There was a hint of chill in the early autumn air, yet the tension between the three of them made it feel unbearably stifling.
The noise from the training grounds in the distance sounded like it came from another world, completely disconnected from this little corner where time seemed frozen.
The sky was bright and blue, with a few white clouds hovering above. Hearing Viloti’s words, Adeline’s lips twitched uncontrollably.
Was that a confession?
That was totally a confession!
Wait—wait, wait, wait, wait!
Viloti had confessed to Felyn, right in front of her?
Adeline’s face was pale and hard to look at. She even felt it was getting hard to breathe.
Even though she had known for a long time that Viloti had feelings for Felyn, even though she had seen Viloti kiss Felyn with her own eyes—
When Viloti said “I like Felyn” out loud in front of her, it still hit hard.
When she heard those words, for the first time, the always-number-one young lady wanted to run away.
Yes, Adeline wanted to escape this entire scene.
Because once Viloti said she liked Felyn in front of him, he would definitely respond.
What would he say?
If it were before, Adeline wouldn’t have worried about him agreeing.
She would’ve believed without a doubt that Felyn only liked her, that he’d never accept Viloti’s feelings.
But now—after Zervanie’s reminder, after learning how close Felyn and Viloti had become Adeline could no longer see Felyn’s feelings clearly.
She was scared.
Scared Felyn would say, “I like you too, Viloti.”
Scared she’d see them hugging.
Scared the Felyn she imagined in her future would vanish before her eyes.
Why had things come to this?
Why was it now even possible that Felyn and Viloti could be together?
And worst of all—that possibility was my doing!
If I hadn’t been so obsessed with knowing whether Felyn liked me,
if I hadn’t forced this confrontation about their relationship,
Viloti wouldn’t have confessed in front of him today.
And Felyn wouldn’t have to think about it at all!
All my actions… helped Viloti succeed.
I really do feel like a clown now.
It was as if Adeline’s soul had floated out of her body, watching from above, watching Viloti and Felyn, and her own pitiful self.
Her rational mind was starting to collapse.
A few red maple leaves drifted gently down, landing on the ground between the three of them, drawing a quiet line in this standoff.
Viloti lowered her face, her hair blending with the blush on her cheeks. Her amber eyes didn’t dare meet Felyn’s, yet she couldn’t help stealing glances in his direction.
Viloti was serious.
She had used the word “like” with Felyn twice before.
Once to say she liked him, Once to say she didn’t.
The second time had been interrupted by Adeline.
This time—while not exactly a formal confession—at least she’d told Felyn how she felt. Once those words were spoken, many things would change.
Like the relationship between the two of them.
Would he stop talking to her?
Would he reject her and disappear?
Even if there was that risk.
Viloti still chose to speak.
Because she had seen Felyn’s struggle, seen how hard it was for him to answer Adeline’s question.
It’s okay. I’ll help Felyn solve this problem.
After Viloti finished speaking, none of them said a word.
Not until the academy’s bell tower rang three times.
Finally, Adeline broke the silence.
“You’re not allowed to like Felyn.”
The words sounded childish, even funny, but none of them laughed.
It was all Adeline could say in her broken state.
The last thing her crumbling reason could produce.
“Adeline, are you and Felyn in a relationship?”
Viloti’s tone remained cold, mirroring Adeline’s own expression.
“…Not yet.”
“Then me liking Felyn… doesn’t have anything to do with you, does it?”
Viloti’s eyes landed on Adeline, but it was as if she was already looking straight through her.
“Of course it does!” What do you mean ‘has nothing to do with me’? I’ve spent countless nights with Felyn at home, made wishes with him at the fountain hand-in-hand, walked with him through the streets of Homholt, How could he possibly have nothing to do with me?!
But as that thought echoed in her mind,
Adeline was suddenly forced to face a question she had never dared to think about.
What is my relationship with Felyn?
Employer and employee? Something ambiguous?
Adeline had no answer.
And now that she was confronted with the possibility that Felyn might not love her, she finally realized, she had no way to control his actions, no way to stop him from being close to other girls.
Am I really going to use the contract to forbid other girls from being near him?
But the contract never said anything about that!
Next time we renew it, I have to write it into the terms.
No matter how much Felyn asks for.
I’ll pay it!
“Adeline, what is your relationship with Felyn?”
Viloti’s voice felt like it came from very far away.
Faced with that question, Adeline felt the world go fuzzy around her.
The shadows of her childhood resurfaced, her belief in Felyn’s love crumbled into something possibly imagined, all of it drove her into irrationality.
And yet the solution to all this was so simple: Just ask him, do you love me or not?
Until now, Adeline had always hesitated. She feared that asking would turn her worst fears into reality.
Especially with Viloti present—if Felyn didn’t love her, Viloti would definitely laugh at her.
But now? Now none of that mattered anymore.
“Of course, it’s because—because—”
…
Adeline’s eyes briefly met Felyn’s.
Then she shut them tightly, took a deep breath.
“Of course it’s because Felyn likes—”
Right as everything reached its boiling point,
Linda’s voice rang out in the distance, cutting Adeline off.
“Adeline!”
Her expression froze in that delicate moment.
All the emotions she had just built up—shattered by Linda’s interruption.
“Adeline, are you… still not done talking? People are watching.”
Linda whispered into her ear.
When the two most popular girls at school—Adeline and Viloti—stood together in the training field, with Felyn between them, the rumored enigma of a man, of course everyone would start watching.
Were they fighting over him?
The rumors started spreading fast, and more and more students gathered around.
“Adeline, maybe save the rest for later. Felyn’s tired. Viloti needs to rest too, okay?”
Linda had no idea how to comfort her friend.
Because the look in her eyes—those dusty gray-blue eyes dimmed with gloom, her eyebrows slightly drawn together, She looked like a loser.
She had lost to Viloti.
Adeline’s tense body slowly began to relax.
She too noticed the gathering students.
Asking Felyn here really was risky.
With a deep breath, Adeline cooled herself down.
She realized she had been too impulsive.
Felyn wasn’t going anywhere.
The contract wasn’t ending anytime soon.
She would ask him properly, during their next contracted time together.
Ask slowly.
Gently.
From the heart.
Viloti herself had said it: Felyn didn’t love her yet.
And her contract with Felyn still had time. There was still time to get closer.
Once the contract ended, Felyn would be hers.
Seeing that Adeline had calmed down, Linda immediately pulled her away from Felyn’s side.
She was afraid Adeline might do something extreme.
But not long after, Linda came jogging back.
“Linda, is there something else?”
Linda panted a little and fanned her flushed cheeks.
Adeline had been barely able to walk earlier, practically leaning on her the whole time.
“She forgot to mention—Felyn, your next Magic Seal match will be against Isabella. She’s from Lanchester Academy, ranked second in their Magic Seal course.”
Linda leaned in close and whispered, “She and Viloti are enemies.”
The commotion at the training field began to die down as Adeline left. Students slowly dispersed in groups.
But for Felyn, this matter was far from over.
What Viloti said earlier, he couldn’t just pretend he didn’t hear it.
“Viloti, what you said just now… Was that how you truly feel?”
(End of Chapter)