Actually, this wasn’t just about Zahid. Even today, Shulva and Linna’s visiting times had overlapped.

Was it already the fourth time those two bumped into each other at my bedside? Anyway, my room was like a revolving door of visitors.

Shulva gave a short greeting before leaving the room.

At the same time, Linna, who had been waiting by the window for her turn, dashed over.

“Guess being alone with Zahid is off the table again, huh? Especially now that His Majesty’s coming!”

She acted like she wasn’t interested, but clearly she had been eavesdropping on everything.

“It’s... pretty ambiguous, right, Rosie?”

“What is?”

“He visits all the time, spends every spare moment at his fiancée’s new job, and even takes extra care of you, but...”

Normally, no one would °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° call that ambiguous.

As I tilted my head, Linna leaned in with a sly smile and whispered,

“There’s no physical affection. No skinship!”

“Linna!”

Embarrassed, I lightly smacked her on the shoulder.

She opened her eyes wide.

“What? Why so flustered? That’s a basic requirement for lovers! Don’t you trust me? I’m Linna Idra. Queen of high society.”

She may have cut back on excessive drinking lately, but Linna had attended nearly every social party imaginable.

Even now, as head of House Idra, she was out gallivanting from place to place.

The Empress Dowager had long held the title of Queen of Society. But now that she was absent, Linna was beginning to fill that gap with her own brand of flair and authority.

“Rosie, no matter the field, you’ve got to respect the professionals. And when it comes to this, I’m the expert.”

Linna’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Lovers always try to find time alone together, no matter what. If that’s not the case, then yes—it’s ambiguous.”

“Hm...”

“Think back to Entoho. That lunatic pulled every stunt imaginable just to ditch me and be alone with you, remember?”

“Well, that was...”

I answered a bit awkwardly.

“Back then, we’d been separated for nine years, and with all the crises happening, it was natural to get a little sentimental... But now there’s no urgency, so I guess he doesn’t feel the need to rush in anymore...”

Linna, with her usual piercing insight, nailed the heart of the matter.

“You like younger guys who charge in recklessly.”

“Linna, your reading comprehension is off the charts.”

“Thanks. But you’ve got some unique taste. I prefer older, quiet nerds. It’s even better if they’re professionally competent.”

She mumbled seriously,

“Lately, the problem is that my ideal type keeps showing up everywhere. They were nowhere to be found when I was partying like crazy, but now I’ve got two near me.”

“Two?”

“Yup. I’m torn between Ethan Noart and Shulva Nodiac.”

At that, I could only cover my mouth with a trembling hand.

It was, without exaggeration, a bombshell.

Both were walking disasters in their own way—I couldn’t even begin to pick one.

I struggled to breathe for a second before finally asking,

“Wait... Linna... do either of them even like you?”

“Of course not.”

She frowned as if I were asking something dumb.

“But I need to choose one first before I can make a move, right? What do you think—who’s better?”

Honestly, neither matched her vibe at all, and yet somehow they both fit perfectly under the same bizarre category: “quiet older nerds professionally competent in their field.”

“Wow... How did you even manage to pick these two...”

I was completely thrown off by my friend’s unique taste and the fact that two such beings actually existed within our immediate orbit.

“At first, I thought it was love at first sight with Ethan, but the more I see Shulva... he’s really not bad either.”

So that’s why their visiting hours had been overlapping lately... This was a disaster.

Linna clasped her hands and looked at me pleadingly.

“You’re close with both of them. Be honest. Give me some advice—who do you think is better?”

“Uh... well, for starters... Shulva’s thirteen years older than you?”

“Really? I don’t mind the age gap. So you’re saying Ethan’s the better choice?”

“Hold on. Wait, wait. Ethan? That’s not it either. Linna, I need more time to think about this.”

“How much time?”

“...Maybe the rest of my life?”

I answered seriously, then burst into laughter. Come to think of it, the situation really was hilarious.

“Maybe if we’d become roommates at the Academy nine years ago... we would’ve stayed up all night talking about stuff like this.”

I whispered, giggling.

“Instead of falling asleep alone, I’d probably have been whining to you every night about how my fiancé Zahid still wouldn’t make a move.”

“Ugh, then I’m glad I didn’t go.”

Linna waved her hand with a laugh.

“If I had, I’d have buried that bastard myself for making my friend stress like that.”

Yep, that was just like Linna.

We laughed for a good while, until she suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.

“You know, you’ve never really been to a proper social gathering. Outside the Academy, you’ve never had much chance to hang out with people your age.”

Linna looked determined as she said,

“Now that you’re going to be High Priest, you’ll have to act all dignified, and you’ll probably never get to live like a normal noble lady again. So how about doing it once—just once—while you still can?”

Admittedly, she hadn’t exactly been “playing normally” either... a bit on the degenerate side, if anything.

I gave her a skeptical look, and she jumped in place.

“I don’t drink anymore! Seriously! These days I have tasteful fun like a proper lady!”

That was... kind of tempting. I had a feeling I really wouldn’t get to live a normal noblewoman’s life ever again.

Besides, after being locked away in the Magic Tower for nine years... I was a little bitter.

“If your body’s up for it, let’s go out. There’s a rowing competition tomorrow—want to come with me?”

“Rowing?”

I vaguely remembered hearing about it a long time ago. It was a race where teams rowed across a lake.

“It’s been all the rage among nobles for the past two years. It used to be just the noblemen, but lately the ladies show up too, cheering and betting—it’s super fun.”

“Is Zahid participating?”

“Are you kidding? He’s glued to the High Temple. Not even once, even when you weren’t around.”

Fair. Honestly, a team sport like rowing didn’t really match Zahid’s personality.

“Alright, let’s go. Sounds good.”

I nodded.

“Yay! I’m so excited!”

Linna squealed and hugged me tight.

“It’s gonna be so fun, I swear! Especially this match—it’s a showdown between the hottest and most talented young lords. Worth watching.”

“Mm... Zahid’s not going to get upset, right? Since there’ll be other young nobles...”

“Absolutely not! You’re just watching a match—what could happen? It’s not like Zahid’s some crazed lunatic who loses his mind just because you glance at another guy!”

I nodded lightly.

These days, Zahid was calm and gentlemanly. It’d probably be fine.

“Then come by the Idra Ducal Estate tomorrow.”

“Huh? The Idra Estate? Why?”

“Why do you think? It’s your first time going to something like this—you have to come with me! Let’s match outfits too! We’ve never gotten to do this stuff in the dorms! Just bring yourself—I’ll take care of the rest!”

Linna’s eyes gleamed as she trembled with excitement.