Felyn tried everything on the first floor—doors, windows—nothing would open.
Every exit was sealed with a layer of glowing blue watermark-like runes. No matter what he did, he couldn’t get through.
The only option left was to head back upstairs and talk to Adeline.
Hopefully she still had a little bit of awareness left.
“Adeline? Are you awake? I’m coming in, okay?”
Hearing no movement from inside, Felyn gently pushed the door open and stepped in.
The entire room was saturated with a mix of Adeline’s rose perfume and the sweet scent of alcohol. It was like stepping into a hive soaked in honey.
Her brows were furrowed slightly, as if the pain of a hangover was haunting her dreams.
“Adeline, wake up. I can’t get out.” Felyn gently shook her feverishly warm body.
“Professor… I already turned in the report… just let me sleep a little longer…”
Clearly, Adeline was totally out of it.
“It’s me, Felyn. Your security system locked all the doors. I’m trapped.”
Adeline’s eyes slowly opened, her gaze hazy and unfocused.
“Felyn… you’re still here? Y-you’re not trying to do anything to me, are you…”
“I’m not doing anything to you! Just disable the security system so I can leave.”
Adeline nodded slowly, very seriously, then reached under her pillow and pulled out a security seal.
“Is the security not good enough? Felyn, don’t worry. My house has very strong security.”
Only the gods knew what Adeline was thinking. Her finger pressed down—on the emergency lockdown button.
Felyn felt a pulse ripple through the room. A wave of water-like energy shimmered past, and blue glowing runes lit up across the bedroom door.
“Wait—Adeline, what did you just press?!”
Panic rising, Felyn rushed to the door and twisted the handle.
It didn’t budge.
Now even the bedroom door was sealed shut.
Crap. This made it even worse.
“Adeline! Don’t fall asleep again!”
Felyn gripped her shoulders and gently shook her, trying to wake her up.
“F-Felyn… don’t shake me… I’m gonna puke…”
Adeline, dazed and disoriented, flung her arms around his neck, clinging to him tightly.
“Please don’t puke on me, Adeline! I’ll stop shaking!”
Felyn used his shoulder to support her head, trying to pry her arms off him.
“F-Felyn… I knew it. You didn’t really want to leave, did you? That’s why you’re hugging me even though I’m drunk…”
Felyn felt like he had an octopus stuck to him—Adeline had latched on tight and wasn’t letting go.
“I want to leave! Please open the door!”
He kept backing away, but Adeline showed no signs of letting go.
Until Felyn tripped over a chair.
Thud!
Before he could react, he was already on the ground, and Adeline was on top of him.
Her gray-blue eyes were misted over like fogged glass, impossible to read. The straps of her nightgown had long since slipped, revealing her snow-pale shoulders and an inviting collarbone.
Her full chest pressed against him—light, soft, fragrant.
Her long legs were on either side of his waist, and her pale feet, smooth as jade, were by his ears—so close that if he turned his head slightly, he could brush against her pink-polished toes.
“Felyn, if you like me, just say it. Don’t be all shy about it. I might actually consider it.
You’ve worked so hard for me. I’ve noticed. I know how much you’ve done.”
As she spoke, she suddenly leaned down—her soft chest gently pressing against his and slowly rubbing forward.
Her rose-tea hair spilled down, brushing his face with its intoxicating scent.
“Felyn…” Adeline’s lips were practically at his ear.
“I hold grudges, you know. Veloti kissed you… so I’m going to kiss you back.”
She closed her eyes and slowly leaned in, lips slightly parted.
Felyn let out a long sigh, staring up at the ceiling.
A moment later.
He patted the dust off his clothes and walked toward the corner of the room.
“Sorry, Adeline. But once you fall asleep, I’ll undo it.”
A few steps away, Adeline was lying on the bed, her hands and feet tied with rope. She wriggled like a caterpillar.
She squirmed and struggled, rolling from one side of the bed to the other like a spring roll, filled with energy.
Thankfully, she was still drunk enough that her eyes were clear and unfocused—she didn’t shout anything weird.
Felyn had just checked the Security Seal. Once the emergency mode was activated, it required Adeline to enter a password to disable it.
But in her current state…
Sigh.
…
While Felyn was trapped inside the bedroom, things were also getting lively in another part of Donk District.
Zervanie had just finished a long day of activities. She stepped out of the car and headed back home.
Today had really worn her out.
As soon as she parted ways with Felyn, she had to go to an event—and only just now had it ended.
“Lady Zervanie, would you like a late-night snack?”
“No, thank you. I’m a bit tired. I’ll head to my room first.”
Zervanie forced a small smile in response to her maid’s greeting, then returned to her room and shut the door behind her.
Inside the only private space in the world that belonged to her, she immediately stripped off her clothes and tossed them to the floor, then collapsed heavily onto the bed.
“So tired… so, so tired…”
But once her busy day ended, Zervanie had time to think about other things—like her encounter with Felyn today.
Would he find the letter she left?
Back when Zervanie used to read romance novels, the part she loved most was always the letters.
That tension, the thrill, the anticipation—it was addictive.
But now that a scene like that was happening in her own life, all she felt was fear and anxiety.
Guess it’s always better to read about someone else’s drama.
Zervanie had no idea how to face Felyn moving forward.
She didn’t know if Felyn was even happy to see her—or how to raise his affection toward her.
When people feel lost, they tend to seek help from others.
But Zervanie had no friends. Even if she did, she wouldn’t know how to open up.
She was the idol. She couldn’t tell anyone about her relationship with Felyn.
Zervanie kicked her legs against the soft mattress. Her silver-white hair lay sprawled across her back, silently watching her spiral in confusion.
What should I do?
Zervanie flipped over and buried her face in the pillow, letting out a muffled sigh.
There was no way she’d let herself give up.
Just thinking about what Felyn said to her today—“Zervanie, you gave people the courage to keep living.”—was enough to make her heart race all over again.
How could she possibly give up on someone like that?
As long as no other woman had taken him yet, she still had a chance.
Miss Veloti and Miss Bernice were both beautiful and a bit difficult, sure—but it wasn’t like she had no hope of winning.
After all, it was only two people.
Only two…
Zervanie suddenly thought of someone who might be able to give her advice.
Miss Adeline Claude!
Back on the bench at Saint Andros Academy, she had confided in her about her feelings for Felyn—and even asked her to put in a good word.
Adeline had a good relationship with Felyn, so maybe she understood him well too.
Might as well ask her opinion—maybe she’d have a solution.
Zervanie picked up her communication seal and tapped on Adeline’s name.
She called several times, but no one picked up.
Strange. Had the young lady fallen asleep?
Zervanie puffed her cheeks in frustration. It felt like nothing had gone her way today.
Logic told her she should wait until later to ask Adeline for advice.
But she couldn’t wait. She wanted someone to appear right now, someone who could tell her what to do, how to be with Felyn.
Zervanie glanced at her schedule—she had free time in the morning.
Then tomorrow morning it is. She’d go to Adeline’s place early—wait outside her door before she left for school.
(End of Chapter)