Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains. Felyn rubbed his sore shoulders.
Last night was a mess. A few strands of pink hair still clung to his pillow. He picked them off and rolled them together.
Stretching with a groan, he muttered, “Was it five times or six?” He’d barely slept.
In the bathroom, he stared at his dark circles in the mirror. “That’s it. I’m going to ask that mattress seller for a refund.”
Ergonomically designed, my ass. Total scam.
He’d given Viloti his bedroom and slept in the living room instead. But the mattress there had him waking up five or six times. Not a wink of good sleep.
Was this the price of being a decent guy?
Nothing happened between him and Viloti last night.
Thanks to the whims of a certain sadistic young lady, Viloti had no choice but to wear a maid outfit. Felyn tried offering her some of his clothes, but she refused to change.
As much of a degenerate as he might be, there was no way he’d let her walk out the door in a maid costume.
If Lord Silafiel saw his precious daughter coming home dressed like that—blushing and refusing to explain a thing—he’d probably storm over with the entire guard corps and level Felyn’s house.
He’d become a literal anime character. Felyn-chan.
So in the end, Viloti had to stay the night.
Thankfully, Sofia passed a message to Lord Silafiel on her behalf. Though... Sofia seemed weirdly thrilled when she did it.
‘Viloti was at Felyn's last night. Stay safe.’ That’s what the communication seal said.
After escorting Viloti to the bedroom, Felyn dragged the mattress outside and chucked it.
Meanwhile, Bernice had holed up in Daiyi’s room, giving Daiyi a full rundown of everything about Church. It got so late that she ended up crashing in Daiyi’s room.
And so, the four of them all slept under the same roof.
Until the morning sun chased away the shadows. Until the water stains on the floor finally dried.
After a quick wash-up, Felyn smacked his cheeks to wake up and got to work on breakfast.
He had to cook for four today.
The sounds of pots and pans echoed cheerily in the morning quiet, gradually clearing his head.
He pulled bread and bacon from the pantry stamped with a charred seal. The smell of frying eggs soon wafted through the house.
Footsteps creaked from the floor above—looked like the ladies were waking up.
“How did I turn into a live-in butler?” Felyn grumbled. “Taking care of three noble girls’ morning routines…”
“Need a hand?”
Bernice leaned against the kitchen doorway, rubbing her eyes. She wore soft pink pajamas and looked half-asleep, a far cry from her usual doll-like demeanor.
“No need. I’m almost done.”
She didn’t press, just plopped down at the dining table and stared blankly out the window.
“Good morning, Felyn. Miss Bernice.”
Viloti appeared in the doorway, no longer in the maid outfit. She wore the white camisole dress from the day before and gave Bernice a polite nod.
She remembered this girl had once been very close with Felyn.
He’d said Bernice was a distant cousin. Viloti hadn’t dug deeper.
But seriously—why did he have so many “relatives”? And why were they all gorgeous?
As she greeted Bernice, her eyes kept drifting toward Felyn’s back. Every time he turned around, she’d quickly lower her head and fiddle with her skirt. But her gaze inevitably returned, like a magnet.
She’d slept in Felyn’s room last night.
The desk still held his half-read book. The notes he’d posted on the wall. The faint scent of him lingering in the air.
It made her heart race.
If only every night could be like that—surrounded by his presence, she felt so safe.
For once, she’d slept deeply. Even her dreams had been filled with him.
Bernice noticed her little gestures and idly tapped her fingers on the table.
When Felyn and Viloti had gone upstairs last night, she and Daiyi had pressed their ears to the wall, hoping to catch some juicy noises.
Nothing. Not even a creak. They gave up when their necks got sore.
Bernice knew it was weird, Daiyi and Felyn were supposed to be a couple, but
Daiyi and she were eavesdropping on Felyn and Viloti?
But Daiyi had gotten her into it, and now she couldn’t help herself.
Neither she nor Daiyi had ever had a normal teenage girl’s life. But that didn’t mean they had no curiosity about these things.
And with no friends to gossip with, all the drama in their lives now revolved around Felyn.
Luckily, he attracted enough girls to keep things interesting.
“Morning, everyone.”
Daiyi emerged in a light-gray robe, leaning lazily on the stair rail. Her gaze swept across the room before landing on Viloti.
Felyn smiled, lips quirking. “Let’s eat, ladies.”
He placed the last plate of eggs on the table and served each of the three girls their breakfast.
He never imagined he’d be playing host to three noble girls like this.
Sunlight poured in through the windows, casting overlapping shadows across the breakfast table.
The clink of knives and forks echoed in rhythm.
Felyn had to admit—seeing three beautiful girls eating breakfast around him like this was oddly satisfying.
As long as they didn’t cause him more trouble, he could enjoy a peaceful meal.
Bernice said she had plans and left. Daiyi stayed home to read.
At the door, Felyn adjusted his uniform, straightened his tie, and checked his bag.
Viloti was already waiting outside.
Her pink hair shimmered softly in the morning light. One hand held her small satchel, the other gently pinched the hem of her skirt.
The rain hadn’t fully dried, and the wet ground mirrored the sunlight like a thin layer of glass.
A breeze stirred.
Her hair lifted in the wind. She tucked a strand behind her ear. Her dress fluttered like a white banner.
The scent of rain and earth drifted into the hallway as Felyn opened the door.
“Let’s go.”
Their usual route to school felt different with Viloti walking beside him.
People turned their heads as the two striking figures passed.
Viloti kept a careful distance, but anytime Felyn moved too far ahead, she’d trot after him with her long pink hair trailing like musical notes.
The rain-scrubbed world glimmered under the sun.
They walked in silence until the gate of Saint Andros Academy came into view.
But today was different—besides the students in uniform, the gate was surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
Felyn eyed the scene, thoughts drifting.
These next few days were going to be busy. Between prepping for exams and paying tuition, he also had to visit his sister.
The doctor said she might be waking up soon and asked him to stop by.
Felyn wasn’t sure how to face her. He’d never even met her before.
“Good morning, Miss Viloti, Felyn.”
Linda stood at the school gate, clutching her notebook. As usual, she was on duty.
She’d long since stopped questioning why these two always showed up together.
Felyn wanted to ask why the student council president acted like a security guard every morning—but if he said anything, she’d probably jot his name down in that little book.
“Miss Linda, what’s with all the non-students around today?”
He pointed to the gathering crowd behind them.
“You didn’t hear? Lady Zervanie is visiting the school today to cheer on the students taking the joint exams.”
“Wait, someone actually has the same name as that pop diva? What a weird world.”
Felyn paused.
“…Don’t tell me it’s the Zervanie?”
“Of course it is. Who else?”
Color drained from Felyn’s face.
Zervanie Einzbern. The one he’d been avoiding. The one who roped him into playing house. The one who’d lost it when he cut ties and went digging for news about him.
She was coming here. To Saint Andros Academy.
(End of Chapter)