Chapter 18 “ Second Princess” part 3
The class ended.
Scarlet still didn’t come.
Nox stared at the empty seat for a moment longer than needed.
“…Tch.”
He stood up.
“Alber. Sisbell. I’m going out alone,” Nox said.
Sisbell blinked. “Eh? Where?”
“Somewhere annoying or maybe sleep”
Alber sighed. “That’s dangerous wording He looks pissed off ”
Nox already turned away.
The girls’ dorm building stood quietly in the afternoon light.
Nox Moon entered this place… I really don’t care anymore,it makes rumour or something i manage not to see by anyone after all so it's not need to worry he thought.
He stopped in front of a familiar door.
Knock.
Knock.
Silence.
Then—The door opened.
Nox froze.
Scarlet El Valorios stood there.
Her long silver hair was loose, falling over her shoulders.
She wore a thin, loose nightdress—too thin, clinging to her body, exposing her collarbone, her pale shoulders, and a glimpse of her legs.
It was… clearly not something meant for guests.
Nox immediately looked away.
“…This is dangerous. Even for me,” he muttered.
Scarlet stiffened Her face flushed red She quickly pulled the door halfway closed.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, voice sharp but shaking.
“This is the girls’ dorm.”
“I heard you were ill,” Nox said, still not looking at her.
“Sisbell told me.”
“I’m fine,” Scarlet replied quickly.
“Go back before someone sees you do you know if anyone found boys here it's problem”
“No.”
She paused.
Nox raised the small paper bag in his hand.
“I brought tea leaves. Herbal ones
it's not expensive tea you like but they are good for fever or stress”
“…You came all this way for that?”Scarlet say that low voice
“Yes.”
Silence.
Scarlet’s fingers tightened on the door.
Behind it, her heart was beating too fast.
‘Why now… why dressed like this… why him…ugh What bad luck is this’ she thought
Nox knocked again, gently.
“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. But don’t act like we were fighting. That’s Alber and Sisbell’s job.”
Scarlet swallowed.
“I’m… not fighting,” she said quietly.
“I just… lost my temper this morning. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not angry,” Nox replied.
“A lot of people call me an idiot. I’m used to it.”
A small laugh escaped her.
“Sir Nox,” she said softly,
“That doesn’t give me permission to do the same and i was rude that time”
“…Fair.”
There was a long pause.
Wind passed through the corridor.
Then Scarlet spoke again, slower.
“Do you remember… our first meeting?”
Nox frowned slightly.
“Our first meeting?”
“I thought we met at the academy or i think it's the garden of Academy”
Her fingers trembled.
“So… you really don’t remember.”
Nox felt something strange in his chest.
“I’m sorry,” he said honestly.
“If I forgot something important it's that matter right now ”
Scarlet closed her eyes.
“It’s fine, it's not important i just ask to check your memory” she said.
“I’ll take the tea. Please go back now.”
Nox placed the bag gently near the door.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Princess Ophelia,” he said.
“But if you’re worried about me… don’t be we aren't that close so don't take stress think about me ”
Scarlet’s voice cracked.
“…You’re really cruel to say that ill person”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know ” she cut in quietly.
“Well you should go now i feel sleepy”
The door closed.
Click.
Nox stood there for a moment.
“…Women are complicated,” he muttered.
He turned and walked away.
Inside the room, Scarlet leaned against the door Her breathing was uneven.
She slowly picked up the tea bag.
A small note slipped out.
(If you’re ill, drink this.
You have a match next week.
And I’m not a kid, sly fox.)
Scarlet stared at the words.
Her eyes trembled.
“…You don’t remember me you didn't think of me as friend” she whispered.
“But you still worry like this It makes things more difficult for us ”
She hugged the tea to her chest.
Tears fell silently.
“I hate you,” she said softly.
“…But I don't want to stop you i want you my side more or a little just little”
The crescent moon pendant on her chest caught the light.
“Mother,” she whispered,
“Why does it hurt this much? what wrong with me”
Outside, Nox walked away without knowing—
He had just left behind a girl who was already falling far too deep.
Nox walked down the hall alone, trying to calm his thoughts after the awkward encounter with Scarlet.
‘She really acts weird. Not that I don’t like it, but… if she suddenly acts like this, it’s not easy for me it's more scary when a girl is interested in you suddenly not interested ’ he thought.
He muttered under his breath,
“What does that mean… ‘remember our first meeting’? Did we meet before the academy?”
His mind wandered.
As James Moriarty, he had traveled through countless palaces, met countless people… maybe he actually met her and forgot.
“Ughh… so annoying”, he groaned, running a hand over his face.
A voice cut through his thoughts.
“You look like you enjoyed your time in the girls’ dormitory.”
Nox froze. He looked forward, then back. The hallway was empty.
“…Is that how you talk to students, Headmaster Velmira?” he asked aloud.
The voice came again, calm and teasing.
“You’re a bit special, of course. And I wanted to talk to you about something important.
“But you look… busy. Did you have a couple fights?”
“Please… don’t start again,” Nox muttered, annoyed.
“I’m coming to your office. Stop talking through your magic i already know your eyes everywhere in the academy”
“ I'm busy and walking Too slow, Nox. You’re busy with your girlfriend,” the voice replied.
Before he could react, the floor beneath him vanished.
What the—!
Nox fell straight into the headmaster’s office couch. He grabbed his mouth.
“Please… don’t use that on me! You know I don’t like your spatial transfer magic! I will puke! On couch”
Velmira’s voice floated down, calm and amused “dont dare to do that It’s just non-attribute magic, Nox. Nothing dangerous.”
Nox groaned, holding his head.
“Yeah, right… non-attribute magic from a 9th-tier spatial mage and witch disciple… totally harmless.”
He leaned back on the couch, glaring at the ceiling.
“Why does my life always involve being tossed around like this?”
Velmira’s laughter echoed faintly.
“You should learn to be more careful, Nox. Or at least faster so you don't fight with your girlfriend or girlfriends ”
“I said I’m fast enough and I'm single don't gossip about me like a young woman ” he muttered, “ And just… stop abusing magic near me.”
After few minutes Nox finally settled onto the couch, letting out a slow breath.
“Finally… I feel a little better ” he thought.
Velmira’s eyes scanned him carefully.
“Well, thank you for taking care of that monster for me last night,”
she said, her tone calm but sincere.
Nox waved it off.
“It’s okay please don't say like that. But… what did you want to talk about that’s important?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“As you know, some non-season monsters have suddenly appeared I sent people to investigate, and we found something… unusual.”
Nox raised an eyebrow.
“Unusual? What kind of unusual? I didn't find anything last night but it's unusual that a monster who needs sleep right now or focuses on breeding right now active”
Velmira leaned back, her expression serious.
“There’s a black crystal inside the monsters. Its energy is unusually high.”
Nox frowned.
“Black crystal… i see so you need to send it to alchemists to check its properties, right now? Is better,Where exactly did you find it? I didn't find anything where i hunt”
Velmira glanced at her report.
“Inside the brain. We sent it to our alchemy department, but even they had trouble analyzing it. ”
“I hoped you could help, since you’re a master alchemist.”
Nox smirked lightly.
“Are you just trying to save money?”
Velmira’s lips quirked in amusement.
“Well… budgets are important. We can’t waste money checking something that could be handled by a master-level alchemist,” she said.
Nox shook his head.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind it but i will do next right now my mind is suffering a lot in this academy”
Velmira leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing.
“By the way, I heard you didn’t participate in the spar match. Was that because of your magic? I thought it's seal”
Nox let out a tired sigh.
“Ugh… it’s the seal. My sister’s seal is strong, but because of what happened at the entrance ceremony i found control on magic is tough so , I had to reapply it for better control. ”
“It takes a week to fully stabilize. I didn’t want to overuse magic, and sparring isn’t really my thing anyway.”
Velmira’s gaze softened, a hint of concern in her voice.
“Yes… somehow we managed that time I even lie to vice headmaster arcturus. I didn’t expect the crystal to break so easily i create for ceremony.”
“ How much power do you still have? At this rate, you could seriously hurt yourself if you break your limit”
“You will die with a curse so don't break your limit this time”
Nox shook his head, speaking coldly yet firmly.
“I’m not planning to die—not until I bring my brother back home. ”
“And with 85% of my power sealed, I won’t push myself past the limit just to flirt with death”
“Let's just say nothing happened that pushes me enough to break my limit ”
Velmira nodded slowly, her tone quiet but sincere.
“I wish you good luck, always.”
Nox coughed lightly, a teasing edge in his voice.
“By the way… the Headmaster, I think you’re aging.”
Velmira froze, a faint blush creeping onto her face.
“What?! That’s… impossible! I’m a witch disciple! That not possible”
Nox chuckled softly.
“Yeah… sure,” he said, leaning back on the couch, letting her flustered reaction hang in the air.
Meanwhile—Sisbell returned to the room and gently opened the door.
“I’m back. Scarlet, are you alright? Do we need to go check up” she asked casually.
Scarlet was standing near the table, slowly pouring hot water into a cup. Steam rose quietly.
Sisbell sniffed the air and frowned.
“…What is that smell?”
Scarlet didn’t look back.
“It’s tea.”
Sisbell walked closer, her nose wrinkling.
“Isn’t it expired or something? It smells really cheap.”
Scarlet finally turned around, her eyes calm but sharp.
“That’s rude. It’s a gift.”
Sisbell blinked.
“A gift?”
Scarlet held the cup carefully, as if it were fragile.
“From someone who was worried about me.”
Sisbell crossed her arms.
“Still smells bad.”
Scarlet took a small sip anyway.
“…But it’s good. Herbal tea helps with stress.”
Sisbell narrowed her eyes.
“You’re smiling a lot.”
“I’m not,” Scarlet replied immediately
Sisbell didn’t argue.
She simply sat down on her bed and started talking about her day—
about classes,
about Alber being noisy again,
about how annoying first-years were.
Scarlet listened quietly, nodding now and then.
After a while, Sisbell glanced at her.
“Oh, by the way… Scarlet,” she said carefully.
“That comm— I mean, Nox… he asked about you this morning.”
Sisbell continued, unaware.
“And after he left, some people from the princess’s side came.
“You know, her friends. They were asking about special admissions. I don’t know much, so I ignored them.”
Scarlet’s fingers tightened around the cup for just a second ‘So he come here without telling anyone ’she thought
She went back to talking, her voice light.
Scarlet didn’t answer.
Her eyes lowered slowly… to the small note beside the cup.
Her lips moved quietly.
“We aren’t friends…”
“He said that himself.”
Her chest felt tight, but her face stayed calm.
“Maybe it’s my fault… thinking he would remember me well i was kid that time but……”
She folded the note once.
Then again.
Then gently dropped it into the trash.
The smile returned to her lips—soft, practiced, perfect.
She turned back to Sisbell and joined the conversation, her voice light and normal.
As if nothing hurt at all.
As if nothing was thrown away.
