For Your Failed Unrequited Love

Lucy was genuinely curious. The prince had a reputation that was opposite to what she remembered. As she pondered the growing questions, her interest in Adrian naturally grew.

Lucy originally wanted to join the book club since the members who worked in the library would be given a certain scholarship. However, after learning that Adrian was the book manager, her reason changed to wanting to see him up close. So Lucy decided to join the book club, and she always carried her application form in her bag.

The opportunity to submit the application came soon after that.

The next day, she happened to find Adrian Berg in the hallway, surrounded by other students. Lucy quickly took out the form from her bag, but her feet, on the other hand, did not move as fast. Adrian was being swept away by the waves of students. There were so many of them around him that Lucy didn’t even dare to approach him.

She hid behind the wall, losing her confidence. The students surrounding Adrian were mostly freshmen. Among them, the proportion of female students was overwhelmingly high.

Don’t tell me they’re all applying?

Lucy grew nervous, seeing the freshmen fluttering about in front of Adrian with papers in hand. Faced with an unexpected competition rate, her feet froze in place. At this rate, she thought she would not be able to submit the application, let alone join the book club.

A boy, who seemed to be a sophomore, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He approached Adrian straight away, then shouted as if to drive out the students surrounding him. The surprised freshmen hurriedly scattered quickly, and Adrian could finally escape the crowd.

Adrian, now finally alone, walked in Lucy’s direction. She squeezed the application she was holding—hard enough to crumple up. It seemed like this was her chance.

Lucy, hiding behind the wall, popped out in front of Adrian. “Hello, Adrian-sunbaenim!” She was so nervous that a louder voice than she expected came out of her mouth.

Adrian came to a halt, surprised by the female who suddenly appeared in front of him.

Lucy took a step back, even more astonished that she had surprised him.

“I’m sorry, sunbae!” She bowed her head and apologized.

Suddenly she heard a cheerful laugh. Soon a soft touch grabbed her shoulder, and she lifted her head gently.

“It’s okay.”

When she looked up, she saw Adrian’s smiling widely.

“What’s the matter?”

His voice was so soft that Lucy felt like someone was tickling her ears with feathers.

Lucy handed Adrian the application form. “I’d like to join the book club.”

“Oh.” Adrian reached out to take the paper Lucy gave him, but someone snatched it up. It was so sudden that Lucy was taken aback.

It was the boy who kicked out the freshmen around Adrian a moment ago. He looked at Lucy coldly. “How many times must I say it? I’ve told you freshmen so many times to give me the application form, not Adrian!” he snapped and waved Lucy’s application for admission into the air. “I can see right through every single one of you! Everyone approaches Adrian with an ulterior motive in the hopes of getting friendly with him!” His voice echoed loudly in the hallway.

The passing students glanced at Lucy and her face reddened by the sudden criticism of a senior who didn’t even know her name.

“ALLEN!” Adrian, who had been speaking calmly, frowned for the first time and raised his voice. He took the paper from the boy.

His cold reaction prompted the boy, Allen, to give excuses. “No, I… Because girls bother you so much…”

“She was just going to give me a piece of paper.”

Alan soon left, still mumbling under his breath.

Adrian looked at Lucy, whose head was lowered, red in the face, and asked. “Lucy Keenan, right?”

Lucy raised her head in amazement.

Do you remember me? But I never gave you my name.

However, Lucy was relaxed again as Adrian continued her words.

“You entered the school as the top student. I saw you go into the principal’s office a few days ago. You didn’t seem to notice me.”

“Oh….”

Perhaps he saw Lucy on the day of the entrance ceremony when the principal and vice-principal asked her to go to the principal’s office.

“Anyway, it’s an honor. I didn’t expect the first-year top student to come to my department to apply,” Adrian said with a kind smile.

He’s so kind. Lucy thought as she looked at him curiously. He really feels like a different person. What the hell has happened in the past seven years? Did you get struck by lightning?

“Those who submit their application to the library have to have a separate interview. But now I have class,” Adrian continued apologetically, not knowing what Lucy was thinking. “Can you come to the library during lunchtime?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Well then.”

Adrian left the hallway without losing his sweet smile until the end. Lucy, now alone, stared at his back as he walked away.

Naturally, he didn’t seem to remember Lucy at all. Moreover, he was polite and kind throughout, as if he were a different person from the boy seven years ago.

Wow… I guess the Duke’s has quality education. Lucy thought, staring at Adrian’s back. That jerk has become a completely different person.

* * *

It was lunchtime, and Lucy headed to the library.

As promised earlier, Adrian was handling the library alone. Lucy approached him, and he greeted her with a gentle smile.

“Oh, come, sit.”

Lucy, guided by Adrian, sat down on a sofa in the corner of the library.

Adrian put Lucy’s application on the table and disappeared somewhere. Soon he appeared with a steaming teacup.

“Isn’t it cold outside?”

“Yes, a little bit,” Lucy answered, holding the teacup that Adrian had set down in front of her. She felt the warmth in her hands, which helped alleviate her nerves.

“Maybe the chilly weather will continue until mid-March. So wear something thick,” Adrian said.

Lucy nodded. She was nervous at the thought of having an interview, but listening to Adrian’s calm and soothing voice made her feel comfortable.

“It’s an interview, but it’s not that grand. I’m just trying to see if you have a sincere commitment to the work we do in the library. We have a librarian, but most of the work here is decided and operated by the book club.”

Lucy carefully laid down the teacup and sat upright to show her enthusiasm. She was usually quiet and didn’t like to come forward, but she was different when it came to books. She grew up in a small rural neighborhood with no library, but she was proud to have read everything on classics and famous literature.

“Now, shall we start the interview?” Adrian said and picked up Lucy’s application form.

Lucy was frozen stiff, trying to shake off her nerves.

Adrian opened his lips as if to ask something. However, before he could even begin, the library door suddenly burst open. Lucy and Adrian both turned to face the door when the noise from outside broke the silence in the library.

A boy was standing by the door with his hands in his pockets. He was as tall as Adrian, and his golden hair flowed past his shoulders. His eyes were sharp, as if something displeased him, and blue like a glimmering lake.

Lucy’s eyes grew bigger when she saw him.

What?

Lucy was puzzled she stared at the boy in the doorway. She turned her head again to see Adrian sitting across from her. Then he turned to the boy at the door again.

Straight forehead, full eyebrows, deep blue eyes, sharp nose bridge, thin lips, and golden blond hair. The two men looked the same as if they were mirrored reflections.

Twins?

Lucy’s mouth opened slowly.

She had never seen a twin so similar in her life. They were very much alike. Everything is indistinguishable except for the length of the hair.

Adrian frowned and scolded the boy. “Do you have to come in so loudly?”

“There’s no one here anyway.” The boy walked inside with a sly smile. His straight forehead was revealed again as he swept back the golden hair that fell in front of his face. He took off his coat and held it in his hand, and despite the somewhat chilly weather outside, there was sweat on his forehead and neck.

“How was the meeting?”

“Same old same old. It’s about the old people in the family getting together and playing the game.” The boy answered Adrian’s question with a fed-up look.

Coming close, he plopped down on the sofa behind Lucy, bringing the cold wind of early spring to Lucy’s back.