RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
The day of the acquaintance party arrived with a buzz of excitement that swept through the academy like wildfire.
By morning, the school grounds were alive with laughter and cheers. Booths had been set up across the courtyard, and the student council prepared a string of games that brought out both competition and camaraderie among the students. Relay races, trivia challenges, tug-of-war—it was a blur of movement and energy. I joined in, laughing until my sides hurt when Lovely tripped during the sack race and took Kate down with her. Allie, on the other hand, dominated the trivia quiz, her sharp memory leaving the boys groaning in defeat.
The entire day carried a lightness that felt like a reprieve, even with the threat of war hanging in the background.
When night fell, the academy transformed.
The courtyard and grand hall had been remade into an enchanted forest, draped with vines laced in tiny lights that sparkled like fireflies. Glittering lanterns floated in the air, casting warm glows against the marble floor that had been polished until it gleamed like starlight. The trees that framed the edges of the hall were decorated with glowing orbs, making the entire place shimmer as though we'd stepped into another realm.
"Wow." Forelody was in awe.
I almost didn't recognize myself when I caught my reflection in the tall mirrors at the entrance. My gown flowed like silver mist, a grayish white shade threaded with glitters that caught the light with every movement. The off-shoulder sleeves draped elegantly, and the fitted bodice trailed into a skirt that seemed to ripple like water.
Fortunately, the academy's boutique prepared customized outfits for the students a week ago just for this event.
Lovely twirled beside me, her pink gown blooming like a rose. Kate's deep purple gown hugged her frame, regal and striking, while Allie's baby-blue dress was ethereal, like a piece of the sky had descended to dance among us.
"You look beautiful," Kate whispered, smoothing down a strand of my hair.
"You too," I smiled, though my stomach churned with a nervous flutter I couldn't name.
The music swelled, violins weaving a melody through the air as students filled the dance floor. Couples spun gracefully beneath the glowing canopy of lights, their laughter blending with the music.
My pracien left me and went straight to the buffet area. I just shook my head in laughter.
And then Justin appeared.
He cut a striking figure in his gray suit, tailored perfectly, the silver accents on his cuffs catching the lantern light. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and his sharp features softened only by the faintest curve of a smile when his eyes found mine.
Justin's hand rested firmly at my waist, his other hand holding mine as we glided on the dance floor.
Now that he's with me, unanswered questions had emerged.
"You still haven't told me," I said, meeting his steady gaze.
His brows lifted slightly. "Told you what?"
"The note," I pressed. "You slipped it into my bag and wrote that you'd share what you uncover from the clan. But since then? Nothing. Not a single word."
For a moment, he didn't answer, his steps perfectly in rhythm with the music. Then, the faintest smirk touched his lips.
My eyes narrowed. "Do you think I've been pestering you these past weeks for fun? I want answers, Justin. Why give me hope you'd share and then keep silent?"
His smirk faded. His gaze softened, his voice lowering as though the music might overhear. "Because sometimes, Rhein, silence protects better than the truth. The things I've seen, the things I know about the Deorcanen Clan… they're not light secrets. They're heavy, poisonous. And once you carry them, you can't put them down."
My chest tightened. "So you're keeping me in the dark? To protect me?"
"To protect you. To keep you from carrying burdens you shouldn't have to yet." He paused, his eyes flicking briefly away, then back to me. "But the truth is, part of me didn't want to share because… I liked how it kept you close."
I blinked at him, startled. "Close?"
A faint, self-deprecating laugh slipped from him. "Every time you'd chase me down, tugging at my sleeve, demanding answers—it irritated me, yes. But it also made me feel something I didn't expect. That I mattered. That someone cared enough not to give up on me."
The music carried us in slow circles, the glow of lanterns dancing in his eyes. I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond, so instead I shifted to another question. "Then at least tell me this—how did you save Audrey? Back at Mnarr Palace, you promised you'd explain, but you never did."
His expression shifted, thoughtful, almost melancholic. "I didn't save her in the way you imagine. I only guided her. I taught her how to harness her deoremnarill. She had power but she didn't know how to reach it. Once she learned control, she found a way to bypass the Dark Palace's barrier. From there, she discovered how to teleport to the Mnarr Palace on her own."
I blinked, stunned. "So are you saying… it was really Audrey who saved herself?"
He nodded. "Yes. She was stronger than she believed. I just… pointed her in the right direction."
There was something in his tone—humility, maybe even regret—that struck me. "Then why didn't you tell me that before?"
"Because I didn't want you to see me as weak," he admitted quietly. "If I told you the truth—that I wasn't the hero, that Audrey carried her own weight—I thought you'd… see through me."
"But you still saved her."
He smiled. "You have told me another thing that warms my heart. Wow."
I looked at him with confusion.
He let out a slow breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "I've built walls around myself, Rhein. With everyone else, those walls hold. But with you…" His voice faltered. "You make it hard to keep them up."
I froze, the weight of his words pressing into me more than the rhythm of the dance.
"Justin…"
"I've been fighting it," he went on, almost to himself. "Fighting this pull toward you." His hand at my waist tightened slightly, grounding me.
The music swelled around us, yet all I could hear was his voice. His steps slowed, guiding us to the quieter edge of the dance floor. His gaze locked with mine—unflinching, earnest, raw.
"I'm saying this now because I can't keep it inside anymore." He drew a breath, steadying himself. "Princess, I've fallen for you."
The confession hung between us like a fragile flame, flickering but unextinguishable. My heart lurched, thudding painfully against my ribs.
I searched his face for any trace of jest, but all I saw was sincerity burning in his dark eyes.
The enchanted forest shimmered around us, laughter and music fading until it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of us, suspended in that delicate moment.
How could I tell him?