Arthur stepped out of the infirmary and gently closed the door behind him.
Not far away, the red-haired boy, Aulte Astal, slowly turned around, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.
"Your sister didn't look too well."
"Mm." Arthur nodded lightly, a trace of worry still lingering on his face. "The doctor said it's just overexhaustion and some minor injuries—nothing serious. But she'll need a few days of proper rest."
Aulte gave a soft hum in response and didn't press further. He simply walked alongside Arthur toward the far end of the hallway.
His gaze occasionally landed on Arthur, only to quickly shift away again.
After a moment of silence, Aulte suddenly asked, "You… care a lot about your sister, don't you?"
"Yes." Arthur smiled gently, a sincere warmth blooming across his face as he looked ahead. "Selena is the most important family I have. She's always been smart and considerate, and she's grown up much faster than those around her. Even though she pretends to be strong and composed now, I know she's actually soft-hearted and kind."
"Is that so." Aulte's tone remained flat, but there was a trace of interest in it.
"I've been working hard all this time so that one day, I'll be strong enough to protect Selena and the rest of my family. As long as I'm here, she won't get hurt, and she won't have to face things that never should've been her burden alone."
Aulte turned his head slightly, gazing at Arthur's earnest and straightforward side profile. After a moment, he murmured, "You're a good brother."
"Thank you."
The conversation ended there, and silence briefly settled in the air.
The red-haired prince slowly turned his gaze back to the path ahead, his eyes deep as an abyss.
He said nothing more.
But in his heart, he quietly repeated—
Selena… so she's the one most important to you.
——
Ever since returning to her dorm from the infirmary, Selena had been lying in bed, resting. The ache at her waist still throbbed faintly.
She closed her eyes and unknowingly drifted off to sleep again.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the dorm room door clicked softly open.
"Selena?"
It was Ivy's voice—soft and tinged with panic.
Selena opened her eyes to see those slightly teary eyes looking down at her. She pushed herself up and gave a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine now. The doctor said it was just a mild fever... don't worry."
Ivy let out a breath of relief but still walked over and sat by her bed, gently pulling the blanket over Selena's legs.
"You scared me so much. Do you know how chaotic things got in class when you fainted?"
"...Chaotic?"
"Yeah. As soon as you collapsed, Mr. Stephen's face turned pale. He carried you straight to the infirmary. Everyone panicked… some of the boys even thought you were going to die."
Selena let out a small laugh. "Haha, I'm not that fragile."
Ivy chuckled too, but quickly changed the subject.
"Luckily Elena stepped up and calmed everyone down—she's really becoming a little class leader now. And then Lucien went with you to the infirmary. When he came back, though, his face looked awful."
"Lucien?"
Selena froze.
She hadn't expected Lucien and words like worried or bad expression to ever appear in the same sentence.
"Yeah. I've never seen him like that. He didn't say a word when he got back. Just sat down and stared out the window the whole time, ignoring everyone—even the teacher when asked a question. It was… weird."
Selena looked down at the blanket on her knees, her gaze gradually distant.
So even someone like Lucien could wear that kind of expression?
Yet what surfaced in her mind was an entirely different image—
The Lucien from her past life: a nobleman cold and aloof, who once fastened shackles symbolizing imprisonment around her wrists with hands colder than ice.
Back then, after the fall of the count's household and her mother's death, Selena had been left without a home. It was Lucien who offered her a place under the guise of being his fiancée, allowing her to retain her noble status and live in the marquis's estate.
But later, that very identity was used to lock her away in his private manor. She wasn't allowed to leave without permission.
In the tower's depths, she endured day after day of isolation and constant surveillance.
"You can only be mine, Selena." He once said that—his tone gentle, almost like a lover's whisper.
But she knew, that wasn't love.
It was obsession. A twisted, inescapable cage.
"…Selena?"
Ivy's voice brought her back.
Selena quickly forced a smile. "I was just… surprised. I didn't think Lucien would act like that."
Ivy nodded. "Honestly, I don't think he's as cold as he seems. Maybe he's just… not good at expressing himself."
Not good at expressing himself?
No. She remembered far too well—
Lucien had expressed himself all too clearly.
It just happened to be a kind of emotion that no one could run from.
"So… are you really okay now?" Ivy asked again, eyes full of concern.
Selena smiled and nodded. "I'm really fine. I took a nap and feel much better. I still have class tomorrow, so don't worry."
"Tomorrow?" Ivy's eyes widened. "You still plan to go to class tomorrow? The doctor gave you two days off! You should rest!"
But Selena simply shook her head, looking relaxed.
"My body is resilient. Today was just a minor issue, nothing serious. And class is light activity for me—just sitting and listening. It's practically rest."
As she spoke, her gaze fell on the file folder placed near the desk. Her tone grew serious.
"Besides, the Starlight Creative Challenge deadline is in two days. I have to polish the final details… I can't stop now."
Ivy opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but in the end, could only sigh and nod.
—
The classroom was filled with chatter in the early morning—
Until a hush fell as everyone turned to the door.
Selena walked in, backpack over her shoulder, her expression calm as always.
She could feel the curious, surprised, and whispering gazes following her, but kept a gentle smile on her face as she walked to her seat and sat down.
She glanced around and noticed Lucien wasn't there yet. Quietly, she took out her book and began reading, intending to spend the day peacefully.
But before she could settle in—
A soft, warm force suddenly wrapped around her from behind.
"…Huh?"
She blinked, surprised, as a familiar embrace gently encircled her.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was when you collapsed yesterday!"
Elena's voice rang in her ear, full of the anxiety she'd been holding back.
"If the teacher hadn't rushed you to the infirmary and taken Lucien with you, I would've insisted on going too."
Selena turned around with a smile, her voice gentle. "But I'm fine now, aren't I? I'm sorry for making you worry."
Elena let her go, but her tone still carried concern. "But why did you come to class so soon? The doctor said to rest for two days! Why don't you listen?"
She took Selena's hand seriously.
"We all know how much you've put into this competition. But no matter how hard you work, pushing your body to its limits doesn't make it more meaningful. Selena, the rest of us can handle it now. Really. Please, just rest."
Selena looked at her friend, eyes softening with warmth.
But she shook her head, her tone still resolute.
"Thank you, Elena. But I want to finish this with my own hands. It only has meaning if we do it together, right?"
Her voice was gentle, but her determination was unshakable.
Elena stared at her, then finally let out a sigh—but couldn't help smiling.
"You're impossible…"