Karin tried everything she could to get away from Katon, but the man's grip was too strong. Karin's body, too, was frozen in place and could only surrender. Katon himself appeared hesitant to let Karin go, preferring to have her sit on his lap. Karin was embarrassed because he stared at her for so long.
"Can you let me go?" Karin asks.
"No."
"What exactly do you want?"
"I'm admiring my future wife."
Karin sneaked glances at Katon's stunning emerald green eyes. She studied Katon's face structure, which was firm and cold. Except for the color of his eyes, which can change, nothing distinguishes him from other Alfansa residents.
"What made you choose me?"
"Why do you keep asking?"
"Because I'm curious. You can't just pick me; there has to be a reason for everything."
Katon grinned "We sometimes pick our brides at random. That is why some brides end up dying as a result of our rejection."
"Did you choose me at random?"
Katon remained silent, his head slightly bowed. His eyes had turned black as Karin watched.
"I, Katon Bagaskara, cannot possibly choose my wife at random," Katon stated emphatically. "However, you don't need to know why."
He stood up and let go of Karin's body. Karin felt disappointed for a split second because Katon had released Karin from his lap. Katon's eyes narrowed at Karin, and he smiled coldly and purposefully.
"Are you disappointed?"
"Did you read my mind?" Karin protested, her face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't expected Katon to be able to read his heart so clearly.
"But I have to leave. I'll see you later, "Katon approached Karin's bedroom door.
"Until when?" Karin unexpectedly inquired.
"I'm not sure. Don't wait for me. Just get ready for our wedding later "Katon stated. "I must however remind you that you will face a more trying situation here. You must persevere."
"What exactly do you mean?"
"You'll find out," Katon replied quickly, not forgetting to flash a mysterious, slight smile. And this time he truly left, leaving Karin, who desperately wanted Katon to be here.
* * *
Karin was walking through the school corridor when she noticed students starting to talk behind her. They were whispering and staring at Karin as she passed, as if she had just been involved in an unforgivable scandal. Was this what Katon meant when he said "ordeal"?
Tanya, who was running towards Karin, exclaimed, "Karin!" This morning, she had a huge smile on her face. "Where is Erna?" She inquired.
"I have no idea. Our dorm building is not the same."
"Karin Nevada?" scolds a tall student with glasses. He was carrying a gift in a brown paper bag. "My name is Aldo, and I'm the student council president at this school." He extended a handshake to Karin.
"Is there also a student council here?" Karin wondered.
"Well, yes," Aldo replied skeptically. "What's the point?"
"No," Karin said emphatically, having quickly realized that Aldo was one of the demon lords.
"This is a gift from Katon," Aldo said as he handed Karin the package.
"What exactly is this?" Karin scanned the parcel from every angle, attempting to deduce its contents.
Tanya speculates, "Looks like a cell phone."
"Yep. Katon provided you with a cell phone so that you could communicate easily."
Karin was astounded once more because she had not expected her life in Alfansa to be the same as it was here. Aldo offered to open the package and set up Karin's new cell phone for immediate use.
"By the way, are you the one who claims to be Katon's bride?" Aldo asked Tanya with a straight face and no hint of guilt.
Tanya, who had a bright smile on her face, blushed with embarrassment. She was so flustered that she felt ashamed.
"Aren't you embarrassed to be friends with Karin?" Aldo laughed again, this time without a burden.
"Stop, Aldo. I invited her to be my friend." Karin inquired.
"Sorry, Rin," Aldo said, returning his attention to Karin's new cellphone and occasionally glancing at Tanya.
"Who is your future husband?" Tanya was asked again by Aldo.
"Who cares?" She responded angrily.
"I was just wondering why you're embarrassed to admit it," Aldo shrugged.
"Who is your future bride, Do?" Karin joined in on the joke.
"I don't own one. I still enjoy my freedom, which is one of the benefits of being an ordinary noble like myself. We don't have to rush around looking for a bride."
"Do... can I say something or not?" Karin stammered her question to Aldo.
"Why?" Aldo is still tinkering with Karin's phone. He is a student who also serves as Katon's assistant. The only confidants that Katon had were James and Aldo.
"Would you like to..."
"No!" Aldo cut Karin off before she could finish her sentence.
"I knew you'd ask me to meet her, didn't you?" Aldo's head turned to look at Erna, who was walking quickly towards Karin.
Karin couldn't help grinning, thinking that perhaps one school already knew that the two of them were friends. A ridiculous friendship develops between the bride-to-be Katon, who happens to be the most respected figure, and the bride-to-be who was rejected by her partner.
"What's the matter, Rin?" As she approached, Erna inquired. Erna alternated her gaze between Karin and Aldo.
"Why are you here?" she inquired.
"You don't see what?" Aldo remained curt as he continued to manage Karin's cell phone.
"I'm so sorry about the person who will be your future bride," Erna sighed.
"And luckily, I didn't look for it," Aldo quickly handed over the cellphone and hurried away after finishing. He only cared about Karin and ignored Erna and Tanya. They both grumbled angrily at Aldo's demeanor, which was well-known for being deceitful to anyone.
Karin examined her new cell phone, which had Katon's face as wallpaper. Aldo appeared to be purposefully pranking Karin, or was Katon ordered to do so. Karin mumbled quietly to herself, but a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"That's insane, why is he having so much fun putting Katon's photo on your cellphone wallpaper?!" Erna exclaimed, interrupting Karin's quick but lovely daydream.