NOVPUB"Mhmn~, mhm~"
As we walked along the academy's paths, Ella began to hum a little song. She was leading the way, since I wasn't quite sure where we were headed.
I just decided to go with the flow, however, there was just a single problem...
"Haaa..."
I glanced to my right, letting out a small sigh.
Ella clung to my arm like a second skin—her cheek pressed lightly against my shoulder, her fingers wrapped tightly around mine.
Her silver hair flowed behind her like a veil, and every so often, she giggled softly under her breath, giving me shivers.
"Esty~" she whispered again, voice sweet as poisoned honey. "I hope you'll love the cookies I made for you. I added so much of myself into them."
I didn't answer.
Because ahead, just past the old fountain—
We ran straight into them.
The Hero's Party.
'Fuck...'
'I really am unlucky, aren't I?
They'd come out of the training field archway, swords strapped on, sparring gear half-undone, frozen in place the moment they saw us.
Ella's grip on my arm instantly tightened as she lifted her head, her eyes flicking over the group, and almost immediately, her face turned to her usual cold demeanor.
"...Hello?"
I smiled, breaking the tension in the air.
I guess it must have been a shock seeing Ella so close to me, huh?
Lucas was the first to recover, as his lips curled into a twitching smile.
"Aestrea... may I ask why... is Ella holding your arm?" he decided to go straight to the point, which made sense, considering that he likes her.
"Well—!"
"—We're dating."
Before I could say anything, Ella interrupted me and said directly, in her cold tone.
And instantly, the group's expression changed completely.
Everyone was shocked, to say the least.
"...That's great!" Maya jumped, clasping her hands.
"Mhm!" Iris nodded with a smile, "I'm happy for both of you."
...Only those two had positive reactions.
I met Rose's eyes and saw her lowering her head, biting her lips. She was probably holding back tears, and that made my heart... ache a little.
Leon simply raised an eyebrow, not having any positive or negative reaction; if anything, he had expected something like this would happen.
As for Telmo...
At first, he didn't exactly say anything, but quickly, his breath became much more frantic and sharper than before.
His fists clenched at his sides, trembling, the veins bulging across the backs of his hands. A low sound bubbled from his throat—half gasp, half growl.
His eyes—
They weren't looking at me.
They were burning through me.
Like he was trying to kill me with just his gaze.
He took a step forward.
'...His obsession with Ella... is going to erupt...'
I frowned.
"Ella…" he muttered, voice shaking.
She didn't respond.
"Ella, you can't be serious." His voice cracked.
"You're not seriously with… him?"
Ella turned her head, meeting his eyes.
"I am," she said.
"No." He took a step forward, his voice rising, hands trembling.
"You've known me for years—me! I was always there! Always helping you, looking out for you—I mean, he's—he's not even—!"
"Telmo," I tried to step between them.
He shoved my shoulder, just a little, but enough to make me tense up.
"You shut up!"
'This fucker...'
However, before I could punch him straight on the face, Ella finally moved.
She didn't hit or yell at him.
She simply let go of my arm and stepped between us, slowly.
Then, she looked up at him, her lips curling up into a twisted smile.
Telmo blushed at her smile...
But for me, it only gives me shivers.
'Dammit... this really was a bad decision.'
"If you raise your hand at Aestrea again… I will cut off your fingers one by one. Then I'll take your eyes. Then your tongue. Until you're nothing but a blind, screaming pile of regret that can't even speak my name."
Telmo stared at her, jaw slack, confused. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Like he didn't recognize the girl standing in front of him.
"You're seriously with him?" he whispered.
"You're really… happy with this?"
Ella didn't answer that.
Instead, she tilted her head, just slightly.
"You should go cool off," she said.
Telmo let out a shaky breath, like he was about to say more, but stopped. He looked around at the rest of the group, but no one came to his defense.
He turned and stormed off, his boots crunching hard against the gravel.
Ella turned back to me, like nothing had happened, and took my arm again. She didn't say anything, just rested her head lightly against my shoulder.
I glanced back.
The rest of the Hero's Party was still standing there, unsure whether to stay or leave. Awkward air hung between us like fog.
Rose wouldn't meet my eyes. Maya looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn't. Iris gave me a tiny, hesitant smile.
Lucas stepped forward.
"Aestrea," he started, voice calm but tight.
"Can we… talk?"
He must have felt quite hurt, seeing his crush being stolen again.
...But who am I to care about his feelings?
This fucker just tried to kill me during the duel, and maybe...
Maybe even if he knew that I could survive that attack... that's not something that should be released when there were countless students around us.
I'll get my revenge sooner or later on this fucker.
To his words, Ella didn't move, but her grip around my wrist subtly shifted. I gave her a small pat on the hand before turning to face him.
"Sure?"
Lucas's jaw flexed, like he was chewing the inside of his cheek. "Look. I'm not trying to start anything. Just… this came out of nowhere."
"It wasn't really planned."
I really didn't expect Ella to confess her feelings to me anytime soon.
"That much is obvious," Leon muttered under his breath, arms crossed.
Lucas shot him a brief glance, then looked back at me. "Ella… isn't exactly the type to jump into things."
I didn't respond.
"Not that I have a say," he added, quieter. "Just... surprised."
Ella finally lifted her head and spoke, voice calm but emotionless. "I'm happy with Aestrea. Besides, I was the one who confessed to him. That should be enough of a reason, no?"
Silence.
Maya, always the peacekeeper, gave a nervous laugh. "W-Well, as long as you're both happy, right? That's what matters!"
"Yeah," Iris chimed in softly. "I mean... It's quite sudden, but love kind of works like that sometimes."
Rose finally looked up.
Her eyes met mine—and quickly looked away.
"I need to go," she murmured, and without waiting for permission, turned and walked off.
The rest of us just stood there, frozen in the awkwardness.
"Telmo'll be fine," Leon finally said. "Give him a day or so."
Lucas nodded once.
"I'll talk to him."
Then, he looked at Ella—just for a second.
Like he wanted to say something to her, too.
But her gaze was distant.
"Anyway," he sighed, "just don't go flaunting it around. People talk, and... Ella doesn't need that kind of rumours behind her back."
"I was the one who chose to do this." Ella quickly intervened before I could say anything, her eyes practically glaring at Lucas.
Lucas flinched at her words, furrowing his eyebrows.
He's really quite dense, isn't he?
This is Ella's way of saying that 'I'm hers'....
"...Sure."
He nodded, then he turned and left.
The others followed. Except for Maya, who gave Ella a quick hug—one Ella didn't return—and then jogged after the others.
When they were gone, I exhaled.
Ella said nothing for a long moment.
Then finally—
"…Was it embarrassing?"
I blinked and looked down at her.
"What?"
"To be seen with me."
"No? Why would it be?" I replied directly, patting her head softly.
She didn't seem convinced, but nuzzled into my hand nonetheless. And strangely, her eyes lingered on the space where Rose had stood.
'...Did she notice that Rose liked me?'
'I hope she doesn't do anything too... yandere...ish.'
"Good," she finally replied to my words.
Then, without warning, her entire demeanor shifted—like a light switch being flipped.
Her cold, detached mask melted into the most radiant smile I'd seen all day.
"Mhmn~! Then let's go, Esty~!" she chirped, her tone sugary sweet as she took my hand again with renewed energy.
"The cookies are going to get cold, and I worked really hard on them just for you~"
"...We're not going back to the dorms?"
"Nope~" she said, already dragging me down the cobblestone path away from the academy gates.
"I have a room in the city~ It's prettier there. And quieter. And... no one will interrupt us~"
I didn't know how to respond to that.
Her fingers laced tightly with mine, humming again as she walked just a little too fast, almost like she was afraid I'd change my mind and run off.
Which, frankly, was a reasonable fear.
After all... she did say that she had put blood onto the cookies.
"You're going to love it, I just know it," she said without looking at me. "I baked three kinds, Esty! Chocolate chip, red velvet, and of course, the secret ingredient that is..."
She stopped talking, looking forward.
'Please, don't say blood...'
"...What's the secret ingredient?" I asked cautiously.
She turned her head, giving me a smile so wide it almost reached her ears.
"Love~!" she said sweetly, then added in a whisper, "...and maybe just a little blood, but only a little, don't worry~"
I blinked.
"You already said that you added blood."
She giggled, clearly amused by the stunned look on my face.
"Important things must be repeated twice. Besides, I was just joking..."
"Maybe."
I flinched slightly.
"Maybe?"
"Fufu~ you'll have to taste them and find out~"
My stomach was beginning to regret its cravings already.
