News of an Ancient Earth Drake being killed in a single blow spread faster than fire magic. However, what was even more explosive was the rumor of how Lady Elara von Heist had looked at "the scholarship student" amidst the dragon's remains.
The next morning, I tried to enter the classroom in the least conspicuous way possible—through the back window. But it was in vain. The moment my feet touched the classroom floor, the entire room went dead silent.
"That's him..."
"Is it true he's the one who defeated that monster?"
"Look, he doesn't even have a scratch on him."
I ignored the whispers and sat in the back corner, my favorite spot. However, it took only five seconds before the classroom door slammed open.
Prince Julian marched in, looking ten years older than he had yesterday. His eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles hung heavy beneath them. Behind him, Clarisse followed with a worried face. Julian walked straight toward me and slammed his fist onto my desk.
"Alex! What did you do to Elara?!" he screamed. His voice trembled between rage and terror.
I looked up, meeting him with my usual lazy gaze. "Do what? I saved her life while her 'great' fiancé was busy shaking in his boots. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
"You... you used forbidden magic to brainwash her!" Julian grabbed my collar. "Last night, she went to the palace. She unilaterally cancelled our engagement! She said... she said she had found a 'more worthy man'!"
I paused for a moment. 'Dammit. That woman moves fast.'
"That's between you two, Prince. I don't care about complicated noble romances," I brushed his hand off roughly. "Now move. You're blocking my light."
"Julian, stop!" Clarisse tried to pull the prince's arm. She looked at me with a guilty expression. "Alex, please forgive him. Julian is just... he's just confused."
"Confused because he's incompetent? Yeah, I know," I replied sharply.
Right then, the scent of roses I knew all too well filled the room. Elara entered the classroom. But she was no longer wearing the standard uniform. She wore the silver Heist family brooch on her collar, a symbol that she was on official Ducal business.
"Julian, get away from what is mine," Elara's voice was low and cold, yet carried an undeniable tone of possession.
The entire class held their breath. His?
Elara walked past Julian as if the prince were nothing but empty air. She stopped right in front of me, and without hesitation, she sat atop my desk—an act incredibly improper for a noble, yet she did it with a wild elegance.
"Alex," she called my name, her finger gently stroking my cheek. Her crimson eyes were no longer cold; there was a small fire burning there. "You didn't come to my room last night. I waited for you until morning."
"I have a regular sleep schedule, Milady," I answered, trying to stay calm even though my heart was starting to protest our proximity. "And I am not your pet."
"You are far more precious than a mere pet," Elara leaned down, whispering something only I could hear. "I have prepared the documents for your transfer to the Heist estate. You will no longer stay in that grimy scholarship dormitory. You will stay in the right wing of my chambers."
"I refuse," I said firmly.
"You cannot refuse," Elara smiled, a yandere grin becoming clearly visible. "Your father just received a massive grant from the Heist family to develop the Baron Grey territory. If you refuse... well, you know how quickly development can turn into destruction, don't you?"
I clenched my fists under the table. "You... you are truly devious."
"I am simply protecting what belongs to me," Elara reached for my hand, kissing the back of it in front of the entire class, including a devastated-looking Julian and a teary-eyed Clarisse. "From this day forward, anyone who deals with Alex deals with Elara von Heist."
Julian shouted in fury, "This is an insult! I will report this to my Father the King! Alex, I challenge you to an official duel at the academy's anniversary celebration next month! If I win, you must leave this kingdom forever!"
I stood up, looking at Julian with a look of pure disdain. "A duel? You want to be humiliated again in front of the entire kingdom? Fine, Prince. I accept. But don't blame me if your crown ends up in pieces."
Elara let out a small laugh, a sound that rang with satisfaction. She hugged my arm tightly, pressing herself against my shoulder as if to show the world that I was hers.
"My hero will crush you, Prince," Elara said coldly.
After class ended, Elara forcibly dragged me to a deserted back garden. Once we were alone, I immediately pried her grip off.
"Stop doing that! You're making me public enemy number one!" I snapped, annoyed.
Elara just laughed, then suddenly pushed me against a large tree trunk, pinning me with both hands. Her face was only an inch from mine.
"Why are you so angry, Alex?" she whispered. "Isn't this what you wanted? Power, protection, and... me?"
"I just want a quiet life!"
"A quiet life is boring," Elara licked her lips, her eyes flashing with pure obsession. "I will give you the world, Alex. But in exchange, you must not look at other women. Especially that Saintess. If I see you talking to her again... I might do something very bad to that little village of yours."
I swallowed hard. An overwhelming awkwardness hit me. She was so beautiful, so fragrant, and so completely insane.
'Dammit,' I thought. 'It seems I just traded a monster script for an imprisonment script.'
"Understand, my Alex?" Elara kissed the corner of my lips softly, a kiss that felt like a permanent mark of ownership.
I could only nod stiffly, my ears turning bright red. "Yeah... yeah, I understand. Now back off a bit, you're making it hard to breathe."
Elara smiled with satisfaction, a smile that signaled the hunt had only just begun.