The Weight of Choice

“Did we have to teach him from that point on?”

The group, who hadn’t even considered that they’d need to explain how to seduce Ensi, were stunned.

However, Lily and Titania—who could be considered the most well-versed in romance among them—regained their senses relatively quickly. They silently exchanged glances.

‘What are we going to do?’ ‘I don’t know either.’ ‘Shouldn’t we at least give him some common methods?’ ‘But if Ensi finds out we’re involved, he might get angry.’

Unlike their usual chatter, the two exchanged a wealth of dialogue through their eyes alone before simultaneously offering bright smiles. No matter how they looked at it, there was only one conclusion.

“Well… you’ll have to figure that out on your own, won’t you?”

“Looking at Ensi’s reaction, you seem to be doing fine even without our help. You can do it, Agniell!”

How many times had they faced disaster after meddling in someone else’s romance? Lily and Titania knew when to draw the line.

Seeing the two distance themselves so cleanly, Agniell turned his gaze to Donovan and Luke in turn, but he found no help there. They avoided his eyes as if they’d been waiting for the chance, exuding an air of deep discomfort. It was a sight that didn’t offer even a glimmer of hope for an answer.

“Anyway, you’re still cooperating, right?”

“Yes.”

Agniell felt like the future was pitch black in a different sense, but he didn’t rescind his decision. At his firm answer, Lily smiled brightly and clapped her hands together.

“Now, who’s going to take the heat (be the sacrificial lamb)?”

In contrast to her cheerful voice, the content of her words made everyone except Agniell exchange tense glances.

“I’m out. I’ve already been scolded.”

Titania, who had been the first to face Ensi’s wrath earlier, smiled and waved her hand. Her gesture, which screamed ‘do it yourself,’ made Luke and Donovan groan.

“I… Ahem. I won’t do it. Do you know how much money goes into research? I can’t afford to get on his bad side right now.”

“You petty bastard! How dare you use research as an excuse…!”

Though his conscience pricked him, Luke forced himself to maintain a shameless expression. As the likelihood of Luke being the representative shrank, Donovan quickly joined the fray.

“I can’t do it either! You know, Lily? Adventure costs just as much as research. If I try to persuade him and he decides it’s too dangerous and cuts my funding instead—”

“Ack! Donovan! You’re going to act like this too?”

With everyone ducking out, only Lily was left. Honestly, she knew she was the most appropriate person to inform Ensi of their plan, but she was trying her best to ignore that fact.

“Wait. What does ‘taking the heat’ mean?”

Agniell, who had followed the conversation but failed to understand the nuance, frowned slightly.

“Ah—I should watch my mouth.”

I’m definitely destined to be ruined by my own tongue. Realizing her slip, Lily gave her careless mouth a light slap and explained again using more literal terms.

“We’re looking for someone to go to Ensi, tell him the plan, and get scolded. Of course, after being scolded, they have to come back with permission to go through with it.”

“Is it such a difficult task that you’re pushing it on each other?”

No matter how much interest Agniell had in Ensi, he hadn’t spent enough time with him to fully grasp his personality. At the innocent question—possible only because of his ignorance—Lily’s eyes sparkled.

If this goes well—

“No, Lily! Why are you trying to sabotage his progress when he’s just starting to build favor?”

Before the quick-witted Lily could speak, Donovan realized what she was thinking and objected.

“Donovan is right. No matter how scary Ensi is, I think it’s better for you to deliver the news, Lily.”

Thanks to Donovan, Titania also caught on to Lily’s thoughts and immediately expressed her opposition. Even if Ensi was likely to be lenient because he liked Agniell, this was a strictly separate matter.

“No! I didn’t start this, so why do I have to be the one? If you look at it, Luke was the one who brought it up first!”

Lily, who looked like she was about to take the fall alone after overthinking, hurriedly dragged Luke into it. Luke, expecting Lily to cling to him, shrugged his shoulders leisurely.

“I am the research personnel.”

He turned away from Lily, stepping back and claiming he had merely written a research proposal that she then adopted. Lily let out a dry laugh at the brilliant excuse.

“Don’t give me that! You didn’t just write the proposal; we made the plan together!”

“Yes. We made it ‘together.’ But if we calculate the share of responsibility, Lily, yours is definitely the highest.”

Agniell, who was watching this masterful display of passing the buck, cleared his throat lightly to draw attention.

“May I leave now?”

It seemed like the essential talk was over, and it didn’t seem like his role to deliver today’s news to Ensi. More precisely, he didn’t want it to be. There was clearly a reason why they were so desperate to avoid the task. Since he and Ensi hadn’t even shared proper feelings yet, he didn’t want to start by being hated. Just for now, Agniell decided to be cunning.

“True, it’s getting late. Goodbye, Agniell. See you again if the chance arises.”

Titania was the one to respond. Having noticed Agniell’s intention, she smiled brightly and quickly pushed him toward the door.

“Wait, wait! We’re a community of destiny right now! Where do you think you’re going—”

“No, Lily. Let him go.”

Lily tried to catch him, but Titania hung onto her shoulders, stopping her. Agniell, leaving a silent thanks to Titania, slipped out of the club room.

In the end, Lily did not carry the burden alone. Asserting that pain was meant to be shared, she eventually dragged Luke and Donovan with her.

They avoided the night Ensi had been bedridden, as his nerves were always on edge when he was unwell. Delivering such a massive announcement then would have resulted in far more than just a scolding. They were calculating; since it was a matter that couldn’t be delayed for too long, they chose the date more carefully than ever.

Two days after that incident-filled day, the operation began.

The three of them were now kneeling before Ensi, who was sitting on his bed with his legs crossed, smoking his pipe.

“Um, Teacher… please… please take the circumstances into account…”

Lily’s legs were numb from kneeling so long. She secretly circulated mana to ease the tingling while keeping a close eye on Ensi’s mood. Smoke dispersed as Ensi exhaled languidly. Sensing the faint anger simmering within him, Lily swallowed hard, wondering if they had truly crossed a line.

“Any grounds for extenuating circumstances?”

The slight curve of Ensi’s lips revealed his true state. At the voice that held an almost eerie chill, Lily quickly lowered her head.

“It seems there are none. I was wrong.”

“At least you know. I thought you didn’t, since you acted so recklessly.”

By the time Ensi found out, they had already sent letters to their families. It meant they had secured permission and were coordinating schedules with the Academy in just two short days. Ensi rested his chin on his hand as he looked at his incredibly decisive friends.

“You guys pulled Agniell in too, didn’t you?”

“That, well, you see…”

The pipe between Ensi’s fingers moved up and down. Following that light movement, the trail of smoke was disrupted.

“He must have thought it was detestable. Because of your nonsensical stubbornness, he’s going to have a hard time. With your personalities, how could you stand to see Agniell resting comfortably while you suffer? Right?”

There wasn’t a single word out of place. That had been their exact sentiment when they decided to include him. They had put forward plausible reasons to persuade Agniell, but their underlying motives remained clear to Ensi.

“Do you know? You’ve forced a choice upon me.”

The choice of being with Agniell. Ensi twitched an eyebrow, displeased.

“Moving to the capital even if it means a break from the Academy… you’ve thrown a massive piece of bait to the social world.”

Ensi knew the Duke’s conditions hadn’t been made public yet. Even Agniell had kept quiet about it. But the moment they all left the Academy for the capital, it was only a matter of time before the rumors started.

“If I don’t end up with Agniell, this story will echo through high society for decades like a round song.”

They would be mocked as fools who wasted their time blinded by emotion. Not only would their reputations plummet, but marriage prospects would dry up. Even if Agniell remained a “high-quality asset,” his social standing would be forever tied to this scandal.

“Huh? But you said you realized it, didn’t you? That you like Agniell? Wasn’t it more than just a simple favor?”

Lily had assumed Ensi would naturally start dating Agniell. That was why she hadn’t hesitated to involve him. Even when Luke and Donovan worried that Ensi might give up on his feelings, she had remained optimistic, thinking he would be “greedy” enough to try.

But now, as she realized Ensi was already showing skepticism about the relationship—just as the others had feared—Lily’s eyes shook violently.