CHAPTER 87: AMELIA’S SITUATION

Chapter 87: Amelia’s Situation

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The sun hung lazily above the academy grounds, casting long beams of light across the stone-paved courtyard. Students were moving between classes, the usual mix of chatter, footsteps, and laughter filling the air. It was the kind of afternoon that looked ordinary from the outside, but beneath the surface, tensions always brewed.

Arios walked across the courtyard, his hands shoved loosely in his pockets as he followed Lucy and Liza toward the training wing. His pace was unhurried as Lucy was talking about the cooking competition from yesterday, her tone still defensive.

"I don’t care what anyone says, that grilled fish didn’t deserve first place. Our dish had flavor and balance," she muttered, clutching her book against her chest.

Liza yawned, her hand resting lazily behind her head. "Still salty about losing? It’s over, Lucy. You’ll just embarrass yourself if you keep whining about it."

"I’m not whining!" Lucy shot back, cheeks puffed. "I’m just saying, we should’ve at least gotten second place."

"You got fourth," Arios said.

Lucy glared at him immediately. "You’re supposed to be on my side!"

"I’m just on the side of facts," Arios replied.

Liza burst into laughter, almost doubling over. "Gods, Arios, you’re brutal."

Lucy turned her head away with a huff, her face red. She picked up her pace, muttering under her breath about ungrateful teammates. Arios didn’t react, falling into step behind her.

As they passed through the main courtyard, a small crowd was gathered near the steps. A tall figure stood there, surrounded by a few familiar faces. Regulus Torvin, dressed in his pristine uniform, carried himself with the confidence of someone who believed the space belonged to him. Chase Weaverake was nearby, watching with that same calm, detached look he always wore, but his eyes betrayed amusement.

Amelia walked past the crowd, her armor glinting faintly in the light. She carried a stack of texts in her arms, clearly heading toward the library wing. Her posture was straight, but she kept her eyes forward, ignoring the students who looked at her with mixed expressions.

Just as she reached the bottom of the steps, Regulus stepped forward. He moved in a way that looked casual, but his shoulder "accidentally" slammed into hers with force enough to knock one of the books from her hands.

"Watch where you’re going," Regulus said sharply, his tone loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. He clutched his shoulder dramatically, his face twisted as though in pain. "Tch. What’s your problem, Instructor Amelia?"

The air shifted instantly. Whispers rose from the students around them.

Amelia blinked, surprised, before setting her books down and narrowing her eyes. "You walked into me, Torvin."

Regulus scoffed, straightening his uniform and rubbing his shoulder. "Is that what you’re going to claim? That I, a student, attacked you? Hah. How convenient for you."

The gathered students exchanged looks. Some looked confused, others amused. Chase didn’t move but watched with the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.

Amelia’s voice stayed calm. "Pick up the book you knocked down."

Regulus laughed lightly, shaking his head. "So you can order me around even outside class? You’re bold. Maybe too bold."

Someone from the crowd muttered, "Did you see how close she got to him?"

Another voice whispered, "She touched him on purpose?"

The words spread quickly, feeding into each other, twisting the scene into something it wasn’t. Regulus heard the murmurs and didn’t correct them. In fact, he leaned into it, his voice carrying louder.

"I’m beginning to think those rumors about you aren’t just rumors, Instructor." His smile widened. "You really don’t know your place."

Amelia froze for a moment, her jaw tightening. "Enough, Torvin. Return to your class."

But the damage was done. By the time she gathered her books and walked away, the courtyard was buzzing with new whispers.

"Did you hear that? Regulus said she—"

"They say she already got into trouble once before..."

"She’s too close to the students..."

Lucy clenched her fists as she watched from a distance. "That bastard. He’s doing this on purpose."

Liza’s smirk was gone. Her eyes were sharp, fixed on Regulus. "And Chase is definitely letting him do it."

Arios said nothing, his expression unreadable, but his gaze lingered on Amelia’s retreating figure.

By the evening, the whispers had spread across the dorm halls. Students gathered in corners, gossiping in low voices. Amelia’s name came up again and again, twisted into stories of impropriety. Some claimed they saw her touch Regulus. Others exaggerated that she cornered him. By the time the sun set, the "rumor" had taken shape into something far more damning than what actually happened.

Instructors pretended not to hear. Some students laughed it off, but the more impressionable ones looked uneasy. Amelia’s reputation, already strict and uncompromising, was now being turned against her.

Lucy stormed into Arios’s dorm room that evening, pacing back and forth. "It’s ridiculous! How can they all just believe him like that? Amelia would never—"

Liza was sprawled on the couch, her tone cool. "Because Regulus is a noble, and Amelia’s already under suspicion. It doesn’t matter what actually happened. People will believe the story that makes sense to them."

Lucy turned to Arios, who was seated calmly at his desk, writing in his notebook. "You don’t believe it, right? You don’t think—"

"No," Arios said flatly, without hesitation.

Lucy blinked. "...You didn’t even think about it."

"There’s nothing to think about," Arios said.

Liza smirked faintly. "He’s right. It’s obvious."

Lucy exhaled slowly, though her shoulders remained tense. "Still... I hate it. She didn’t deserve this."

A knock came at the door before Arios could reply. The three of them froze for a moment, exchanging looks.

Arios stood, walked across the room, and opened the door. Standing there was Amelia.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes betrayed exhaustion. She looked like someone who had been fighting to keep her composure all day.

"May I come in?" she asked softly.

Inside the room, Lucy moved aside reluctantly, though her expression softened when she saw the faint weariness in Amelia’s posture. Liza raised a brow but said nothing, simply observing.

Amelia stood near Arios’s desk, her hands clasped together in front of her. She took a breath, her voice low. "I won’t take much of your time. I... I just need to ask you something directly."

Her eyes lifted to Arios’s. "Do you believe the rumors?"

Lucy started to protest, but Arios’s steady gaze remained fixed on Amelia. He stepped forward slowly, closing the distance until only inches separated them.

Without a word, he leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers.

Amelia’s eyes widened instantly, her breath caught. The kiss wasn’t gentle—it was firm, insistent. His tongue slipped past her lips, tangling with hers, drawing out a muffled sound from her throat she couldn’t suppress.

Her knees weakened, her hands clutching at his shirt as a low moan escaped into his mouth. The world spun for her in that moment, the exhaustion and doubt replaced by a dizzying rush of heat.

When Arios finally pulled back, his voice was quiet but steady. "Does that answer your question?"

Amelia’s cheeks burned, her lips trembling. For once, her composure cracked completely. She looked at him, breathless, conflicted, and yet unable to deny the flush in her body.

Lucy turned crimson, covering her face with both hands. "I can’t believe I’m seeing this..."

Liza whistled low, her smirk returning. "Well. That’s one way to clear doubts."

Amelia swallowed hard, still shaken, her thoughts spinning out of control. The academy rules, her position, her duty—none of it stopped the pounding in her chest. She wanted to protest, but her body betrayed her.

"...I... we shouldn’t..." she whispered, but her voice lacked conviction.

Arios only looked at her in silence, his expression unchanged.