My Charlotte Hates Me

Chapter 47: First Step

After a few years, I began attending the Royal Academy with Arielle. Even though everyone around me was excited to take their first steps into the Academy for the first time, I could not help but feel troubled as this place had been the site of many horrible memories.

"Are you nervous?" Arielle asked as she got up close to my face.

I noticed that my hand was shaking uncontrollably.

"...Just a little," I answered.

Arielle smiled before holding my hand tightly.

"I am with you, so no need to fear anything," Arielle said sweetly.

In my most recent timeline, I had escaped with you being alive. You were able to get married, have a child, and even experience love a second time. However, none of that was without blood, sweat and tears.

If I walk through these gates, do I have to repeat all of that suffering again and again?

Arielle gently pulled me forward. My feet remained stationed to the ground as if unrelenting to seeing unforeseen changes moving forward. Arielle was alive in this moment. If I could take a pause and stop the world from continuing, I could continue to see this blissful scene over and over and over again.

"...Can we not just take a trip somewhere far?" I asked.

"The school year barely started, and you are already planning our vacation?" Arielle asked with a cheery tone to her voice.

"...I am scared of taking the first step," I said.

"If you are scared, I will take the first step for you," Arielle said as she took a step past the school gates. "I will also go anywhere you like."

Who is protecting whom now?

"...For our trip, I would like to go somewhere abroad," I said as I took a step towards her.

"I will keep that in mind," Arielle said.

We soon heard the screeching of multiple young ladies in the courtyard.

The main cause was Arielle's fiancé Prince Erik Arundel handing out flowers for the incoming freshmen.

Just like always, he handed Arielle a red rose and a white lily for me.

In all of the timelines, this person goes mad with anger every time Arielle dies. In the one time he is able to protect her himself, he dies and leaves Arielle with a scarred heart.

If you cannot protect her properly...

"...why do you exist?" I muttered quietly.

"Let's get going," Arielle said as she pulled me along.

She began staring at her flower.

I never noticed before, but Arielle did not seem too happy upon receiving a flower from her beloved fiancé. Even if he handed flowers to all of the incoming freshmen, Arielle was the only person who received a red rose as a romantic gesture from someone she loves. I thought she would be happy to receive the flower.

"Are you not happy with the flower?" I asked.

Arielle smiled awkwardly.

"It seems that I can never hide anything from you. It is just that I am a little disappointed...He does not even remember my favorite flower," Arielle said in a solemn tone.

Her troubles...her wishes...her aspirations...I know none of them, yet I claim to be the closest person to her.

"I love you," I blurted.

W-What am I saying? I just blurted something outrageous without much thought! I have grown careless!

"Huh? Ah, I love you too, Charlotte," Arielle said with her usual bright smile.

Such sweet words...I should feel elated. However, my heart continues to cry.

"All I wish is for you to be happy," I muttered quietly.

As the day progressed, Arielle's mixed feelings about the rose continued to show on her face.

"Should I throw away the rose?" I asked.

"I think throwing away a rose from my own fiancé would cause some kind of misunderstanding," I said.

Even so, you do not seem entirely put off by my suggestion...

"...It will no longer be your problem once the rose is thrown away," I said as I picked it up.

"Wait...maybe I can dismantle it and turn it into a a scented pouch," Arielle suggested.

Smelling that often would only give you migraines...

"Why not smash it with a mallet and burn it to a crisp? The ashes will be great as fertilizer," I suggested.

"...Why are two young ladies from respectable families speaking of destroying flowers with a crowd of onlookers?" Garett asked.

He had such little presence that I barely heard him walk in.

"...I apologize. I did not mean to be a bother to those around us," Arielle said.

"Is this nonsense about the rose you received from His Highness?" Garett asked Arielle.

"...I did not mean to make a big deal out of it," Arielle said.

"What are you doing here anyways, Glasses?" I asked.

"There were leftover flowers. I have been tasked with them to each and every classroom," Garett said as he showed the basket of flowers hanging by his waist.

"It is not often that we get to see a flower boy," I said teasingly. "They suit you quite well."

"I am just making my rounds. Do not make things any more difficult for me," Garett said brusquely.

"We will try not to make things any more difficult for you," Arielle said with an awkward smile.

"If that flower is making you uncomfortable, just simply exchange it with another," Garett said as he took the rose from Arielle's desk and replaced it with a light pink peony.

Afterwards, he handed a nearby student a bouquet of flowers tied off with a simple ribbon before going on his way.

"He had many different kinds of flowers. Why did he not just let you choose one your own?" I asked Arielle.

"...No, this is fine. I quite like the flower," Arielle said as she held the flower upwards with a gentle smile.

Her spirits seemed as if they lifted immediately from receiving a random flower.

"...That person actually has nice taste," I said quietly.

Without Noel in the picture, my time at the Academy with Arielle was so peaceful to the point where it was almost mundane.

Nearly a year later, strange news unheard of in my past lives were coming up. A woman with black hair and eyes was suddenly making a splash debut with her exotic appearance and unrestrained behavior unbecoming of a Noble. I did not think of her much but her appearance brought her to my attention once I heard that Prince Erik was hanging around this strange student.

When Arielle heard this, she expressed a very solemn expression. It was to be expected since they were childhood sweethearts as well as engaged to be wed in the future. Arielle did not seem to want to confront her feelings, so she simply continued about her school life believing that he would return to her because of their engagement.

In all of the other timelines, he did...except for this one.

.