… I wanted to ask you for some advice regarding relationships.”

“… Relationships?” Lorraine repeated, now thoroughly intrigued. “A-Ah, yes! Uhm what I’m about to ask you, well-i-it’s all just hypothetical questions,

alright?! S-So don’t get too excited or assume anything weird!”

Alice stammered, waving her hands frantically as if trying to dispel any possible

misunderstandings.

Lorraine narrowed her eyes playfully. “Go on…”

Alice took a deep breath, fidgeting with her fingers. “If a girl has feelings for a guy… and then,

out of nowhere, that guy asks her out-no, actually, if he suddenly asks for her hand in

marriage… S-Should she accept it or not?”

11

…………

Lorraine’s mind short-circuited.

Her suspicions skyrocketed, alarms blaring in her head, but she forced herself to remain calm.

Don’t show it on your face. Don’t scare her off. Breathe.

Keeping a neutral expression, she slowly leaned back in her chair and smiled as naturally as

she could.

“Well, obviously, she should deny it,” Lorraine said, her voice steady despite the storm of thoughts raging in her head. “Even if she’s in love with him, skipping all the steps and jumping straight to marriage is a huge red flag. That’s just common sense, you know?” She studied Alice carefully, searching for any signs, any clues as to why she was suddenly asking something like this.

And sure enough, Alice’s flustered expression only deepened, her lips twitching as she

struggled to respond.

Lorraine’s suspicions doubled.

“H-Hmm~ I-I see…” Alice stammered, fidgeting with her fingers. “So then, if the girl

suddenly accepts such a proposal… w-with a k-kiss… d-do you think she made the wrong choice?”

Lorraine’s eyes widened slightly as she caught the way Alice was still trying to avoid her gaze. “Naturally…” she answered, keeping her voice calm despite the rising tension in her chest.

“I-I see…” Alice muttered under her breath, her expression unreadable. Lorraine felt her heart pound with worry. Don’t tell me… this girl… A bad premonition crept up

her spine. She did not just accept someone’s proposal, right?!

The thought alone made Lorraine’s mind whirl in disbelief, but before she could say

anything, Alice suddenly looked up and met her eyes head-on.

Lorraine flinched slightly at the unexpected boldness. Despite the embarrassed flush on Alice’s face, there was a rare kind of determination shining through her gaze. “L-Lorraine…” Alice hesitated, her voice softer now but still carrying a hint of nervousness.

“D-Do you have any advice on how to maintain a healthy and long-lasting relationship?”

Lorraine blinked.

That was… surprisingly normal.

But before she could relax, Alice quickly followed up with-

“If possible… some advice on how to not get jealous when the guy inadvertently gives

attention to his other… harem members?”

||

11

Lorraine’s mind stopped.

Everything she had just heard―relationship, advice, marriage, harem-felt like an

incomprehensible jumble of words that shouldn’t have come from the mouth of the Alice.

Her ever-so-innocent best friend.

Her sweet, naive, hopelessly clueless best friend.

Lorraine stared at her, her thoughts a mess.

‘What the hell did this girl do?!’

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