Chapter 1 - Chapter 1

Translator: Nox

Erika: My Friend Is Obsessed with Me - Chapter 1Erika: My Friend Is Obsessed with MeChapter 1

Chapter 1

Erica - When a Friend Becomes Obsessed with Me

She had seen where it was from a distance, but this was her first time getting close to it.

Even when Chaud showed her around the Grand Duke’s Castle in the past, she had only looked at the North Tower from afar.

A place only those permitted by the Grand Duke could enter.

Since they said no one could enter carelessly, she had asked half-jokingly back then.

“Not even me?”

“Of course you can.”

She was used to Chaud’s special treatment.

In truth, Erica always gave him special treatment too, so she thought it was fair enough.

“…….”

“…….”

The old man guarding the North Tower handed her a lantern as if it were only natural.

Even though it was daytime, the inside of the tower was pitch-black. Thick blackout curtains hung over every window.

Step. Step.

She slowly climbed the stairs.

She felt a bit dazed. Was it because sounds echoed so heavily in this enclosed space?

Come to think of it, she had been spacing out occasionally ever since returning from the Ancient Ruins.

Chaud had spoken of it nonchalantly, but she had never lost her memory so completely, not even when dead drunk.

Something felt unsettling.

Step.

“…….”

Erica stopped midway.

She held the lantern high.

‘……Portraits?’

Large paintings hung on the wall.

Two portraits hung side by side.

Dark blue hair and blue-green eyes.

Even a complete stranger could tell at a glance that they were Chaud’s father and elder brother.

Erica stared up intently at the two massive portraits.

A sense of déjà vu washed over her.

‘Have I seen these faces before?’

After tilting her head in wonder for a brief moment, she figured it was only natural for them to look familiar since they resembled Chaud.

‘…….’

She began walking again, continuing her climb up the tower.

She arrived at the Library.

Creak—

As she pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, she heard a presence from within.

Chaud poked his head out from between the bookshelves.

“Erica.”

Erica hung the lantern on a wall sconce and walked over to him.

“What are you doing here?”

“……Just looking for something. I was going to head out soon. Did you eat breakfast? Let’s—”

“What are you looking for?”

“……Just something.”

Erica lifted her head and looked around the Library.

It was an old library with dust drifting in the air, but its scale was immense.

In terms of book volume alone, it rivaled the Imperial Library.

The only difference was that it was darker and gloomier than the Imperial Library.

“Hmm.”

She walked along, lightly tapping the books lined up on the shelves with her finger.

Without exception, the book titles were not written in the Imperial Language.

‘I suppose people of the Grand Duke’s family have been able to read all of this for generations?’

For instance, Chaud’s late father or elder brother.

The thought suddenly crossing her mind, she asked.

“I saw the portraits on my way up. Are they your father and brother?”

“Yeah.”

“They were really handsome.”

“Because they share my bloodline.”

“…….”

It made sense, but feeling awkward about agreeing with him, she rolled her eyes.

“Is there no portrait of your mother?”

“It’s kept somewhere else.”

“Ah, right.”

Erica said casually, as if it had just occurred to her.

“I guess it’s still kept in the Underground Storage.”

“……?”

Chaud turned his head to look at Erica.

“Did I ever tell you that?”

“Huh? That your mother’s portrait and keepsakes are in the Grand Duke’s Castle Underground Storage……”

Erica paused.

Had she heard this from Chaud?

“When you were little…… you said you ran away from home when your mother passed away.”

“…….”

“Right before running away, you stared at your mother’s portrait and keepsakes hidden in the Underground Storage by your brother for days on end…… Huh? How do I know this?”

Erica frowned deeply.

She pressed firmly between her brows with her fingertips. A headache began to throb.

“Didn’t you tell me?”

“……You really saw it.”

Chaud muttered in a low voice.

“It wasn’t a false illusion…… It was real.”

He groaned in anguish.

He slammed shut the book he was reading. Dust rose into the air.

He shoved it onto the shelf, pulled out another book beside it, and flipped open to a random page.

It seemed as if he were holding back his anger through meaningless motions.

“Erica. I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

“Hm?”

Suppressing a sigh, Chaud turned the page, though his eyes weren’t on the words.

“Is Rubellite handsome?”

“……What?”

Erica stared at him in utter disbelief.

The sudden question left her stunned.

Rubellite? Did he mean that Rubellite? Was there someone else with the same name other than the Crown Prince?

As she rolled her eyes in thought—

“No, I’m more handsome anyway. Let me rephrase the question.”

“……?”

“If that bastard repents for all the wrongs he’s done and begs you on his knees, do you plan on forgiving him?”

“……??”

What on earth was he talking about now?

Erica couldn’t follow his train of thought at all, having no clue how to even respond.

“Phew…… What I mean is.”

Chaud paused to catch his breath and looked straight at Erica.

“……Do you think the day will ever come when you fall for Rubellite?”

“Have I lost my mind? Do you want to die?”

What kind of utter nonsense was this!

“Are you picking a fight with me right now? You wanna go? Let’s have at it!”

Only when Erica lost her temper did Chaud let out a faint chuckle.

“Right.”

He chuckled hollowly and shook his head.

“Of course.”

His eyes curved into a smile.

“Then that’s enough. I can handle things on my own.”

“Are you going to keep talking nonsense out of nowhere?”

“Erica, you’re hungry, right? What should we go eat?”

“……??”

Erica was about to get swept along by his pace again when she suddenly snapped back to her senses.

“Wait, Chaud. I have something to say.”

This was something she could no longer put off.

The very reason she had come here to see Chaud.

“I have to return to the Imperial Capital now. I’m really running late.”

“…….”

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“……Erica.”

“I’ll come visit again next time. I can even take a sabbatical leave now. I promise I’ll definitely stop by again.”

“Don’t go.”

“We can see each other again.”

“Don’t go. If you leave…… I’ll never see you again.”

“…….”

Erica pressed a hand to her forehead.

She would be a fool to fall for words like that.

Who wouldn’t see whom ever again? It was utterly absurd.

Chaud refusing to see me? There was a limit to bluffing.

“……Phew.”

Erica let out a sigh.

“For now…… alright.”

She realized that trying to persuade Chaud was hopeless.

There was no other way.

Early dawn the next day.

The pitch-black night had not yet fully receded, leaving the sky a dim, dusky indigo.

Grand Duke’s Castle Outer South Gate.

Leap!

Thud!

Landing on the ground from atop the ramparts.

The one looking around and moving swiftly was none other than Erica.

‘I wanted to hold everyone’s hands and say goodbye one by one.’

She felt bad for Chaud and the people of the Grand Duke’s Castle, but she had no choice.

‘I’ll come back later and give them a proper farewell.’

At this rate, she would remain trapped in the Grand Duke’s Castle, endlessly delaying the day she returned to the Imperial Capital.

Erica made a swift decision.

She would slip away from the Grand Duke’s Castle while Chaud was off his guard.

She might get discovered soon and he might give chase, but she was confident in her speed. All she needed was to get out of the North first.

Peek. Marshmallow’s head poked out of her pocket, peering outside.

“Let’s go, Marshmallow.”

The little furball gave a tiny yawn. It was hard to tell if it was an answer or just sleepiness.

Erica chuckled softly and stroked that tiny head.

“We’re heading back to the Heavenly Emperor’s Castle.”

Her swift steps moved like lightning.

A vast, empty room.

Chaud stood in the center of it for a long time.

When Erica didn’t come to wake him this morning, he had thought she was sleeping in for the first time in a while.

Even so, the reason he waited quietly was because he loved it when she came to him.

In the end, it was nearly noon when he visited her room.

“…….”

A space devoid of any sign of life. When he was met with that chilling emptiness.

“W-Well, she didn’t come out of the room, so we only assumed she was still asleep……”

When he saw the flustered maids, and the knights scrambling through the main castle in an uncharacteristic panic.

“…….”

When he felt the vast Grand Duke’s Castle suddenly drained of all warmth and instinctively knew she had left.

‘…….’

Chaud felt his heart sink endlessly into the abyss.

Even falling into a pit of mud would feel better than this.

Even with a blade held against his throat, breathing would be easier than this.

With a rustle,

he picked up the letter left on the table.

It was written in Erica’s cheerful handwriting.

The message stating her return to the Imperial Capital was heartfelt, and the little drawing in the corner was helplessly adorable.

Chaud brought the letter to the tip of his nose and inhaled.

‘She’s gone.’

He cast his eyes down.

Keeping his mouth closed, he breathed very slowly.

‘……She really left.’

Watching his demeanor, not a single person dared to approach him.