Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 64

To Teacher, From Vanessa (64/146)

“If you two aren’t close, then what are you? In my bookstore, you’re always together, going on and on about some passage in some novel, blah blah blah. What is that? What is it!”

“When did we ever do that!”

“Ask anyone. Dozens of people would say you two are extremely close.”

Jonah Hill stated firmly.

“Do you know how coldly that bastard treats others? He’d argue with the king himself if he disagreed, but he was so gentle with you, it was ridiculous. I was flabbergasted when I saw him take off his coat and put it under you because your legs hurt.”

“He’s usually polite to everyone…”

“Was that politeness to you? Was it politeness!”

Jonah Hill glared and snapped, and Vanessa quickly shook her head.

“No, that’s…”

“But you’re not close? Not close! Then I’m practically strangers with him!”

“No, we’re close! We were close!”

“Then why aren’t you close now!”

“I, I!”

Vanessa stammered and then fell silent. Jonah Hill waited patiently for an answer, but Vanessa said nothing.

Jonah Hill clicked her tongue. But she knew very well how to get an answer.

“This won’t do. Let’s have a drink.”

Jonah Hill solemnly poured clear, transparent liquor into Vanessa’s glass.

Vanessa glumly raised her glass. Jonah Hill filled her own glass to the brim and said seriously.

“Cheers.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Thatt’s why I’m sho… sho upset…”

Jonah Hill gritted her teeth, trying not to laugh. There were already more than three empty bottles scattered around, but she was fine. Only Vanessa was wasted.

Jonah Hill was so amused by Vanessa’s drunkenness that she even took out the liquor she had secretly hidden and kept pouring it for her.

“I’m the only one… I’m having a hard time, but why does he keep showing up and making things hard for me!”

Vanessa shouted.

“Th-that’s true. *Sniff*, but he might like you too.”

“How can that be! He’s too, too good to be true…!”

Vanessa got angry and started sobbing. Jonah Hill burst out laughing, causing Vanessa to hit her head on the bookshelf behind her.

“I’m an orphan… and he’s, he’s a duke!”

And Vanessa started hitting the floor again, venting her anger.

“Eugenia [likely a respected senior or mentor] is with him… and… I feel so inferior…. What, what does he think of where I live….”

Jonah Hill truly began to not regret the day she met Vanessa and Gideon.

*This is so fun.* There’s nothing as interesting as human emotions. Especially when you’re watching from outside the storm of emotions.

“Oh, Vanessa. I see why that boy pointed out that passage. Have faith in yourself. An orphan going to Bamberg Academy! Graduating with honors and entering the Ministry of Magic is amazing. What’s so great about a kid born into a ducal family becoming a duke?”

Jonah Hill paused, reconsidering her words.

“Well, the Special Forces Commander is another story. And the swordsmanship… no, the magical skills too….”

“What does a kid know! He, he doesn’t know anything…. You can’t believe in yourself unless you have something….”

Vanessa retorted angrily.

*Well, she’s too drunk now.* Jonah Hill grinned, took a sip of her drink, and put it back down.

The flushed cheeks, the teary blue eyes, and the muttering lips were pretty and cute, but she didn’t want to deal with it.

*Well, I’m the one who got her drunk, though. Anyway.*

In the first place, the second floor of the bookstore was barely big enough for Jonah Hill alone, and there was nothing to cover her with.

But Jonah Hill knew how to make things more interesting. Today’s diary was going to be very eventful.

Jonah Hill patted Vanessa and hugged her waist. Vanessa’s body, softened by alcohol, clung to her well.

Jonah Hill’s lips stretched wide as she felt him. She couldn’t control her grinning mouth anymore.

Jonah Hill wrote a small note and put it in Vanessa’s pants pocket. *See you tomorrow, Vanessa.*

“Vanessa. Let’s go to bed now. To a very good place!”

The sight of Gideon’s face twisting was something to look forward to.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Even though it was late at night, Gideon couldn’t fall asleep.

Having a lot of work was natural since he had taken over this position. Everyone shook their heads, saying it was impossible for him to become the head of the Special Forces, but somehow he adapted.

However, various thoughts were strangling him.

Hope would sprout, only to be followed by despair. It was impossible to gauge.

When he missed those sparkling blue eyes, he hesitated dozens of times before writing a reply on paper. But he never sent it.

He couldn’t bring himself to approach her first. The thought that they should never have met consumed his mind.

*But if that hadn’t happened, would I have ever found you?*

Perhaps he should just tell her everything and beg for forgiveness. This was the first time he had such anguish in his life, and he couldn’t find the answer.

He simply lacked confidence in everything.

Just as he was pressing his tired eyes with his hand, a loud noise echoed outside the castle. And then, a brief silence.

Gideon was puzzled and got up, and soon the inside of the castle began to stir as well.

Soon, someone rushed in and burst into his office. It was his aide, Miguel.

“Your Highness, I apologize for the intrusion. You must come out for a moment.”

“Did someone break into the castle?”

“Yes, that’s right. But they seem to be a skilled magician and are causing a commotion, claiming to be an acquaintance of yours, so we couldn’t easily drive them away.”

Gideon put on a gown over his indoor clothes, grabbed his sword, and strode out. Miguel followed him, speaking quickly.

“They identified themselves as Jonah Hill and brought someone else with them.”

“Jonah Hill?”

Gideon frowned. If it was the Jonah Hill he knew, she would never come to him first. *What brings her to the castle?*

The closer he got to the bottom of the stairs, the more the commotion seemed to penetrate the thick walls. Jonah Hill was loudly making a fuss, and the castle staff seemed to be at a loss for what to do.

When Gideon stepped out into the front yard, he saw Jonah Hill surrounded by guards in the distance.

But he stopped and didn’t approach any further. His eyes narrowed to better discern what was in the distance.

Miguel looked up at him questioningly.

“Your Highness, isn’t that your acquaintance?”

Gideon didn’t seem to care about Miguel. He was only focused on understanding the situation before him, and he moved with hurried steps.

“Hey! Hey, Gideon!”

Jonah Hill waved one hand excitedly. As a result, Vanessa’s body, supported by only one hand, swayed along with her.

Gideon approached fiercely, and Jonah Hill grinned and presented Vanessa, who was half-asleep, like a shield.

Vanessa almost fell, and Gideon reached out in surprise.

“You–”

“Instead of being grateful, who are you talking to?”

“Did you give her alcohol?”

“Did I give it to her? She drank it herself.”

Gideon was speechless. He couldn’t believe that Vanessa was half-asleep despite all the commotion.

“How many bottles did she drink?”

“Oh, about four bottles were rolling around when we left. The third bottle was Massaro [likely a type of expensive liquor]. It smelled so good….”

“You.”

Faced with his cold expression, Jonah Hill was certain.

He was so used to having unilateral affection forced upon him by countless people every day that he was sensitive to emotions directed at him. He would shudder like a germaphobe when faced with unwanted affection.

If he hadn’t noticed Vanessa’s feelings, it was probably because he was more eager.

He wasn’t the type to continue a relationship he didn’t want.

So….

“Hey, Gideon.”

Jonah Hill grinned and whispered something in his ear. Gideon’s expression hardened, and Jonah Hill completely handed Vanessa over to him.

“Don’t act like an idiot.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“Then you, who knows, should act right. She’s cute, pretty, diligent, and smart. Anyone would like her, not just you.”

Gideon covered Vanessa with the gown he was wearing, trying to avoid touching her skin as much as possible, and supported her with his arms.

Vanessa was slightly annoyed when she felt the body that was anything but soft, but firm, but she quickly fell asleep again.

“Prepare a place for the guest to stay.”

Gideon dismissed the castle staff with those words. But when Gideon’s aide, Miguel, stood there dumbly, Jonah Hill pretended to kick him.