Chapter 17 “ Second Princess” part 2
The night was quiet.
A half moon hung in the sky, pale and cold.
Black shadows moved beneath it.
A black knight cut down a monster in one clean motion.
Slash—!
Dark blood splashed onto the ground.
From the branches of a tall tree, Nox watched silently.
“Tch… Headmaster’s annoying work again,” he muttered.
He was no longer wearing his academy uniform.
Black coat.
Black gloves.
A black mask.
James Moriarty.
Below him stood a shadow knight—
a creation born from necromancy, moving without sound.
Nox narrowed his eyes at the corpse.
“Non-seasonal monsters… this close to the academy?”
That wasn’t normal.
“If Velmira didn’t owe me a favor, I’d skip this nonsense,” he thought coldly.
The shadow knight dissolved.
Nox erased all traces and vanished into the darkness.
Before dawn, he returned to the dormitory, replacing himself with a slime replica as usual.
The next morning—
“Nox! Wake up!”
Alber’s voice echoed through the room.
“We’re late! Sisbell’s waiting for me!”
Without waiting for a response, Alber rushed out.
Nox yawned and stared at the ceiling.
“No information about my brother… and these classes are pointless,” he thought.
“Am I wasting time here?”
He changed into his uniform and stepped outside.
Thump.
He bumped into someone.
“…?”
Nox looked down.
“Lady Scarlet?”
She stood up slowly.
Her eyes were cold.
Sharp.
Angry.
“What are you doing here?” Nox asked calmly.
“You met the princess.”
“…Yeah. Is that a problem?”
He tried to walk past her.
Scarlet grabbed his wrist immediately.
“What happened? There did she ask you to join ” she demanded.
“What did she do to you?”
“calm down…Nothing happened”
He pulled his hand back.
“Why are you so worked up? Leave me alone. How many times do I have to say it?”
Scarlet snapped.
“JUST TELL ME, IDIOT!”
She froze mid-shout.
“…Ah.”
Students nearby glanced over.
“I—I’m sorry,” she said quickly, lowering her voice.
“Wrong place…I forget it.”
She turned away and walked off.
Nox watched her back.
“…What’s wrong with her? She act differently Today”
In class, only Sisbell was present.
Nox frowned.
“Where’s Lady Scarlet?”
Sisbell blinked.
“She’s ill. Didn’t come today.”
‘…But I met her this morning.what was that her Ghost ’he thought
Nox leaned back in his chair.
‘Seriously… just because I spoke with Ophelia? She acts like this They hate each other, but that reaction was excessive,’ he thought.
His gaze drifted to the empty seat.
Ophelia wasn’t there either.
Class began.
Nox slacked off completely.
Meanwhile—
Scarlet sat alone in her personal garden.
“…What did I do? Now ”
She pressed her hands against her face.
“How could I lose my temper like that…”
She looked at the crescent-moon pendant resting against her chest.
“He didn’t even look at me, he didn't even remember me and talk with me clearly because of my reputation or status” she whispered.
“But he talks to Ophelia so easily… even though she was a princess”
Her fingers trembled as she held the pendant.
“Mother… is something wrong with me? Is your daughter okay alone I don't know what to do”
The pendant was her mother’s last gift.
She wore it always.
No one—not even Sisbell—knew its origin.
Scarlet stood slowly, intending to return to her room.
Step.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
She turned.
A noble figure walked into the garden calmly.
Brown hair.
Graceful posture.
Unmistakable presence.
Princess Ophelia Arden vin Nosterio, Second Princess of the kingdom.
Their eyes met.
The air instantly grew tense.
The garden fell silent.
Only the wind moved the leaves.
Scarlet straightened her posture instinctively, noble instinct overriding emotion.
“…Princess Ophelia Arden vin Nosterio,” Scarlet said calmly.
“This is my personal garden. May I know the reason for your visit?”
Ophelia smiled.
A gentle smile.
Too gentle.
“I was taking a walk,” Ophelia replied softly.“I didn’t expect to find you here, Lady Scarlet. I thought no one was here so I came to see”
Scarlet’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“A walk… into another noble’s private territory?”
She tilted her head.
“That’s an unusual hobby for a princess.”
Ophelia chuckled lightly.
“Oh my, forgive me. I thought we were close enough not to mind such details. I mean we know each other when we kid and our debut ball we meet Many times in party”
Close? Hell she just wants me to look down
Scarlet’s fingers clenched behind her back.
“We are not,” Scarlet said flatly.
“And never have been.i think you are mistaken”
Ophelia’s smile didn’t fade.
Instead, she stepped closer.
“That’s strange,” Ophelia said.
“We share the same academy.”
“The same circles.”
“And recently…”
Her eyes flicked briefly to Scarlet’s pendant—then back to her face.
“…the same person of interest.”
Scarlet’s breath hitched.
“…What did you say? Princess”
Ophelia feigned surprise.
“Oh? Did I say something wrong?”
Scarlet took one step forward.
“Princess,” she said coldly,
“be careful with your words.”
Ophelia met her gaze directly now.
“No,” Ophelia said softly.
“You should be careful. Even if you try nobles ask questions for what they saw with eyes”
The air shifted.
“He’s interesting, special admission. ” Ophelia continued.
“Special admission. High score. No faction.his personality also something worthy. ”
“And yet…”
She smiled again, this time sharper.
“He treats me normally. He said he didn't get nervous around me and talked to me face to face stupid or Brave i don't know what to say but he really something”
Scarlet’s chest tightened.
“…So?” Scarlet asked.
“What are you implying?”
Ophelia clasped her hands in front of her like an innocent girl.
“I’m just curious,” she said.
“Why does someone like him stay by your side? Not me even though I'm a princess and you are Marquis'daughter and just the leader of a small faction it's annoying me to see him on your side and waste his talent”
Her eyes glinted.
“Or perhaps…”
“Is it the other way around?”
Scarlet’s voice dropped.
“You’re overstepping.”
Ophelia leaned closer.
“Am I? I thought i was right”
She whispered,
“Then why are you angry? Look at your face right now was very delightful ”
Scarlet froze.
“…I’m not.angry it's just you who make baseless assumption ”
“You are,” Ophelia said calmly.
“You were this morning.”
“And now. I hope you make it everyday ”
Scarlet’s lips trembled for a brief moment before she regained control.
“You spoke with him,” Scarlet said.
“And now you come here.”
“What do you want?”
Ophelia paused.
For a second—just a second—her playful expression faded.
“I want to know,him more no matter what special admission wasn't something you gain easily” she said quietly,
“Why does someone like you get to stand beside him…when I cannot. Even though I'm trying harder than anyone that's why i hate you because you always get love and praise that was for me even from my own family”
Scarlet’s eyes widened slightly.
“…So that’s it.you still urges for me for that”
She exhaled slowly.
“Princess,” Scarlet said,
“you misunderstand something.”
Ophelia tilted her head.
“Oh?”
“I don’t own him,” Scarlet continued.
“And neither do you.”
She met Ophelia’s gaze without flinching.
“He chooses where he stands.and for your information he doesn't like me and says we aren't close friends also he always say that”
Ophelia’s fingers tightened.
“And yet,” Ophelia said,
“you pull him away.”
“You scold him.”
“You look at him like he belongs to you.”
Scarlet snapped back.
“And you look at him like a toy you want to take! For use at least I treat him better”
Silence crashed between them.
Ophelia’s eyes darkened.
“…Careful,” she said.
“That’s disrespect.”
Scarlet didn’t back down.
“Then stop acting like a thief, the Royal family doesn't want you to gain disrespectful title. ” she shot back.
“And I’ll stop treating you like one.”
The wind howled through the garden.
Ophelia laughed softly.
“How frightening,” she said.
“I see why he finds you interesting.”
She turned away slightly, then paused.
“Lady Scarlet,” Ophelia added,
“this isn’t over. Let's just say i also have no intention to give up on him our rivalry always crosses each other no matter what the things and person”
Scarlet answered without hesitation.
“I wouldn’t want it to be.but what a fate we both at same time focus on the same person”
Ophelia walked past her.
As she did, she whispered—
“Next time…”
“I won’t just talk.”
Scarlet stood alone as the footsteps Fade her chest pounded.
Why does it hurt this much?
She pressed a hand to her chest.
“…Idiot,” she whispered.
“Both of them. Nox and princess Both are idiots that make things hard for me ”
