Chapter 266: 256: The Brother Who Returned
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After putting on her thin dress, Rhea pulled her long coat over it. The coat covered everything and made her look like the same calm noblewoman who had entered the room the previous evening. She stood before the small mirror, fixed her hair, and then untied her red ribbon before tying it again properly.
John watched her fingers move until Rhea noticed him through the mirror.
"You are staring again."
"The ribbon suits you."
Her hands stopped for a moment. She touched the ribbon gently before answering. "My mother gave it to me when I was young. She told me to wear it whenever I needed to remember that I belonged to myself."
John’s expression became more serious. "Then do not let anyone take that feeling from you."
Rhea turned around and looked directly at him. "I will not."
She walked closer and placed her palm against his chest. Her touch was warm and gentle, but her eyes remained firm.
"What happened last night does not mean I belong to you."
"I know," John said. "But I want you beside me."
Her expression softened. "That is different."
Rhea leaned forward and kissed him once. It was brief and gentle, unlike the hungry kisses from the night before. After pulling away, she adjusted her coat and looked toward the door.
"I should leave before the hallway becomes crowded."
John walked to the door and listened carefully. He heard no voices nearby, so he opened it slightly.
Fizz was floating upside down beside the wall. He held the empty cake paper against his chest as if it were a blanket. Sugar covered one side of his face, his mouth was open, and a tiny spark appeared every time he breathed out.
John stared at him in silence.
Rhea leaned closer and looked through the opening. "He did not guard anything."
Fizz’s eyes opened immediately. He quickly turned upright and nearly dropped the empty cake paper.
"I guarded everything," he whispered. "I was only resting my eyes. My ears remained awake."
John looked at the sugar covering Fizz’s face. "Your ears are covered in cream."
Fizz wiped one ear, looked at his paw, and then nodded seriously. "That proves I survived an attack."
Rhea covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
Fizz looked at Rhea’s long coat, then at John, and finally at the room behind them. His eyes narrowed with great suspicion.
"I understand," Fizz said slowly.
John’s expression became firm. "Do not start."
Fizz raised both paws. "Lord Fizz respects privacy. I will not say anything."
John still did not trust him.
Fizz added, "Unless someone offers another cake."
Rhea took a wrapped sweet from her coat pocket and handed it to him. Fizz accepted it at once and held it against his chest like treasure.
"My silence is now protected by law."
John sighed, but Rhea only smiled before stepping into the hallway. She looked in both directions. It was still quiet, and no wardens were nearby.
"I will see you later," she said.
John nodded, and Rhea began walking toward the stairs.
She did not notice the young man standing behind a stone pillar at the far corner of the corridor. His name was Talven, and he was one of Ned White’s followers. Ned had ordered several students to watch John after hearing the rumors about his strange magic and the kiss in the training yard.
Talven had not expected to find anything important so early in the morning. Then he saw Rhea Flame leaving John’s dorm corridor. He saw her long coat, the tired but happy look in her eyes, and the way she touched her red ribbon while smiling to herself.
His eyes widened.
Talven waited until she disappeared down the stairs before turning and hurrying away. He did not notice John watching from the doorway. John had seen a small movement near the pillar, but he had not seen the person clearly.
Fizz floated beside him while opening the sweet Rhea had given him. "Someone was hiding there."
John nodded. "I noticed."
"Should I chase him?"
"No."
Fizz stopped opening the wrapper. "Why not?"
John looked down the empty hallway. "Because we already know what he saw."
Fizz followed his gaze toward the stairs before understanding. "Oh."
John closed the door. The damage had already been done.
Within the hour, Talven found Ned White inside a private training yard behind the eastern magic hall. Ned had just finished practicing with his sword and was using light magic to remove the sweat from his hands. Three followers stood nearby, waiting for orders.
Talven entered quickly and bowed. "Young Master Ned."
Ned did not look at him at first. "What is it?"
"I saw Lady Rhea."
That caused Ned to stop. He turned slowly and looked at Talven. "Where?"
Talven swallowed before answering. "She came out of John’s dorm corridor early this morning."
The entire training yard became quiet. Ned stared at him without moving.
"Say it again."
Talven lowered his head. "Lady Rhea came out of the first-year east dorm. She came from the hallway where John’s room is located. I watched her leave."
A faint light appeared around Ned’s fingers. "Was she alone?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"What was she wearing?"
"A long coat."
Ned’s eyes became colder. His other followers exchanged nervous looks, but Talven continued because stopping now would only make things worse.
"She looked like she had stayed there through the night."
A thin line of light cut across the ground beside Ned’s boot, leaving a crack in the stone. Ned remained silent for several breaths before asking where John was.
One of the other followers answered. "His first class begins soon. He will probably leave the dorm within the hour."
Ned picked up his sword. "Then we will wait for him."
Talven hesitated. "Young Master, starting a fight near the dorm could bring punishment."
Ned looked at him, and Talven immediately lowered his head again.
"She is my fiancée," Ned said. "He touched something that belongs to me."
No one dared to correct him.
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