I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

“Hehe~.”

Evelyn usually became particularly fierce as ‘Elise’s Day’ approached, but today, she seemed to be in a good mood.

The reason was somewhat predictable.

‘…Because of the important talk, probably.’

Evelyn seemed to naturally assume that I was going to confess…

Far from confessing, I was actually planning to reveal that I’ve been involved with other women besides Evelyn and intend to be with even more in the future.

“Hehehe~.”

“….”

The happier Evelyn looked, the more I thought I might actually die this time.

If the roles were reversed…

‘…Ian, actually, I have other men and will have more in the future.’

Ah…

This is really not good.

Not to mention relationships, just imagining Evelyn holding another man’s hand was enough to make my insides twist in agony.

“Hey, what should I wear this weekend? Hurry up and tell me. What should I wear to look pretty?”

“…I told you, you look pretty in anything.”

“Hehe… I know, you bastard.”

“….”

It was painful to look at Evelyn’s smiling face, so I averted my gaze.

‘…Huh?’

Today, the classroom felt unusually crowded.

‘No, it wasn’t just a feeling…’

Because it was the eve of ‘Elise’s Day’, there really were a lot of students from other classes.

Bang-!!

Suddenly, Evelyn slammed her desk and stood up.

“Ah, you scared me… What are you doing? Sit down, it’s embarrassing…”

“Ahem!! NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT! Ian!! You were sick with a disease that makes you die if you eat chocolate!!!”

Evelyn was spouting more nonsense than usual today.

“No… What are you talking about? When did I ever…”

“Shut up. Anyway, you die if you eat chocolate.”

“…Yes.”

I meekly nodded, feeling Evelyn’s gaze as if she’d kill me herself if I ate chocolate, even if there was no such disease.

Bang-!!

Startled by the sudden noise, Estelle turned to look at Evelyn.

“Ahem!! NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT! Ian!! You were sick with a disease that makes you die if you eat chocolate!!!”

With just one remark from Evelyn, the gazes of other girls, who had been stealing glances at Ian, scattered in an instant.

-What the heck, so annoying…

-Always saying they’re childhood friends but acts like his girlfriend when it suits her…

-Who does she think she is?

Some girls complained in a volume low enough not to be overheard by Evelyn…

But she knew.

‘…Evelyn.’

If any of them had sincerely attempted to give Ian chocolate, Evelyn would never have interfered.

Swoosh-

Estelle slowly closed her eyes, recalling the day of the group project presentation a few days ago.

Nothing came to mind.

‘Yes, it’s a date request. …And there’s important stuff to talk about.’

Ian’s confession to Evelyn was the only thing that stayed in her mind.

“Thank you for saying that. I’ll be going now.”

She left the two with a forced smile.

-Creak -Creak.

‘I shouldn’t be sad… I mustn’t be sad…’

To Ian, she was just a classmate and the president of the library club.

So, she didn’t even have the right to be sad.

“Sigh…”

It was only after she had been pushing her wheelchair for a while that she let out a sigh.

It seemed like a place with little human presence would allow her to sort out her feelings.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

Just then, the sound of someone running from behind made her bite her lip.

‘…Why now of all times?’

It happened occasionally.

Being in a place where few people went, idiots harboring grudges against her would charge at her.

But the timing was terrible.

…Now, even ‘holding back’ seemed difficult for her.

“Sigh… Finally found you, Estelle.”

“…E…Evelyn?”

Her body trembled at the realization that it was Evelyn who had followed her.

She was afraid.

Afraid that she could hurt Evelyn…

And that it would make Ian hate her.

‘…Don’t come.’

Please…

‘Don’t let me hurt you.’

Step- Step-

Despite her fervent wishes, Evelyn didn’t stop.

‘…Ah.’

It was distressing, but she could understand why Evelyn might harbor resentment towards her.

They were about to become real lovers.

Someone like her must have been an unwelcome sight by Ian’s side.

So, she had decided not to approach Ian anymore…

Drip-

“Estelle.”

“….”

And finally, Evelyn, who had come close enough to reach out and touch, spoke.

“Are you going to eat lunch?”

“…….What?”

“Huh? I asked if you’re going to eat lunch?”

“…No. As I said earlier, I’m not feeling well and not hungry…”

Grrr─

Her stomach, which usually never made a sound, chose today of all times to growl loudly.

“Ha, even lying about this… Really just like Ian used to be…”

“…What?”

“Why do you keep asking again after hearing? You’re just like Ian used to be. Here. Take it, let’s eat in that empty classroom.”

Evelyn handed her a lunchbox.

It was the same lunchbox she always shared with Ian.

“…Why?”

The question wasn’t about the lunchbox.

‘Why are you being so kind to me?’

It was clear now that she had followed Estelle here.

Even if she hid her feelings, Evelyn had already noticed them.

Why, instead of telling her not to approach Ian and slapping her, was Evelyn being kind to her?

“Why? Because you’re hungry, right? Let’s eat.”

“…You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

“Ha… Even this part is similar.”

Evelyn, opening the door to an empty classroom and spreading out the lunchbox, said.

“I know, even if I understand, what can I do? If a person’s heart could be controlled at will, it wouldn’t be a heart. And that clueless idiot can survive missing a meal.”

“….”

She felt disgusted with herself.

She had thought people who judged others based on prejudice were despicable, but she was no different.

With prejudice, she had been unfairly judging innocent Evelyn.

“…Ah, don’t get me wrong, Estelle.”

Evelyn said, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling.

“I’m not saying I’ll give up. No matter who it is, I won’t let them take anything from me.”

“……Don’t worry. I’ve never thought of taking anything, nor do I believe I have the right to.”

“What are you saying… Hey, do you know how many girls I’ve seen flocking around that bastard while I was by his side? …The bastard is selfishly too handsome… Fucking bastard.”

“….”

Ian was handsome.

Estelle had to agree with that, undoubtedly.

“Well, 90% of the girls charmed by Ian give up within a week anyway.”

“…Why?”

“Because of me. Honestly, I’m pretty, right?”

“….”

NomNom- Gulp-

Evelyn, making another undeniable statement, swallowed a piece of grilled eel.

“Just trying once, these pretty childhood friends realize they have no chance and give up.”

“…What about the remaining 10%?”

“Those are the girls who think they’re somewhat attractive. They believe they can seduce Ian even with me around.”

“….”

“Usually, they give up within a month. That idiot is so oblivious… No matter how much they flirt, it doesn’t work, and they think, ‘Ah~ I’m rejected~’ and turn away.”

Was this about her?

But Estelle never pushed herself onto Ian, nor had she ever thought she was attractive.

“And it’s not 10% Estelle, it’s 9.9%.”

“…?”

“The last 0.1% are girls who just like ‘Ian’ as a person, like you.”

“….”

“Honestly, it pisses me off… But what can I do if they’re madly in love? Go argue? Beg? Ask them not to steal Ian from me? I can’t do that.”

“….”

“Sigh… Well, even though I say this, if it looks like I’m about to lose Ian right in front of my eyes, maybe I really would… But for now, I just believe Ian will choose me.”

“…..I, I don’t…not to that extent..”

“Not madly in love? What will you do if Ian dies today? I’d die with him.”

Evelyn spoke casually, but it made her sincerity all the more palpable.

For Evelyn, the idea of dying if Ian died was too natural.

‘…Ian dying?’

The mere thought made Estelle’s blood run cold.

It should never happen…

But if such a thing were to occur, she would first find and kill all those responsible for Ian’s death.

And then…

Snap-!

The sound of a finger snap brought her back to reality.

“See? The fact that you’re seriously thinking about this shows you’re part of that 0.1%. Normally, people would take it as a joke and laugh it off, or get scared and back off.”

“…Why, why are you telling me this! This is….!!”

Forcing her to confront emotions she had been desperately suppressing…

It felt as if Evelyn was telling her not to give up on Ian.

“Sigh… Yeah.”

Evelyn sighed deeply and pouted her lips.

“I know it’s really stupid, I know… but I just can’t leave you alone… Ahh!! I’m starting to regret this already!!”

“……Evelyn.”

“Hmph! Don’t get the wrong idea! I’ll say it again, no matter what you do, I have no intention of handing Ian over to you! I just came because I was worried! ….Sigh, but why do I care so much? Is it because you remind me of Ian when we were kids?”

“…What was Ian like as a kid?”

It had been bothering her for a while.

What was Ian like in his childhood that made Estelle resemble him?

“Hehe!”

Evelyn laughed with her unique laugh.

“Curious~? But I won’t tell you~.”

“….”

“It’s a secret between Ian and me. Think of it as a ‘childhood friend privilege.’ After being that bastard’s childhood friend for 15 years, I deserve to have at least this. Hey, eat your food. Isn’t lunchtime almost over?”

“….Ah, yeah. Got it. I’ll enjoy the lunchbox.”

“Good, enjoy your meal. But…eh? What’s that elf doing? Walking in the sky???”

“….”

Evelyn made some strange comment and moved towards the window, as if to give her some space to eat comfortably.

Swoosh─

“Aah~! I’m! Really! Looking! Forward! To! This! Weekend’s! Date!”

“Don’t talk so loudly. Evelyn….”

When Estelle opened her eyes again, Evelyn was still throwing jabs.

‘…Thank you.’

She felt a deep sense of gratitude, seeing Evelyn like this.

‘…Thank you for allowing me to love Ian.’

She understood it wasn’t an easy decision.

Even someone as unworthy as her found it painful just to witness Ian and Evelyn getting along.

Especially since it was Evelyn, who had been by Ian’s side for the longest time.

The length of time you loved someone didn’t determine the depth of love, but the duration of love certainly equaled the extent of the pain.

“…But don’t worry.”

Evelyn won’t have any regrets because of her.

With the macaron that contained all her emotions, for the first and last time…

Estelle decided to end her love for Ian tomorrow.

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