Editor : Amethyst00



From the first period, the Department of Knight had a theory class.

Celia, resting her chin on her hand, silently stared at Leo's face sitting next to her.

"What are you staring at like that? Suddenly realizing how handsome I am?"

"Do you know you're shameless to an excessive degree sometimes?"

"Can't I even joke?"

Leo shrugged his shoulders.

Seeing him like that, Celia let out a deep sigh.

Even if it was a joke, it was true that Leo had outstanding looks.

It was natural, being the son of Reina, who had such graceful features.

Celia, who had been looking at Leo for a moment, furrowed her brows.

"Do you joke like that with other girls too?"

"No. I do it because it's you."

"Well, that's true."

Celia nodded at Leo's answer.

It was a joke he could only make to Celia, his cousin, whom he didn't see as a romantic interest.

'He really gives no openings, huh.'

Leo had been popular since he entered the academy.

Naturally, his popularity only grew with time.

'And yet, there hasn't been a single scandal?'

Celia tilted her head in puzzlement.

Popular students usually get caught up in at least minor scandals.

Even Abad and Duran had rumors floating around that they were dating someone at some point.

In contrast, Leo hadn't had a single rumour.

Until now, she had thought it was just because he managed himself well, but now that she thought about it, it was actually quite curious.

"Leo, don't you date or anything?"

When Celia asked with a puzzled expression, Leo, who had been reading his textbook, looked at her just as puzzled.

"Why ask that all of a sudden?"

"With your popularity, dating would be easy for you, wouldn't it?"

"Not interested."

When Leo answered with a small laugh, Celia asked cautiously.

"Don't tell me you're into guys or something— Ow!"

Celia swatted away Leo's hand as he tugged at her cheek.

As she rubbed her cheek and frowned, Leo responded.

"I don't plan to date any of the students."

"You sound like an old man."

At her comment, Leo chuckled and said,

"What about you? Got a guy you like?"

"Not really."

As Celia responded indifferently, Leo said,

"Then want to go to the upcoming dance party with me?"

Leo asked lightly, as if just in passing, and Celia replied,

"I have someone else in mind, so I won't go with you this time."

At that, Leo paused and clicked his tongue.

"You said you didn't like anyone? This cousin is a bit disappointed."

"Who's your cousin? I'm your older cousin! Older!"

Celia snapped back.

Leo giggled at her reaction.

"Honestly, really."

Celia scowled and glared at Leo, who was teasing her.

As she exchanged casual banter with him, Celia recalled her deal with Chen Xia.

She was supposed to pair Leo and Chen Xia as dance partners.

In fact, Celia had originally planned to go to the dance party with Leo.

It was true that there was a strange vibe between her and Abad lately.

Back when they were young, they had fiercely competed and clashed, but since they had known each other for so long, the moment they saw each other as potential romantic interests, they had quickly grown close.

But in any case, Celia was a direct descendant of the Zerdinger family, and Abad was the heir to the Lewellin family.

Just going to the dance party together would surely cause a huge scandal.

'I'd definitely get grilled by Father and Uncle Zeiss.'

While the two families weren't sworn enemies, they were clearly rivals. If rumors started about her and the Lewellin heir, her father might immediately fly to Lumene.

'If things progress between me and Abad, it'll probably happen eventually, but…'

People naturally prefer to postpone their suffering.

Celia wanted to delay that situation as much as possible.

'Most of all, Chelsea. She'll definitely throw a fit.'

For various reasons, Celia had always planned to go with Leo.

But now that Chen Xia had leverage on her, that wasn't an option.

'That doesn't mean I can just push Leo toward Chen Xia outright.'

Celia glanced at Leo.

'He may not seem like it, but Leo can be surprisingly twisted.'

He also had a mischievous streak and liked teasing people.

If she pushed Chen Xia directly, Leo might figure out she was being blackmailed and flatly refuse just out of spite.

'First, I have to block all the girls trying to approach Leo.'

There was no guarantee Leo and Chen Xia would end up as partners.

'But if I help Xia actively, she at least won't spread rumors about me and Abad.'

Celia clenched her fist, steeling her resolve.

"Ah! Class president!"

Eliana, entering the classroom with Nella, spotted Leo and ran up to him with a bright face.

"Hey! For the dance party, would you—!"

"Eliana. I need to talk to you."

"Huh? Why? I didn't break any rules!"

Celia was also on the student discipline committee.

Eliana had often been reprimanded by her for breaking school rules.

Thanks to that, Celia had a perfect excuse to separate Eliana from Leo.

As Eliana looked flustered, Celia said coolly,

"You'll know once you come with me."

Celia then dragged Eliana away.

"Wait! I need to talk to the class president! This is an abuse of power!"

Eliana protested with a face full of injustice.

"Looks like Eliana did something wrong again."

Nella said with a smile as she sat next to Leo, who tilted his head.

"Not sure. I thought she'd been behaving well lately?"

Leo was the only one puzzled. The other students from the Knight Department just assumed Eliana had done something wrong again.

As Eliana was dragged out of the classroom, complaining, Chen Xia and Duran entered through the door.

They were holding today's class materials.

Seeing Celia and Eliana, Duran clicked his tongue.

"Looks like Eliana Raden caused trouble again."

"No, I didn't! I'm really innocent!"

Eliana pouted.

Regardless, Celia dragged her out.

As Chen Xia and Duran placed the materials on the professor's desk, Nella, who had been about to stand up from Leo's side, let out a surprised gasp.

All the girls from the Knight Department had rushed toward Duran.

Looking a bit troubled, Nella sat back down.

Meanwhile, Chen Xia approached Leo.

"What did Miss Eliana do wrong this time?"

"Not sure. She did seem genuinely upset… but maybe if she behaved better, this wouldn't happen."

Leo shook his head as Chen Xia chuckled softly.

At that moment, Duran left the group of girls and approached.

Just as Nella was about to say something to him—

"Leo Plov. Come with me. Professor Ain is calling you."

"Really? Got it."

Duran took Leo and quickly left the classroom.

Nella clicked her tongue again.

"Duran is so cold."

"Yeah."

As Nella smiled wryly, she looked curiously at Chen Xia.

"By the way, Xia, aren't you going to ask Leo to the dance party?"

"Hmm. Leo is surprisingly twisted, you know. If I ask him, he'll probably say no."

"True, he does have that side to him."

"I have to make him bring it up naturally."

"Good luck."

"Hehe, thanks for the support."

bl

For the Department of Magic, second- and third-year students had a free period for the first class.

Carl had planned to head to the Summoning Department early to meet Eliza.

But Chelsea stopped him.

"Carl."

"Oh! Chelsea, what's up? As you can see, I'm a bit busy!"

"It's about Leo. I wanted to discuss something with you. Can I have a minute?"

'Oh? This is like a pumpkin rolling into my lap.'

Chelsea was the third high-priority threat on Carl's list.

Lyl was a threat because she had a wish from Leo.

Celia was dangerous because Leo might invite her himself.

'Celia's fine for now.'

Carl couldn't interfere with Knight classes.

But Chen Xia was there, and she would check Celia, aiming for Leo as a partner.

'And Leo's so twisted that even if Xia asks, he'll probably refuse.'

But Chelsea was a different case.

'Chelsea plays the younger sister card.'

Leo was quite accommodating when it came to Chelsea.

He wouldn't respond coldly—he might immediately agree to her request.

Carl had been thinking of ways to neutralize Chelsea, and now she had come to him for advice.

'Sorry, Chelsea. But for the sake of my peaceful second semester—'

Carl knew well how petty Elena could be.

If she stayed upset, he wouldn't be able to manage.

So he had to cheer her up no matter what.

"If it's about Leo, you mean the dance party?"

"Yeah. Should I just ask him directly?"

"Hm. I think there's a better way."

"Huh?"

Chelsea looked surprised.

"Leo's super popular, right? So he's bound to get tons of partner requests."

"True…"

"With so many asking, he'll be torn. If you just act normal, he might be the one to ask you first."

"That makes sense."

Chelsea looked impressed.

"Heh. How's that for a genius solution?"

"You're amazing, Carl!"

In truth, Carl's advice gave Chelsea the highest chance of being chosen as Leo's partner—

"Originally, that is."

Carl grinned to himself.

"As long as I don't accidentally leak that Chelsea's going with Abad to Leo."

"Thanks, Carl!"

Watching his innocent friend walk away with a big smile, Carl felt a twinge of guilt, but chose to be heartless.

He left the magic department area.

A little later…

"Where did Carl go?"

Juen frowned as she searched for Carl.

"Hey."

"What's someone from Knight doing here in the Magic Department?"

"Is Carl-sunbae around?"

The top freshman from Knight, Mylia, appeared, asking a second-year from the Magic Department.

"Carl? What for?"

"I have a favour to ask."

Juen butted in.

"Carl-sunbae is probably sleeping in his room, right?"

"Huh? But he just left—"

"He's asleep, right?"

"…Yeah. I guess he is."

Mylia nodded.

Juen gave her a pleasant smile.

"Come back later."

"No."

"Huh?"

"If the prey isn't in its nest, I'll go find it."

Smiling sweetly, Mylia walked off, and Juen grinned slyly as she watched her go.