Chapter 134: Chapter 132
’What was I even supposed to say to Soren?’
The question had been circling my head ever since I left Varek’s office.
This was the first time we would be meeting after such a long time.
Every excuse I came up with sounded stupid the moment it entered my head.
’Should I just transform back into my beast form?’
No.
That was an even worse idea.
If Soren already suspected who I was, transforming would basically be the same as standing in front of him and shouting, "Congratulations! You were right all along!"
Absolutely not.
’Besides, why was I even acting guilty?’
I hadn’t done anything wrong.
’According to my conscience...’
I hadn’t committed a crime.
’According to the law...’
I hadn’t stolen anything.
’Not recently...’
The point was that I wasn’t guilty.
’So why did I feel like I was about to get called into the principal’s office?’
I rubbed my forehead.
Ah, damn it.
Since when did I start feeling like this?
"Just let me in!"
The sharp voice suddenly interrupted me out of my thoughts.
I blinked and looked up.
Standing a short distance away from me was a young woman who looked like she’d stepped straight out of an expensive painting.
Perfect white curls, elegant dress, flawless posture, and a beautiful face.
The kind of beauty that made artists cry and poets develop careers.
’She’s pretty...’
I studied her for a moment.
’But I’m still prettier.’
My gaze shifted to the guard standing in front of the door.
’Wait. Isn’t this Spade?’
I looked at the door, he’s guarding.
’That means this is where Soren is staying so what exactly is this lady doing here?’
The woman stomped her foot. "I’m already standing here for a while! My feet are aching!"
Spade remained completely unmoved.
"Apologies, My lady," he said with the patience of a saint. "But the General specifically requested that no one is allowed to enter."
The woman gasped. "No one?"
"No one."
"Not even me?"
Spade’s expression didn’t change. "Especially you."
I almost choked.
The woman looked personally offended. "Do you even know who I am?"
"Yes."
"And you’re still refusing me?"
"Yes."
They glared at each other as the lady pointed at at the door. "My fiancé is inside."
"And I just said no."
I almost admired his courage.
The woman looked like she was seconds away from exploding. "I am Lady Lynette Tajiri!"
"No."
"I am literally engaged to him!"
"No."
"Are you even listening?!"
"No."
"Then I’ll just force my way in!"
Lynette took a step towards the door but Spade immediately moved in front of it.
She stepped left.
Spade stepped left.
She stepped right.
Spade stepped right.
For several seconds, they looked less like a knight and noble lady and more like two children arguing over a doorway.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek because I was dangerously close to laughing.
The poor knight looked like he repeated the same conversation at least twenty times already.
Lynette looked ready to scream while Spade looked ready to retire.
That’s when they seemed to notice someone staring at them as their gaze suddenly landed on me.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
I tilted my head. "You."
"...Why?"
"Because you’re blocking the hallway."
The corner of Spade’s mouth twitched.
Lynette looked offended. "I am trying to meet my fiancé."
"Oh."
I glanced at the closed door.
"Good luck with that."
I gave the lady a sympathetic smile and a small nod of encouragement before walking past them.
Honestly, I respected her persistence. I know it was not enough to help her but enough to wish her luck.
Since Soren’s fiancée was already here causing a blockade at his door, that clearly meant I couldn’t meet him.
A shame.
A terrible shame.
Absolutely nothing could be done.
Oh well...
Not my problem anymore!
I smiled to myself and happily skipped down the hallway.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
The door behind me opened as a familiar voice echoed through the hallway.
"And where are you going?"
My soul immediately attempted to leave my body as I turned around.
Soren was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, expression unreadable which was somehow worse than if he looked angry because angry people were predictable.
Soren looking calm was more terrifying.
Meanwhile, the lady’s entire face lit up.
"Soren!"
She practically sparkled.
"I’ve been waiting for you!"
Soren ignored her completely. He didn’t even give her a glance or a nod as his gaze remained fixed on me.
I looked behind me.
Maybe he was talking to someone else but the hallway was empty.
I looked to my left.
Nothing.
I looked to my right.
Nothing.
Unfortunately, I was the only target available.
Damn it.
I pointed at myself. "Me?"
Soren’s eye twitched. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"No."
"Then yes. You."
Lynette tried to smile. "Soren?"
Nothing.
I considered running but the odds weren’t good.
Spade would catch me.
Soren would definitely catch me.
And somehow I would probably get charged for property damage along the way.
So I settled for Plan B.
Pretend nothing was wrong.
"Ah."
I nodded.
"Good afternoon."
Soren simply stared at me.
Lynette looked between us, her smile slowly disappearing. ".Soren... Do you know her?"
Soren ignored her question again.
Honestly, at this point I was starting to feel bad for her.
Finally, Soren spoke. "Come here."
I immediately took a step backward. "No."
"Blanca."
"I suddenly remembered I have class."
"You finished your exam."
"I have another one."
"You don’t."
"...I need milk."
Soren closed his eyes as Lynette finally approached him but didn’t dare lay a hand on him.
"Soren. Who. Is. She?"
Soren ignored her as he focused his gaze on me. "Come here."
"No."
"Come here."
"No."
"Blanca."
"Soren."
"Blanca."
"Soren."
"Blanca."
"Soren."
"Stop acting like a child."
I gasped. "How dare you."
"You literally tried to escape the moment you saw my door."
"That is a baseless accusation."
"You were happily skipping away."
My defense collapsed immediately.
Lynette looked utterly bewildered. She had probably imagined countless scenarios involving her fiancé but none of them had included him arguing with a veiled student in the middle of a hallway.
Soren finally sighed as he stepped aside and gestured toward the room. "Get inside."
I stared at the open door, every instinct I possessed was screaming at me.
Danger!
DANGER!!
EXTREME DANGER!!!
I took a step backward.
He raised an eyebrow. "Try running and you’ll find out what happens next."
I immediately stopped moving.
Lynette looked horrified. "Soren!"
For the first time since he had walked out of the room, he finally looked at her.
Hope instantly appeared on her face before it vanished just as quickly.
"Go home."
Lynette looked like she’d just been struck by lightning.
"Soren, I—"
"Spade."
"Yes, Commander."
"Escort Lady Lynette safely back."
Spade looked so relieved that he nearly smiled. "Yes, Commander."
Taking advantage of the situation, I had already started quietly walking away.
I wasn’t running, that would make me look guilty. I was simply leaving very quickly.
I had only managed a few steps when the ground suddenly disappeared beneath me.
"What—"
Before I could react, I was effortlessly lifted off the floor.
My eyes widened.
No.
Absolutely not.
Not again.
"You really are hard-headed."
"Put me down!"
"No."
"I can walk!"
"No."
"I’m literally walking right now!"
"You were escaping."
"I was relocating."
"You were escaping."
"Put me down!"
"No."
"You always do this!"
"No."
"Yes, you do!"
"No."
I looked towards Spade but he immediately looked away.
’Coward.’
"Spade!"
"I see nothing, Miss."
"YOU’RE LOOKING DIRECTLY AT ME!"
"I see absolutely nothing."
The door finally closed behind us.
There went my brilliant escape plan.
One problem had not, in fact, been solved.
Outside, Lynette’s voice could still be heard.
"SOREN!"
"SOREN MARKHELOV!"
"THIS ISN’T OVER!
The shouting slowly faded into the distance as Spade escorted her away.
Soren finally put me down on the couch.
The moment my feet touched the floor, I immediately scooted a safe distance away from him.
Experience had taught me many things.
One of them was that distance was important.
Especially when Soren was annoyed.
He sat across from me and crossed his arms.
"So."
Uh-oh.
That tone never led to anything good.
"So?" I repeated cautiously.
"When were you planning to tell me that you can finally shift into your human form?"
I smiled awkwardly. "It was supposed to be a surprise?"
Soren stared at me expressionless.
I slowly raised both hands. "Surprise?"
I was about to lower my hands when somehow he caught my tail and lightly squeezed it.
A shocked yelp escaped me before I could stop it.
"Soren!"
My ears immediately flattened against my head.
’How did he always find my tail so quickly?’
Soren didn’t let go. He simply looked at me with that calm, unreadable expression that somehow felt more dangerous than actual anger.
"Do you know how I felt," he asked, "when I was the last one to find out you could shift into your human form?"
...Oh.
That was what this was about.
My ears drooped.
The guilt arrived before my pride could stop it.
"I’m sorry..."
A second later, I frowned.
Wait.
Why was I apologizing?
I hadn’t committed a crime.
I didn’t owe anyone an announcement every time I unlocked a new ability.
Right?
...Right?
Unfortunately, Soren was still holding my tail, which made it very difficult to maintain a strong argument.
Soren raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for a real explanation.
I sighed and removed my veil.
"I really was planning to surprise you during our academic break," I said. "I even had this whole dramatic reveal planned out."
"So how would your dramatic reveal go then?"
"...I hadn’t figured out that part yet."
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