Chapter 62: Touch Now.

When Yulan and Violet returned to the salon, the person who greeted them was… someone unexpected.

“You’re back.”

“Claudia-sama…?”

On the table nearest the door were the study materials Violet’s group had been using.
Further in was the table for Mary-June; the room was large, so there was some distance between them, but both were visible from the entrance.

Claudia, who had been at the back table before the break, was now, for some reason, sitting at the front table—in Mirania’s seat.
Moreover, there was no one else in the room.
Neither Mirania nor Mary-June.

“Um… where are Mirania-sama and the others?”

“They went to the library. Mary-June still isn’t fully used to the academy’s curriculum. The library has more teaching materials than here.”

“I… see…”

What Claudia said made sense.
Mary-June was undeniably a genius, but that didn’t mean she could adapt effortlessly.
Especially since this academy was far removed from ordinary society. Things she had never encountered as a commoner were commonplace here.

For test prep, the past exams available here were sufficient, but for adapting to future classes, the library’s vast collection of knowledge was more suitable.
That much Violet understood.

But still.

“Then… why are you here, Claudia-sama?”

“If I left too, you wouldn’t be able to get back in when you returned.”

“No, that’s not what I—”

“…?”

Claudia tilted his head, and there didn’t seem to be any deception in it.
He genuinely didn’t understand what Violet was trying to ask.

What surprised her wasn’t that Claudia was here—it was that he hadn’t gone with Mary-June.

She could understand him deciding he wasn’t needed if Mirania was staying.
Which made it all the stranger that he hadn’t left Mirania behind instead.

What had happened while she and Yulan were on break?
Before, it had been two people and three. Perhaps when Mirania was left alone, he had joined Claudia and Mary-June?
Even so, pairing Mirania with Mary-June seemed unlikely.
Claudia had clearly been the one teaching Mary-June earlier, and he had looked like he was enjoying it… That might have been her preconception, but given the fact that the two of them would be drawn to each other, it wasn’t a mistake.

“I was wondering… if it was really all right for you not to go with Mary-June.”

“…Would it have been better if Mirania stayed?”

“No, not at all… but—”

“Since it was Prince Claudia teaching Mary-June, I thought you would be the more natural choice to accompany her rather than Mirania-sama.”

Yulan spoke for the hesitant Violet, stepping smoothly in front of her so his face wouldn’t appear in her line of sight.
When facing Claudia, Yulan’s facial muscles always grew a little stiffer. His mouth wore an even more exaggerated smile than usual, but his eyes—supposedly the windows to the soul—lacked confidence.

“I originally promised to help with your studies, Violet.”

The promise… the important promise he had made for Yulan’s sake.
Yulan, who could practically be said to view Claudia as an enemy, had entrusted a wish he never would have wanted to make under normal circumstances.

“Mary-June joining was something you asked for, Violet… I taught her the basics, and that should be enough for her.”

A flat, neutral assessment.
He didn’t dislike her, and Claudia had probably formed a reasonably favorable impression of Mary-June.

Her bright, innocent smile that drew people in just by existing.
That was truly a wonderful quality, Violet now thought.
Once it had been the thing she hated most, but now she didn’t mind if Mary-June fully embraced it.

She had assumed Claudia was also being drawn in by that quality.

(It’s only the first day they’ve met…? But last time it was practically love at first sight.)

That Claudia had chosen her… It might not be that dramatic, but to Violet it was shocking.

The Claudia of the previous timeline had a slightly narrow field of vision.
It was an expression of his single-minded devotion to Mary-June, but it also meant he was easily dominated by one emotion.

The old Violet had certainly treated Mary-June as an enemy and tormented her.
She had hated her, loathed her—truly, truly wished she were dead.

One of the reasons that hatred had swelled was Claudia’s single-mindedness.
Claudia despised Violet because of his feelings for Mary-June.
Violet, wanting his heart, only grew to hate Mary-June more.
In the worst possible cycle, she had never once touched Claudia’s heart.

“…Violet…? If you’d prefer Mirania, I can switch even now.”

“N-No…! It’s fine… I want Claudia-sama.”

“…Then that’s settled.”

She quickly corrected herself, stopping Claudia’s concerned, wry smile.
She was confused by his behavior, but the fact remained that he had chosen Violet over Mary-June.
Whether it was because feelings for Mary-June hadn’t sprouted yet or because of his promise to Yulan, she didn’t know—but the effect wouldn’t last long.

If so, she wanted to enjoy the benefit while it lasted.
Claudia was an excellent teacher and quick to answer questions thanks to his sharp mind.
Mirania was brilliant too, but there was no need to switch if Claudia was teaching.

“Then let’s begin. How far did you get with Mirania?”

“Ah, yes…”

She passed Yulan and sat in the seat she had occupied before the break.
The layout was almost unchanged; even the textbook pages were the same.

“We finished up to here before the break.”

“Then we’ll continue from here… Any parts you didn’t understand?”

“Mirania-sama explained it to me, so I think I’m fine.”

“His explanations can be overly simplified and hard to follow, no?”

“Really…? I found them very clear.”

Yulan stared fixedly at the two as they naturally continued their conversation.
Violet, facing away, didn’t notice, but Claudia, facing him, saw Yulan the moment he looked up.

He glanced sideways at the motionless figure.

“…Eh…?”

He had expected to be glared at with hatred, pierced by an icy stare—at the very least, looked at with open disgust.
Yulan could not possibly be favorably disposed toward Claudia while he was talking to Violet.

And indeed, the expression was far from friendly.
But it didn’t match any of the things Claudia had imagined.

“—Vio-chan, scoot over a bit. I can’t sit.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“My stuff’s taking up space, so I’m the one who should apologize.”

“You’re just big, Yulan. It can’t be helped.”

Yulan was smiling—bright, wide, the kind of smile most people loved.
Violet’s expression was far more natural than when she spoke with Claudia.

It was the relationship between them that Claudia knew well.
Their easy banter was something often seen not just at the academy but in high society as well.

The usual Yulan.
He looked so happy, so joyful that the expression from a moment ago felt like a trick of the eye.

But it was no mistake.
No illusion.

Just moments ago, this man—

had worn the face of a lost, wandering child on the verge of tears.