Chapter 235

The incident Sivar showcased during the brawl stirred things up at the Academy, but it wasn’t exactly the hot topic.

With people gathering from all over the world, the Academy could very well be a meeting place.

It wasn’t uncommon for dignitaries from various countries to visit, either to check on their children or to scout talent.

This included the princess of the Hwan Empire, Danyerin. She sat in the audience instead of participating in the brawl, being a transfer student and all.

From her spot, she could observe Sivar’s prowess and noted how he reacted negatively to Gaia’s Divine Power.

At the time, it was quite shocking, but it didn’t last long. After all, there were more important matters than Sivar at hand.

“Looks like you’re doing well,” he said.

“Thanks to you,” she replied.

The vibe in the Eastern-style teahouse was worlds apart from your typical café, the ceiling adorned with dragons symbolizing the Hwan Empire.

Danyerin maintained her composure while looking at the man across from her. Yet, keeping her restless heart at bay was proving to be quite the challenge.

“Sure. I ran away wanting to live, so I better be living,” he said.

“…”

“Thanks to your disappearance, things have only gotten tougher for us.”

His neatly trimmed beard and tied-up hair were the last touches on a guy sporting a stubborn look.

It sounded a bit mocking, but it pinpointed Danyerin’s situation accurately. She couldn’t muster a response.

Instead, she stole a glance at the two men flanking him, also dressed similarly in Eastern attire.

Unlike the stubborn-looking guy, these two wore light outfits. However, they couldn’t hide their sturdy builds.

‘Guess things are pretty risky.’

Typically, bodyguards come in ones. But the man up front—his brother—had two guarding him.

In other words, it implied they were constantly under assassination threats. Danyerin recalled his earlier words about how busy he had become since she started attending the Academy.

It was laden with meaning, indirectly hinting at a relinquishment of his claim to the throne, turning the competition fierce.

“I simply wanted to see a broader world, but it seems like you’ve suffered because of that, brother,” she said.

“The third one is dead.”

“…”

“More will probably die soon.”

Those chilling words slipped out of the man’s mouth. If he had only mentioned the third one’s death, one might just brush it off.

But his mention of more casualties to come painted a grim picture, as if he were certain it would happen soon.

An unprecedented bloodbath was brewing in the royal family. Danyerin maintained her composure and asked, “…Is Father saying anything?”

“Always the same. He believes the strong should become emperor for the country’s prosperity.”

The current emperor of the Hwan Empire had quite the ruthless reputation. Expanding territories and swallowing alliances, he left a trail of fear.

However, the forced annexation of allied nations didn’t sit well with the populace. It was a binge beyond mere excess.

Yet, expanding territories remained a significant achievement; thus, the emperor’s power was immense.

“Little sister.”

“…”

“If you willingly give up your claim, you could live a life envied by many. You know how good it is to be ordinary.”

The prince was encouraging her to completely renounce her claim to the throne. It was a threat, too.

If she relinquished the throne, he’d spare her life. Perhaps he had come to the Academy solely to deliver that message.

However, Danyerin scoffed. It was all talk; he had no real intention of sparing her life.

He was someone who couldn’t even trust people and would resort to all kinds of tricks. In this situation, would she really take the bait?

‘I’d rather drink poison instead.’

Danyerin smiled sweetly. The problem was she had no power.

If she had the strength to endure, it would be different, but with everything precarious, there was no way to turn the tables.

The best option would be to strike when they wear each other out in a fight. That seemed the best way forward.

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have even come here,” she said.

“Is that so…?”

The prince nodded at Danyerin’s reply, as if he expected just that, his expression deepening with meaning.

Then he stood up, signaling to his bodyguards to follow and wrap up the situation.

“You’d best be cautious tonight. If you get through today, you might live for a while longer.”

“…”

“Well then, I’m off.”

The prince exited with his bodyguards, leaving Danyerin quietly sitting at the table.

She lowered her gaze to the teacup, wondering if it might be poisoned, not having taken a single sip of the green tea.

She heard it was from the Union nation, Johan, not the Hwan Empire. She lifted the teacup and looked outside.

The weather outside was cloudy and dreary. Just looking at it brought a sense of foreboding.

“…Dreadfully fitting weather to die in.”

Danyerin murmured this as she sipped the green tea, maintaining a graceful posture as if determined not to lose her composure.

*****

Fortunately, the green tea wasn’t poisoned. Danyerin chuckled at the uncertain fortune.

It seemed like venturing outside would bring trouble. She decided to stay cooped up in the dormitory for the entire day.

Of course, she wouldn’t just sit there doing nothing. With nothing else to do, perhaps read a book or meditate or whatever.

She tried to spend her time in various ways, but it was unbearably dull.

‘Now that I think about it, there hasn’t been a word about Sivar.’

Amid the boring reality, Sivar suddenly popped into her head. The hottest topic nowadays.

The prince seemed uninterested in Sivar, or he deemed the current situation more important, as he didn’t mention him.

Perhaps he thought it wouldn’t be necessary to pay attention to something related to the Academy. Surely, local matters would take priority.

‘Well, it’s a silver lining, I guess…’

Danyerin closed her book and looked toward the balcony. Time had passed, and darkness enveloped the night.

Her bodyguard, Yeohye, had already fallen asleep. Being a bodyguard, she naturally followed suit early.

After being warned to be cautious tonight, the absence of any actual events added to her unease.

‘Hope Sivar is okay?’

She wasn’t worried about anything else, but Sivar lingered in her thoughts. She recalled when he reacted poorly to Gaia’s Divine Power.

At that moment, Sivar had been in immense pain. Considering his ordinarily stoic demeanor, it was alarming when he cried out.

‘Could he really be a Demon?’

As a result, rumors about Sivar being a demon spread widely. But just a moment’s thought revealed many inconsistencies.

First off, he entered the Academy, and there were even rumors of his closeness to a Saint. It was likely just exaggerated fears.

However, there was one thing for sure: she wouldn’t be getting closer to Sivar.

‘If I get any closer, Sivar might be in danger.’

So, he’s a demon? Frankly, that didn’t really matter.

Humans are known to make deals with demons to fulfill their desires.

Moreover, some are so wicked they could make even demons gasp in shock.

One didn’t need to look far to see the brother she encountered in the daytime, blinded by power, committing all sorts of evil deeds.

‘A good kid like Sivar couldn’t possibly be a demon.’

While demons remain a threat to humanity, ironically, humanity itself is humanity’s biggest threat.

With the environment one is born into, it’s hard not to focus on fellow humans rather than demons.

Maybe that’s why she cared little about the rumors surrounding Sivar’s demonic nature.

She simply felt worried. Worried he might get hurt because of her.

‘Luckily, there are many good people around me…’

She didn’t need to look far; she was close to the daughter of the Duke’s family from the Matra Empire.

Rumors of a romantic involvement had circulated, to the point they were living together. It was not something the Hwan Empire could easily touch.

Furthermore, she had heard he was also close to the princess of Tartar. They said they were a combination of savages and wildlings.

Crunch!

“Hmm?”

Danyerin raised her brow, looking at her hand. Her grip on the book had crumpled a page out of frustration.

The moment of confusion passed quickly, and she straightened the page. It was so wrinkled that it left severe marks.

‘…I really am something.’

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. It seemed she had given too much of her heart away in that short time.

A life lived without a single trustworthy person. The one she finally thought she could trust ended up betraying her.

Sivar, with no background at all, was the only one she could believe. Yet now, she felt it best to send him away for his safety.

‘How bitter it feels.’

Danyerin sighed and stood up. Sleep eluded her, so perhaps she should drink some alcohol.

While she was at it, maybe light up a pipe too. She prepared the drink, the cup, and the pipe and headed to the balcony.

Nothing calms a troubled heart quite like a drink and smoke. It would be even better if there was a friend to share it with.

Swish—

“…?”

“…”

Could she be reading her mind? Danyerin blinked, surprised.

A very familiar face popped up over the railing. At first, it was too dark to discern, but soon it became clear.

There he was, with those striking red eyes that shone even in the dark. Only one person from the Academy had eyes like that.

“…What are you doing here? Came to steal something?”

It was Sivar. He should definitely be in the infirmary, so what was he doing here?

If he had returned to the dormitory, there was no need to hang off the railing like that.

Sivar rolled his eyes at her question before quietly replying, “I came to drink.”

His signature monotone voice was tinged with embarrassment. Even he seemed flustered.

Danyerin rolled her eyes at his ridiculous excuse and then stifled a laugh.

Even on the day she decided to sever ties, he made her laugh. But from now on, there would be no getting closer.

“Sorry, but I want to drink alone today. So please, step aside.”

There was a chance she might still be monitored. If so, it was Sivar who would be put at risk.

She couldn’t take action overtly, but surely they would find a way. Danyerin sincerely wished for his safety.

“…Okay.”

Sivar stepped back in response to Danyerin’s refusal. A deep disappointment etched onto his face.

Seeing that expression churned her insides. She wished she could share a drink with him.

‘Could it really be the last day? Why didn’t I just invite him for a drink?’

Regret washed over her. Doubts flickered on whether she could even last until dawn. She should’ve acted decisively back then.

Moments later, Sivar quietly retreated, leaving Danyerin alone. She gazed at the sky while drinking.

The sky remained overcast, completely obscuring the moonlight. It was close to pitch-black.

“Ha—”

After finishing her drink, she lit up the pipe. The hazy smoke wafted from her lips.

Her mind was blank. Perhaps it tasted extraordinary since it might be her last.

After finishing smoking the pipe as well, Danyerin stumbled toward the bed, the wave of drowsiness crashing over her.

All she needed to do was sleep, but once she shut her eyes, there was a chance she might never open them again.

Just before drifting into the depths of slumber, she quietly uttered, “Yeohye.”

“…”

“I know you’re awake.”

“…Did you know?”

Yeohye’s voice came from a distance. Her bed was quite far away, but somehow, it sounded close.

Danyerin slowly opened her eyes and looked up. Yeohye, in stark black clothing like an assassin, had unknowingly approached.

Now she understood why the prince had warned her to be cautious tonight.

“Someone told me beforehand. To not trust you.”

“…”

“I doubted it at first, but turns out they were right.”

Sivar had once said Yeohye wasn’t someone trustworthy.

Initially skeptical of his words, she realized it all when the situation began to unfold.

His instincts were sharper than anything else. At that moment, another thought crossed her mind.

‘Did he say he was a trustworthy person…?’

A laugh slipped out unbidden. But there was also a sense of regret.

If she had trusted him back then, they could have made better memories together.

Not just sharing drinks, but genuinely precious ones.

“Were you with my brother then?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then family matters?”

“…Yes.”

“Sounds like a tough spot to be in.”

“I’m sorry.”

There was no need to apologize. Life was pretty much the same for everyone.

Danyerin, momentarily feeling sorry, slowly closed her eyes.

“Be careful not to make too much noise for the next room.”

“…Any last words?”

“None…”

Just as she was about to say ‘none,’ a face popped into her mind. Danyerin hesitated.

How would Sivar react if she left? Would he be inconsolable, losing a friend?

She had no idea. Normally, she would resign herself without a second thought, but Sivar had slipped in.

Who would’ve thought just one person could cause such a shift? It was fascinating, in many aspects.

“…Tell Sivar not to let anyone touch him.”

“Are you referring to the wildman?”

“Yeah.”

“Understood.”

Swish—

At that moment, Yeohye slowly raised her hand. A dagger was firmly clutched in her grip.

Danyerin silently awaited the pain that was about to come. She hoped it would be quick and painless.

Just as Yeohye was about to plunge the dagger into Danyerin’s heart, a sudden clop resounded.

Not by choice, but by force, Yeohye’s hand froze in place, as if someone had intervened.

Yeohye spun around in surprise. She felt no presence, leaving her more confused than scared.

“What are you?”

In the darkness, crimson eyes glinted like a beast’s in the night.

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