Separated Again

"Ahem… Ahem… My Lady," Lorraine's voice suddenly broke the silence, snapping them both back to reality. "I think… she can eat by herself now," the head maid said firmly, her expression somewhere between concern and exasperation.

Lortell blinked, clearly displeased by the interruption, but before she could respond—

Swish…

A soft hum filled the air as a glowing magic circle appeared beneath Lorraine's feet, teleporting her away in an instant.

"Let's continue!" Lortell said cheerfully, smiling as if nothing had happened.

And so, the two of them resumed their strange yet oddly intimate meal. They fed each other like it was the most natural thing in the world. But it wasn't the food they cared about—oh no.

Their eyes were locked, lost in a silent conversation only they could hear. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of unspoken feelings.

It was so obvious, even to the casual observer.

This wasn't just some friendly moment. This was love—pure, raw, undeniable.

But then, another magic circle appeared, glowing softly as it pulsed with energy.

Swish…

Lorraine reappeared, stepping out of the teleportation spell as if she had never left.

Esdeath blinked in surprise. Lortell, on the other hand, scowled.

Didn't lortell just sent her away?

Of course, Lorraine wasn't Maruti. She was Rank B—a skilled individual in her own right. Teleporting herself back wasn't a challenge, but defying Lortell's orders was another matter entirely. Lorraine wouldn't dare come back unless it was urgent.

"My Lady," Lorraine began, her tone calm yet firm. "Your father has summoned you to the mansion."

Lortell froze for a second, her irritation bubbling to the surface. She gritted her teeth, her frustration evident in every tense muscle in her body.

"Why the fu—" she started, anger flaring in her eyes.

But then she stopped.

Her gaze shifted to Esdeath, who was watching her with wide eyes. Lortell's expression immediately softened, and an awkward smile stretched across her face.

"Haha… I wasn't angry!" she lied, waving her hand dismissively. "It's nothing. Just some… family matters."

Lorraine, unfazed by the performance, interrupted again, her voice sharper this time.

"My Lady, this isn't something you can ignore," Lorraine said as she held out a letter sealed with the family crest.

The sight of the seal was enough to wipe the fake smile off Lortell's face. She grabbed the letter, her eyes scanning the contents quickly.

Her hands trembled slightly as she read.

"Why at a time like this?" Lortell muttered under her breath, frustration thick in her voice.

It was clear she didn't want to leave—not now, not when she was finally spending time with Esdeath.

For the first time in ages, Lortell looked genuinely conflicted, caught between her duty as the archduke's daughter and her personal desires.

Lortell stood up, She couldn't refuse it after all.

Her expression softened as she reached out and gently took Esdeath's hand, her touch warm and reassuring.

Esdeath's heart skipped a beat. The feeling of Lortell's steady yet tender grip sent waves of emotions crashing through her. It was as if Lortell's hand was made to guide her, to protect her.

Lortell didn't say a word, but Esdeath understood everything. The silent exchange between them spoke volumes. As they left the cafeteria together, leaving the baffled onlookers behind, they walked through the academy halls side by side. Esdeath's earlier embarrassment began to fade, replaced by a quiet warmth that fluttered in her chest.

Every few steps, she couldn't resist sneaking glances at Lortell's composed face. The calm yet determined aura around her made Esdeath feel safe in ways she couldn't describe.

Lorraine trailed behind them silently, observing the two with a mix of curiosity and concern.

After walking for some time, Lortell finally stopped. She turned toward Esdeath, her tall figure bending slightly to match Esdeath's height. Her warm eyes locked onto Esdeath's as she reached out, placing both hands gently on her cheeks.

"Esdeath," Lortell began, her voice soft but filled with an unusual seriousness. "Listen to me. I'll be back tomorrow when the competition starts. But… I need to ask you something."

Esdeath blinked, puzzled by Lortell's sudden shift in tone. "What is it?" she asked.

Lortell took a deep breath, her thumbs lightly brushing Esdeath's cheeks. "Can you… not participate in the competition?" she asked, her tone almost pleading.

Esdeath's confusion deepened. "But why?"

Lortell hesitated, her hands still cradling Esdeath's face. Finally, she spoke, her words like a heartfelt confession.

"You know how much I care about you, don't you?" Lortell said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "I can't bear the thought of something happening to you. Why not just stay with me? You don't need to do anything—just live by my side. I'll take care of everything. We'll be happy together… forever."

The sincerity in Lortell's voice made Esdeath's breath hitch. It wasn't just a favor—it felt like a proposal.

Esdeath's heart began to race, and her yandere instincts kicked in. The unique ring-like patterns in her eyes spun wildly, reflecting her chaotic emotions.

"Lortell is asking me for a favor… for the first time! I have to say yes. Lortell's words are absolute. I'll do anything for her!" Esdeath's mind went into overdrive, her thoughts spinning out of control.

She wanted to scream "yes," to throw her arms around Lortell, to confess her undying love right then and there. But… something stopped her.

Fable.

Fable knew, Even though Lortell was an S-rank, the pinnacle of the academy's ranking system, she was still just a mid-boss in the game. Esdeath/Fable knew that even if she agreed, they wouldn't live happily ever after. Sooner or later, the battles would come, And they both die.

Inside her, the clash between her yandere side and Fable was intense, a storm of emotions and logic battling for control. Finally, Esdeath took a deep, shaky breath and made her choice.

"N-No, I can't," she said, her voice trembling as she forced the words out. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she continued, her determination shining through. "I'm awakened now. I want to get stronger. I want to become strong enough to protect you, my lady!"

For a moment, an awkward silence hung in the air between them, heavy and palpable. Esdeath shifted her gaze to the floor, her hands clenched tightly.

Her thoughts churned, "Being protected by Lortell feels like an insult to me. If anything, I should be the one protecting her. That's how it should be!"

But then—

"Hahahaha!" Lortell's sudden laughter broke the stillness like a sharp blade slicing through tension.

Esdeath looked up, startled, as Lortell chuckled, a soft glimmer in her eyes. "You're just like when we were little," Lortell said, brushing away invisible tears from her laughter. "Always so determined to do things your way."

Esdeath blinked, caught off guard by the warmth in Lortell's voice. Before she could respond, Lortell reached into her pocket and pulled something out with a flourish.

"Tadaa! A gift for you!" Lortell said with a proud grin, holding out a shimmering golden essence stone.

Esdeath hesitated, then carefully took it from her hands. It was shaped like a turtle shell, with a beautiful flower design carved onto its surface. She recognized it immediately—it was a Rank B storage essence stone.

Her fingers tightened around it as she realized something more: the stone had already been refined. Lortell's mana was embedded in it, meaning Esdeath could use it without needing to activate it herself.

"This… this is too much," Esdeath murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Nonsense," Lortell said, waving her hand dismissively. "It's yours. Use it wisely, and don't lose it."

Before Esdeath could protest further, Lortell straightened up and began to walk away. Her long strides carried her down the corridor, but after a few steps, she glanced over her shoulder and waved.

"Don't disappear on me again, got it?" Lortell called out with a teasing smile.

Esdeath watched her go, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I won't," she whispered, though her voice didn't carry.

Lortell's figure receded into the distance, Lorraine trailing silently behind her. But as they turned a corner, Lortell's playful expression shifted into something more calculating.

"Well," Lortell thought to herself, "even if she tries to escape again, it won't matter. I've already planted over three hundred essence stones on her and throughout the academy. I won't make the same mistake of underestimating her again."

Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she disappeared from view.

-----------------

Esdeath slid into her dorm room on her knees, her arms raised in triumph.

"Yyyyyesssss! I knew it! I knew she likes me!" she shouted with uncontainable enthusiasm, her voice echoing off the walls.

Her excitement made her heart race as she twirled in place, her cheeks flushed with a mix of joy and embarrassment. She let herself fall back onto the floor, staring at the ceiling with a goofy grin.

"There's definitely some romantic connection between us. I mean, it's so obvious!" she thought, her face heating up further. But as quickly as the excitement bubbled up, a serious expression took over her features.

"But if I confess now… I'm not a hundred percent sure she'd say yes. Women's minds are so unpredictable! Even if she did agree, it'd mess up all my plans. I can't have distractions like that."

She sat up, tapping her finger against her lips, deep in thought. "No… it would be much better if she confessed to me first! That way, everything would fall into place."

A sly smile spread across her face at the thought, but it faded just as fast. She let out a long, exaggerated sigh, flopping back onto the floor dramatically.

"But how do I stop acting like a blushing fool around her? I could barely form a sentence today! It's not my fault! My heart beats so fast when I'm near her that I can't even think properly."

Esdeath placed her hand over her chest, feeling the rapid thudding of her heart. She sighed again, this time even harder, trying to calm herself down.

As she stared at the ceiling, her eyes wandered down to her legs. That's when she noticed it—a thick wetness dripping onto her thighs and even pooling on the floor.

"Shit!" she cursed under her breath, her face instantly turning red again. "I'm completely soaked! No wonder I could barely stand earlier. I need to hurry and change!"

She was about to move when—

"What do you mean by that, Mother? Who likes you?"

A small voice broke through her thoughts, followed by Selene dashing into the room. The little girl jumped straight into Esdeath's arms, grinning mischievously.

"Ah! Selene!" Esdeath instinctively caught her, her arms wrapping around the energetic child. She tried to compose herself, clearing her throat. "Ahem… ahem… it's nothing! Don't ask silly questions!"

Selene tilted her head, her grin growing wider as she observed Esdeath's flushed face. "Hehehe… You're blushing, though! Your whole face is red! Did you secretly meet Daddy again? How much longer are you gonna hide Daddy from me?"

Esdeath's heart skipped a beat.

She was not entirely wrong.

"Hmph!" Esdeath puffed out her chest, trying to regain her composure. "Naughty girl! Mind your own business and don't interfere with adult matters!" she said with a proud smile.

Selene's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What's an adult? Is it something we can eat?"

Esdeath let out a long groan, placing a hand on her forehead. "You really ask too many questions for someone so small. Did you already finish that last book I gave you?"

------------------

Somewhere in the sprawling academy garden, a tall girl with flowing silver hair and piercing silver eyes stood perfectly still. Her serious expression made her seem untouchable, almost like a statue carved from pure moonlight.

She was none other than Kaelith Maranthia, the feared "Tyranny of the Academy."

But in her arms—held bridal-style, no less—was someone who shattered the gravity of the moment completely.

A girl with sun-kissed, tanned skin and messy, vermilion-brown hair blinked up at her captor, looking like the picture of a mischievous tomboy. Her busty figure and carefree grin were at odds with her current predicament, which would have left most trembling in fear.

This was Maruti—caught in Kaelith's arms like a stray cat that didn't know how it got there.

Maruti gave a sheepish grin, scratching the back of her head awkwardly as she realized just how bizarre the situation looked.

"Uh… yo! I think we know each other!" she said, her tone casual, as if she wasn't being cradled by one of the most intimidating figures in the academy.

Kaelith's silver eyes narrowed as a flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She didn't release Maruti, but the corner of her mouth tugged up into a half-smile—though it was the kind of smile that made people gulp nervously.

"Oh, of course I know who you are," Kaelith said, her voice low and calm, but her words carried the weight of a storm brewing. "What I don't know is why in the hell you just fell out of nowhere into my arms?