Editor : Amethyst00



"I'm marrying Chelsea? Where the hell did that come from?"

"It's not out of nowhere."

Abad chuckled softly.

Leo decided to at least hear out whatever nonsense this pretty boy was about to say.

"Remember after the entrance exams at Lumene? Chelsea's been tagging along after you ever since."

Back when they first met, Chelsea was practically growling just because Leo stood beside Celia. But after the opening ceremony, she warmed up to him fast.

"You gave direction to someone who didn't really have one, Leo. You gave her wings."

Abad sipped his coffee, still smiling at his friend.

"With you, Chelsea could shine."

"She doesn't need me to shine. She's got it in her already."

"True, but with you, her future could be even brighter. And more importantly—"

Abad glanced at Leo's nonchalant expression and continued.

"Not just because she's my sister, but isn't Chelsea a pretty solid choice for a bride?"

He looked serious now.

"She's beautiful, talented… okay, her personality's not perfect, but when she likes someone, she really tries. She'll only get more amazing."

He smiled again.

"I'd say it's not a bad offer."

"She's too young. I'm just not interested."

"She's only a year younger than you. Don't tell me you're into older women?"

Abad raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"Come to think of it, you never showed any interest in upperclassmen either…"

His brows furrowed suddenly as a thought occurred to him.

"Leo. I know you act mature, but just how far ahead are you thinking?"

"Let's just say dating isn't on the table for me right now."

"Why?"

"Don't dig too deep."

Leo stood up from his seat.

"If you're serious about Celia, and she feels the same, I'll support you however I can. Just leave me out of any marriage schemes."

Abad nodded slowly.

"Oh, and let me warn you."

"Yeah?"

"If you do end up dating Celia, don't you dare mess up before graduation. I'm not cleaning up that disaster."

"What kind of mess are you expecting?"

Abad laughed, and Leo gave him a look.

"Did you forget what happened with Rhys's scandal? My uncles were pulling their hair out. I'm not adding fuel to that fire. Especially not when Celia's basically their precious princess."

Despite his strictness, Selde Zerdinger adored his daughter. If anything happened, even the heir of Lewellin wouldn't be safe from his wrath.

"Leo, Celia and I both understand the weight of our names. And, well… I'm not trying to brag, but I'm an honor student too."

Abad grinned playfully.

"Have I ever stirred up some scandal during our time at school?"

Since his admission, Abad's been insanely popular—not just for his skills, but for his looks. Yet not a single rumour had stuck. He'd kept his image pristine.

Leo clicked his tongue.

"You think Niel and Marcel got together because they weren't honor students?"

Niel, Celia's knight, and Marcel, Abad's right-hand mage.

Both came from loyal vassal families of Zerdinger and Lewellin. They carried themselves as flawlessly as any top student, always upholding the prestige of their houses.

"What does that have to do with—wait…"

Abad stopped mid-laugh, eyes narrowing.

"No way…"

"Yep."

The dam finally burst, and Leo let it all spill at once.

"Always consider your age."

"What about it?"

"You're at that age. The kind where fires start easy—and don't go out so quick."

Which is why fooling around could blow up in a big way.

"Anyway, if we're done, I'll head out first. You?"

"I'll go back to the dorm."

"Not gonna check on Celia?"

"Of course I want to."

He tried to look relaxed, but the twitch in his brow said otherwise.

"But I'm not really in a position to comment on her private life right now, am I?"

"Look at you, pretending to be all composed."

Leo chuckled and stepped out.

Ding-a-ling.

A cold wind brushed past as Leo strolled down the boulevard, boots crunching softly over the pavement.

By his side now walked Lysinas, quietly joining without a word.

"You give pretty good dating advice for someone who couldn't even read his own love life."

"That's because you and Luna never gave me any clues."

Leo grumbled, and Lysinas smirked.

Her eyes caught on a stall lined with colorful lollipops. Leo followed her gaze, then walked over and bought one.

"Here. Eat it."

"Mmgh?!"

He popped it into her mouth and calmly kept walking.

Lysinas, eyes wide, followed beside him with the lollipop still between her lips.

"…Why'd you get me this?"

"We've been together how many years? You think I can't tell when you're eyeing something?"

He really is absurdly sharp about this stuff.

Lysinas pouted a little. He could read her this easily, yet never picked up on her real feelings? It was almost irritating.

The streets of Deang, once tense from civil unrest, now buzzed with hope. The fighting wasn't officially over, but things had quieted—hope blooms best in the calm before the end.

With a night market open and lights twinkling, the city felt festive.

Leo and Lysinas strolled through the crowd, browsing vendor stalls, winning prizes in dart games, and just soaking in the simple joy.

Lysinas felt her heart flutter.

"This almost feels like… a real date, doesn't it?"

"It is a date."

"What?"

Leo gave her a baffled look.

"Then what did you think this was?"

"Uh…"

Lysinas blinked—then smiled bashfully.

"…Yeah, I guess it is."

She hummed a tune, visibly cheered up.

"Did you ever do this with Luna?"

"Sure. Though she was mostly just drinking the whole time."

"Sounds like her."

Lysinas laughed.

The sun was starting to set. As they walked side by side, she peeked at Leo's face.

Still youthful—but something in him made him seem older. The red dusk lit his crimson eyes like polished rubies.

'This is nice.'

The kind of simple, ordinary happiness she'd always dreamed of.

'I wish time could just… stop here.'

She reached out and took his hand.

Leo paused and looked over at her.

She smiled sweetly, then slipped her arm through his.

Leo sighed.

"If you'd done this back then, maybe I'd have figured it out."

"You're really hung up about that, huh?"

Lysinas chuckled. Leo scowled.

"Of course I am. Because of you and Luna, those snot-nosed juniors think I'm some clueless idiot."

"Who?"

"Your successor and Luna's."

"Ohhh…"

"They've got their own crushes in Lumene, but can't even confess. Next time I see them, I'm shaving their heads."

"Pffft—ahahahaha!"

Lysinas burst into laughter.

Then her eyes widened.

"Oh, look—it's Celia."

Leo spotted her too.

Lysinas smirked mischievously.

"…Wanna go spy a little?"

bl

From a rooftop overlooking the night market, a group of girls watched the elven-human "date" from afar.

"…Wow. The mood's kind of nice."

"Totally got that pink haze vibe."

"Yeah, looks pretty legit…"

"…Damn it. No. No! I was supposed to see him cry tonight!"

Chen Xia, Eiran, and Lunia swallowed hard, standing beside a visibly antsy Alice.

Even if they were "hero candidates," they were still teenagers—not immune to the thrill of spying on a date.

Well… not all of them were thrilled.

"Nice mood? It's just normal Celia."

Chloe tilted her head, confused. Chen Xia gave her a pitying look.

"Chloe, you really need to read more romance novels. Not just spellbooks and those weird political theory texts."

"Yeah, seriously. If you only read one kind of book, you end up like Eiran."

"You could use a few of my books, honestly."

"What's wrong with my novels?!"

Eiran pouted, and Chloe snapped back.

"Do you have one with you?"

"I've got one in my subspace."

"Gimme."

"Ooh? That might be a little… spicy for someone so innocent~"

Chen Xia grinned while teasing her.

Chloe scoffed and took the book from Eiran, flipping straight to the bookmarked page.

She read a few lines—then scoffed louder.

"…Seriously? This is nothing."

"What's on that page?"

"It's the scene where the hero and heroine take a bath together."

"…Huh? That's plenty spicy for you!"

"Yeah, right. I've done that already."

It slipped out.

The girls went dead silent.

"…Huh?!"

Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth.

"You've WHAT?! With WHO?!"

Chen Xia leaned in close, smiling sweetly—but with deadly intent.

"Was it Leo, by any chance?"

"Th-that's—!"

"What kind of relationship is this?!"

"Tell us everything!"

Lunia and Eiran lunged at her with demands.

"…Lumene kids are wild, man…"

Alice mumbled in disbelief.

Then—

"What are you all doing sneaking around back here?"

"We thought Garin was about to confess, so we were—Eek?!"

Alice yelped, realizing a little too late who the voice belonged to.

Celia stood behind them, aura swirling dark and dangerous.

bl

On the roof above the market, Leo sighed.

"…What are they doing over there?"

"Hm?"

Lysinas looked over with one eye barely open.

"I'm just saying, it was an accident."

"Hm? You happy about all those cute girls crushing on you?"

"You jealous?"

"Jealous? Hah."

Lysinas rose to her feet. Leo clicked his tongue.

"How do I make it up to you?"

"Wow. You actually care how I feel now?"

She grinned, pretending to think—then smiled.

"Tell me a story. About your past."

"My past?"

"Yeah. Like… your first love, maybe?"

"…I don't have one."

"Sure you don't. Whatever. I'm just curious. Probably can't do this sober, though."

She grabbed his arm and tugged him up.

"Night's falling."

She smiled, a sparkle in her eye.

"Let's go get a drink."