Chapter 74. < 31. A Handsome Man's Suffering (3) >
Before long, it was lunchtime. Tania made her way to the meeting place.
Usually, she would arrive about 5 minutes earlier than the appointed time, but today she didn't want to do that.
If she did, she felt like it would give the impression that she was desperately eager to see Lumian.
That said, as the one who had proposed this meal appointment, she couldn't be late.
So she adjusted her walking pace to arrive at the clock tower at exactly 12:30.
'Wait, why am I going to such lengths?'
That question briefly crossed her mind, but the thought vanished completely the moment she saw Lumian waving from over there.
Reflexively putting on a confident and dignified senior's expression, she spoke.
"You came early?"
"I just arrived too."
"That's a relief."
"Shall we go then? Juma is fine, right?"
"Not bad."
Having quickly decided on their destination, the two walked side by side through the campus grounds.
Seeing them, people whispered among themselves.
"Did you see those two?"
"Yeah. No joke."
"Totally a handsome couple."
"They're wearing knight cadet uniforms... Are knight cadets normally that good-looking?"
"I don't know. Anyway, they look good together."
'What was that just now?'
Tania's face grew slightly flushed.
It was because she had enhanced her hearing. She was flustered by people's reactions, mistaking her and Lumian for lovers.
It was strange.
She was Tania Eloise, who managed various connections for her future.
Naturally, there were quite a few times she had meals or walks alone with male connections. Each time, she had attracted similar misunderstandings due to her appearance.
But back then, hearing such words hadn't shaken her at all.
She had thought of it as an inevitable happening in the process of doing business.
But now was different.
Her heart was pounding, and the perfect expression she had prepared before meeting Lumian was starting to crumble little by little.
She didn't know the reason. Just, the corners of her lips kept trying to rise.
'No! Get a hold of yourself!'
She was in the position of counseling a junior's worries.
That meant she had to show a cool and reliable senior's image.
If she showed a foolishly grinning face like an idiot, what would Lumian think?
'Right, let's just put on a confident smile instead. An adult's smile that seems like it could solve any worry!'
Tania, who instantly came up with a solution, smiled brightly.
Then she turned to look at Lumian. Her lovely lips parted and her voice flowed out.
"Lumiaaang!"
"......."
"......Sorry, my voice cracked."
Tania, her face turning beet red, walked a bit ahead.
Of all places, her voice had to crack there.
She absolutely couldn't bring herself to look at Lumian's face. So the two had no choice but to walk in silence.
The only fortunate thing was that their destination, Restaurant Juma, was right before their eyes.
The two were guided by a server to empty seats and placed their orders.
In the meantime, Tania had completely regained her composure.
"This should be about one-tenth of that time."
"Only that much? The menu we just ordered is five times more expensive than back then."
"There's a counseling fee, you know."
"Hey, would a senior charge money for listening to a junior's worries? That's so heartless."
"It's not heartless to charge money, but treating someone to a meal is overflowing with affection."
"You speak well. Did you study political diplomacy or something?"
"Stop changing the subject and tell me. Your sister here will listen to everything."
Tania said this with a relaxed smile.
Seeing this, Lumian burst into laughter inwardly.
'Does she not have a younger brother at home? She really wants to be treated as an older sister.'
This time, he didn't show it on the outside.
Regardless, Tania had come to this place for his sake.
He didn't think her advice would be of practical help, but he was still grateful for the sentiment.
'And it's true that just by opening up, my heart feels a bit lighter...'
In truth, in his past life, he didn't even have anyone to listen to him, let alone solve his problems.
He couldn't seek counsel from his lord Philip III, and Morgan, whom he was most comfortable with, wandered around so much it was hard to see him often. The junior knights found his position and taciturn nature difficult to approach.
But right now, he was just a 15-year-old boy.
That made it relatively easy to ask someone for help and open up about his worries. He didn't feel any burden at all.
'Come to think of it, this situation isn't bad.'
Lumian, now feeling even more at ease, gazed steadily at Tania.
Her eyes wavered slightly under his gaze.
Unaware of this, Lumian began his story.
"Right now... I'm in a situation where I have to make a choice."
"Hmm, a choice?"
"Yes. An incredibly important one... a choice that will determine my future."
"...That's a more serious worry than I expected?"
Tania, feeling the weight of the topic, straightened her posture.
She never dreamed that the essence of Lumian's worry was about more women and a more pleasant dating environment.
He also didn't mention it directly. He just spoke around it.
"Yes. Well... it's hard to explain in detail, but to put it roughly... I'm standing at a crossroads between challenge and comfort, I guess you could say."
"Challenge and comfort?"
"Yes."
Tania showed interest. Lumian continued to unfold his story.
Comfort, meaning staying in the current situation, wasn't something he disliked.
He was living a somewhat enjoyable life and feeling fulfillment. Good connections were with him, so he felt happiness.
On the other hand, challenge carried significant risk.
The environment changing wasn't a problem. Rather, he was looking forward to it.
However, his parents would likely strongly oppose it. In fact, not just his parents but anyone with common sense probably wouldn't support him.
Having said this much, Lumian wore a truly sorrowful expression.
"The unfortunate thing is... I can't think of a definite reason that could persuade my parents, the people who oppose it."
"...I see."
Tania nodded and answered.
Just then, the food they ordered arrived. Naturally, their conversation was cut off.
But Tania's thoughts didn't stop.
She wore a serious expression.
'Comfort and challenge...'
She couldn't 100 percent understand Lumian's situation.
That was natural. He hadn't given her concrete details but only abstract metaphors.
But the expression he showed when speaking, the emotions seeping from his voice.
Seeing those, she could fully grasp what he truly wanted.
'What he really wants is the challenge side.'
That was Lumian's true heart.
Something he feared but could never give up on—Lumian's sincere feelings.
'Naturally, he should choose what he wants.'
Tania Eloise was the youngest daughter of the Eloise Count's family. Her parents, who had only two sons, cherished Tania dearly.
This meant she had lived a life envied by no one.
'What if I had wanted comfort instead?'
It wouldn't have been bad.
High status, excellent appearance, upright character formed by receiving abundant parental love, and refinement too.
Probably the moment she appeared in social circles, she would have caught everyone's attention.
And she would have met a reasonably excellent spouse and had a happy marriage. Or would be in the process of doing so.
However.
'I could never have obtained the sense of achievement I feel now.'
That's right. Tania Eloise had chosen challenge over comfort.
Living the life of an ordinary young lady wouldn't have been bad, but what she wanted wasn't moderation but the best.
So she defied her parents' opposition and took up the sword, enrolling in the academy to become a knight.
'Of course, it wasn't easy.'
She was scared. She cried secretly many times. She had to face numerous other difficulties as well.
Nevertheless, Tania didn't regret her current decision.
Because in the end, she overcame it all and made it to this point.
'I should tell him to take the challenge.'
Don't be afraid. Don't be buried in the fear that challenge holds.
In the end, these are all things that can be resolved. If you truly want it, push forward.
Tania wanted to give that advice.
Having the past of experiencing and overcoming it herself, she thought she could say it proudly.
"Lumian."
"Yes?"
"About comfort and challenge, I..."
But the moment she raised her head and met Lumian's face, Tania couldn't bring herself to say the words she had thought of.
Even though the server who had set down the dishes had left and only the two of them remained.
It was because the emotions inside her were rejecting it before the thoughts in her head.
'Challenge, and a different environment.'
Only one thing came to mind. That he would leave the academy. Anyone with a bit of sense could know this fact.
And that fact—that she would hardly be able to see Lumian Callad anymore—made her hesitate.
'What is this? Why...'
Her emotions right now weren't neatly refined.
They were just vague like fog. It was inevitable since she had watched Lumian for a long time but had actually faced him only briefly.
So Tania didn't accurately understand her current hesitation.
She just stiffened her expression with an inexplicable discomfort.
"Uh, are you okay? Senior?"
Lumian was extremely flustered.
Seeing Tania frown her lovely brows after starting to speak and then stopping, worry came first. He automatically wondered if he had made some mistake.
He forgot even that he was in the position of receiving counseling and fidgeted anxiously.
Tania, watching such a Lumian, finally gathered herself.
'I don't know why I suddenly did that, but...'
For now, she calmed down. It was okay.
Seeing Lumian with a worried expression, she felt good for some reason. Her complicated head also felt clear again.
She let out a big sigh.
"Whew!"
"What, are you okay now? Senior Tania?"
"Ah, sorry. Suddenly seeing the food made me hungry. I forgot what I was going to say."
"...You surprised me. So, do you remember now?"
"Yeah, I remember."
Tania smiled brightly.
Then her beautiful appearance radiated.
At that brilliant face that could captivate even men at other tables, Lumian slightly opened his mouth. It was an appearance that didn't match his usual claim that personality mattered more than looks.
Seeing this, Tania's smile deepened even more.
She maintained her bright expression and was about to give the advice she had intended.
But she couldn't.
*Scrape*
*Thump*
At a perfect timing.
A woman took a seat at the empty chair of the round table where Lumian and Tania were sitting.
Then she gazed steadily at Lumian.
She was a person with slightly upturned eye corners that were charming.
"......."
No, charm wasn't the only attractive thing about her.
Everything about her was beautiful.
Eyes as alluring as red wine poured into a glass, gorgeous blonde hair reaching down to her chest, lively plump lips. All made it impossible to look away.
That wasn't all.
The narrow waist extending from her ample chest, and then the beautiful flare of her pelvic line. And the clinging outfit that accentuated all of this.
Lumian couldn't come to his senses.
He murmured without realizing it.
"3rd year History major... Leighton Vino?"
"Oh, you know my name? Thank you."
Leighton Vino looked at Lumian and smiled sweetly.
Seeing her eyes curving like a crescent moon, Tania thought.
'What the hell is this bitch doing!'