“He’s planning to… steal you?” Rose’s voice softened.
“Yeah. Away from you,” I confirmed. “He’ll probably try to lock me up somewhere. I don’t know exactly where, but I’m betting it’ll be at their base.”
“And you’re seriously going to risk that?” she asked, a mix of disbelief and worry creeping into her tone, her eyes scanning my face for any hint of hesitation.
“Well, it seems like the best chance to get a lead on at least one of their bases,” I told her, meeting her gaze head-on. “It’s a gamble, but it might be our only shot.”
“Are you seriously betting everything on a gamble like this? For all we know, you could end up getting killed.”
“Oh, are you worried about me?” I shot back, a teasing grin curling my lips.
Her response was a cold, unamused glare that sent a chill down my spine, the kind that said she wasn’t in the mood for jokes, and I knew I’d pushed a little too far.
“Okay, okay, I’m joking,” I said, raising my hands slightly in mock surrender, the grin fading as I shifted to a more serious tone. “Look, if that happens, then I guess that’s just how it’ll go. But for now, we need to play it safe, watch every step, and keep an eye out for any reckless moves from Sesillian.” I glanced toward the doorway. “I’m heading to the ballroom. What about you?”
“I’m… going to stay here for a while,” she murmured, her voice softer than before.
There was something in her expression that I couldn’t quite pin down—an uneasy mix of worry and an emotion I couldn’t fully decipher. It lingered in her eyes like a shadow.
“Alright,” I replied, turning to leave.
But as soon as I turned my back, I felt a soft, warm pressure envelop me. Her big breasts pressed into my back, their warmth radiating through the thin fabric of my shirt, and I froze. Rose had wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a sudden embrace.
“Please, be careful,” she whispered.
“I will,” I promised.
Her arms loosened, the warmth of her body fading as she slowly let me go.
***
Charlotte’s POV
“Um, Professor?” I asked cautiously, watching Professor Sesillian as he stood before me, his eyes darting across the room like a predator searching for prey. “Are you looking for someone? You’ve been glancing around for a while now.”
He snapped his gaze toward me, blinking as if he had just remembered I was there. “Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.” He tried to cover up the distraction with a smile, but it felt thin, almost forced. “So, Charlotte, are you enjoying the party? I know it can’t be easy, given your situation.”
“It’s not that being here with you isn’t enjoyable, Professor,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light even as the weight of the stares in the room pressed down on me. “But I guess I am struggling with all the looks aimed my way.”
Professor Sesillian’s smile widened, but the warmth never seemed to reach his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about them. Just be yourself tonight; that’s more than enough.”
“How about you, Professor?” I asked.
“Huh?” He blinked, momentarily thrown off by my question, like it had caught him off guard. “What do you mean?”
“Are you alright?” I pressed, watching his expression closely.
He had been on edge, almost frantic, like a caged animal with nowhere to go. It wasn’t a side of him I was used to seeing, and it made my skin crawl with unease.
“Oh. Is it that obvious on my face that I’m not feeling great?” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck like he was trying to knead the tension away. “I’m sorry, but this crowd… it’s really not my thing.”
“I-Is that so? Would you like me to help you back to your room?” I offered.
“No, don’t worry about it. You’ve been invited by the Duke, haven’t you? You should be here, making connections. It’s your chance to regain some footing in society. Your former mother’s family is here too; maybe they’d consider taking you back in if you asked.”
“That’s already impossible,” I said, the words slipping out more bitterly than I intended. “She… wasn’t my birth mother, and she severed all ties with me. Her family would do the same.”
“But she still raised you, didn’t she?” Professor Sesillian asked, his voice softer now, but with a sharp undertone, like he was trying to pry open an old wound.
I forced a bitter smile, feeling a twist in my chest. “Well, she said before cutting ties that her goal was my family’s wealth back then.” The words tasted bitter as they left my mouth, and a wave of sadness bubbled up. Digging up that memory felt like ripping open a scab—more painful than I’d expected.
Without warning, Professor Sesillian pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapped around me with surprising warmth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you.”
“It’s okay…” I whispered, my voice fragile as glass. I tilted my head up, meeting his gaze, and for a moment, I got lost in the intensity of his eyes. They had this magnetic pull, an almost hypnotic allure that made it hard to look away. Because of his height, I had to rise onto my tiptoes to reach him, leaning in with the intent to brush my lips against his. But just as our faces drew close, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment.
“I’m sorry I’m late!” a voice rang out, jarring us back to reality.
We both turned toward the sound.
“Sirches?!” Kayla’s voice was full of surprise. As she stepped closer, I noticed a bandage plastered across her nose—something I hadn’t caught before. Did she have that injury earlier? I must not have been paying attention.
Sirches offered an apologetic smile, scratching the back of his head. “Oh, Kayla. Sorry, sorry. There was some crazy traffic all the way here. What happened to your nose?”
While everyone focused on the unexpected arrival, I missed the shift in Professor Sesillian’s expression.
“Traffic?”
“Yeah,” Sirches replied with a casual shrug. “People are blocking all the roads coming this way. It made getting here a real pain.”
People blocking the roads? What the hell could that mean? The thought barely had time to settle before Professor Sesillian suddenly released me, his grip loosening and he pulled away.
