Adelina couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Zervanie. Felyn. Dungeon.

She knew every word. So why did putting them together feel so… wrong?

It had to be fake. Definitely fake.

Maybe she’d misread it. Or maybe the person who sent that message was joking.

Just then, Viloti—the owner of the Communication Seal—returned, responding to Adelina’s earlier call.

Adelina quickly averted her gaze, pretending to fiddle with the documents on the table, clearly guilty.

Like the others from St. Andros Academy, Viloti was wearing a white-and-red uniform today.

If a stranger were to walk into the crowded classroom, their eyes would land on her first.

She was simply that dazzling.

And why didn’t their eyes land on Adelina? Because at that moment, she was hiding behind a stack of files, stealing glances at Viloti’s expression.

She saw Viloti glance down at the seal, tap it once… and then freeze.

Her long pink hair draped gently over the glowing artifact, hiding her face from view.

Not that it mattered. Viloti rarely showed emotion anyway.

Should I say something?

Adelina hesitated. But the answer came swiftly—no.

First, it would be rude to admit she’d read someone else’s message. Second… she had no right to interfere with the people around Felyn.

“Adelina, break time’s over. Let’s begin,” said Linda, pulling her attention back.

“Huh? Oh—right, okay.”

The night was growing late, but the classroom buzzed with excitement.

The royal capital’s sponsorship had come through, and preparations for the academy’s centennial celebration were officially underway.

Everyone was busy assigning budgets, defining responsibilities, and debating the event’s theme, contents, and format.

It was exhausting.

But it was also fun.

Doing things with classmates that went beyond schoolwork—those were some of the happiest moments of student life.

And if someone you liked happened to be there too? That happiness multiplied.

“Let me now share St. Andros Academy’s proposed schedule—”

After Adelina had presented Lanchester Academy’s plans, it was Linda’s turn.

Adelina watched Linda’s mouth move, but didn’t hear a single word.

Her mind was filled with the image of a dungeon—not a dark, terrifying place filled with monsters and traps, but one bathed in sunlight, with a cool breeze and a gentle grassy slope.

The lake in the distance sparkled, a fine mist softening the air.

And there, sitting together on the grass… were Felyn and Zervanie.

Zervanie, with her perfect acting skills, would no doubt charm innocent Felyn step by step.

“F-Felyn, I can’t open this…”

“Wow, Felyn! You’re amazing! How did you do that?”

Zervanie would cradle her cheeks in her hands, flashing an enchanting smile with that bright, bubbly expression of hers.

She’d listen attentively to his answers, nodding along sweetly, inching closer all the while.

She’d pretend her legs were sore, then slyly lift her skirt under the guise of massaging them, revealing just enough skin to tempt.

“Felyn, my legs are a little sore… I’m sorry, I’m such a burden. Could you rub them for me? Boys are stronger, after all.”

Then, acting completely nonchalant, she’d grab his hand and place it right on her thigh.

No!

Absolutely not!

Adelina slapped her palms on the desk, jolting herself out of the daydream.

“Adelina? What’s wrong?” Linda stared at her in concern, thinking she was upset about the event planning.

“N-No, sorry! It was… a bug. You can keep going.”

Blushing furiously, Adelina gave a flustered excuse to calm the situation down.

No way. She couldn’t let Zervanie be alone with Felyn!

That wicked woman would definitely chase after Felyn, play with him until she got bored, and then toss him aside like garbage—poor Felyn!

Adelina thought back to the countless romance novels she’d read in preparation to get closer to Felyn.

There were always evil love rivals like that.

She glanced at Viloti again and saw that the girl still showed no reaction.

Doesn’t she care?

Am I overthinking it? Am I just being too sensitive?

In the end, I really don’t have the right to interfere with Felyn’s life.

If I show up in front of him, he’ll probably just hate me.

Adelina sighed softly, resting her cheek on one hand and turning her gaze away from Viloti.

I shouldn’t have read that message…

Not like I can do anything about it.

Around her, the student council members continued presenting their reports, full of energy.

But the student council president sat there, silently sulking.

Time flew by in the meeting.

“Thank you, everyone. Take the weekend to rest. Next week, we’ll be very busy.”

Adelina closed the meeting, watching Linda and the others file out one by one.

The classroom was still filled with the cheerful chatter of people excitedly discussing the celebration.

Only Adelina and Viloti remained still.

Adelina could feel it—that chilly young lady beside her clearly had something she wanted to say.

But it seemed like she didn’t know how to start.

“Viloti… do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

Since she wasn’t saying anything, Adelina decided to take the initiative.

If she didn’t, she felt like the two of them would be stuck like this until morning.

Viloti shook her head.

“I see.” Adelina didn’t get the answer she wanted. She rose from her chair and began packing her files.

“You can’t go tomorrow.”

Viloti’s voice came from behind, making Adelina’s fingertips tremble as they gripped the papers.

“Viloti? What do you mean?”

“Tomorrow, Felyn and Miss Zervanie are going to the dungeon. You can’t go.”

She took two steps forward. The words were firm, but her tone carried a hint of hesitation.

Adelina’s hands stopped moving. Her rose-colored hair cascaded down her back.

“I-I know that, but I just… I just…”

She took a deep breath and tilted her head back.

“But Felyn will hate you.”

Adelina understood.

Felyn hated people who tried to meddle in his private life—especially “contract clients” like her.

Showing up uninvited, trying to control who he spent time with—how laughable was that?

“I’m just worried Zervanie might pull something… play dirty tricks. I’m afraid Felyn might get hurt.”

“But that’s his choice. I don’t want to interfere.” Viloti placed one hand on the desk and met Adelina’s eyes. “Besides, Felyn isn’t so easily fooled. He’s smart.”

“Even if he ends up with another girl, you still wouldn’t interfere?”

“No.”

Adelina suddenly wondered if maybe she was just being narrow-minded.

Maybe she was overreacting—maybe Felyn and Zervanie really were just teaming up to clear monsters.

No. Felyn might be pure, but that Zervanie woman? Definitely not.

A girl knows.

Adelina could sense all of Zervanie’s little tricks and schemes.

But…

She wasn’t Viloti.

Even if she had shoved down all those complicated feelings about Felyn and Zervanie, she still genuinely worried for his safety.

It was still a dungeon, after all. Could Zervanie really protect him?

So what if Felyn hates me?

His safety is more important than anything else.

Adelina packed her bag. Under Viloti’s quiet gaze, she walked toward the door and stopped.

“I just so happen to be training my seal skills in the dungeon tomorrow.”

Before Viloti could say anything, she raised her hand.

“I know what you’re going to say. I won’t interfere with Felyn. But this kind of thing… it’s hard to prove. It’d be great if someone could keep an eye on me.”

Adelina figured—since she had learned about the situation by peeking at Viloti’s message, sneaking around behind everyone’s back would only tarnish her name further.

…

Midnight.

The streets of the Mist District were nearly deserted.

Daiyi opened her bedroom window.

Moments later, a girl with black-and-red streaked hair sat casually on the ledge, swinging her long, divine legs—legs that could only be described as miracles in themselves.

“Everything was normal today. No issues,” reported Bernice, her tone relaxed.

Daiyi nodded, her fingers pinching the corner of a book.

“Bernice, I have something to ask of you tomorrow.”

Felyn had already prepared her meals for the next day.

And tonight, he’d gone out with Zervanie to shop for dungeon supplies.

Daiyi didn’t need much effort to guess what he’d be doing tomorrow.

“Oh? A request from the young lady herself? I’ll agree to anything. What is it—want me to spy on which girl Felyn’s flirting with this time?” Bernice joked.

But when Daiyi didn’t reply, she realized something was up.

Daiyi quietly put away her book, carefully hiding her notes.

“...It’s him. Felyn’s going into the dungeon tomorrow. I want you to watch over him, make sure nothing bad happens.”

“Is he going alone?”

“With Zervanie.”

“Got it.” Bernice stood, her whole body lifting effortlessly into the air.

“I’ll make sure the songstress doesn’t get too close to him. Unless… you want to see them get close?”

Women were impossible to read.

Even as a girl herself, Bernice still felt that way.

She had no idea what her young lady was thinking anymore.

“But if I go to the dungeon, what about you? You won’t have anyone by your side.”

“If anything happens to me, just rush back.”

Daiyi rested her chin on her palm and finally showed a faint smile.

“Wow… now I’ve got to babysit your boyfriend and protect the delicate young lady? What am I, your couple’s personal concierge?”

(End of Chapter)