Chapter 48: Shining Knight (6)

“….unnie.”

“……”

“…Unnie..!”

Keirsey didn’t know how to deal with this overwhelming feeling. When she usually had negative thoughts, Cayden appeared out of nowhere and released them through comfort and encouragement, but he was not there…

“Because he had a younger sister before us… Oppa…”

…So, she asked Asena for help, but Asena also did not give her any answer.

She stiffened with shaky eyes and just sat on the bed.

The silence between the two lengthened. However, the torrent of emotions they felt was stronger than anything else. Even if Asena didn’t say a word, her ears were ringing and her heart was pounding.

It seemed like they were being pushed away from Cayden’s side over and over again. It felt like they were getting farther away every day.

“……get out. We'll talk at night.”

In the end, Asena didn’t say anything to Keirsey. As if she needed time, she fell on the bed and ordered Keirsey to leave.

Keirsey licked her lips hesitantly, but eventually closing the door, she left.

Asena was left alone to be lost in thoughts in the messy room.

✧ ✧ ✧

After the weekends, Asena arrived at the student council office in the early hours.

When she was in her room, her head was even more confused, and although they didn’t get along well… she still longed to see Cayden. No matter how far away he was from her, her heart always turned to him. She only dreamed about him during the weekends, so she couldn't wait and arrived early.

Lately, even her energy seemed to have waned. She didn’t eat much because she didn’t have an appetite, so it may be natural, but the problem of the mind was affecting the body.

Asena missed the old days when they were in the Pryster estate. If she had known this would happen, Asena thought it would be much better to leave Cayden at the estate.

While she was looking at the documents with such a stiff face, Daisy and Cayden arrived.

“That’s when I got a scar like this.”

“Ahahaha, you are lying. You mean you could get hurt like that?”

They entered with a laugh. What kind of conversation they had that induced such carefree laughter?

Asena felt strength in her grasp.

Was he okay? Was it that he didn’t feel any emotions even though he was in a fight with her? Did he suffer so much that he was happy to leave them? Seeing him smile as if he had no worries made her heart ache even more.

Next to Cayden were Daisy and Judy.

And His younger sister - Ewin - was soon to join him too.

Asena looked up at him, forgetting the plan to pretend to ignore him.

“…..”

Cayden looked down at Daisy from behind with a benevolent smile. It was the expression he showed only to the twins. Watching him show even that expression to another woman, Asena couldn’t stand it any longer.

She pulled out her chair and got up. Everyone’s attention was drawn, but Asena just left the student council room.

.

.

.

.

“Where are you going?”

“…..”

Judy asked a question, but Asena remained silent. Asena was walking fast towards somewhere with orderly footsteps.

It wasn’t just her face that felt uncomfortable. Anger was felt in her steps.

When she ignored Judy's words, Judy followed her without asking any further questions. Lately, Judy had been wary of what Asena was doing.

Cayden seemed to have gone a little farther from Asena, so even if Judy ignored his words to keep an eye on Asena, the person herself seemed unstable. As if seeing a castle that was about to collapse at any moment, Asena looked solid, but a gloomy anxiety was looming in Judy's heart.

After wandering around the academy for some time, Asena finally looked back at Judy. A ferocious energy was emanating from her eyes.

Judy wasn’t easily frightened, but looking into Asena’s eyes, she couldn’t help but be afraid.

Even though she was holding the sword, Judy was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and had to swallow her saliva.

“…Judy, just go back today.”

“….yes?”

From Asena’s words, Judy could quickly recognize that Asena was up to something. Now that she saw it, it wasn’t a castle that was about to collapse, it was a castle that had already collapsed. Asena was plotting something… evil.

“Today’s escort ends here. I’m uncomfortable with you watching over me for political reasons, so please go back.”

Then Asena turned around again.

As hostile as her words were, Judy couldn’t say anything else if it was for political reasons. It didn’t even make sense to say that she was following Asena while mentioning her role there, as Judy and Asena both knew she was only accompanying her because it was necessary.

Judy had no choice but to blankly look at Asena as she left.

But at that moment, Cayden’s words ran through her head.

‘If she does unusual things or goes to unusual places, let me know.’

What did he think?

What was he expecting to happen to make such a request?

Judy drew a line saying she wouldn’t, but when the situation came, she didn’t move like the words her body had uttered.

Reporting the master’s actions to others was an act that went against Judy’s chivalry. However, she also seemed to have changed her mind somewhat after meeting Cayden.

Always strictly following the rules was not the answer. In the end, it was up to the person to decide what to do and what not to do.

Although Cayden and Judy were from hostile families, he reached out to her and made such a close relationship. Without him, the academy life would have been lonely.

When she used to feel lonely back at home - in Ice Castle, she thought that if she entered the academy, everything would magically work out. She thought she would be able to meet people and hone her skills as a knight.

But that wasn’t the case...

Cayden’s presence gave her a friend. And the way he behaved stimulated her to become a better person as a knight.

Judy, knowingly and unknowingly, was feeling a lot of gratitude for Cayden. It shouldn’t be like this, but seeing a strong person like Cayden being treated quite harshly in his family was unwittingly comforting.

She couldn't say things to others that she could say to Cayden, who was in the same position. There was a sense of stability that came through it.

So, Cayden’s request eventually caught on like a hook and did not let Judy go.

Eventually, she started following Asena from a distance... She took cautious steps.

“…..”

What'd happen if she got caught? Was it still a situation that could be passed on by saying that she was worried and followed? Will Asena Pryster accept such a frivolous excuse?

But fortunately, Asena reached her destination quickly, not knowing Judy was following her. 

Asena knocked on the door of the classroom in a corner somewhere.

She said a few words to the first person who came out of it, and then the person Asena seemed to be looking for, appeared.

The moment Judy saw her face, she knew who she was. No, rather than that, she was able to figure it out by looking at the family pattern.

A pattern with dots in a large circle. The pattern looked like a human eye depending on the direction one looked at it.

Although she was not treated as one, Judy was also from the Ice family, so she was aware of all the precautions to take against the Pryster family.

That's why she knew the person who appeared was Sharon Payne.

She was the second daughter of the Payne family, which was known as the ‘Dagger of the Pryster family’.

Something big was about to happen.

✧ ✧ ✧

Asena entered a secluded room with Sharon Payne. Sharon looked around before entering the room and sat down on a chair in front of Asena.

She waited silently for Asena’s command. Since she was a member of the Payne family, she had been told again and again not to disappoint Asena by her grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters.

Coincidentally, it was a duty given to Sharon, who was the same age as Asena.

So, for her family and Asena, she made a lot of preparations within the academy, and she was confident to do anything if Asena gave an order.

However, even such Sharon was puzzled by Asena’s appearance today.

Though there was only one time she had been given a direct command, they conversed quite frequently. But Asena had never looked like she was today.

She broke her composure, and her face was full of anger and sorrow. It was the first time Sharon knew that it was possible to look sad and angry at the same time, but the fact that such emotions were coming out of Asena was also a reason for her surprise.

“Sharon. I want to know how much risk you can take for me.”

Asena, who showed her emotions like that, asked her. Sharon was beginning to get nervous, unintentionally. It was very easy to predict that Asena would issue a rather difficult command.

But even for this, Sharon was prepared.

“No matter how great the risk is, I am ready to do anything for Asena-sama.”

“…What about the abduction of a noble?”

“…..”

Sharon hesitated for a moment at the words that came out of Asena’s mouth but then nodded slowly.

“…it depends on who the noble is…yes, I can.”

“What about Daisy Hexter?”

“…yes?”

“What if it's Daisy Hexter... The eldest daughter of Count Hexter...?”

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