Chapter 183: Granted Territory

“Overboard? No, I think you didn’t go far enough, actually.”

I laughed and sat up as my entire body relaxed. After days of not seeing Evelina, I definitely needed something like that, and it seemed like she did too.

I wondered just how annoying the Cold Iron District actually was.

If they caused her this much distress and annoyance in such a short time…

I might need to take care of them myself.

“I don’t like that look in your eyes,” she laughed. “If you’re planning to kill them, I suggest you refrain. I need them alive, after all.”

“But…”

“Relax. I’ll let you kill some more deserving people in the future.”

Right… while she’s definitely more sane and happy in this timeline, she’s still Evelina through and through—just without the full demonic and villainous madness that consumed her before.

Though she’s still just as sadistic.

“Anyway, you can keep the amulet. Father won’t mind if you keep it.”

But I didn’t really focus on that. I focused more on her promise about sending me out as an assassin. “Really?”

“Just don’t expect too much. I’m not one to send someone I love on dangerous missions.” Evelina tilted her head, then realized the two of us were still on the roof.

With the cold midnight air brushing against her skin and the moonlight reflecting off her white and silver hair, she looked like a vampire, to be honest.

I kind of wished she’d bite me on the neck…

*** Academy’s Eastern Wing

The academy had been rebuilt sooner than expected, the grounds now looking pristine and clean—as if a miniature war hadn’t just obliterated everything days ago.

Unsurprisingly, on the first day back there were barely any students around. Most were probably nursing hangovers or still avoiding the classmates and teachers they’d clashed with during the examination.

I swear… if this is the kingdom’s future, then everything’s as good as screwed.

At least Evelina will be there to rule the rabble.

“Are you excited for the land we’re about to get?”

“As long as I get to stay with you, I’m always happy.”

“Really? You’re saying that despite the two Lionbrights being in the same program as us?”

“Please. Like they’d even be a threat anymore.”

As we turned left, I heard a bitter laughter from a familiar voice. It was Marcellus, of course, leaning against a wall near this wing’s faculty offices.

“Is that confidence or arrogance, Arden?”

Marcellus spoke in an irritated tone, his bright smile contrasting how obviously annoyed he was by my comment.

It’s not like I wasn’t telling the truth.

I’m sure even he knows that, even with him and Julius combined, they literally couldn’t touch us—unless they somehow gained several new powers during the hunt, which I highly doubt.

Well… it makes sense for Julius. As for Marcellus, his real power-up comes when he discovers the book—and since it’s still in Kevin’s hands, that’s not happening anytime soon.

“Do you two do anything else than just bicker?”

Julius added, pinching the bridge of his nose while the other hand smacked Marcellus on the back of the head. He seemed a lot more comfortable with our presence than his brother. I wondered what caused that.

Oh, who am I kidding? It definitely has something to do with Lillian.

“You’d be fine being separated from your soulmate~?” I asked, obviously trying to get a reaction out of him, but at the same time genuinely curious.

“No. Knowing her, she’d get assigned to the same program sooner or later.”

Evelina grabbed me by the ear the moment Julius finished answering, clearly not wanting me to continue that topic—and I could tell why.

“Don’t talk about other women in my presence.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I could feel Marcellus and Julius’s judgmental gazes on me. Joke’s on them—I’m exactly where I want to be right now. Besides, my masculinity isn’t so fragile that being manhandled by the love of my life would make me feel inferior.

“Well, as long as you’re happy,” Julius said with an awkward laugh.

Yeah… he’s way too friendly now. It honestly weirds me out.

“He’s more than happy,” Evelina replied for me.

“Alright…” Marcellus muttered.

He tapped his elbow with his fingers while staring through the faculty’s window, watching a bunch of professors rummage around for documents and paperwork.

“Guess we’ll be waiting here for a while…”

I could tell just how much he loathed that prospect. Too bad—I was going to make sure he felt as uncomfortable and weirded out as possible. Maybe I’d even teach him a lesson about being more open-minded.

Ah… the joys of finally being official in public.

I don’t need to hold back anymore.

Well, at least not as much. Some of the girls at the academy still obviously like me because of Vivianne’s social manipulation. Even now, she’s still doing the work she promised. And while Evelina understands that, I definitely hope Vivianne focuses more on making me look good to the male students—for both her sake and mine.

Marcellus shifted his weight against the wall, clearly irritated by the silence in the hallway. The Eastern Wing was even quieter than the rest of the already near-empty academy, and the heavy stillness only seemed to make him more annoyed by our presence.

Considering he was originally fated to place in the top two of the Hunt rankings, I could understand where he was coming from.

Just not enough to actually empathize with him.

Evelina leaned lightly against me, arms crossed, her expression calm but faintly amused as she watched the professors scramble behind the glass.

“They look like rats in a flooded cellar,” she murmured.

Julius coughed awkwardly. “They’re probably reorganizing the program assignments. The order was given quite abruptly.”

“Abrupt?” Marcellus chuckled. “They were given just a single week to prepare.”

“Couldn’t you have at least told our father to give the academy more time to prepare?”

“No, this works better for everyone. The professors get experience handling sudden deadlines, and we get into our special program faster. All sides win.”

I tilted my head, watching one professor drop an entire stack of parchment while another desperately tried to gather it before anyone noticed.

“Honestly,” I said to Evelina, “I can’t believe they’re letting you wait like this.”

Marcellus snorted. “Really? The Imperial Prince himself is here, and you still can’t believe they’re being slow just because a duke’s daughter is watching?”

“Your power certainly doesn’t match your title,” I replied.

“You brat…”

Evelina smiled sweetly.

Too sweetly.

Then…

The door to the faculty office creaked open suddenly, and a tired-looking instructor stepped out holding a clipboard.

“Lionbright, Lionbright, Arden, and—”

His eyes landed on Evelina.

He visibly straightened, clearly on the D’Arclight payroll. But aside from me and her, the other two had no idea what was going on; as far as they were concerned, he was just another nervous professor.

“—Lady Evelina.”

“Present,” she said smoothly.

The instructor nodded quickly, clearly not wanting to linger under her gaze.

“Your program assignments have been finalized. You’ll all be stationed near the Southern Elven border.”

Marcellus blinked. “…Wait. All of us?”

“Yes.”

Julius frowned. “We’re not getting separate pieces of land?”

“No. You’ll all be sharing a single territory and serving as simple barons over it,” the professor replied.

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