I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love

Gerard was more difficult to deal with than anyone else, and impossible to read.

He would act loose and easy with that handsome face and his characteristic slyness, but every so often he revealed his true nature and crushed people with it.

“…Louize, are you even listening to me!”

I flinched at the voice that struck straight into my ears. The tip of Chelsea’s brow was sharply raised.

“Ah, sorry. What did you say?”

I rubbed my ringing ear with my palm.

“I asked what you’re doing for Founding Day!”

Founding Day, the empire’s grandest national holiday, lasted for five full days.

The entire city would buzz with lavish festivities, and traveling theater troupes, which were rarely seen otherwise, performed throughout the entire holiday.

Among the nobles enjoying the long break, some even opened their estates and hosted extravagant banquets.

“You’re going to Arvina’s villa, right?”

“Her villa?”

It was the first I had heard of it.

“Arvina didn’t give you an invitation?”

Chelsea asked with wide eyes, clearly surprised. I didn’t remember receiving anything from Arvina. Unless I was running an errand for her, I never visited her estate privately, and the same would apply to her villa.

“I heard she’s holding a banquet at her new villa for all five days… I just assumed you’d been invited too.”

Chelsea’s voice gradually grew smaller, as if she thought she had made a mistake.

I replied calmly.

“She must have a lot of people to invite. She probably just forgot.”

“But you’re the one who’s known Arvina the longest.”

“Just because we’ve known each other a long time doesn’t mean I’d be invited.”

Even though I spoke lightly, Chelsea’s expression didn’t improve.

She seemed to think I was pretending to be fine.

‘I really am fine.’

If anything, I was grateful that she hadn’t given me an invitation.

Founding Day was the perfect chance to earn money in a short time.

With crowds pouring into the city for the festival, there were more shops than ever looking for extra help, and the pay was better than usual.

Why would I give up such good earnings for some banquet?

If Arvina had given me an invitation, I would have had a harder time refusing.

Since I couldn’t talk about taking part-time work, I would have had to make up some awkward excuse.

“Then… should I talk to Arvina? That maybe she forgot to give you an invitation?”

“I’m really fine. I don’t even like noisy places. Before the graduation exam, I just want to stay home and rest without thinking about anything.”

Only after I repeated several times that I was fine did Chelsea finally say, “Okay,” and back off. Her expression still looked uneasy.

* * *

The streets were busy with preparations ahead of Founding Day.

Buildings that had stood empty until a few days ago hurriedly opened new shops, and signboards and display windows everywhere were filled with luxurious phrases and decorations meant to catch people’s attention.

Instead of going to the grocery store I usually visited, I walked through the busy shopping district.

I was checking to see if there were any notices hiring short-term workers.

“A fruit stall… The pay isn’t bad, but could I last all five days?”

The job involved carrying heavy boxes of fruit and preparing them. I would apply for now, but the owner would probably choose a well-built man over a scrawny-looking girl.

“I may look like this, but I’m actually pretty strong.”

As I walked, copying down various job notices posted on shop windows and doors into my notebook, something hanging inside a display window suddenly caught my eye.

“That…”