Free Web NovelChapter 101: Sudden Confession
It was afternoon.
With the first round being officially over, a one-hour break was announced.
Around 64 students, who advanced to the second round, could use that time to rest and prepare for the next match.
If one would exit the arena from the back, it would lead to a small building, which was also created just for the tournament week. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Said building was off-limits for the average citizen and was primarily used by the students to either get rest, shower or to change clothes.
And now, Mika was the one, who led Yarjak and Sara Tiam to that building.
"Hey, hey! How come that you don’t participate in the tournament?"
"Don’t pester him like that, Sara."
The two previously suggested to Mika to accompany them as they went for a stroll, however, Mika did not see another option aside from accepting as he could hardly reject the suggestion of a prince or princess.
"I-it’s fine, your Highness." Mika responded stiffly.
"You can call us by our names, you know? We’re the same age after all!" Sara said, smiling brightly.
"But..."
"I agree with her for once. Rather, it would attract more attention if you were to address us by our status while we’re in the public." Yarjak elaborated with a faint smile.
"It would be for the best if you start to speak to us informally." he added.
"If you say so..."
Dozens of people passed past them.
They were currently walking around the arena as they headed for the resting hall.
"And? Why aren’t you fighting in the tournament, Mika?" Sara asked again, leaning closer to him.
"I have an important match on the fourth day. So in order to prepare properly, I decided to not participate in this tournament."
It was not a lie but also not the whole truth. However, there was no way that he could admit that he did not want to participate because he did not see the appeal of participating.
"Huuh, realllly~?"
Sara sounded disappointed.
"I guess we can be even more excited for the fourth day then." Yarjak stated, nodding his head multiple times.
"Why’s that?"
Mika wondered why they would say that after hearing that his match was on that day.
"You must be pretty strong! After all, big Sis acknowledged your existence!" Sara explained energetically.
"Big Sis?"
Mika tilted his head.
"She means Olivia. We’ve known each other since we were children." Yarjak added.
"Yes! Our mother and big Sis are actually good friends! She would always hang out with us whenever she visits Grat!"
"Hm, really?"
Mika sounded surprised without changing his facial expression.
The number of people passing by them decreased as the resting hall was about to be visible.
"Excuse my rudeness, but may I ask you what your relationship with the two siblings is?"
"?!"
Mika jolted at that moment.
"R-relationship...?"
"Yes. They seem pretty fond of you so I was wondering what your relationship with them was."
"Are you perhaps lovers?! Uhhh, how exciting!" Sara shouted, shoving her brother to the side.
"W-we’re just acquaintances! I-it’s nothing like you thought!" Mika rejected Yarjak’s theory hysterically as he blushed and waved his hands wildly.
"Oh, is that so? And I thought that I could read the room well..." Yarjak said while in thought.
Then, more students entered their vision.
Using this opportunity to take the lead in the conversation, Mika switched topics.
"B-b-by the way... You mentioned that you wanted to meet a student, right, Yarjak...?"
Before they exited the VIP lounge, Yarjak revealed that he wanted to go outside so that he could meet up with a participant.
"Indeed, that’s correct."
"Do you know that student’s name or can you give me any hints concerning the appearance?"
"Hmm... Unfortunately, I don’t know her name anymore." he answered dejectedly.
"Gosh, weren’t you listening to the announcement?"
"I was too focused on the person that I blocked off any noise around me."
"Heh, don’t tell me that you fell in love with that person." Mika remarked jokingly.
It did not take long for him to get accustomed to talking with royalties informally. Actually, maybe it was because he was constantly interacting with superiors and other high-ranking individuals that he got used to this.
"..."
Yarjak averted his gaze while blushing.
"N-no way..."
Mika was stunned by his reaction.
A royalty falling in love with a mere student.
He could not believe it.
"This may be the first time Bro fell in love." Sara teased.
"S-silence...!"
"S-so what does the person look like...?"
"She... red..." Yarjak murmured.
"Ehm...?"
"Come on, speak up, Bro!"
"She has-"
"Oh, Mika! What are you doing here?"
At that moment, Lily, followed by Sylvia, approached Mika and the Tiam siblings.
"Are they your friends?" Sylvia wondered, looking at Sara and the now timid-looking Yarjak.
"Yes, let me introduce them to you. She is Sara Tiam."
"Hello!" Sara greeted them enthusiastically.
"And he is Yarjak Tiam."
"N-n-nice to meet you..." he responded sheepishly.
"Nice to meet you!" Lily said with a beaming smile.
"Tiam..." Syliva muttered pensively.
Mika walked over to Sylvia and Lily and leaned closer to them.
"Actually... Those two are the crown prince and crown princess of Grat..." Mika whispered, looking over to Sara and Yarjak.
Sara was tilting her head confusedly, not knowing what Mika told those two.
Meanwhile, it seemed like Yarjak’s head was steaming as he nervously played with his fingers.
"W-what?!"
Lily was very surprised and reflexively took a few steps back.
"I knew it... I’ve heard about the Tiam family before..." Sylvia said sternly.
"Guys, could you go along with our request and pretend like they’re just normal people?" Mika asked nervously.
"You want that we do what?" Sylvia reacted offended.
"t-t-there’s no way we can do that! They’re from the royal family!"
"I know but they want that we speak informally with them...! Just act like this was an order!" Mika whispered.
Sylvia sighed.
"Fine..."
"G-got it...!"
Mika faced the Tiam siblings with an awkward smile.
"T-these are my friends, Sylvia Pyril and Lily Hayth."
Yarjak’s gaze was still cast to the ground.
And it remained like that even when he walked over to Sylvia and Lily.
"I found her..." he muttered when he went past Mika.
"Huh?"
He looked at Yarjak crooked.
Sylvia and Lily were also wondering what he was about to do.
"Yes, that’s her!" Sara stated innocently.
"W-wait..."
Mika was baffled.
"Don’t tell me that..."
Yarjak straightened his posture with his eyes now facing the sky.
There were still students around them and they all started to look in their direction, also pondering what the commotion was about.
"Ehm..."
Lily tried to talk to him but he took a very deep breath.
Yarjak put his hand on his chest and bowed.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yarjak Tiam from the nation of Grat." he introduced himself again, this time in a lot more composed tone.
His introduction seemed like it was not directed to the two of them but rather to just one person.
"From the moment I laid my eyes on you, I fell in love!" Yarjak confessed in a loud voice.
"?!"
Mika, Sylvia and Lily widened their eyes.
"This may be presumptuous of me but may I ask you, Lily Hayth, to go out with me?"
"W-w-what y-you mean me...?!"
Lily was obviously shaken after a crown prince asked her out.
Her cheeks were red and she was starting to sweat on the forehead.
Even Sylvia raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, it has to be you!"
He lifted his face while still bowing, looking at her sternly and firmly.
"I-I..."
Lily was caught off guard by the situation, not knowing what she should say or how she should respond.
"S-sorry, Yarjak but as of now she can’t go out with anyone!"
"?"
Everyone’s eyes shifted to Mika.
"Mika?"
Sara tilted her head in confusion, looking at the embarrassed Mika, who was clenching his fists.
"..."
Lily was staring at him agape, whereas Sylvia smirked.
"What do you mean?" Yarjak asked, turning to Mika.
"W-well..."
Mika’s eyes wandered around, averting Yarjak.
"Lily is currently busy with training. You may not know it but she’s actually trying to get strong enough to join the Grand Order. Things like romance would only reduce her time, which she could use for training." Sylvia explained.
"Oh, you want to join the Grand Order? You’re truly an ambitious woman!"
"This makes me want you even more, however, I can understand it if you want to focus on your goal." he added, feeling surprisingly not dejected.
"I-I’m sorry..." Lily said.
Sara walked over to her and her brother.
"There’s no need for you to apologize. After all, it’s my Bro, who..."
Mika cut off the noise around him as he looked at Sylvia, Sara, Yarjak and Lily.
There was one thing that bugged him.
Something, which did not affect him until now.
"Why..." he muttered.
In the end, he thought that they were all just friends.
"Why was I trying to stop Yarjak...?"
