Alia approached slowly, heels clicking on stone as she reached the bench where Edgar sat, hunched over a battered book.
"Hey, I'm back. Mind if I sit?"
Edgar didn't look up. "It's a public bench. Sit if you like."
Alia blinked. That wasn't like him. Edgar was always quiet, yes, but never cold. Always careful to be polite, especially to her. He was a commoner, after all.
"Oh? Someone's gotten bold," she said, tilting her head with a mocking smile. "Just because I chatted with you a few times doesn't mean we're equals. You really think graduating puts you on my level?"
Edgar closed his book calmly. "Oh believe me , We both know exactly where we stand."
The quiet defiance in his voice set her off. "What did you say, you little rat?" Her voice rose, loud enough to catch attention. "Filthy scholarship trash. Maybe I should teach you some humility."
She stepped forward—and to Edgar's confusion, began tearing her own blouse.
"Help! He attacked me!" she screamed, voice breaking into practiced sobs.
But before she could finish, Edgar moved.
A single, brutal kick—precise, clean—shattered her knee. The sound echoed.
"AAARGHHHH!"
She collapsed. Edgar stood, his calm returning like a wave receding.
"If I were you," he said, grabbing her by her golden hair and pointing to a phone recording everything, "I'd stay quiet. This little show? All of it's recorded. When the council sees what you tried to pull—"
His voice dropped. "Not even Aron will be able to cover this up."
"What do you think your father will feel about this new scandal involving his only daughter"
Tears blurred Alia's vision. The pain was real, but worse was the fear.
He crouched, expression neutral. "New rules: I ask a question, you answer ,lie costs you a finger. You don't want injuries before the Awakening Ceremony, do you?"
She whimpered.
"We don't have much time. That scream will bring people. So—did Aron send you?"
Her silence was her answer.
Snap.
She screamed.
"Yes! Yes, he did!"
"Good," Edgar said. " Now , let's stir up the situation a bit , shall we?"
As if on cue, footsteps pounded across the courtyard. Aron arrived first, just as Edgar expected. His eyes fell on Alia—bloody, broken—and flickered with something unreadable before he forced his voice into outrage.
"You pervert! What the hell did you do to her?!"
He lunged, but Edgar sidestepped smoothly, letting the momentum pass him harmlessly.
More footsteps Soon brought, some more students.
"What are you doing, Sir Aron?" Edgar said sharply, just loud enough for nearby students to hear. "Please, this is the dean's daughter. Hurting her on school grounds? That's—unforgivable."
Aron blinked. "What the fuck are you blabbering about? It was you—!"
Amdist the rustle , footsteps soinded , and the crowd shifted. The librarian had finally arrived, parting students with her presence.
"What is going on here?! Everyone, make way!"
She spotted the crumpled form on the ground. "Lady Alia?! What happened?!"
Before anyone could answer, Edgar stood calmly and spoke.
"There seemed to be an altercation between Sir Aron and Miss Alia. I was fortunate to be nearby and intervened before things escalated further."
The librarian paled. 'This is above me…better leave it to the higher-ups.'
She straightened. "Both of you—to the dean's office. Now. The dean will see you shortly."
A pair of students rushed to carry Alia to the infirmary. She didn't say a word.
But her wide eyes met Edgar's—she knew she clearly fuc*ked up ,now she was between a rock and a hard place.