Chapter 47
Chapter 47. Different Dreams in the Same Bed (2)
Serena's talent had stood out since childhood.
Enough to be admitted to the 'Albion Royal University Affiliated Mechanical Engineering Academy', which judged admission purely by ability.
'Wow...!'
The eyes of Serena, arriving in the capital for the first time, sparkled with all kinds of bright colors.
'It's warm! The buildings are huge!'
Albion was beautiful and sophisticated.
Gleaming high-rise buildings incomparable to Nortaris stood lined up like folding screens, and even the weather was bright and warm beyond measure.
'It feels like a dream... That I could be in a place like this...'
The academy went without saying.
Wasn't it a specialized educational institution that absorbed and trained all the kingdom's elites?
Everything was splendid and beautiful, matching the tuition that made one gasp.
The facilities and educational standards also boasted the continent's highest professionalism.
'Wow...'
The academy students were no exception.
An aura that emanated despite wearing the same uniform.
An ease and dignity that seemed ingrained, unlike Serena.
'Will I... be able to get along well with them?'
Serena had been extremely nervous about being ignored for being from a Viscountcy family, but...
It was needless worry.
They approached Serena first with surprising kindness and spoke to her.
'Oh my, so you're the daughter of Renoir Workshop? I heard rumors you have truly genius talent in mechanical engineering! Nice to meet you, Lady Renoir.'
'We're trying to form a study group among ourselves, and I think we'll really need Lady Serena's help! Let's definitely get close, okay?'
'Y-yes, yes! I'm the one who should ask! If there's anything I can help with, anytime...!'
Academy life afterward was like a dream.
When innate talent was combined with a positive learning environment, Serena's skills rapidly improved.
While reaching the top tier was too much, she came to be treated as something of a prodigy.
'Lady Renoir, your project this time was really amazing!'
'Serena, if you have time, could you look at this Magic Circuit design? I have no idea, but I think you'd solve it right away.'
'Miss Serena, could you possibly...''Serena! Help me!''Lady Renoir, perhaps this too together...'
Pouring praise, recognition, admiration.
Serena was simply happy with such attention and recognition.
Her shoulders lifted proudly at the fact that her skills were useful even to children of the capital's prestigious families.
She gladly carved out time and sometimes stayed up all night.
She helped 'friends' with assignments and solved difficult technical problems.
It was hard enough to get nosebleeds, but it was rewarding.
'You really did it? Thanks Serena! You're the best after all!'
'Thanks to Lady Renoir, I passed this assignment in one go too!'
'Thank you! Miss Serena!''Thank you! Lady Renoir!'
Because everyone recognized Serena.
Because she had made lots of friends for the first time.
'The capital really is different. Everyone's such good people.'
She truly believed that.
She considered it a minor problem that there was no room to join in when friends talked about central social circles or the latest fashion dresses.
It was around the time one semester had passed that Serena noticed the subtle sense of dissonance that had been accumulating like dust.
'Serena, you'll help this time too, right?'
'Serena, where on earth have you been? Look, here's my project this time.'
Friends now came to Serena with 'requests' as if it were natural.
It still didn't matter.
Because we're friends.
Because it's natural for friends to help each other.
'Miss Emily, do you have a moment?'
'Senior Rasta, I've been feeling a bit struggling lately...'
But when Serena actually asked for help or tried to share her struggles.
'Oh really? That's terrible... But what can I do? I'm a bit busy... Next time for sure, please!'
'Really? But about my project you agreed to help with.'
They were mysteriously busy, had appointments, or skillfully changed the subject.
As if Serena was bothersome.
'That can't be.'
She denied it.
'That couldn't be...'
Weren't they all so kind and affectionate?
Weren't they friends who had guided Serena when she couldn't adapt to capital life?
'They must really be busy.'
She even felt too selfish for not understanding them.
Then one day.
Perhaps because she was exhausted from staying up all night as usual?
'Huaaam, so tired today too... Gyaaah...!'
Serena missed her footing on the stairs.
'Owww...'
A spectacular fall.
The papers in her arms scattered, fluttering, and everyone's eyes turned to Serena.
It hurt, but it was extremely embarrassing too.
'S-sorry. I'll clean it up right away...'
Serena, holding her swollen ankle with tears welling up while gathering papers, inadvertently saw someone passing by.
It was Emily, who just yesterday had grabbed Serena's hands and exclaimed 'You're my most precious friend!'
Emily, walking with another young lady, glanced over her shoulder at Serena fumbling on the floor.
Then she disappeared chatting hahaha hohoho as if she hadn't seen anything.
That wasn't all.
'...I will conclude my presentation.'
Edmund, who had borrowed the mechanical engineering design Serena had painstakingly completed overnight, saying he'd 'reference' it.
He cleverly copied the core idea of the design and presented it under his own name.
His eyes met Serena's amid the applause and cheers, and he seemed briefly flustered, but...
'Thank you! Thank you!'
He just boasted of his achievement with a proud smile, never coming to explain the situation to Serena.
Only then did she realize.
Ah, this wasn't friendship.
To them, Serena was a dog.
A trick-performing dog that fetches the ball happily when thrown with glossy praise.
A dog allowed to run around the garden for being obedient and useful, but chased out when entering the house.
A young lady of the Renoir Viscountcy was only that level of existence from the start.
'...That can't... be...'
Humans believe what they want to believe, not the truth.
Serena was the same.
Serena sought out Julian Beaumont.
Julian Beaumont.
The second son of Count Beaumont, famous as an old technical family.
A senior who had shown her around the school and Albion from the first day of admission.
And also the only person who, unlike others, didn't 'request' anything from Serena.
She believed he would listen to Serena's troubles and give wise advice.
'Julian, you've been spending a lot of time with Lady Renoir lately?'
'Ah, you mean Serena?'
'Yeah man, rumors are already spreading. Why are you so nice to her? Are you interested?'
Serena, who had been loitering around the third-year dormitory, inadvertently overheard the conversation from behind a wall.
'Interest? Me? In a mere Viscountcy girl?'
'Then why... Aha! Ugh, you trash.'
'Heh heh heh, doesn't she look obviously innocent? Those kinds fall over quickly if you play along a bit. Play around with her once or twice then dump her appropriately.'
'That's not like the noble young master's hobby... Well, she is cute-looking.'
Serena didn't get angry.
She didn't rush out to confront Julian or rage.
Instead, she felt a cold realization travel through her veins and freeze her heart.
She was scared.
That all the hospitality she had received, the sense of belonging at the academy, every moment she believed was joy with friends—all of it was thoroughly calculated pretense and deception.
That the existence called 'true nobles' who calmly committed such acts.
Afterward, Serena graduated from the academy quietly and unremarkably without incident, with no presence.
Graduating from the academy gave the right to proceed directly to the royal university, but she returned to Nortaris without attending university.
She had run away.
"So stupid..."
Serena sat on her favorite sofa and leaned her forehead against the window.
The night air was chilly for summer, so the cool sensation cooled her head.
Even now, nothing was different from then.
Having been burned like that, yet still expecting a friendship charade.
"Ugh, life..."
—Glug glug glug glug
Serena blew bottle after bottle of strong liquor, losing count of how many.
It was a slightly precarious amount even for Serena, who despite appearances was quite a heavy drinker.
But what could she do?
She felt like she couldn't endure today without alcohol's blessing.
Just then, head maid Martha came to relay a message.
"Miss, someone from Y&P is here to see you."
"Puha, what? At this hour?"
"Yes, they're waiting in the reception room now."
"It's late, can't I meet them next time? I've drunk a lot..."
Martha looked troubled.
"They insisted it was important and really wanted to speak with you, Miss."
"Haah... Fine. I'll get ready."
Serena sluggishly changed clothes.
***
After Y&P Trading Company's success, Jurgen was no longer treated merely as 'Lady Penelope's commoner business partner'.
Though it was a late visit, the Renoir household servants courteously guided Jurgen to the reception room.
Shortly after.
Serena, looking somewhat tired and reeking of alcohol, entered the reception room.
"J-Jurgen? Did you come alone?"
"There's a matter I wanted to discuss with Miss Serena."
She seemed surprised to see Jurgen alone and opened her eyes wide.
"I heard from Miss Penelope. About the marriage proposal with the Granville Viscount family."
As soon as the marriage proposal was mentioned, Serena hugged her elbows.
"..."
She had already been dismissed by Penelope.
There was nothing to expect from Jurgen anew.
Serena forced a smile and continued appropriately.
"Yes... Well, I think it's a really good opportunity for my family."
Serena, who had been looking down, was startled when her eyes met Jurgen's, who was staring intently at her face.
Wasn't he looking too intently?
Almost licking her with his eyes.
Ah, was it because of that?
Serena, jumping to conclusions, waved her hands.
"D-don't worry. I absolutely won't leak Y&P Trading Company's technology."
"No, I didn't come for that issue."
"Th-then?"
"I came to ask how Miss Serena feels about this marriage."
It was a fairly thoughtful and caring question, but...
She had no great expectations anyway.
Whether Penelope or Jurgen, they were birds of a feather.
Both cold-hearted nobles.
Come to think of it, Jurgen had rescued Serena before.
Is he perhaps here to say pay your debt before getting married?
Ruthless, truly ruthless.
"I haven't forgotten you saving me before. I'll definitely repay you."
"Why do you keep deflecting? As I said earlier..."
Serena spoke as if throwing it away.
"...How do I feel about this marriage? Of course I hate it."
"Why?"
"Why?"
"If you hate it, there must be a reason."
"..."
Serena heard something snap.
She tried to hold back.
She tried but couldn't.
She was already miserable enough to die, and if he wasn't going to help, Jurgen asking persistently was more annoying than Penelope.
"Uuuugh...!"
And Serena was usually timid, but when certain emotions overwhelmed her, she became a small cannonball that crashed into anything.
Moreover, right now, alcohol—the propellant to launch Serena the cannonball far and wide—was fully loaded.
"I don't know! I just hate it!"
The frustration in her chest burst out like popcorn.
"D-does anyone want to be born in a Viscountcy family! I would have lived well acting high and mighty if I'd been born in a prestigious family too!"
"No, Miss Serena, I didn't say anything..."
"You didn't say anything! You don't even know how people feel! Who would like marrying a man whose face they don't even know! Right?"
"Miss Serena, calm down. First, take a deep breath..."
"Huuu, huuuup..."
Serena, who took a deep breath at Jurgen's instruction, took one more running start.
In other words, she began to throw an even more rambling tantrum.
"I hate it, I hate it all... Nobles in particular are the worst. I hate them more than spiders... Huaaang...!!!"
Serena started outright bawling.
She shed pitiful tears like chicken droppings and grabbed Jurgen's pant leg.
"Huaaang!! Jurgen should take responsibility instead! If you saved me, take responsibility too!!!"
"No, Miss Serena. My pants! My pants are coming down! How can I take responsibility?"
"Why not! I'm pretty! I'll pretend not to see even if you continue your relationship with Lady Penelope!"
"Relationship with Penelope? What are you talking about now?"
"I know everything! You're pretending to be a commoner! You're from a great technical family! I don't want to go to the capital! I hate nobles!"
Serena cried loudly, more senseless than imaginable.
In the midst of it, she clung so tenaciously that when Jurgen stepped back, she was dragged along.
"I'll propose! If you don't accept, I'll spread your secret all over the neighborhood! I'll really tell, okay?"
"No, just how much did you drink?"
"It's okay! There's a saying about drunken words being true! I am drunk but I'm sincere! I'm proposing now! Jurgen! Please marry me!"
She reeked of alcohol and her ear tips were red—he never thought it would be this bad.
Until now, the person with the worst drunken behavior in Jurgen's life was secretary Lily Fontaine.
Serena had splendidly reclaimed that position.
"Answer quickly...! Waaaaa! Waaaaa!"
"Miss Serena, lower your voice!"
This was troublesome.
If Serena continued like this, wouldn't someone come running after hearing the commotion?
She was in a state where she couldn't discern the situation, even about to spill Jurgen's secrets...
More than that, showing this appearance to someone would be an unforgettable wound for Miss Serena too.
"I'm sorry, Miss Serena."
"Wow! You rejected me! I said I'd tell! I said if you reject me, I'd spread your identity all over... gack..."
—Whack!
Jurgen's hand blade struck the back of Serena's neck.
Serena, who had been grabbing his ankle in an ankle lock, went limp.
Did he hit too hard?
"Phew..."
Fortunately, when he put his hand to Serena's nose, he felt her breathing.
"Huuu..."
Jurgen lifted Serena, who had flopped face-down on the floor, onto the reception room sofa.
He also gently wiped her face, messy with tears and snot, with a handkerchief.
He roughly understood what happened.
Serena disliked this marriage even more than Penelope guessed.
She seemed to have suffered mentally.
To think she hated it this much but didn't complain once to her family.
It was a moment when Serena, who only seemed like a spoiled child, felt mature.
He felt both pity and compassion.
After all, she wasn't a stranger—hadn't they been together for quite a while?
When he first left the palace and planned the culinary revolution, he hadn't planned to get involved with this many people.
He was just going to proceed alone quietly.
Connections between people are naturally given appropriate weight.
A weight that's heavy despite being invisible, sometimes unable to be put down.
But as always, ties come unbidden even when unwanted.
"I understand your feelings well, Miss Serena."
"..."
Coldly speaking, support matching the Granville Viscount family was impossible.
But support to a level where Serena could refuse the arranged marriage and be reasonably satisfied... might perhaps be possible.
"Don't worry and wait. I'll somehow manage it."
Jurgen finished his resolve to willingly endure the trouble for Serena's sake.
After all, Serena was definitely a respectable technician of Y&P.