Episode 8

Soon, all the presentations were finished.

The librarians lit several candlesticks. The inside of the hall, which had a cozy and warm atmosphere, was quickly transformed into a bright and lively atmosphere.

Soon, upbeat music started playing along with the flickering of candles.

The students, who had been looking at the stage with serious and calm faces throughout the presentation, were excited and led their partners into the dance hall.

Rosé Millard was no exception.

"Are you really not going to dance?"

Rosé asked Felix, who was sitting in the corner of the table, sipping only cider.

"If you're not going to dance, why did you come here with me?"

"It's just to enjoy literature."

Felix responded with a gentle tone to Rosé's angry voice.

"In the first place, you asked me to come first!"

"And you promised when you accepted my application. You won't force me to dance."

At Felix's words, Rosé seemed to be angry. It was an expression on her face that she didn't really know if he would refuse to dance with her.

"Are you really like this?"

Rosé stared at him fiercely.

It was understandable that she was so angry. She had planned to use Felix tonight to be featured in Gossip at least once more.

It seemed to her that getting people's attention and fame was the most important thing to her. Confucius Berg, who was the most important tool in the plan, seemed very angry because he did not move as much as he wanted.

As Rosé's voice grew higher, some male students who were sneaking around glanced at them. Felix realized that they wanted to ask Rosé to dance.

"Even if it's not me, there seem to be a lot of men who want to dance with you."

Felix said with a wink at the male students who were talking behind Rosé. Rosé glanced back and turned her head back to him.

Felix's attitude seemed firm, determined to never dance. Rosé bit her lip.

"you."

she exhaled coldly.

"Instead, you have to be sure to escort them when they leave the hall. Until we go back to the dorm."

Felix nodded.

"Speak of course."

Rosé quickly turned around and approached the male students who had glanced at her before. As if preparing in advance, the boys rushed to Rosé to dance.

Rose seems to have changed her strategy from being the only girl who danced with Confucius Berg to becoming the girl who received the most requests to dance from the male students.

Surrounded by male students, Rosé quickly moved away from the center of the hall.

Felix, who was finally left alone, looked around the hall, pulling loosely the tie around his neck.

I felt more tired than when I was swinging a sword or training without stopping for hours. I desperately wanted to go back to my room and rest.

It was then that Lucy came into his eyes.

She was grabbed by Colin Connor and led out into the dance hall. He seemed very embarrassed to see him shaking his head and waving his hands. But Colin Connor didn't care. Suddenly, she dragged her out into the center of the hall.

Soon Lucy started dancing reluctantly to Colin's lead.

awkward posture. stiff smile. Two feet wandering, not knowing what to do.

Lucy Keenan's dancing skills were a mess.

Unlike Colin Connor, who danced as if flying with his feet moving freely, Lucy was more like being grabbed by his hand and being dragged around. It was like a puppet being controlled.

Felix couldn't help but burst out laughing at her poor dance.

Truly, there has never been a more interesting spectacle than that. It was a scene that would be more memorable than any other presenters' poetry reciting or performance.

He laughed like that for a while, but as time passed, a corner of Felix's heart grew bitter.

It seemed as if a large wall had been erected between the people dancing happily in the center of the hall and myself sipping cider at a table in the corner.

Did I just have to dance with Rosé?

However, when I saw Rosé dancing violently, staring at a male student in the middle of the dance hall, that thought ran away.

He put down the glass he was holding and walked out of the hall. I wanted to cool off on the terrace, away from the loud music.

He hung out on the terrace for a while, enjoying the night breeze. The night air, which is now in full swing, was not cool enough to feel quite chilly.

"Felix."

someone called him I turned around and it was Adrian. He was holding a box full of empty bottles.

"What are you doing alone? Rosé?"

Felix shrugged his shoulders once before answering.

"You are in control of the dance hall."

Adrian grinned as if he knew it.

"Why are you so busy that it's hard to see?"

When Felix asked, he tilted the box that Adrian was holding and showed it to him.

"I am in charge of this event. I can't enjoy it like everyone else. There are so many things to take care of."

Felix approached his brother and took the box.

"Where can I put it?"

Adrian smiled a little at his brother who offered to help.

"There is a small warehouse next to the back door of the library. You can leave it there. Oh, and can you get a new cider box and fill the table?"

"Don't worry, let's go."

After Adrian said thank you, he hurried into the hall. Felix took the box and headed to the warehouse.

When we arrived, the door was already open. A faint light leaked through the crack in the door.

As we entered, someone was inside. Familiar back view. Lucy, feeling Felix's presence, looked back.

"Lucy Keenan."

Felix, who was slightly embarrassed when he unexpectedly ran into the woman he thought was in the hall, spit out her name without realizing it.

"uh… … ."

Lucy also had a bewildered face.

"… … I'm here to get some cider. I think it's lacking, so I'm going to fill it up."

She rolled her eyes and said something she didn't ask.

Wherever he had gone, the neat appearance he had when he left the dormitory, Lucy looked somewhat disorganized and hazy as if dreaming.

Perhaps it was the aftermath of being dragged around by his partner, when he left the dormitory, his calmly combed hair was messy. The light beige dress also had a wrinkled hem and the ribbon tied around the waist was a little loose.

Both cheeks were redder than ever.

Lucy, who was standing idly, took her eyes off him and tried to pick up a nearby box of cider. But she couldn't possibly lift such a heavy box at once.

Confused when the box did not move, Lucy took a few bottles and placed them next to me. Then she tried to lift the box again. But the box was only swaying in place.

Lucy, who had a troubled face, pulled out a few more bottles and set them aside.

Felix, who was watching him, said.

"Then, are you just going to take the box?"

He walked over to Lucy. Then she started putting the bottle back into the box.

"I'll bring you, so bring a new cup and bring it."

In front of Felix, who knelt down to pick up the bottle, Lucy's slender ankle turned to collect the basket.

"for a moment."

Felix stopped her.

"You are bleeding."

Felix pointed to her heel.

Then Lucy quickly sat down and tried to cover her heels in a dress that reached only her ankles.

"The shoes… … It's not mine."

Lucy soon realized that it was impossible to cover her ankles, so she hurriedly grabbed a basket of glasses and tried to leave the warehouse.

Felix grabbed Lucy's wrist. Lucy turned around in surprise.

"Can't you sit down for a moment?"

Lucy looked at him with a blank face and didn't respond. Felix pulled Lucy slowly and sat her on a wooden chest.

"Give me that."

He took the basket Lucy was holding and placed it roughly on top of the box. Then he sat down next to Lucy. I could feel Lucy's trembling in surprise.

What, did you want me to leave your seat?

After all, Annie, who is busy running away every time she sees me, may feel uncomfortable just sitting next to her like this.

Thinking like that, Felix hated getting out of the spot even more.

After a moment of restlessness, Lucy lowered her head helplessly and looked down at the floor.

Neither of them opened their mouths, leaving only an awkward silence.

"… … Aren't you taking off your shoes?"

Finally, Felix broke the silence and said.

Lucy, who was slowly closing her eyes as if sleepy, raised her head. For some reason, both cheeks seemed to be even more red than before.

She slowly took off her shoes and set them aside. After that, silence came again.

"Well?"

Felix suddenly raised his head and sniffed. There was a smell of alcohol coming from somewhere.

At that moment, Lucy's head fell on his shoulder.

Felix turned to look at her, startled by the weight of the small head on her shoulder.

"Lucy?"

He shook her shoulder slightly.

"Lucy Keenan?"

However, Lucy closed her eyes as if falling into a deep sleep and exhaled only colorful breaths.

"Lucy!"

He shook Lucy by calling her name again.

The smell of alcohol lingering on the tip of his nose grew stronger. Felix narrowed his brow and placed his nose around Lucy's face.

"Maybe you… … Have you been drinking?"