There is no happy ending

***

The two went on a date.

The two went on a date, just as Rayman had said. Technically, they weren’t alone, as Jade often followed them when they weren’t far apart.

They were often seen in the same places, like Raymond’s favorite street, the Volona, or wherever they spent most of their time outside. If their time on the boat had been about getting to know Bianca, this time it was the other way round. Now it was time for Bianca to get to know him.

‘I thought the people of Volona were the only people in it.’

‘I make sure to get out at least once a week, otherwise, life in the academy is like life in a monastery.’

‘Maybe it’s not that you can’t stand it?’

‘What the…… there is such a thing.’

They chatted moderately in front of the last restaurant. The last restaurant he suggested was not too far from the main entrance to Volona.

He was a down-to-earth guy, and the restaurant wasn’t exactly upscale to prove it, but Bianca didn’t dislike the places he showed her. Maybe this wasn’t falborne after all, she thought, and maybe she’d let loose a little.

‘Ms Bianca.’

Rayman suddenly called out to her. His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something.

‘What?’

‘……that, um. I mean…….’

As he stammered, Bianca spoke firmly.

‘Rayman, just say it right, or I won’t listen.’

That was very Bianca. Rayman fiddled with the handle of his parasol and finally spoke.

‘I want you to get in. I always did, but even more now.’

For the first time, one of his eyes crinkled. Bianca had never seen him look like that before. She’d thought she’d gotten to know him well enough in the two weeks she’d been on the ship, but not enough. There were still many expressions she hadn’t seen before.

‘I will.’

He said, his tone a little wry, like he was saying something new.

‘I’m afraid we’re going to break up like this, even though we didn’t have a great first meeting…….’

‘…….’

‘Oh, of course, it was my fault, so I don’t blame you. Anyway, I still think we’re getting to know each other well, and as you know, Bianca, I tend to put a lot of thought into things when I meet people, so I don’t like to think about the beginning and end of a relationship.’

‘I know, and that’s what I’m struggling with right now.’

Bianca joked, adding that you were a harder man than you thought. Rayman smiled vaguely and scratched the back of his neck.

‘There are graduates of …… who don’t go back to their hometowns after graduating from the academy, they become tutors.’

So he has a point. He was worried that Bianca, who was studying for her midterm entrance exams, didn’t know anyone here, and that there was no one to help her.

He said he could introduce her to someone, and then turned around and explained what he meant. His tone was pure concern and goodwill, without the slightest hint of judgment, and Bianca nodded obediently.

Rayman pressed the yangshan into Bianca’s hand. His eyes lingered briefly on her hand as she took it as if he wanted to kiss it, and then he left.

‘If you come out next Shabbat, I’ll come to…… and find you, Bianca.’

‘You know where I’m staying?’

Feeling Rayman’s gaze, Bianca held out the back of her other hand to him. Rayman’s face was tinged with worry, and he gave a small smile. Rayman took Bianca’s hand in his large but delicately shaped one.

‘I’d be happy to come to you if you’d let me know, sweetheart. I’m a coward, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try.’

Rayman’s lips pressed briefly against the back of Bianca’s hand.

‘I’m going to buy a house here.’

‘You’re not staying at ……?’

‘I’m the kind of person who stays in one place for a long time. If I buy a mansion, I won’t have to sell again for years, and I won’t regret my choice.’

Rayman smiled broadly at that. It was exactly what I needed to hear.

The man with the red hair that looked like a blazing flame in the bright sunlight, the slender golden eyes that curved gently when he smiled, and the giant of a man, about a foot taller than Bianca, was all smiles at her words. Bianca added, the corners of her mouth curling up in a strange sense of conquest.

‘I’ll send a servant to the front door in the morning on the Sabbath, and if I’m really valuable, you’ll have to come running out as soon as the sun rises.’

‘Whether or not?’

Reiman never refused Bianca’s offer. It was a satisfying outcome.

Afterward, Rayman showed Bianca some good restaurants, just as he had told her the first time. Then, after a few wistful glances, they walked back to the academy. Saranen and Volona were very close. It was easy enough to walk.

It had been a busy, very busy, very busy week for Bianca since her breakup with Reiman.

During the week she bought a red-roofed mansion in the centre of Saranen. It had a red roof, but that wasn’t a big deal, as Saranen is called the Red Roof City, so there were plenty of red roofs.

I also hired five additional people to manage the mansion. More would have been nice, but Bianca wasn’t a big fan of people, so five good people were enough. They all had good backgrounds.

She was introduced to the tutor through a letter from Rayman. The letter repeatedly emphasized that he was a strange man, not a bad man, and that he was good at what he did.

The tutor arrived at the mansion on the appointed day and was a typical Osirian woman with dark hair and eyes. Her skin was the color of well-baked bread, and she looked like she had more than Osirian blood in her veins.

The tutor greeted me in perfect Falvonian manners.

‘Ava Owyn.’

The first impression was a pass. Bianca replied nonchalantly.

‘Bianca Morning.’

Ava’s dark eyes lit up with intelligence at the sound of Bianca’s name, but also with an odd glow as if she’d taken the wrong medication.

Bianca forced herself to look away from the negative gaze. According to Rayman’s letter, Ava was one of the geniuses Volona had produced, so it couldn’t be…… that those eyes were glazed over with madness.

Ava had graduated from Volona with very high honors, she was also an eccentric who had switched majors and re-enrolled in the Swordsmanship Faculty half a year after graduation, simply because she didn’t want to leave Volona and didn’t want to work at the same time.

‘But it’s quite…….’

Bianca swept a nervous glance at Ava. Then Ava leaped forward and took Bianca’s hand in her own. One of Bianca’s eyebrows went up, but Ava didn’t seem to mind, smiling and shaking her hand repeatedly.

For some reason, Ava seemed very happy to see Bianca. Ava’s cheeks flushed with joy.

‘You must be Morning of Falborne,’ she said, ’I remember reading with great fondness as a child about the founding of Falborne with its first king, Isaac Morning. I am honored.’

The thought flashed through Bianca’s mind, but she didn’t say anything, because she didn’t have to. Ava’s personality didn’t matter to Bianca.

‘Is that your sister next to you? She’s very beautiful, just like you.’

No. Does it matter?

‘Fair skin, …… fish oil, good. She has long legs.’

‘That’s enough…….’

‘Your voice sounds like jade beads rolling on a silver tray. Say it one more time.’

Bianca was conflicted when she saw Ava flirting with Jade not long afterward. Ava acted as if she would have flirted with Jade in a heartbeat if Bianca hadn’t been there, grotesquely squeezing her hands. Bianca glared at Ava, her face cold.

She wondered if that was the prodigy …… that Volona had produced. She remembered the contents of Rayman’s letter. The person he was going to introduce me to was someone else, but for some reason, I volunteered to help him find a tutor.

I also remembered the line that said it was a strange thing for an Avatar who doesn’t like to help his juniors or peers.

‘……You.’

Bianca chose her words.

‘You say things that would tear my mouth off if this were Falborn.’

The words were uneven.

‘Tear his mouth out!’

‘He’s my servant. It’s rude to resemble him.’

‘Oh, your servant? I apologize if that’s the case.’

At the mention of a servant, Ava bowed low to the ground. It was an overly exaggerated gesture. Bianca’s brows narrowed again.

Still bowing, Ava lifted her head and made eye contact with Bianca, and what followed was an excuse. Bianca laughed hysterically.

‘But I’m sure you think all Osirians are alike…….’

‘…….’

‘Oh, I thought Oswald told me not to be hateful. I’m sorry, Do you think you can keep this a secret, Although I fully expect and hope you forgive me once I get down on all fours and apologize…

‘……Do you get called a glutton a lot?’

Bianca asked, and Ava replied, ‘A little,’ as if she were being complimented.

The gnawing lice, here they come.

***]