Pride and Sanctimony - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

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She has to be here today.

As soon as Lexus arrived at the Academy, he headed off towards the building where Valentia’s first lecture was. For some reason, he was feeling extremely impatient, walking much faster than he normally did.

If someone told him a week ago that he’d be following a woman around like a lost dog, he would’ve scoffed in their face. But it did not occur to Lexus that his behavior was so similar to an animal’s right now.

Because unlike dogs, noblemen should have an elegant and leisurely gait. There was once an old story about a nobleman whose entire mansion was set ablaze, taking him down with it, but even as he was being burned to death, he did not lose his elegance. And some people were crazy enough to praise that sort of thing.

Even when you’re about to die, something like that could be forgotten. Lexus kept his head forward, walking with a cold expression on his face. 

But as he was walking gracefully and quickly, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of something—two people coming out of the building. One of whom was the very person he missed so much.

And walking next to Valentia was an unknown man.

Seeing this guy following after Valentia, Lexus frowned involuntarily. The guy’s face wasn’t half bad. Some might even call him pretty decent looking.

Where did this bastard come from?

Out of nowhere, a sharp curse popped into his head. He noticed the two of them heading off to the deserted courtyard, like they were trying to have some sort of secret meeting.

How is she not freaking out, going to some isolated place alone with a man?

Apparently no one ever taught her to be wary of strange men.

I thought I was the only one who knew her well, but apparently there’s some other guy, too……Don’t tell me she’s secretly popular.

Come to think of it, when they went to that first cafe, she was way too friendly with that male employee. She seemed to like the place, but the reason why Lexus took her somewhere else after that was because he hated seeing that employee cozying up to Valentia.

The man with Valentia now was visibly nervous. There was a clear uncertainty there, like he didn’t know what to do. Now Lexus was starting to get worried this guy was about to confess to Valentia.

If he confessed, it went well, and they end up seeing each other, he’ll lose the bet. Was he supposed to give up after that?

But contrary to Lexus’ worries, what the man spoke of was not a confession, but rather something about him. To be precise, he was speaking about one of the biggest truths about Lexus—his colorful history with women.

And when Valentia was confronted about it, asked if she had any idea about his interesting exploits with women, she responded very simply.

[Valentia] “Is there anyone at this Academy who doesn’t know?”

The man’s words did nothing to affect him, but Valentia’s answer was enough to knock the wind out of him like he’d been punched. Somehow he felt ashamed.

That bastard. What’s he talking nonsense for?

This guy was trying to lay the groundwork of being a pleasant and good person, but he was doing that by insulting Lexus. The guy didn’t know a thing about him, but he couldn’t even say anything since, funnily enough, he was hitting the nail right on the head.

It was true that he was treating her well because he had an ulterior motive.

But she shouldn’t have to listen to that, Lexus thought impatiently. I still haven’t built up a good image yet.

[Valentia] “But when I look at him, I see a good person.”

That was when an unexpected word entered his restless ears.

Lexus blinked. What did she just say? A good person? Did I mishear that?

[Valentia] “…..He’s a good man.”

He doubted his own ears, but that same word once again was cast into the air, confirming that he had indeed not misheard. And this time, she sounded more certain.

Had he ever heard that word before? Even searching his deepest memories, he could not recall such an instance.

[Valentia] “He’s a warm person.”

I’m not a good person. I’m not a warm one, either.

Lexus denied her internally. He wanted to say it right away.

You don’t know me. You don’t know me one bit.

I’m doing all of this not because I’m good or because I’m warm. He’s completely right. This is part of a bet, one that I’ll win if I manage to seduce you. Everything I’m doing is just for that.

So don’t say that I’m warm.

All of those words flooded Lexus’ mind without him even realizing it.

[Jays] “But whenever I hear about the women who meet up with him…..”

Like the man could hear Lexus’ mind, he once again expressed his opinion.

[Valentia] “So because you heard that, that’s definitely how he is? Then I suppose that means I am most certainly a tough and cold-hearted person like the rest of the student body makes me out to be. An unlucky and detestable woman who ignores others, right?”

Who says that to you? What kind of person would say that? Bring them here. Do you want me to take care of them?

But Lexus already knew that she’d been subject to that kind of ridicule from everyone. It was just that, at the time, he simply was not interested and did not care.

[Jays] “………I think I spoke out of turn without knowing much.”

Though everything he was saying was completely correct, the man admitted defeat without saying so much of a word about his feelings to the woman he so clearly liked.

And he got rejected by her after cursing Lexus out. It wasn’t a bad look, but Lexus couldn’t even find it in him to laugh.

Because before she left him, Valentia gave the man a smile—one that was dazzling and brilliant.

She doesn’t normally smile. She’s not interested in him, is she? Don’t smile at him. Smile only at me. Just me.

His heart was beating so fast and it felt like his ears were on fire. Lexus couldn’t even move an inch, staying entirely still until Valentia disappeared from that place.

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[Lexus] “Hello, Valentia.”

The same handsome man as usual greeted her. But what was unusual about his appearance was that his expression didn’t seem as relaxed. Somehow, he looked like he was grimacing.

But it was odd how natural it felt for this man to be greeting her in the mornings now.

[Valentia] “Hello, Lexus.”

Valentia didn’t look at him directly, somehow feeling like she couldn’t, looking straight ahead instead.

Maybe it was because she had just reached the conclusion that he was a good person after being confronted not long ago, but she felt a little shy, so her response sounded a little more firm. 

Even though there was no way he would know she said that, she still couldn’t look at him directly.

She felt Lexus shift next to her, pulling out a chair and sitting down. As he moved, she felt an odd sense of warmth coming from him. And it was strange she didn’t realize that until now.

[Lexus] “Why were you absent?”

Having someone ask her that question made Valentia feel a little complicated.

How did you know I was absent? Did you come to see me yesterday, and the day before as well? But Valentia bit back that last question she couldn’t ask, leaving behind only one.

[Valentia] “How did you know I was absent?”

[Lexus] “I came to see you.”

[Valentia] “Why?”

[Lexus] “I don’t know. Because I missed you?”

Lexus said that like a joke, but it made her heart flutter. It was an unfamiliar feeling, the sensation of her heart falling to the floor like that. The heat rushed to her face and she blinked in embarrassment.

[Valentia] “Don’t joke like that.”

[Lexus] “More importantly, why didn’t you come?”

[Valentia] “I was just a little sick.”

And that wasn’t necessarily a lie. She was just sick and in pain from the harsh and unfair beating. Lexus looked at her, asking in a soft voice.

[Lexus] “How were you hurt?”

[Valentia] “It was just the flu.”

[Lexus] “Did it hurt a lot?”

[Valentia] “Not especially.”

[Lexus] “I was worried something happened to you.”

Badum. Badum.

This time, her heart was beating really hard. Before, it was just a tremble, but now it was loud enough to hear, like it was showing its constant presence.

[Valentia] “Excuse me?”

[Lexus] “I was worried since you didn’t come to the Academy.”

He was worried. While I was sick and in pain, there was someone who was worried about me.

Valentia looked up at Lexus’ face.

She knew he was a handsome man. Even excessive praise would not be enough to describe him. But that was merely a perception of the exterior—the appearance of a handsome man, and such was not enough to impress Valentia.

The way she looked at Lexus was no different from how one might admire a statue. He was a man who would carry on with his life, living the way he lived, regardless of who she was and what she did.

But despite how irrelevant they were in regards to each other’s lives, suddenly he was worried about her.

It was only then that Valentia realized how truly beautiful this man was. And with that realization came another. The thought that this man took up more of her heart than she thought. His presence was being magnified inside of her, until something inside of her chest started to swell.

I can’t.

Not this.

Not for him.

She knew it even if no one told her. She could not feel this for that kind of man. For a man like him, this innocent feeling of ‘like’ was something he was far above.

He was a good man, but he wasn’t good like that. She heard and saw it for herself. This emotion would only lead to pain and it would never bear fruit. But even so…

Yes.

I like him.

I love him.

I love this man.

Something deep inside of her whispering, calling out.

But this man was completely unaware of the war that was raging inside of Valentia, merely chattering on with a smile on his face. As those feelings like a torrent that turned her world upside down tore her apart, she looked at him with a dazed expression.

[Lexus] “But I couldn’t even contact you since I thought you wouldn’t like me sending you a letter under my name.”

She didn’t expect that kind of consideration from him. Who knows what could’ve happened if a letter with the Imperial crest on it bearing the name of the Imperial Prince had come to the mansion.

[Lexus] “And I kind of thought you might’ve dropped out since you didn’t like me.”

Valentia let out a soft smile at those words.

He was fun, warm, and pleasant to be around. She could understand why so many people liked him. If one knew him, how could they ever hate him? How could they not love him?

[Valentia] “I don’t hate you that much.”

[Lexus] “That’s a relief.”

I love you.

I love you a lot.

Like a heavy rain, her feelings poured down on her dry heart. Valentia was not immune to affection. She could not deny this feeling and was completely beaten by it, until it entirely drenched her.

Her heart was barren like an empty desert, but within that desert, feelings she could never put a name to were starting to bloom.

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