CHAPTER 245: A PACT BORN OF VENGEANCE [2]

"What are you thinking so deep about?"

Zahra’s voice was soft, almost hesitant as she leaned toward her friend.

Her deep purple eyes studied Elizabeth’s face.

Most people wouldn’t have noticed the tiny change that crept over her expression, the slight furrow of her brow, the way her lips pressed together.

But Zahra could tell. After spending almost a year with her, she could read Elizabeth better than anyone.

Elizabeth, seated beside her at the library table, looked up briefly. A small smile touched her lips.

"Nothing... just tired."

Zahra narrowed her eyes playfully, tilting her head.

"Oh, come on. I can tell you are worried about something."

Elizabeth’s eyes flickered for a moment, then went quiet.

"..."

That silence stretched. Elizabeth wasn’t the type to share what weighed on her heart.

She was very private and reserved person, careful about the walls she built around herself.

Even with Zahra, who was practically the only person she called her friend, she spoke little of what she thought or felt.

Zahra sighed, resting her chin on her palm as she let her gaze drift toward the shelves filled with books.

Her eyes wandered absentmindedly across the quiet library.

"No many first-years today..." she muttered to herself.

Then she snapped back to Elizabeth.

"Oh, right."

Elizabeth’s eyes lifted.

"..?"

"You know the midterms for the first-years were cancelled?"

Elizabeth’s gaze sharpened a little, though her face remained composed.

"Yes. Due to that gate incident."

Zahra’s lips curled into a half-smile.

"Yeah, that. Apparently they had their rescheduled exam today. And I heard it was brutal."

That last word made Elizabeth sit up, her fingers brushing her chin thoughtfully.

"How so?"

Zahra shrugged.

"I don’t know all the details. Just some rumours floating around."

For a brief moment, Elizabeth’s mind stirred. She seemed genuinely interested, but she kept her expression neutral, careful not to reveal too much.

Then, as if struck by an idea, Zahra snapped her fingers and pointed at her.

"I know! Why don’t we ask your fiancé?"

Elizabeth froze. Her eyes widened before narrowing sharply.

"He’s not my fiancé," she said flatly. "There was only talk about a marriage arrangement. Nothing is set."

Zahra burst into laughter, tilting her head.

"For real? I thought you really liked him. I mean, after I heard you and him had lunch together, somewhere private, and you even asked him in front of almost all the first-years! It looked like you wanted that marriage badly."

Elizabeth’s lips twitched. She almost sighed, but it escaped only as a soft breath.

That day, she had acted on impulse, stirred by a mischievous urge to provoke him. She hadn’t meant to send that impression, but it had its upside.

’That nuisance’ had also stopped bothering her afterward.

Still, her eyes betrayed the flicker of regret at the memory.

Zahra’s smile lingered, teasing but kind.

"So... how is he really? I’ve seen him a few times. He seems like a really good guy. Always working hard. And, I mean... he’s really handsome. One of the most handsome guys I’ve seen here at the academy."

Elizabeth’s eyes shifted away. Her lips pressed together, avoiding the question like it was something she didn’t want to face.

Zahra grinned.

"But how’s his personality? That’s what matters most, right?"

Elizabeth’s throat moved once before she answered softly.

"I don’t know. I’ve only met him twice."

Zahra’s eyes widened in mock despair. She almost face-palmed.

"Let’s go! His exam is probably over. We can see him!"

"Why?"

Elizabeth’s voice was dry, unimpressed.

Zahra huffed dramatically.

"Why? Why would you ask that? Of course, we need to meet him! So you can introduce me, and... well... we also need to find out what happened with the first-years’ exam."

Elizabeth’s eyes twitched briefly, barely hiding her annoyance.

’This gossip girl.. always poking into things...’

"I’m leaving"

Elizabeth muttered, rising from her seat. She collected her books quickly, as if fleeing the conversation, and walked toward the exit.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Zahra scrambled to her feet, snatching her books and hurrying after her friend.

The library doors swung open as they stepped into the evening air.

The campus paths stretched ahead, dimly lit under the soft glow of lanterns. The chatter of students floated softly through the night.

"Hey, don’t be like that! Tell me~"

Zahra called after her.

"Tell me more about him—"

But Elizabeth no longer listened.

Once Zahra’s mind decided something, it rarely changed. There was no point in arguing. Better to ignore her and let her tire herself out.

As they walked, Elizabeth’s eyes caught a group of first-years ahead of them. Their shoulders were slumped, and they dragged their feet with frustration.

— "Ugh... how was that exam even fair?" one grumbled.

— "They didn’t even tell us it was an exam," another muttered bitterly.

Elizabeth’s ears perked slightly. She might not have wanted to admit it, but the topic intrigued her.

She had heard the word brutal from Zahra earlier. Now, here were the students complaining about it firsthand.

’Brutal exam, huh...’ she thought, letting curiosity creep in despite herself.

She wondered how Kyle had done. There were plenty of whispers about him being a prodigy, just like his sister, Professor Aurelia.

If he was as talented as they said, he probably handled it well, but part of her wanted to know for sure.

Their dormitory buildings grew closer. Elizabeth’s steps slowed without her realizing it.

Then something caught her eye. Her feet froze.

The breeze stirred the ends of her black hair, lifting them gently around her face. Her eyes, dark as obsidian, locked onto something, or someone, just ahead.

His eyes shone like twin blue gemstones, catching the last of the evening light. His face was perfectly structured, his jaw sharp, his nose straight and elegant.

The soft glow of dusk highlighted his features, as if the world itself had arranged the scene for her to see.

She had never looked at him closely before, not closely. But this... this figure before her was impossible to ignore.

Not just because he was handsome. Elizabeth wasn’t the type to fall for appearances. It wasn’t beauty that captivated her. It was something else.

Something she couldn’t quite name, perhaps the way his presence quietly demanded attention without trying.

"Hey, why’d you stop?"

Zahra’s voice broke through her daze. She tilted her head, puzzled, watching Elizabeth’s frozen stance. Her eyes followed the direction Elizabeth was staring at.

Standing before them was none other than Kyle Valemont.

"Oh..."

Zahra breathed.

Elizabeth’s gaze remained steady, but unreadable.

Whatever thoughts flickered behind her eyes, she kept them locked away, silent as always. Yet even she couldn’t deny that something had shifted in the air around them.

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Author’s Note:

Hey guys! Sorry for not updating over the past few days. I was sick and the doctor strictly advised me to take complete bed rest.

I’m feeling much better now and will start uploading regularly. Thanks for your patience!

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