<h4>Chapter 224 – Luka’s Distress</h4>


    Luka’s Distress


    Pa hadn’t actually met Luka and Catherine before. She only arrived in Schrzard after the chaos in Un el Portan was dealt with. By that time, Luka and Catherine were already attending the Foundation Ceremony and hadn’te back to Schrzard ever since.


    But it was clear that two girls were here in this tavern. Sure, the food might be great, but definitely not the ce for students to hang out in. Pa knew that the Student Alliance usually gathered here. Combine that with one of the girls having bluish skin and their fine cloaks, it didn’t take long for Pa to realize who they were.


    「Who are you?」Catherine asked.


    She was eyeing Pa warily. The pub didn’t have waitresses when they left Schrzard.


    「I-I’m a member of Hikaru-sama’s party.」Pa replied.


    The two girls looked surprised.


    「Hikaru is here in Schrzard?」


    「H-He is. He arrived the day before yesterday. D-Did something happen? Isn’t the wedding this spring—」


    「Shh.」


    Catherine held her forefinger to her mouth and looked around. At that point, Pa realized that some kind of trouble urred.


    The Green Ogre n practically controlled Rumania. League Rumania—the eldest son of the head of the family, Billion Rumania, and recognized as the sessor to his father—was just about to finish his trip that spanned a few days.


    「We’re finally here.」


    A strong cold wind past by as League stepped out of the carriage. Jarazack was located on the northernmost part of Forestia. Even in the middle of the day, thick clouds covered the skies, making the surroundings darker than normal.


    「Wee! We’re d to have you!」


    The mansion’s door opened and dazzling light spilled from within. The one who greeted League was none other than Professor Mikhail.


    「It’s been a while, Sir. You don’t need to be so polite.」


    「I cannot do that. You’re here as a representative of the Green Ogre n. The king, Alexei von Jalzard Jarazack ordered me to give you the red-carpet treatment.」


    Mikhail put his arm around League and led him inside, closing the door behind him.


    Warm air filled the mansion. It felt like a thin sheet of ice stuck to League’s face melted. The walls were thick, the door soundproof. From the proper venttion, he could sense just how wise these people were, able to live in frigidnds.


    「Can you handle Jarazack’s cold weather, Sir League?」


    「I just have to think of my job as the n’s representative and I’ll be fine. I’d like to get things done immediately. Can I see Lord Alexei now?」


    「Of course. I’ll go call him now.」Mikhail said.「Please see Sir League to the reception room.」he ordered the servants.


    Their rtionship right now was not that of a professor and a student, but as two parties representing their own nation.


    Professor Mikhail sure is thorough. I have to focus.


    After having the Student Alliance and mass wedding approved at the Foundation Ceremony, League tried his best not to get in touch with the other members. He didn’t want his father finding out about his ns.


    Four months had passed since then, and he met many people in the capital Forestzard, inheriting his father’s personal connections and creating one himself.


    He didn’t realize it at first, but he was excited to finally see the other members of the Student Alliance. He even expected Mikhail to treat him like they were in the academy.


    I have people watching me right now.


    The servants apanying him worked for his father. Who knows what they’ll tell him? I can’t give them an opportunity.


    League was led to the reception room. Handing his coat to a servant, he sat down on the sofa. He then ordered the men apanying him to leave the room. They would most likely sort their luggage, since they nned to stay here for the night.


    He breathed a sigh. Finally alone...


    「League!」


    The door mmed open, causing League to jump to his feet.


    「Wh-What?!」


    「Long time no see, man! It feels like forever since we saw each other in the academy!」


    「Oh, Ivan and... ude?!」


    Ivan, Jarazack’s representative in the student alliance, and ude entered the room. ude Zahard Kirihal, who despite being a Spirit Elf, looked exactly like his age suggested. The man who was supposed to be married thising spring.


    「H-Hey there...」


    But his eyes were swollen, a clear sign that someone beat him up.


    「Wh-What happened to you?」


    「Well, you see...」Ivan seemed to hesitate.


    ude heaved a deep sigh.「Luka ran away, and then Lord Alexei beat me up. He said I should keep this look for a while.」


    「What in the world happened?」League asked, forgetting that he was here as Rumania’s representative.


    He quickly realized his mistake and felt relieved that his attendants weren’t in the room. ude looked at Ivan who only gave a shrug.


    「Actually...」


    「So in short, it became known that ude was as skilled as Alexei with the sword. After bing famous, he grew arrogant and neglected Luka.」Hikaru said, holding his right palm on his forehead.


    They were in Hikaru’s apartment. Pa came to the academy to pick them up, her face flushed, so Hikaru and Lavia returned in a hurry. They chose the apartment since the topic was not something that could be talked about in the open.


    「That idiot...」Hikaru let out a groan.


    Catherine visited Jarazack to attend to some family business. Also, she was a member of the Student Alliance. After seeing Luka all sad and alone, she learned about the situation and snapped. She then dragged Luka with her all the way to Schrzard.


    「But isn’t it dangerous for Luka to be out of Jarazack?」Lavia asked.「I thought the n was to let her stay there until right before the wedding.」


    「I know, but I don’t think any potential assassins were aware. They probably didn’t even notice my arrival and only learned about us leaving long after we left.」


    「Really?」


    「Jarazack is especially cold. People drink for long hours.」


    Jarazack’s alcohol consumption increased during winter season, mostly because of tradition, but it also helped the body ovee the cold. Hikaru nced at Luka. She waspletely silent, her eyes on the floor.


    「What do you think?」Hikaru asked Luka.「Do you really think getting away from ude was the right choice?」


    「.........」


    From Hikaru’s perspective, ude was notpletely in the wrong. For the most part, it was his fault, but it felt like Luka was acting differently than usual.


    「I... don’t know. I just didn’t expect for things to get this big...」she answered.


    「By that, you mean?」


    「There are ys about us, over a thousand couples applied for the wedding... Almost every day, women in Jarazack pester me, asking me questions. I don’t even have the time to think about the future...」


    「I see.」


    Hikaru nodded. Pre-nuptial doubts. The people around her and ude’s attitude made it worse. In that case...


    「Luka, I think there’s only one thing you can do.」


    「What’s that?」Luka stared back at Hikaru like a believer seeking salvation.


    「You should confront ude. Only he can solve your problems and he’s the one you’ll spend the rest of your life with.」


    「I—」


    「Let’s go to Jarazack immediately.」Hikaru said as he got up on his feet.