One peaceful evening

"...oooohhhh…! Now it makes sense why that white-haired girl keeps staring daggers at me whenever we pass each other. And here I thought I got myself a crazy love-sick stalker or something! Whew!"

In the late evening, the green-haired king of Silveria, Ace Adonis, still in his full uniform, let out an understanding gasp while stretching on a cozy little chair by a small desk.

"Shouldn't you get going? It's almost curfew, and none of your admirers will believe you staying in a girl's room without doing anything to her."

A dark-brown-haired girl sitting on her bed in a bathrobe pointed out while glancing away from her toenails she was painting and checking the clock.

"Oh? Is little Miss Genius scared of the potential smoke?"

Ace raised his brows and chuckled, looking over the notes he was copying.

"I was okay with the rumor about Lazurii and you having your way with me all the time, but I don't want any about just you and me. No offense, your majesty."

"THE WHAT NOW?!"

Tarkuazi scoffed and declared, carefully applying the blue nail polish on her pinky toe, completely blindsiding Ace with that particular gossip.

"You really haven't heard that one? I didn't even try to count how many times I was called the Roast girl behind my back. Oh, with me being the roast and you and Lazurii being the s…"

"WHOA THERE! I understand the meaning behind it! Please don't spell it out! Ugh! Sweet Perseverance! I think of you as a little sister! What are those people even thinking?!"

The girl raised her brows and was about to explain, but she was interrupted by the disgusted green-haired man making hurling noises.

"Although the compassionate personality that makes you aid the troubled ladies surely has something to do with it, I believe that the original rumor was born because of how much I was pursuing Lazurii so obviously and desperately."

"...yea..."

Tarkuazi let out a sigh while Ace glanced at the ceiling before nodding in agreement.

"Hey! At least deny it a little bit!"

"The hell? Miss Genius, you were so desperate to get his attention that I was feeling bad for you!"

The girl pouted and scoffed at the green-haired young man, who only snickered at her mockingly.

"Shut up! Don't you have some night crawling to do?! HMPH!"

Tarkuazi called out and grabbed a pillow, throwing it at Ace the next moment.

"Only after the curfew starts. Do you think I want to walk into my previous fling on my way to the new one?"

Ace snorted at the girl, easily catching the pillow and throwing it back.

*pomf*

"Ufagh…! HEY! Watch it! I don't want to spill the nailpolish on the bed!"

It hit her square in the face and made her roar at him angrily.

"HMPH!"

Tarkuazi pouted theatrically, but Ace didn't particularly care.

If anything, it seemed that he welcomed the silence, leaning back, placing his elbow on the desk, and then resting his head on his hand.

"..."

Staring into the window, but although his gaze seemed to be focused on the blue moonlight basking the world in its color, something else was occupying his mind.

Seeing the usual lighthearted and amicable young man who would get along with everyone and often crack jokes turn serious like that was rather a captivating sight.

Especially with his outstanding looks.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that most of the females on campus would have paid a fortune just to trade places with Taruazi and have the first-row seats to that view.

Ace Adonis looked like the world's most sought-after model, posing for the best painter's greatest masterpiece.

The most troubling part about it was that Ace didn't even try to achieve such a result.

"..."

The green-haired King lightly touched his face before letting out a silent sigh not intending to be heard or seen..

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask, but what exactly is going on? Recently, you have kept touching your cheek like that and have appeared bothered. Problems in your country or just some toothache?"

Despite Tarkuazi being the one to initiate the silence, she was the one who broke it and asked as her curiosity got the better of her.

"Woman."

"You're unbelievable…"

Ace answered without a moment of hesitation, causing the girl to let out a groan and roll her eyes.

"Who is it? I know for a fact that you end things with the girls once they get married… So is it about one of them? Don't tell me you set your eyes on some high noble female student or a female teacher who's already married and with kids? That would be a serious scandal!"

Tarkuazi straightened her back and gasped.

"She's not from our Academy. Actually, I don't remember her name or face, just that she kissed my cheek as some sort of reward or compensation."

"You're unbelievable."

The green-haired youth pointed out with a somber smile, causing the dark-brown-haired girl to groan in disappointment.

"I even used Veto Rex after the most recent unlock, but the only thing I recalled was a maid uniform for some reason. But I don't know whether she wore it or just owned it, and it made an impression on me."

Ace revealed without changing his expression.

"Are you unable to memorize the names of the girls you seduce to that degree? I've changed my mind. You're just despicable… "

"I truly am, aren't I?"

Tarkuazi shook her head and scoffed, but instead of laughing it off or returning the jab, the green-haired young man simply nodded, touching his face once more and turning back towards the window.

"...eh…?"

Since his reaction was so different from how he usually acted, the brown-haired girl flinched and let out a shocked gasp.

"Oh, and about that Clifa girl. Don't bother with her. You got your own plate full, especially since you don't even consider making it seem as if you are over Laz."

"...!"

Ace tilted his head to the side and pointed out without looking at Tarkuazi, who flinched and moved a pillow to cover her feet.

"I-I'll be wearing stockings and shoes a-anyway so no one will see…"

"...I meant your favorite ribbon, but thanks for proving my point…"

She grumbled while red as a tomato, but Ace merely breathed out before getting up from his spot.

"That should be enough. Elize should be returning from making the rounds already~"

He pointed out, walking towards the door.

"...eh…? Elize..? Rounds…?"

Tarkuazi furrowed her brows and tilted her head in confusion.

"Wait! You mean that super strict teacher, Elisabeth?! You're meeting up with HER!?"

She flinched once she realized who Ace was talking about and exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah. The divorce procedures finally concluded, and she needs a strong shoulder to cry on after her marriage of convenience was ruined by her husband's old fling coming back~"

"She's over twice your age, Ace! She's old enough to easily be your mother!"

Ace nodded, giving more context to the situation, but Tarkuazi wasn't focusing on that part at all.

"True. But she isn't, is she? So, with that trivial matter resolved, I'll bid you adieu. And don't allow men to enter your room so easily next time."

The green-haired youth admitted with a nod but then stopped with his hand on the door handle and advised.

"Who do you take me for?! I only did that because it's you."

The girl pouted in response, turning her head away, all grumpy about the suggestion she acted differently.

"Hah~! True. Likewise, you are the only girl I would never…"

"...?"

Ace let out a laugh while nodding but then suddenly the words got stuck in his throat as his body shuddered as a memory of a whole mountain exploding from a mere tap flashed in front of his eyes, causing Tarkuazi to look at him in confusion.

"I mean… You are one of the TWO girls I would never even attempt to seduce."

Ace shook his head and took a deep breath before correcting himself.

"Okay… I mean, I knew about myself, but… who is the other one?"

Tarkuazi furrowed her brows and fidgeted before asking.

"..."

Ace looked at her and cracked a tiny smile before opening his mouth.

"The Goddess, of course."