Ardy sat alone, savoring his favorite chocolate cake with a calm expression.
"In this world, the only thing I truly love is this chocolate cake," he murmured to himself.
As he enjoyed the moment, Ruka approached him.
The moment he saw her, he ignored her presence.
Ruka hesitated-then suddenly leaned in and licked the piece of cake stuck to his cheek.
Ardy flinched. "What are you doing?"
Her face turned red.
"Umm... I-I was just..." she stammered.
Ardy sighed. "Don't forget-we are just pretending to be a couple."
The words hit Ruka like a knife.
Her expression faltered, the weight of rejection settling in her chest.
"Don't tell me..." Ardy paused. "You actually started loving me?"
Ruka straightened herself. "You're smart enough to know that already. Just propose to me-I'll accept."
"No."
Her eyes darkened with frustration.
"Don't forget-l am a Princess! It's your luck that I've fallen for you. I set aside my ego to try and be with you, yet you reject me?"
Ardy shook his head.
"I don't care who you are. And as for your 'ego'-you never actually said 'I love you.' You think you love me, but it's just attraction."
Ruka frowned. "Attraction?! What exactly do you think I'm attracted to?"
Ardy smirked. "I'm handsome, cute, hot, and strong."
Ruka scoffed. "So what? If you are handsome, cute, hot, and strong-then I am beautiful, cute, and the strongest."
Ardy nodded. "True. You are the strongest-after me."
And with that-he walked away, leaving Ruka speechless.
Ruka avoided everyone at the Academy, lost in her thoughts.
Leo noticed her sullen expression and asked, "What happened?"
Ruka barely looked up. "He told me he doesn't love me."
Leo grinned. "Then love me instead."
Ruka's icy glare froze him in place.
"Get out, or I will freeze your whole career."
Leo quickly backed away.
Still furious, he stormed over to Ardy.
"HOW COULD YOU REJECT HER?! ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!"
Ardy stood up, his gaze sharp.
"You are not my friend. You are not my
relative. You have no right to tell me how to live."
Leo clenched his fists.
"Don't talk to me."
Akumo stepped forward, but Zero blocked him.
"You can't change his mind," Zero muttered.
"Ardy doesn't consider us his friends.
Something happened in his past-something that made him obsessed with anime. I think he believes anime is better than reality."
Kael, Lee, and Raven arrived, ordering everyone to head to the training grounds.
Leo sat on a bench, frustration evident on his face.
Raven casually sat beside him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sad because you're still single?"
"Shut up and leave."
Raven smirked.
"At the tournament, you told Sumi that if she didn't give up, you would go wild. Were you thinking about putting your hand under her skirt?"
Leo sighed.
"Yes, I was. Now go."
Raven ignored him.
"What really happened?"
Leo explained his frustration with Ardy.
Raven chuckled.
"Whether you believe it or not-he is your friend."
"Get out."
"Do you know why Ardy said you're not his friend? Because you are weak."
Leo's rage ignited.
"Weak?! I'll prove you wrong!"
He charged at Raven, but couldn't land a single hit.
Kael smirked. "Let's see how strong he really is."
Raven dodged every attack, then unleashed a Fire Magic Strike.
Zero blocked it instantly.
"I've wanted to fight you since I was born."
Raven narrowed his eyes.
"First Elder, huh? Fine. I can handle you."
Before the fight escalated-Ardy interrupted.
"You all talk too much. I can't watch anime."
Leo blinked in surprise.
"What Raven said..." he murmured.
"Ardy is my friend."
Raven grinned.
"So it's 1 vs. 3? Fine."
He smirked.
"You three-Leo, Zero, Ardy-you all have one thing in common. You have no parents. Do you need a family reunion?"
Kael stopped the fight, calling everyone back to sword training.
Kael stopped the fight, calling everyone back to sword training.
Later that evening, Ruka stood frozen, struggling with her emotions.
Her heart hurt.
She clenched her fists.
She couldn't let this end.
"Ardy!" she ran toward him.
"I-I... I love you. Please, go out with me. No -marry me!"
Ardy's expression was unreadable.
"Sorry."
And he walked away.
Sumi approached Ruka, placing a hand on
Sumi approached Ruka, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't give up."
Ruka forced a weak smile.
"What if he never loves me?"
She sighed.
"He's so popular. Every girl in the Academy likes him..."
Sumi smiled slightly.
"It's a secret-don't tell anyone. But I love Zero. I could never tell him... but I won't give up."
She tried to comfort Ruka, but nothing worked.
In the royal castle, Ruka sat in her room, tears streaming down her face.
Her father, the Emperor, entered.
"What's wrong?"
She refused to speak.
He sat beside her, gently hugging her.
"Tell me."
After a long silence, she finally broke down.
She told him everything-every moment of rejection, every ounce of pain.
"I love him. But he doesn't love me."
Her father sighed.
"I'll handle it tomorrow."
The next day, the Emperor, the President of the Holy Knight Training Center, Raven, Kael, Lee, and other ministers arrived at the S-Rank Class.
Lee stepped forward.
"A terrorist organization has declared war against us. The battle will happen in three days."
"All students-including you-will participate."
After the meeting, the emperor called Arly.
"Why did you reject Ruka?"
Ardy explained the fake relationship.
The Emperor sighed.
She loves you because she set her ego aside. She would never do that for me-or her mother."
"So what?" Ardy shrugged.
"I know about your family history. You refuse relationships because of your guilt-killing your father and failing to save your mother."
Ardy smirked.
"I enjoyed killing my father. I have no guilt."
The Emperor sighed.
"Then let's have a 1v1 battle. If Ruka wins-you accept her offer. If you win-you're free to do whatever you want."
The battle began...
And Ardy won.
Ruka stood in the training arena, her hands trembling.
She had lost.
Ardy had overpowered her without hesitation.
She barely fought back-her heart refused to let her hurt him.
The Emperor sighed, watching her from the stands.
"Ruka," he finally spoke. "You must start over -from the beginning."
Ruka felt her chest tighten. She had risked everything, set aside her pride, and still-she had failed.
Was this love worth it?
Far away, deep within a hidden chamber, Akira worked tirelessly, crafting monstrous creatures.
His ability to manipulate Slime had allowed him to create over 10,000 beasts, waiting for orders.
Suddenly, Jack entered the chamber, his eyes scanning the army.
"How many?" Jack asked.
Akira turned, his expression blank.
"10,000-ready for war."
Jack smirked. "Perfect."
The war was no longer a distant threat-it was coming fast.