Lucy POV
"Y-y-you! What are you doing?!"
Hina quickly walks over with hurried steps and pulls me up and away from Bernard.
"Are you okay, Lucy? Did he do anything to you?"
She worriedly asks, as she looks me over.
"Calm down Miss Fiancée. We were just training together."
"Nobody asked you!"
Bernard explains, but Hina glares at him and then turns to me with an inquiring gaze.
"Hm, he's telling the truth. I just got distracted for a moment…"
"See? You're always assuming the worst of others. I bet you thought I was bullying her or something. Wait, why does this sound kind of familiar…? Ah! Weren't you that girl that got bullied by Miss Fiancée at the opening ceremony? And we also met that one time in the city."
"Who got bullied?! Like you're one to talk, I never mistreated Lucy. She's my friend after all. But who are you to just suddenly ask her to train with you? What's your goal?"
"Heh, you aren't the only one she's friends with."
"...! No, that can't be right. He just forced you to come along with him, right?"
Hina turns to me with a concerned expression. I guess they still really don't like each other, huh?
"Well, we became friends…kinda?"
"...!"
"That's right, that's right. Though I'm surprised, I didn't know you had any friends, Miss Fiancée. And such an interesting one at that, ah I can't wait to train with her again."
"No no no, I won't allow it! Lucy, listen to me. You can't spend time with such an idiot, just being near him is detrimental to your mental health."
"Hey, what are you talking about? I'm-"
Seems like their dynamic is the same as ever. It's actually kind of reassuring. Even in the game, Bernard and the villainess Seraphina were always at each other's throats, which made him quite liked by the players, since he was the only one who openly opposed her from the beginning.
Though at first it was just about some minor stuff like right now.
But anyway, maybe joining the tournament wasn't such a bad idea after all. Though I didn't expect to trigger Bernard's event and I was a bit afraid of how it would play out, I think it turned out well in the end. Though there was a certain troublesome follow up event to this one, but since I never built up any affinity with him, it should probably be fine? And now there's only one capture target left who could potentially become the villain.
Though dueling with Bernard is still really exhausting, maybe it's fine if I just join him once in a while, and that's enough to keep him from getting influenced by this world's will? That would be nice…
"Sure, whatever you say Miss Fiancée. Lucy, it was really nice training with you, I hope to see you soon but I have to go now. Bye!"
"Hey, we didn't even finish talking! And who says you can just do what you want?"
"Ah, goodbye Lord-... goodbye Bernard."
It seems like while I was lost in thought their argument ended, or at least Bernard decided to run away, with his farewell taking me out of my daze. Then he quickly left the training room while ignoring Hina's words.
"Tch, seriously. Such an idiot, you're better off not associating with him at all."
"..."
"Lucy, you can be honest with me. Did he force you to come here? The two of you haven't really met before, right?"
"Well, I guess he did kind of just drag me away... But it's okay, I had fun and it helped me learn a lot."
"Hm… Really?"
Hina eyes me suspiciously, but what I said were my real thoughts.
"Yes."
"Haah, fine. Let's go, it's getting late."
She sighs and moves on, but then stops before reaching the door.
"And um, by the way…"
"Hm?"
"That whole thing with that guy calling me Fiancée all the time... It's just a nickname he came up with long ago, you don't need to think deeply about it."
"...? Okay?"
For some reason Hina seems really anxious as she explains herself. I already know about the circumstances so I only give a short reply, but she takes it as me doubting her.
"I'm telling the truth, the whole thing was just that idiot's own delusions. When we were kids Arthur, that idiot and I often met at social events since we are part of the same noble generation. And at some point marriage talks came up where I was mentioned as a strong candidate to become the crown princess, or in other words Arthur's wife. But it was never decided for sure and there are no real arrangements for it either. But since Bernard is good friends with Arthur, he started calling me that on his own for some reason. So that's all of it, you don't need to worry."
"I'm not worried though? But I believe you."
All of this was explained in the game so I already knew about it, but I guess Hina really wanted me to know this? In the game this only really came up during Arthur's route so I wonder why she feels the need to clarify it now.
"I… whatever, let's just go."
She says and starts walking away.
Well anyway, the thought of lying down in my room sounds very tempting after this exhausting impromptu training session, so I just put my thoughts aside and follow after Hina.
The next day Bernard approaches me again after school and asks me to train together again. Although Hina said not to go along with him, his personality completely counters mine so I didn't really have the chance to refuse.
So he took me to another training area, this time an open-air one next to the arena. Then after the first few rounds of 'whose shield breaks first', Bernard ends up on the ground again.
"Hahaha! I knew it, this definitely feels special. Even after sleeping on it once like that guy always says, my feelings still haven't changed."
"...!"
I catch some parts of what Bernard mumbles to himself and I immediately get a bad feeling.
This line, wasn't it for-
"Lucy, I have something important to ask you!"
"H-huh? What?"
He suddenly sits up and looks at me with a serious expression. Before I can even process what's happening, he continues:
"I love you! Please marry me!"
I knew it!!
Seraphina POV
"Can you believe him? After finishing up the student council work yesterday, I went to see Lucy but I couldn't find her anywhere. Then by chance I overheard some students mentioning that they saw that idiot approaching a student with golden hair. After I asked them about it, they said Lucy and that guy went towards the training rooms. I quickly went there and sure enough he was trying his stupid fighting style with Lucy and he even almost injured her! Lucy just finished the exhausting student tournament and he went and coerced her into dueling him!"
"Calm down Sera. You know what Bernard is like, he didn't mean it like that. He was just excited to find a strong opponent. Sure, he can be overenthusiastic or a bit inconsiderate sometimes, but he's harmless."
I let out all my built up frustrations as I complain to Arthur. We are just finishing up today's student council work with only the two of us left in the office. But he just dismisses my concerns while mechanically signing some documents in front of him.
"Tch, I don't know what I expected from his best friend. But I still think he'd be a bad influence on Lucy, I don't want him hanging around her."
"Heh, you still dislike him that much, huh? Well, I think it's kind of late for that anyway…"
"...! What do you mean? Isn't he on patrol duty with the second year members like always?"
I stand up as I get a bad feeling and I demand answers from Arthur, but he just casually explains:
"He asked to get his shift exchanged with another member earlier this morning. He even managed to talk the president into it, he can be quite a force to be reckoned with. Ah, right speaking of the president, I managed to make some progress and I think I can give you a concrete answer in a day or two."
"I don't care about that right now! Why didn't you tell me about that idiot's actions?! You're so useless, I'm leaving!"
"Ah, Sera-"
Without listening to any more of his words, I just storm out of the office and hurry towards the training rooms.
But this time I don't find them in any of the usual spots so I get a little concerned. However, then I remember the training areas near the arena and head there instead. In the distance I can already see two familiar figures, they aren't moving around so they are probably taking a break right now.
I swear, if this idiot got some stupid ideas in his head again, I'm going to snap his neck and-
"I love you! Please marry me!"
That is the first thing I hear just as I get near, which causes all the thoughts in my head to disappear and I instinctively hide behind a nearby tree.
W-what… did he say…?
That was definitely that idiot and Lucy in the arena, just when did their relationship develop so far? No no, it must be just Bernard speaking nonsense and bothering Lucy!
Even if he's serious, there's no way he'd be fit to stand next to Lucy! Lucy deserves someone like… like… who?
If not now, sooner or later she would end up getting married and because of her precarious position within nobility, even an arranged marriage wouldn't be surprising. In which case the other party usually ends up being the worst of what nobility has to offer. But parents who only care about gaining favour rarely think of their children's wellbeing.
I do have a deep dislike for Bernard, but even I have to admit that while he is an idiot, at least he's an earnest idiot. I could easily see him paving the way for his marriage plans and while he's very childish, he wouldn't truly mistreat his partner.
All of this already puts him above a large percentage of nobility and Bernard being the heir of the prominent Leonhart family gives him a lot of influence as well. So if Lucy truly married him, that would give her undeniable legitimacy within nobility and would silence any opposition.
And if I did end up marrying Arthur as well, then since the two of them are close friends I could also meet Lucy very often. This would already be the best possible outcome…
But! But! I still can't accept it!
If she really went along with it, then that idiot would definitely become a large part of her life. Even though it would make things better for her, I don't like it!
I know the two of us will drift apart sooner or later, I know I can't stay by her side for long if I want to fulfill my duties as the oldest daughter of the Lazarius family and she probably has things she wants to do herself as well.
But these few months we spent together already became some of the happiest memories I have and I enjoyed every part of it.
So if I think about Lucy marrying someone and getting close to him… I don't like it! I get this weird, almost suffocating feeling in my chest just by imagining it.
"Even though we haven't spent much time together yet, I feel a special connection with you! So it might sound a bit too sudden, but I do really love you!"
While I'm lost deep in thought, a certain voice expresses feelings that deeply resonate with me, even though my mind doesn't process all the details.
That's right, that's exactly what I feel! If someone deserves to stand by her side it should be me!
…
…
H-huh?! Wh-what did I just think about? I want to… and wait wasn't that Bernard's voice just now? Right, Lucy still hasn't given her answer yet I… I should leave while I can…
Or so I tell myself, but my legs refuse to move. I don't want to hear the rest of their exchange, but at the same time I'm also desperate to learn how Lucy will respond.
"I… I'm sorry, but I can't…"
After a pause that feels like an eternity, that faint but so pleasant voice enters my ears.
"Oh. Is that how you feel?"
"I'm sorry."
"...!"
Hearing such a definite refusal from Lucy feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Even though it would have been a really good opportunity for her…
"Well, that's that I guess haha. I will still find you for training sessions though, that part is non-negotiable. But that's enough for today. Goodbye, see you later!"
That idiot… Bernard took the rejection quite well from what I can hear, though there's definitely a bit of dejection in his voice. Then he walks off the arena while I'm still rooted in place behind the tree, lost in my jumbled thoughts.
Right until I hear another set of footsteps stop next to me. Ah, was my improvised hiding spot not effective…?
"Oh, Hina. So you were here too. Did you… hear all of that?"
"...! W-well…"
I really didn't expect to suddenly come face to face with Lucy so soon, while my mind is such a mess. I can't even bring myself to look at her properly, but I still end up blurting out the main question on my mind.
"Um… why did you refuse him? I-I mean, I know he's an idiot and he's an idiot after all, but…"
"I… don't know if his feelings are for me or for Lucy…"
"...? What does that…?"
"Hmh, nevermind. I just don't feel ready for such a big commitment."
"Oh… Are you going back to the dorms?"
"Hm."
I really don't know how to feel or act right now. I should be happy that Lucy isn't going to get taken away from me, but also maybe disappointed since the best possible future is now unlikely to happen.
And also… what was up with that wild idea that popped into my head. That Lucy should just… stay with me? Something like that has never crossed my mind before, just what exactly would that entail?
I'm so confused…
So in the end the two of us just walk back in complete silence.