My schedule in the weeks leading up to the Sophomore Ball was packed beyond belief.
Every morning, I trained with Professor Valerie, pushing my swordsmanship to its limits, determined to get even better.
By evening, depending on the day, I'd either spar with Seraphina, Jin, or Kali. Seraphina needed help getting a handle on her Gift and merging it more fluidly with her sword art. She had talent, but something was holding her back, and I was determined to help her unlock that next level.
Jin, on the other hand, was close to reaching White-rank, and I was making sure he advanced as quickly as possible. Then there was Kali, who, being much stronger than me, was a perfect partner for magical combat. She pushed me harder than anyone else could, forcing me to sharpen my control over time, space, and gravity magic.
And amidst all of that, I still had to go to class, spend time with friends, and manage the ever-growing responsibilities of running my guild, Noctalis. Fortunately, Kali had found someone trustworthy enough to handle the day-to-day operations of the guild while we were stuck at the academy. Of course, we kept an eye on him, and I made sure to stay cautious. Trust was a delicate thing, especially since he hadn't signed a mana oath.
Jin's personal guards were no longer stationed at the guild either, having returned home after Jin rejoined the academy. The academy had its own security and Jin's family dispatched guards according to the agreement they came up with post the demon attack. I was working on plans for when I eventually reached Ascendant-rank. My future knowledge gave me a slight advantage, but if I was going to protect what mattered, I had to use every second of free time to prepare.
Which was why I barely stopped myself from sighing when Cecilia suddenly barged into my room. She crossed her arms under her chest, glaring at me like I had somehow wronged her without even knowing.
"Cecilia," I said, raising an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"
Her eyes narrowed as she stared me down. "You're spending too much time training," she said bluntly, her tone making it clear this wasn't a casual observation.
I could already tell this wasn't going to be an easy conversation.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, sitting down on the bed, my brow furrowed in confusion.
Cecilia's expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You... you haven't been spending time with me," she said, her voice quieter than usual.
My eyes widened in surprise, especially when I noticed the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. She quickly turned her scarlet eyes away from mine, avoiding my gaze.
"I thought... I thought you'd come to me now," she muttered, barely audible, as if admitting it was something she wasn't used to.
Ah, now it made sense.
Before, I hadn't fully accepted that Cecilia's feelings for me were real. I had doubted them, chalking them up to fleeting emotions or something temporary. Because of that, she had always been the one making moves, trying to close the distance between us. Now, with me acknowledging her feelings—no matter how uncertain or temporary they might be—she expected me to put in effort as well.
"Spend time with me!" she suddenly demanded, her eyes locking onto mine again, her voice more urgent. "You spend so much time with Seraphina, but what about me? Or Rachel? You barely spend time with either of us!"
Her frustration was clear, and I couldn't really blame her. For weeks, I had thrown myself into training and planning, almost to the exclusion of everything else. I hadn't considered how that might make the others feel.
"Well, you wouldn't have to worry about Rachel if you just became mine," Cecilia muttered under her breath. I chose to ignore that for the sake of my sanity.
"I'm sorry, Cecilia," I said with a small smile, trying to defuse the situation. "I promise I'll spend more time with you and Rachel. And next time you come to me, I won't turn you away."
"You promise?" she asked, her eyes wide, suddenly looking so innocent that I almost burst out laughing. It was a dramatic shift from the fiery Cecilia I was used to.
"I promise," I replied, trying to keep a straight face.
What I didn't expect was her reaction.
Cecilia practically launched herself at me, crashing on top of me with a tight hug. I felt something soft against my head and had to mentally slam on the brakes before my mind wandered further. But before I could process the situation, she pulled back just enough to kiss me—fiercely.
I was caught off guard as she bit down on my lower lip, and it took a solid few seconds before I could gather myself enough to stop her.
"Cecilia!" I gasped, managing to push her back slightly.
She licked her lips, eyes gleaming with mischief as she stared at me. "You promised," she purred.
Innocent? Hell no.
This was a seductress disguised as a princess.
'Seriously, what kind of princess is this proactive?' I screamed internally.
"Don't be so mean, Art," Cecilia pouted, now comfortably seated on my lap, still facing me like she owned the situation.
Mean? How was I the one being mean here?
I glanced at her, and she smiled teasingly, fully aware of the chaos she was causing.
'Nope, I can't do it,' I thought, shaking my head. I wasn't going to give in to this madness.
As if she could read my thoughts, she let out a disappointed "Aw," her face drooping theatrically as she slid off my lap.
"By the way," she said, her tone shifting slightly, "the reason I came here is valid." She locked eyes with me, and for a second, the playful glint in her eyes turned serious. "If you want Seraphina, then reject Rachel and me. Don't play with our feelings like that, Arthur."
Her words hit harder than I expected. But before I could fully respond, her smile morphed back into something more... mischievous. "But, well," she continued, her tone dripping with confidence, "I'm pretty sure you want me at the very least."
The smirk on her face said it all—she knew exactly how much chaos she was stirring up, and she was enjoying every second of it.
'Teenage hormones are the worst.'
I sighed, pulling out my phone to shoot Rachel a quick message.
As much as I hated to admit it, Cecilia was right. Despite all her antics, she had a point.
I didn't want to mess with their feelings, or lead them on without clarity.
I liked them as much as they liked me, and it was time to stop being afraid of their affection. Time to stop avoiding what was in front of me.