Serena silently watched as Ort draped an arm over Arthur's shoulder, the two of them laughing and chatting like close friends. Her expression froze. The next second, a "perfect" fake smile spread across her face, as if she had instantly switched to diplomatic mode. With graceful steps, she walked forward elegantly.
"Oh—if it isn't the esteemed Crown Prince himself," she said with a crisp tone, poised and well-mannered. Her slight bow was gentle yet full of confidence. "May the light bless the Empire, and may the Empire's radiance shine upon you. I wish His Highness the Crown Prince to soon become the elves' chosen, and may your glory illuminate the continent."
Ort raised an eyebrow at her words, a hint of surprise and amusement flickering in his eyes. He then relaxed his stance, his tone casual and easygoing.
"You're… Arthur's sister, aren't you? Serena?"
"Yes." Serena maintained that impeccable, polite smile.
"To offer such thoughtful blessings upon first meeting—how rare." Ort chuckled, a trace of scrutiny flashing in his gaze, though his manner remained courteous. "But within the academy, there's no need for such formality. We're all equals here; no need for honorifics."
"Oh, how refreshing," Serena replied with a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes.
At that moment, Arthur finally noticed her arrival. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over, throwing his arms around her in a tight hug. Like when they were kids, he pressed his face against hers, rubbing his cheek on hers affectionately.
"Serena~ Why are you here? Haha, my little sister is so cute!"
"Brother…" Serena froze for a moment, struggling to maintain her "professional smile." "Could you… maybe not rub your face on me?"
"I'm just happy, that's all." Arthur beamed radiantly, completely unaware. Behind him, unseen by all, Ort's gaze darkened ever so slightly.
Arthur then suggested, "Since it's a rare chance and I just finished warming up, how about we walk around the academy together? We haven't spent time together in ages."
"That might not be appropriate," Ort suddenly interjected, stepping in to stop him. "The tug-of-war match will begin soon. Leaving now wouldn't be convenient."
"But it's still a while before our turn," Arthur said casually. "We've got time for a quick walk."
Ort continued to smile, but his tone grew firm. "Even if it's early, we shouldn't let our guard down. Didn't you say this was your last year in the beginner division and you wanted to win this match? Better to use this time for some early training."
Arthur frowned slightly, hesitating.
Serena, standing quietly to the side, observed the exchange closely. Her instincts were once again screaming alarms.
Her sharp eyes glanced at Ort, her suspicions plain as she suddenly said,
"In that case… I'll just watch my brother train. I've always been curious how one prepares for a tug-of-war."
To her surprise, Ort chuckled and waved gently, still calm but firm.
"You're still young. It's not suitable for lower grades to observe. I'm concerned someone might get hurt during the training. Best to wait for the official match."
"I'm not an ordinary kid," Serena said, smiling with perfect grace. "I'm his sister."
"But today, he's a participant, and you're a spectator," Ort replied gently. "You should enjoy your free time."
In that moment, it felt as if a current passed between the two of them, a silent but charged exchange.
What sounded like polite concern only deepened the suspicion in Serena's heart.
She didn't move. The smile on her face finally began to fade.
"Let's go, let's go," Aiden whispered as he tugged on her sleeve. "Didn't you say you were hungry?"
When Serena still didn't move, Aiden, not wanting the situation to grow more awkward, tugged her away forcefully. She had no choice but to suppress the rising flood of doubt within and huff lightly.
"Hmph…"
Even as she was pulled away, her eyes never left the pair. That hand draped over her brother's shoulder—it was now nothing but an eyesore.
——
On the small terrace behind the cafeteria, Serena sat in a chair, stirring her fruit drink with clear displeasure. The straw gurgled loudly in the glass, the sound sharp and grating. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes fixed on the fruit pulp, looking like a cat ready to explode at any moment.
Aiden sat across from her, resting his chin in his hand as he watched her. With a sigh, he said,
"Come on, don't be mad… Maybe the Crown Prince was just being nice, letting us rest somewhere shady instead of baking in the sun. We've got drinks—it's not that bad."
"Hah." Serena let out a cold laugh. "Since he's so 'kind,' why don't you go thank him?"
Aiden shrugged, knowing there was no winning the argument. He wisely changed the subject.
"Hey, the tug-of-war is about to start, right? Didn't you say you were going to do a big cheer today? Take out your stuff—I'll help you set it up."
The mention of "cheering" sparked a change in Serena's expression. Her eyes lit up as she paused, then suddenly brightened.
"Oh right, I almost forgot."
She quickly unzipped her backpack and began pulling out an array of flashy cheer gear: glittering ribbons, little flags with "Best Brother Ever" written on them, colorful pom-poms, and even a bold banner that read "Go Brother!"
"…You made more of this stuff?" Aiden's eyes widened at her "arsenal."
"Of course." Serena lifted her chin proudly. "I'm his one and only little sister. If I don't make a scene at times like this, it'd be a dereliction of duty."
As Aiden tested the cheer sticks' flashing modes, he muttered under his breath,
"You call this a scene? You're trying to make headlines at the tug-of-war tournament…"
——
The tug-of-war event was divided by grade level. There were five first-year classes, competing in a double-elimination style tournament—best two out of three per match. Each round pitted two teams against each other, with the winners advancing.
The match was about to begin. Tug-of-war had always been one of the most popular sports, and the crowd was even more energetic than usual. All the participants were in position. Among the sixth-year teams, Arthur stood on one side, gripping the rope tightly, eyes fixed ahead. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
A hand patted his shoulder. He turned—Ort.
"Don't be nervous," Ort said warmly, a smile on his lips. "You've got this. Didn't you say you came to win?"
Arthur blinked, then nodded. Determination filled his eyes. "Yeah. I'll give it my all."
But just then, a loud, familiar voice rang out across the field—
"Arthur!!! Gooooooo!!! You can do it aaaaahhhhhh!!!"
Instinctively, he turned his head—and saw that familiar little figure standing on a chair at the edge of the stands. She had a sparkling banner draped around her neck that boldly read Go Brother! and was waving two bright pom-poms in her hands, face full of joy and excitement. In the sunlight, her golden hair seemed to glow.
Beside her, Aiden was also holding up two flashing cheer sticks—though his face… was difficult to describe.
"…Your sister's really into this," Ort said with mild surprise, following Arthur's gaze.
"She…" Arthur paused, then a smile broke out across his face, genuine and warm. "I never knew."
In that moment, all his nerves and tension vanished. He looked down at the rope in his hands, eyes sharpening with focus. His strength began to surge.
He knew—he couldn't lose.