Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 43: Pour Me Another Cup of Confusion

Chapter 43: Pour Me Another Cup of Confusion

Katherine sat back in her chair, the taste of Mais Con Yelo still lingering on her tongue, but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The soft clink of teacups and the warmth of the room did little to calm her racing heart. She had been feeling out of sorts for days now—her emotions jumbled and tangled in a way she could hardly understand. It wasn’t just about Adolfo. It was everything. The homesickness, the confusion, the weight of knowing how this story was supposed to unfold.

Laura’s voice broke the silence, soft yet insistent.

"Lady Katherine," she asked, her golden eyes searching Katherine’s face, "do you like Count Adolfo?"

Katherine froze. The spoon slipped from her fingers, clattering onto the floor. Her pulse quickened, her thoughts scrambling as she tried to process the question. It wasn’t that she hadn’t noticed Adolfo’s attention—how he always sought her out, how their conversations stretched longer than necessary—but hearing Laura ask it so directly was jarring.

"W-What?" Katherine stammered, blinking in surprise. "I... I don’t know what you mean. I don’t—" She paused, forcing herself to take a breath. "I’m just..."

Laura’s eyes softened, concern evident as she leaned in slightly. "I’ve heard some things—the ladies whispering—and I’ve seen you two together, talking before class. And I heard you went out with him yesterday," she said, her voice gentle but curious. "I just want to make sure you’re okay, Katherine."

Katherine flushed. Others had noticed. She had assumed her moments with Adolfo were fleeting, insignificant, but it seemed she had underestimated just how much attention he drew. Her heart skipped, and she felt an unfamiliar tightness in her chest.

"No, nothing like that happened," Katherine quickly clarified, a bit too hastily. "We just... talked."

Laura nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "I get that," she said with a small sigh. "Adolfo can be... charming when he wants to be. He knows how to make people feel special, like they’re the only one who matters. But don’t mistake that for something real. It’s all business to him, I think you already notice how he acts around me and other ladies."

She glanced at her teacup before continuing, her voice quieter but firm. "At least, that’s how I see it. I don’t like him, Katherine. And he’s a marriage candidate for me, so I have to deal with his attention. I understand he’s somewhat interested in the throne, but that’s about it."

Katherine blinked, her surprise evident. "You don’t like him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She sighed, her gaze dropping to her teacup as she struggled to find the words. Why did she feel relieved that the princess didn’t like Adolfo? She hadn’t realized just how much tension she’d been holding. But more than anything, she didn’t want to think about Adolfo’s attention in that way. If she admitted he might be insincere, then she’d have to face why she cared so much in the first place.

She was just homesick. That had to be it. She had spent the past few days unraveling, overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of it all. She missed the world she had come from—the certainty of knowing where she belonged. That’s what this feeling was.

Not longing.

Not... attraction.

"Romantically, no," Laura said, taking a sip of her tea, "but in all honesty, as a person—not really. He’s just... annoying, for some reason. He always wears the same fake smile, like it’s all an act!"

Katherine chuckled despite herself. The humor felt like a small but welcome break in the tension.

Laura noticed and smiled back. "Well, at least you kind of cheered up with my ramblings," she said, taking another sip from her cup. "But you know, Adolfo and Florante are really popular, Lady Katherine. I always see people stealing glances at Florante when we eat together at lunch."

"Oh yes," Katherine smiled. "I can understand."

"I don’t think you purposely tried to get close to Adolfo, Lady Katherine." Laura frowned, her voice thoughtful. "But I’ll just assume that he thinks you’re interesting—like I did when I first saw you. Your red hair and green eyes are really uncommon, and you stand out. It makes people curious about you."

"Was it really that bizarre?"

"Well, it’s different—in a good way," Laura beamed with a smile. "I like your hair and green eyes, Lady Katherine. I think they’re beautiful."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Also, is it okay if you call me by my name as well? I don’t mind if you call me Laura when it’s just us. In return, can I call you Katherine?"

Katherine blinked, a little taken aback, but then smiled warmly. "Of course, Laura."

The princess smiled widely. "Wonderful, Katherine it is! Perhaps we should invite Shaya and the others next time. I haven’t hung out with them yet, and we decided to come here so we could all hang out together."

"That would be great," Katherine agreed.

"And Katherine, I’m just warning you about Adolfo," Laura continued, her expression turning serious again. "I don’t like him, but I don’t think he’s all that bad either. I just can’t figure out if he’s leading you on or not. His smug face is so unreadable. Ugh, I really hate it!"

Katherine laughed, her shoulders loosening as the tension from the conversation finally eased.

***

As their conversation shifted to lighter topics, Laura stirred her tea thoughtfully, glancing up at Katherine with a soft smile.

"You know," she began, a hint of nostalgia in her voice, "I first met Florante here in Athens when I was ten. Our families had ties, but we never really crossed paths until then."

Katherine’s ears perked up at the mention of Florante. Wait a second. Childhood friends? That was not how it went in the book. In the novel, their first meeting was this huge, dramatic, destiny-shaking event. And yet, here was Laura, casually talking about him like he was some childhood friend. What happened to the ’life-altering first encounter’? Was the book just... wrong? Or maybe the world was doing its thing and changing the narrative.

"You knew him as a child?" Katherine asked, her surprise leaking through her voice a bit more than she intended.

Laura nodded, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "Yes. He was always so kind, even as a little boy. I remember one time, at a banquet, there was this boy being bullied by a group. Florante couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. He stepped in, and those bullies backed off without hesitation. It was so brave of him."

Katherine blinked rapidly, trying to process this version of Florante. Brave, noble... bullies being defeated by the force of his good heart. What? This was all way more wholesome than the "tragic hero" vibe she had been expecting. Was the Summer Symposium his brother started really making a difference? Or maybe the universe was playing fast and loose with fate. It seemed like Florante’s path was diverging, just like her own.

"Do you... like Florante, Princess?" Katherine asked, leaning a little closer, her voice slightly teasing. (And maybe a little nosy. It’s not like she had a personal stake in this, cough, but curiosity and all that.)

Laura tilted her head, considering the question with a look that could only be described as "vaguely romantic confusion." "I think I like him," she said slowly, her gaze drifting off for a moment. "When I first saw him, I thought he was the prince of my dreams, you know? We became close friends because our families were so close. We write letters to each other, visit each other... So yes, I think I like him. If we were to get married, I wouldn’t be against it. It would be fine."

Katherine’s eyebrows shot up. "I mean, in a romantic

Laura paused, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup, her expression pensive. "I’m not entirely sure. I do get butterflies when I’m around him, but it’s not the same feeling I get when I see you talk about Count Adolfo." She squinted at Katherine, like she was suddenly onto something.

Katherine felt her face heat up. Why is this suddenly about me? She scrambled to keep it together, and in the process, her words came out way too fast. "Why did the topic shift to me again?"

Laura’s lips curved into a mischievous pout. "I’ve always thought I liked Florante, but then I see how you act, and it’s like... wow. That reaction is on a whole different level."

Katherine groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Please, don’t bring him up again. The last thing I need is more talks about that."

Laura burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with pure mischief. "Alright, alright. No more about Adolfo."

Katherine couldn’t help but laugh too, the tension in her chest finally starting to loosen. "You really know how to keep things lively, don’t you?"

Laura grinned wide, clearly enjoying the moment. "Well, you needed a distraction, didn’t you? Now, let’s talk about something more fun—like dresses, or food, or... childhood mishaps. Anything that doesn’t involve your ’secret’ crush or my future husband."

Katherine chuckled, feeling lighter than she had in days. They shifted into casual chatter, exchanging stories about dresses, favorite foods, and even ridiculous moments from their childhoods. The ease of the conversation was a welcome relief.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Katherine felt like she could truly breathe. The worries, the stress, the constant sense of being out of place in this strange world—it all felt lighter now. And with each laugh, each shared story, she felt more grounded.

She wasn’t alone in this weird, magical world. She had a friend. And for now, that was enough.

***

"Why don’t you sleep in my room tonight?" Laura suggested, her voice light and inviting. "We can stay up late, talk more, and just relax."

Katherine hesitated, already thinking about the comfort of her own bed. The exhaustion tugged at her, but something in Laura’s tone made her pause. A quiet night, filled with lighthearted conversation, sounded far better than the lonely thoughts waiting for her back in her room.

"I’d like that," she admitted, already feeling the weight of the day start to lift.

"Good!" Laura grinned. "I was planning to stay up reading anyway. Now I have an excuse to talk instead."

Katherine followed her into the room, her gaze wandering around the space. Laura’s room was spacious, yes, but it had a warm, lived-in feel. Books were stacked on a writing desk, a few dresses carelessly draped over a chair like a subtle rebellion against order. A plush rug covered the wooden floor, and the bed—though neat—had extra pillows and a soft quilt folded at the foot, making it look inviting and cozy.

Laura flopped dramatically onto the bed, letting out a deep sigh, and patted the space beside her. "Come on, get comfortable," she said with a grin. "I don’t bite."

Katherine rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile as she climbed onto the bed. The mattress was softer than hers, and the faint scent of lavender lingered on the pillows. She realized it had been a while since she’d done something like this—shared a room with a friend, whispered late into the night. The feeling felt oddly nostalgic.

Laura propped herself up on one elbow, her eyes twinkling. "You know, I was thinking..." she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Is there any boy who catches your attention?"

Katherine blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Laura grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Like, that friend of yours—the one you mentioned on the trip to Athens? Is it a boy?"

Katherine groaned, grabbing the nearest pillow and shoving it over her face. "Not this again!"

Laura laughed, tugging the pillow away. "Come on, it’s just us! I’m curious!"

Katherine sighed dramatically, sitting up a bit. "If you mean a close friend, then... yes, it’s a boy. But no, not like that!"

Laura raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Not like that... yet?"

Katherine smacked her with the pillow, making Laura giggle.

"You’re impossible," Katherine muttered, but couldn’t help but smile.

Laura leaned back, still grinning. "Fine, I’ll drop it—for now. But if there ever is someone, promise me I’ll be the first to know?"

Katherine exhaled dramatically. "Laura, I think I’m too exhausted to even think about romance."

Laura hummed thoughtfully. "That’s fair. But when you’re ready, I’ll be the first to know, right?"

Katherine hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly. "Yeah. You will."

A comfortable silence fell between them. Outside, the academy grounds were bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The quiet flicker of a lantern from the night guards was the only sign of movement. Everything else felt still.

Laura sighed contentedly. "You know... sometimes I feel like I have to know everything. Who I’ll marry, what kind of queen I’ll be, how to make the right choices." She turned her head, meeting Katherine’s eyes. "But moments like this remind me that it’s okay to just be a girl sometimes."

Katherine blinked, surprised by the quiet confession. Laura had always seemed so sure of herself, so poised. But now, lying there in the dim light, she wasn’t a princess or future queen—she was just a girl, with her own dreams and worries, like anyone else.

"I think you’re doing fine, Laura," Katherine said softly, a reassuring smile on her face.

Laura smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Katherine."

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics—favorite foods, funny stories from the academy, and ridiculous rumors. They laughed about their professors, shared childhood memories, and made idle plans for what they’d do once the symposium ended.

As the night stretched on, Katherine felt herself finally relax. The weight on her shoulders didn’t feel quite as heavy.

For the first time in days, she wasn’t lost in thoughts about Adolfo or the future of the story.

She was just here, with a friend.

And for once, that was enough.

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