A few days had passed since that incident.
William now found himself facing the same silver cat every single day.
Emma was relentless.
Despite his warning, she never stopped showing up.
She joined him for the morning run, then arrived to share dinner.
She rarely spoke, giving him space, but somehow that silence was irritating in itself. For her to always be there yet say nothing—it felt like a quiet defiance.
Yes, he was the one who rejected her presence, but wasn't this a strange way of going against him?
Still, he had stopped caring. He pretended she wasn't there and carried on with his life in the forest.
But today was different. He had to go to school.
The classes had been suspended for the past three days, but now the students were told to gather in the assembly hall before lessons resumed.
William was already tired, but he had no choice.
The only reason he was still attending the academy was because of his father.
That man had done more for him than anyone else—covered his mistakes, never once been harsh. In return, he had only asked for one thing: to see his son graduate from a respected institute.
Why? Because even though his father was a Count, he was illiterate.
He had earned his title not by birthright but through his service to the kingdom—his contributions to society and his role in the war of the Red Sea years ago.
Though many respected him, behind his back there were always whispers and laughter. They mocked his inability to read and write.
That was why he valued knowledge above all else, and why he wanted William to graduate—so his son would never face that same ridicule.
It was the only reason William was still here, despite knowing the academy had nothing left to teach him.
"Hey, what's on your mind?"
The voice broke his thoughts. Someone had crept up behind him.
William narrowed his eyes. "Didn't I say no talking at school?"
Emma raised a brow. "Did I ever agree to that?"
William groaned. "Do you not fear being disliked by your boyfriend?"
Her voice was cold. "Have I not told you already? There's nothing between me and Kevin."
William sighed. "Tell that to half the academy who think you two are already engaged."
Emma frowned. "And you're one of them?"
William turned to her, then let out another sigh. "Alright, I get it. I'm sorry."
Emma tilted her head slightly. "See? You know you were wrong. And it wasn't even a mistake—you said it on purpose."
William scowled. "I just wonder what it actually takes to rattle you."
"It's simple," Emma said lightly, but left it at that, letting him figure it out himself.
Together, they reached the assembly hall. It was connected to the indoor training facility and the assessment block.
The three buildings were designed in a way that made them look like three cocoons linked together, each one larger than the last. The assembly hall, the smallest, stood at the front.
Naturally, their arrival drew attention.
Emma and William walking together was enough to make even the most indifferent students glance their way.
The academy's notorious third-year brat alongside the year's princess—it was a sight that didn't quite make sense.
But Emma's reputation was such that no one dared to step closer.
The assembly hall was large enough to hold six hundred students without feeling crowded.
Laughter and chatter drifted from every corner, mixing into a low hum that filled the air.
William's eyes landed on the top-ranking team standing a few meters away.
As he looked at them, he noticed the three girls in the group staring back. Natalie and Laila held his gaze steadily, but Lizel quickly turned her head, her hands trembling ever so slightly.
William frowned but didn't linger on her. Whatever was going on with her had nothing to do with him anymore.
He'd already seen how shallow she could be. He wouldn't pretend he'd been perfect himself, but to move on that quickly? That told him everything about how "deep" her feelings had been.
"Lingering feelings?" Emma's voice cut in, casual as ever.
William's lips curved into a faint smile. "What if I said yes?"
Emma shrugged lightly. "Then, for the first time, I'd be challenging someone during the practical lessons."
His smile faded. "Aren't you being a little too possessive of someone who isn't yours?"
Emma giggled—a sound so rare that a few nearby students actually glanced over in shock.
"Oh dear," she said softly, eyes glinting with mischief, "you're already mine. You just need to stop pretending otherwise."
William rolled his eyes, but before he could reply, a firm voice echoed from the stage.
"May I have your attention, please? The Headmaster would like to say a few words."
The hall quieted at once. All eyes shifted to the podium, where a grey-haired man stepped forward. Dressed in a crisp black suit, he carried himself with sharp authority. His hawk-like gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on Emma before moving on.
When he spoke, his voice was steady and commanding, each word carrying to every corner of the vast hall.
"I am aware that many of you are curious about the incident that took place a few days ago during one of the missions undertaken by Team One of the third year—led by Team Leader Kevin."
The man's words struck deep, spoken in a single breath without hesitation.
And it was true. Curiosity had been burning through the academy since that day.
The legendary warrior Kaizek himself had appeared in the aftermath of the mission. What could have happened that required the intervention of such a figure?
With classes suspended for three days, all the students had to rely on were rumors and speculation.
But now, at last, the truth was about to be revealed.
The man's sharp gaze swept over the hall once more before his voice cut through the silence.
"A Night Demon appeared during the mission."
The words sent a ripple of gasps through the crowd.
A Night Demon—a half-blood devil with enough strength to erase an entire town under the cover of darkness. To think a team of students had faced such a creature on their own… it was terrifying just to imagine.
After a short pause, the man continued, his tone calm but heavy.
"Team Leader Kevin fought gallantly against the demon. Call it fate, the team's vice-captain, sensing something was wrong, returned to her duty even though she had left to visit her family. Thanks to their united efforts, the danger was subdued. However, the battle took its toll on the Team Leader, which is why he is still recovering."
William's brow furrowed. If his memory served him right, Kevin hadn't done a thing to the Night Demon. It was all Emma.
Quietly, he leaned toward her. "You agreed to this?"
Emma gave a small hum. "Yes. The Headmaster called me earlier, and we reached an agreement." She looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "He promised to keep what happened afterwards a secret."
"And you trusted him?" William scoffed softly. "I didn't need your help to keep myself safe. You're just handing your credit over to that guy for nothing."
Emma tilted her head slightly, her tone light. "Are you upset that I didn't get praised? Hmm… then why don't you praise me? That'd be enough for me."
William narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
This girl… she was really hard to figure out.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Add the book to your collection.