I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 5
“What are you trying to do?”
“Make medicine… or so I thought.”
Sanna’s face darkened with that familiar look of exasperation—here we go again with another useless scheme.
Several days had passed since Sanna stormed into the Capital townhouse. More than two weeks had elapsed since I’d first met Kiara.
In that time, Kiara had been slowly recovering as the medicine took effect.
Thank goodness for that. If there had been no progress by now, I’d have been ready to drag myself to the imperial palace and kick up a fuss until the Emperor’s personal physician agreed to see her.
At this moment, I sat on a sofa in the library—its shelves crammed with books on every side—reading through papers on DNA.
The scholars here were rather brilliant, actually. The moment I presented the concept of DNA, they churned out related papers like a waterfall.
As a result, I’d spent all this time buried in nothing but those papers.
Sanna pulled a book from the shelf and let out an irritated sigh.
“I had no idea your mind worked this poorly. You majored in biology, not pharmacy. You should have found a proper pharmacist ages ago.”
“Of course I summoned every distinguished physician in the Capital and bought the finest medicines available. But none of them worked. I was so frustrated, I thought I should try something, anything.”
Sanna looked at me with pitying eyes.
“No matter how brilliant you are, some things simply cannot be done.”
I fell silent.
‘Brilliant? Me?’
That was hardly likely.
I was just a reincarnate who’d been handed a cheat code from my previous life.
“Sanna, you didn’t know this, but I’m actually not a genius.”
Sanna let out a dry laugh.
“If you said that at an academic conference, nobody would believe you.”
Well, that was true.
All the accomplishments I’d racked up and every unconventional move I’d made were thanks to having seen the answers in my past life.
‘I know perfectly well that no one would believe me even if I tried to explain.’
Still, there was something oddly satisfying about being called a genius in scientific circles.
“I suppose I have no talent for medicine-making. I managed to extract Artichoke, but after that point, I couldn’t understand what on earth any of the instructions meant.”
“Then you should just stick to looking through the microscope.”
“But I’ve already gathered all the medicinal herb samples and textbooks—”
Sanna fixed me with a bleak stare.
I got it.
I avoided her gaze and nervously picked up and set down my teacup.
In short, what Sanna meant was: don’t waste time on pointless pursuits.
‘She’s saying I should read one more paper instead.’
What choice did I have when she spoke like that?
I had no choice but to listen to the true “genius.”
It occurred to me, as it always did, that if I hadn’t been a reincarnate, the title of genius would have belonged to Sanna.
From the moment she enrolled at Roman University, her talent was unmistakable.
She only fell behind me because I already held a master’s degree from my previous life.
Throughout our time at Roman University, Sanna consistently held second place, right behind me.
Once, I deliberately lowered my grades to let Sanna top the class.
What did she say then?
“Don’t you ever pull something like that again. Do you think I wouldn’t notice? You’d never score lower than me!”
University-aged Sanna had gone absolutely berserk.
I found it rather compelling.
Charmed by her spirit, I’d chased after her from that point on.
“Why is Fidellia chasing after Sanna? Is she trying to confess and tank her grades?”
“Shouldn’t Sanna be the one doing that, since she’s in second place? Does Fidellia really need to resort to a confession attack?”
I heard all sorts of gossip back then.
In any case, I still couldn’t understand why someone like her had volunteered to become my assistant. Sanna had made a name for herself in scientific circles through various achievements.
Employment would have been easy for her, she could have set up her own research lab, and it wouldn’t have been strange if she’d pursued her doctorate at Roman University and become a professor.
‘If the reason she stayed on as my assistant was because of Ernan, then Sanna’s being spectacularly foolish too.’
Though probably not quite as foolish as I was, chasing after Ernan for three years.
Just then, the door flew open and Kiara came rushing in.
“Sanna!”
Kiara threw herself at Sanna, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Kiara?”
“Let’s go. Right now!”
I looked over at them, bewildered.
Leave? Just like that?
I’d never seen Kiara look so animated before—she was usually so guarded.
Sanna and Kiara had grown close in the meantime, calling themselves inseparable friends.
‘She said she didn’t like children.’
That was pure fiction, wasn’t it, Lady Sanna.
“There’s a festival going on outside right now!”
At Kiara’s cry, I reflexively turned to look at the calendar.
Ah, of course.
It was festival season, after all.
It was related to the State Religion—a celebration of the birthday of one of the four saints recorded in the scripture.
Here in the Corbvalier Empire, where the State Religion was mandated, one could say it was a festival that everyone knew of and participated in.
Festivals typically lasted only about three days.
The attendant following Kiara bowed, dripping with sweat.
‘So she found out about it.’
It seemed they hadn’t expected Kiara to get this excited.
Looking at the date, today was the saint’s birthday itself.
The day the festival reached its most vibrant peak.
Kiara, who had been clinging to Sanna and chattering ceaselessly, suddenly turned her head to stare at me.
Those golden eyes gleamed brilliantly.
Good heavens.
“Fidellia, I want to go.”
But I need to prepare to head down to Jonas Territory soon.
Kiara’s wounds haven’t fully healed either.
I shouldn’t let her.
“Of course you can. Go get ready and come back out.”
And there goes my mouth again.
* * *
The best way to enjoy a festival in the Corbvalier Empire is to head to the center of the Capital, specifically to the third most prosperous street.
The affluent neighborhoods where the bourgeois nobility gathered were neither rowdy nor filled with fanfare—the street right next to the Jonas Townhouse was a perfect example.
Having spent my childhood with considerable experience at parties, I instructed the carriage driver to take us to Lenton Street and dressed in plain, unremarkable clothes. Lenton Street prided itself on equality.
“I want to go over there.”
“Be careful. Don’t get lost.”
“It seems like you’re overprotective of me, Fidellia.”
When did she even learn the word ‘overprotective’?
“Wow. I want to check that out.”
The moment we stepped down from the carriage, Kiara was absolutely delighted.
Paper confetti scattered everywhere, delicious food piled on stalls, and the statue of Saint Imber erected in the center of the square.
Children ran about and adults bloomed with laughter.
Though her initial excitement at going to a festival had somewhat subsided, Kiara still sparkled with wonder in her eyes and dragged both Sanna and me all around the place.
‘The weather’s cleared up, at least.’
The gloomy sky from morning was now clear and bright past noon.
This was Saint Imber’s birthday—early winter, just before the snow would fall.
Saint Imber was said to have received the divine mandate to control the rain, and so rain typically fell around this time of year.
Despite the cold that required bundling up in layers, the warmth of the festival showed no signs of fading.
“Fidellia, I want that.”
“Sure, I’ll buy it for you.”
“And that too.”
“Okay, let’s go get it.”
“What about that one?”
“We’ll buy it.”
“Stop it already!”
Sanna let out a sharp cry and dragged us somewhere else.
I’m apparently quite caught up in the excitement as well.
‘I’m spending money like water.’
Every time I spend, Kiara brightens up with joy—what else can I do?
Just from what we’ve bought so far: hair ornaments, elaborately patterned fabric, snacks, frozen fish.
“Why on earth did you buy fish?”
“It’s in season?”
“You’re out of your mind.”
Through it all, Kiara couldn’t tear her eyes away from the bustling scenery around us, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from those luminous, starlit eyes of hers.
Why did the original Fidellia never show Kiara any attention?
Kiara, who had been gazing about as if entranced, finally opened her mouth.
“I’ve never been anywhere like this before.”
“Why… oh.”
Well, why indeed. I’d been drifting through the Slums, so of course I hadn’t.
I sometimes wanted to slap myself. I needed to stop speaking without thinking.
Sanna glared at me as though I were a terrible person and pulled Kiara toward herself. I had no grounds to protest.
And the stamina of a growing child was remarkable.
As anyone could see, Sanna and I were the sort of people who had spent half our lives sitting at desks, staring at letters and books.
“Wait, Kiara. Let’s rest here a little longer.”
“Are you already tired, Fidellia? Why?”
“Because I’m tired…”
The stamina of two adult women was quickly exhausted. We draped ourselves across the benches surrounding the fountain in the square.
I should have exercised beforehand if I’d known it would be like this.
‘Even in my past life, I died from overwork without exercising.’
But I couldn’t leave Fidellia to play alone.
“Sanna.”
I gazed blankly at the sky for a moment, then called to her and held out my fist.
“If you don’t put out your hand, you lose…”
Rock, paper, scissors.
Sanna quickly threw paper.
‘Ah.’
I had thrown rock…
Sanna pulled my arm with a victorious smile.
“You lost. Take your time and come back slowly.”
Slowly. Very slowly, come back.
I gave Sanna a disgruntled look, brushed off my clothes, and stood up.
‘She likes Kiara so much.’
What can I do.
I told Sanna to rest and called out to Kiara. Or rather, I tried to.
“Come on, Kia…”
…?!
I quickly scanned the surroundings.
…She’s gone.
She’s gone.
Gone. I’m telling you, gone.
“…Sanna.”
“…Yes?”
“What do we do?”
Kiara had vanished.
* * *
Kiara believed herself to be unfortunate.
She was not happy, and good fortune had never come her way.
Her earliest memory was of the Slums.
A parentless vagrant wandering here and there, she had only just been taken into the Orphanage.
But of all things, the director and his cronies were obsessed with seizing the children.
Still, occasionally people would come hoping to adopt.
The majority were nobles—it was part of their image-making, showing generosity by adopting or sponsoring commoners. Kiara didn’t understand such things.
The one small mercy was that she was not stupid.
Before she turned ten, she had already learned that crying and suffering, like the other children did, solved nothing.
She simply waited. Watching the children who were adopted, she thought that someday her turn would come.
She had no intention of running away even if the director beat her. Life inside the Orphanage was better than the cold world outside.
But.
“Ginger? No, there are no freckles…”
“Her hair color is far too vivid. It stands out. Don’t you have a more ordinary child?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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