After classes ended, Elena suddenly stood up, gathered her things, and hurried out of the room.

Something about the way she moved—quick, almost nervous—caught my attention.

'Where's she going in such a rush?'

Without really thinking, I rose from my seat and followed.

Keeping my distance, I trailed her through the quiet academy corridors and out into the open courtyard. The afternoon sun was already fading, casting long shadows across the path.

Just to be safe, I whispered a brief incantation and activated an invisibility spell. My body blurred and vanished, the world shifting into that faint shimmer of mana distortion I was now used to.

Elena's small figure continued ahead, her long hair swaying softly with each step. She walked past the gardens, past the library, until she reached a secluded corner behind the academy's main building—a spot most students never bothered visiting.

And there, waiting for her, was a boy.

"Elena."

His voice was calm but slightly strained.

'…Ogier?'

I squinted through the shimmering air. Yeah, that was definitely Ogier from Class B. A viscount's son. Not exactly a nobody, but not particularly remarkable either.

"Um…" Elena hesitated, holding up a small folded paper. "Did you send this letter, Ogier?"

"Yes."

He nodded almost too quickly, then took a deep breath—his shoulders stiff, his hands clenched nervously at his sides.

"Elena," he began, his tone suddenly firm. "I've liked you for a long time. Will you… go out with me?"

I blinked.

A long time?

It's been, what, two weeks since the semester started? Did he fall in love with her during orientation?

I watched the scene with a mix of disbelief and mild amusement.

Elena, on the other hand, looked caught off guard. She stared at him for a brief moment, her brows knitting slightly before she answered in a quiet but steady voice.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I have no intention of dating you."

"…What?"

Ogier's voice cracked, disbelief flashing across his face.

As expected, Elena turned him down.

Ogier froze for a moment, blinking as if he couldn't quite believe what he'd just heard. Then, slowly, color began to creep up his neck, staining his face bright red.

And then—

"How detestable."

"…What did you just say?" Elena's voice trembled slightly, but she held her ground.

Ogier let out a harsh laugh, his expression twisting into something ugly. "Ha! You dare reject me? Don't flatter yourself. I was only being nice because of your face. But now that I think about it, you're not even worth that much."

His words were sharp, cruel, and completely unnecessary.

'…What the hell is wrong with this guy?' I thought, watching from the shadows.

Sure, rejection hurts. But this? This was pathetic.

As his anger built, so did his tone—his voice rising until every word dripped with venom.

"A woman like you should be grateful anyone even looked your way—!"

"Ahem."

I'd heard enough.

My voice cut through his rant like a blade.

Ogier's head whipped around, eyes widening as I stepped out of invisibility. The faint shimmer of mana around me dissipated, revealing my face.

"Elena?" I said, keeping my tone calm, steady.

Her eyes widened in surprise, shimmering slightly under the sunlight filtering through the corridor window. "L-Louis…?"

I ignored Ogier for a moment, focusing on her first. She looked seconds away from tears, hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Only then did I shift my gaze back to him.

Ogier flinched under my stare, his earlier confidence flickering like a candle in the wind.

"…Your words," I said quietly, "seem a bit harsh, don't you think?"

The air grew still.

For the first time, Ogier looked unsure of himself.

"…And who are you supposed to be?!"

"That doesn't matter," I replied flatly.

Tch. He really just said that to my favorite character?

You dare?

You need a lesson in manners.

I narrowed my eyes, my tone sharpening. "You'd better apologize for what you just said."

Even without the Dreamscape Orb, I could easily deal with someone like him. I didn't need magic for this.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out the wooden sword I'd brought just in case. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough to make a point.

Ogier's brows furrowed. "Why should I apologize?"

"Because," I said calmly, stepping forward, "you crossed the line with your words."

He didn't even flinch. His expression hardened instead, his pride clearly stung by my tone.

"Ha! How dare you swing a sword at me! You'll regret this!"

Regret? Sure.

I watched as he stumbled back, face twisted in anger, before turning on his heel and stomping away, muttering curses under his breath. His words faded with his retreating figure.

Only when he finally disappeared from sight did I let out a quiet sigh.

Elena was still sitting on the bench, her shoulders slumped, her expression dim. The usual brightness in her eyes was gone—replaced by a quiet, defeated look that made something twist in my chest.

'Maybe I shouldn't have told her to stand up to him…'

Feeling a pang of guilt, I walked over and sat beside her.

For a while, I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure what to say.

Comforting people… wasn't exactly my strong suit.

So, I did what I could.

Reaching into my spatial storage, I took something out. "Here. Want this?"

Elena blinked, glancing at the small bundle in my hand.

"It's a dessert you like," I said, trying to sound casual.

Her expression softened as she took the cookie from me. The corners of her lips lifted slightly—just a little.

"Thank you, Louis. I'll enjoy it. But…"

"…?"

She tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Did I ever tell you that I like desserts?"

Ah—

Oh, no.

My heart skipped a beat.

Right. She never said that.

I felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down the back of my neck as I froze mid-breath, caught completely off guard.

But before I could come up with some excuse, Elena just smiled softly and took a small bite of the cookie.

"…It's delicious," she murmured.

Her voice was gentle, almost enough to make the tension in my shoulders melt away.

I exhaled quietly, watching as the faintest bit of color returned to her face.

'That's… a relief.'

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