The crisis brought on by Adeline… was unexpectedly resolved.
If it hadn’t been for Viloti’s declaration, there was no way he could’ve made it through safely.
But next time he had to serve Adeline, he’d still have to face that furious girl.
Looks like he’d need to put a metal plate under his shirt.
He’d deal with that later.
Viloti was still standing beside him, the blush on her face hadn’t faded.
That expression of hers looked just like the girls in anime movies confessing behind the school building.
Was that… a confession?
Felyn had no choice but to start rethinking his relationship with Viloti.
Lately, they really had been spending more and more time together.
Felyn didn’t dislike Viloti, honestly, who wouldn’t want a quiet, aloof school beauty always by their side?
Especially one with pink hair, adorable features, and a body overflowing with all the grace of a noble young lady.
Wasn’t this every boy’s secret dream?
Like… after gym class, playing an intense match with your friends, returning to the classroom and finding a bottle of water on your desk and a sticky note with comforting words.
You turn around and see the cold beauty hiding her face behind a book, gazing at you with gentle eyes.
Felyn had dreamed about something like that… and now, that dream had become real.
If only he hadn’t taken this job, For the first time, Felyn truly had that thought.
But if he hadn’t taken this job, he’d never have met Viloti either.
“Felyn, do you think what I said earlier, was it the truth or not?”
Viloti’s question caught Felyn off guard.
Viloti… did you secretly go get lessons in romance?
This kind of move was exactly what he usually used with his clients, like with Adeline. She often asked, “Do you like me?”
And he’d always throw the question back at her, which would usually make her blush and stop asking.
“I think… you said it for my sake. That way, you could help shift Adeline’s anger onto you instead.”
Yes or no. When given that choice, picking “or” was always the safest bet.
Viloti nodded, half-understanding, but didn’t argue.
“But now I owe you one again… Feels like I’ve been troubling you a lot lately.”
“Felyn, when someone does you a favor, you have to repay it.”
Felyn went quiet.
When did Viloti become so forward?
“And…”
Viloti gently tugged at Felyn’s sleeve, her eyes dodging his gaze.
“And this time, the favor I did for you… was really big. So this favor… is huge.”
Any clear-headed person could see…
If Felyn didn’t handle this right, Adeline and the powerful Claude family behind her would scatter his ashes to the wind.
“A big favor, huh… then I should return it with an even bigger one. Do something huge for you.”
This time, Felyn didn’t pull her hand away. He let her tug on his sleeve.
But seeing the troubled look on Viloti’s face, and the way her eyes avoided his, Felyn assumed she hadn’t yet figured out what favor to ask for.
“Still thinking? No need to rush. You can take your time.”
Viloti shook her head, her earrings chiming softly.
“I’ve thought it through… I just don’t know if you’ll agree.”
“As long as it’s not ‘go fight Adeline,’ I’ll probably say yes.”
Viloti burst into laughter at that. Her lips curled into a shy yet sweet arc. Her eyes bent with warmth, softening her otherwise cold and refined face, like a towering iceberg beginning to melt, sending cool meltwater crashing into Felyn’s heart.
That wasn’t her usual polite smile for the public. That was a smile from the heart, a smile that belonged only to Felyn.
Was this the kind of smile only gods could make?
Viloti’s smile… Was it always this beautiful?
“Felyn?”
Seeing Felyn frozen stiff, Viloti tilted her head. Her long pink hair slipped from her shoulder.
She touched the corner of her mouth, realizing she was smiling, she quickly hid it away.
“Do I look weird when I smile?”
“Viloti, even someone as beautiful as you has this kind of anxiety? Not weird at all. I think it’s really pretty. Why would you think that?”
“Because I don’t smile much… I feel like smiling doesn’t suit me.”
Felyn looked at Viloti’s solemn expression and couldn’t help but pat her head gently.
“If you don’t like smiling, then don’t smile. You still look amazing without it. There’s no need to care what others think.”
Viloti’s amber eyes flickered.
She felt the soft warmth of his hand on her head, a comforting, peaceful warmth.
“And honestly, you look great when you smile.”
A recluse’s ultimate fantasy, but it was true.
Hearing Felyn’s words, Viloti swayed side to side slightly, trying to shake off the overwhelming shyness and joy in her heart.
Her fingers curled nervously, first gripping her skirt, then brushing her hair.
“Have you thought about what you want me to help with?” Felyn reminded her.
“Mhm, I’ve thought it through. But when I say it, please don’t get mad.”
“Alright, I’m ready.”
Felyn steadied himself.
Why am I… a little nervous?
Viloti’s serious face..
Was she about to ask him to take down House of Silafiel’s enemies?
“Felyn, tonight… I want you to listen to me.”
That sentence had so much room for misinterpretation it shook Felyn to his core.
“Viloti… just to be sure, where exactly are we going tonight?”
“Just around the school—like the little grove, or the wishing fountain. Those kinds of places are fine.”
“…We’re not going to bed?”
Felyn’s lips twitched. He really didn’t think Viloti was that kind of person.
Could it be… was she this bold because of Adeline?
“…Bed?”
Viloti finally realized what she’d been implying. She gripped Felyn’s collar even tighter.
“Felyn, it’s not what you think… I—I won’t ask you to do anything.”
But I also won’t ask you not to do anything…
She didn’t say that last part out loud.
“That’s it? Then that’s actually kind of a relief.”
“I do have a small request though.”
Viloti blinked, looking a little embarrassed, then leaned close to Felyn’s ear and whispered:
“I hope… tonight,
Everything you say to me is the truth. Okay?”
Worried Felyn might say no, Viloti hurried to add:
“If you find the topic embarrassing, you don’t have to answer. I won’t force you.”
“Well, that’s fair. I don’t think it’s a problem. Is that all?”
“Mhm!”
Viloti’s smile bloomed again, like a rare night flower that blooms for only one person.
…
Not far off, Linda was sneaking around, under orders from Adeline to check if there were any new developments between Felyn and Viloti.
Adeline had told Linda everything, almost made her brain explode.
Felyn likes Adeline? From what part of him did she get that idea?
But Linda hadn’t dared say that out loud.
Adeline’s expression had been too terrifying at the time.
To make sure she knew exactly how much time she had left to keep Felyn close, Adeline had asked Linda to monitor Felyn and Viloti at all times.
This top student of Lanchester Academy had even given Linda a spreadsheet.
The spreadsheet had lots of scoring categories, eye contact, physical touch, tone of voice, micro-expression analysis, and more.
She said it was the only way to quantify Felyn and Viloti’s intimacy level.
But watching them now, Linda thought… was there even a need for that spreadsheet?
The two of them were practically glowing with sweetness.
Who needed a table to measure that?
Adeline, it seems like this time, your impulsive move may have backfired.
Your standoff with Felyn… only brought them closer together.
(End of Chapter)