Felyn knew why they had barged into his home.
Thinking carefully, he and Viloti had indeed grown too close recently.
Whether it was the tutoring sessions or the events that happened in the dungeon, perhaps he had become too relaxed, which led to Viloti becoming the way she was now.
"If only I hadn't continued asking 'Do you like me?' that day at the doll shop."
"I should have just said I don't like you."
Things wouldn't had gotten out of control.
"I've been thinking, and I feel I should withdraw from the study group."
Felyn looked at Viloti, who remained silent, then continued speaking.
Viloti kept her head down, her pink hair covering most of her face, still holding the notebook she had just brought over.
"Usually staying in the dormitory wastes too much of your time. A young lady like you should be doing more meaningful things, like going to the Royal Capital early to study, rather than wasting time on me."
"No."
Viloti raised her head, her voice carrying a barely perceptible sob, her eyes somewhat red and swollen. Her slender fingers gripped the edges of the notebook tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
It was the notebook she had stayed up all night organizing, every page filled with key points for the upcoming exam.
"I was wrong just now. I'll never act like that again.
Just... just don't withdraw..."
Viloti's tone was clearly panicked. Though she had thought Felyn might get angry and might ask her to leave, she hadn't expected him to withdraw from the study group - the only legitimate reason they had to be together.
"Please..." Viloti bit her teeth, the words almost squeezed out from her throat.
"I'm sorry, I've already decided."
Felyn looked quietly at Viloti.
He didn't dislike Viloti. No one would dislike such a beautiful girl who cared for him and disregarded her own reputation and status for his sake.
But precisely because of this, he had to stop Viloti's misguided feelings toward him.
She was a genius at Saint Andros Academy, destined for the Royal Capital Academy.
He was nothing more than a worthless soul scraping by.
Most importantly, everything he had done for Viloti before was based on the contract's scope of service. Viloti's emotions were merely based on false reality.
Viloti didn't know the contract's contents, but he did, so Felyn had to do this.
Viloti was a good girl. She deserved better.
She could travel the world, could become a political leader of the Siveshus Empire, she could become anyone she wanted to be.
But she absolutely couldn't become his lover.
Being with him would never make her truly happy.
Felyn looked at the teacup in his hands, exhaled, and his shoulders relaxed.
He bore responsibility too.
For some reason, when facing Viloti, he could never bring himself to be harsh.
If their relationship like this wasn't stopped today, what kind of behavior would Viloti exhibit afterward?
She might even confess to him.
Viloti sat on the sofa, motionless for a long time.
She regretted it.
Regretted not accepting Felyn when he had pursued her.
Regretted suggesting the home tutoring sessions.
Regretted realizing her feelings so late.
Regretted that Felyn was already about to leave her.
"I understand."
She wanted to say something, but in the end only nodded lightly, her fingertips unconsciously pressing into her palm, the slight pain keeping her last thread of consciousness clear.
These words were spoken very calmly, revealing no emotional fluctuation. But her slightly retreating steps still betrayed her inner turmoil.
Viloti's steps toward the exit were slow, as if she were forcing herself to hold on.
She never raised her head, because she knew that if she met Felyn's eyes at this moment, she would definitely break down.
Was she really leaving?
Viloti already understood that as soon as she pushed open that door, she would never have any connection with Felyn again.
But... but...
Viloti's feet became wet as tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her pink leather shoes and spreading into small water blossoms.
But I don't want this. I don't want to leave you.
Felyn watched Viloti's shoulders begin to tremble with her back to him, and his gaze also dimmed.
He didn't blame Viloti. Rather, he was grateful for the tutoring she had given him recently.
He had thought he and Viloti had already talked things through clearly and wouldn't have any more entanglements, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all.
"Viloti, it's okay. I'm just withdrawing from the study group. You can still see me at school. We're still friends, aren't we?"
"Friends..."
Viloti softly repeated Felyn's words, this unfamiliar term sounding somewhat bitter to her.
Felyn, I don't want to be just friends with you.
"Felyn..." Viloti's voice was very soft, deliberately suppressing a barely noticeable sob and grievance, "Clearly... clearly you were the first to..."
"..."
Clearly you were the one who entered my world, clearly you were the one who saved me, clearly you were the one who said you loved me every day.
She didn't say these words aloud, because she knew that even if she did, it would be meaningless. She would just be throwing a tantrum, selfishly wanting to release her emotions.
Felyn doesn't love me anymore.
Felyn looked at Viloti's back, feeling an indescribable ache in his heart.
What made Viloti different from his other clients was that she didn't know the contract's contents.
He could tell any of his other clients: "I'm sorry, this was all part of the contract. Now we're even, and it's best if we have no contact in the future."
But he couldn't do this to Viloti alone.
This was a point Felyn had overlooked when taking this job - he hadn't considered how he would avoid her once Viloti truly had feelings for him.
At the time, he never thought that Viloti, who had no connection with him, would come to depend on him.
"Viloti, you're excellent," Felyn said softly. "You don't need to waste time on..."
"I'm not wasting time!"
Viloti suddenly turned around, tears still hanging on her eyelashes.
This was the first time Felyn had seen Viloti like this.
The girl had used all her courage for this moment.
"I like the time I spend studying with you. I don't think it's a waste."
Viloti's voice was still soft, but every word was spoken clearly.
"Every night when I go to sleep, I look forward to seeing you in the classroom the next day. Every time I eat, I think about how nice it would be if I could be by your side like before."
Viloti lowered her head, her pink hair covering her flushed cheeks.
"Please don't push me away... don't make me alone again."
"Viloti, I..."
Felyn didn't finish speaking. Viloti suddenly stepped forward and reached out her finger...
...to cover Felyn's mouth. Her finger lightly touched Felyn's lips, yet she could feel her fingertip trembling.
The setting sun's rays filtered through the curtains, casting scattered light spots on the floor.
Felyn could see himself reflected in her eyes, could smell her scent, could hear her rapid heartbeat.
"Felyn, I... I like..."
Viloti's voice trembled slightly as she unconsciously bit her lower lip.
The air seemed to freeze in this moment, with sunlight from outside falling perfectly between the two of them.
Being this close to Felyn, the angle of the setting sun seemed unchanged.
Viloti regretted every moment that she had let Felyn leave that day.
Now, she seemed to have returned to that day again.
It was as if the gods had given her another chance - a chance to keep Felyn from leaving her.
"I like..."
Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang, shattering Viloti's wish.
"Ding dong!"
Viloti felt the world around her stop in that moment, even the air seemed to freeze in her throat. Her finger remained suspended in mid-air, with that most important word still lingering on her lips.
Adeline had arrived.
(End of Chapter)