The situation... didn't seem too good.
'Virtue 400.'
Current Virtue: 10294.
'Virtue 250.'
Current Virtue: 10544.
Just watching this string of virtue changes, Winnie felt the situation was already dire.
What exactly was going on? This virtue surge was far too extre!
Granted, it was Mirexia, but honestly, even considering Mirexia, Winnie had never seen virtue values skyrocket like this, hundreds at a ti, exploding uncontrollably.
On the other side, Mirexia instinctively wanted to object, yet for a mont, she didn't know how to respond.
How exactly should she object to what Isatia had done? As Winnie's childhood friend?
Even Mirexia felt this identity lacked sufficient weight, it seed overly intrusive.
"This... this is a public place," Mirexia said after a long silence, finally finding a sowhat reasonable excuse. Her voice remained as calm and indifferent as usual, though at this mont, the coldness seed to dominate, bordering on icy.
"This Library's rules seem to only prohibit loud noises or making excessive disturbances that affect others. I don't recall any rule forbidding soone from feeding cake to another person," Isatia replied calmly, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Or perhaps, Mirexia, you're soone with rather conservative, traditional views, you disapprove of such things?"
"My apologies then. I truly didn't expect that even in such a secluded spot, we'd still be seen by others." Although Isatia spoke these words, there was no trace of genuine remorse in her tone. She remained composed and utterly self-assured.
This manner of speaking gave both Winnie and Mirexia, who were listening nearby, an oddly peculiar sensation, as if Isatia had deliberately chosen this location and had already planned out her actions in advance, while Mirexia was rely the unexpected variable.
It was almost as if it wasn't Isatia who should apologize, but Mirexia, who had interrupted her. After all, she'd already picked such a secluded spot where no one would see, yet they'd still been discovered. How unfortunate.
It also carried an unspoken implication: 'If you're too conservative to watch, you could simply choose to look away.'
But this was rely Winnie's impression, perhaps just a misunderstanding. He felt Isatia probably didn't actually think that way.
Probably.
He suddenly recalled how, upon entering the library, Isatia had told him to find a quiet spot, and then she had deliberately chosen that corner. At the ti, he hadn't thought much of it.
"Ahem, um, Mirexia, we were really just studying, okay? Isatia was just joking with !" Winnie tried to smooth things over, though even he found his own excuse sowhat unconvincing.
But what else could he do? Maybe because his full attention had been on Isatia, Mirexia had barged in like an unstoppable force, giving him no chance to react. The timing of her interruption was impeccable, just when he'd been helplessly controlled by Isatia. A mont earlier or later wouldn't have been so awkward. He'd already been contemplating how to excuse himself to the restroom, and yet it happened right then.
"Let help you with anything you don't understand." Mirexia remained silent for a mont before replying in a subdued tone.
Even to Winnie's ears, her words carried an unmistakable bitterness.
"Mirexia, you're disappointing Winnie's good intentions," Isatia interrupted before Winnie could speak. Her voice was utterly devoid of emotion as she explained on his behalf.
"As Student Council President, Mirexia has an overwhelming workload, buried in endless paperwork. Especially since the Mount Kamov incident, Winnie didn't want to bother you with trivial matters. On the contrary, my own responsibilities are relatively light, mostly handled, and I have more free ti. Besides, Winnie and I have an agreent, he finds it more convenient to ask ."
Hmm, her reasoning was perfectly logical, essentially what Winnie himself would have wanted to say. Isatia's explanation was faultless. Yet, when spoken in her tone and with her choice of words, it carried a different nuance.
After all, Winnie explained it personally, versus Isatia explained it for him, the nature of the situation was completely different.
It now seems as if, in Winnie's eyes, when facing life's minor issues, he preferred to turn to her rather than Mirexia. He sought her for personal matters, while Mirexia was only for official business.
Huh?
Even Winnie, who was quite oblivious in such matters, could sense this implication in Isatia usually's words. It was even more obvious to Mirexia, whose emotions were far more sensitive.
Winnie desperately wanted to clarify a few things, yet found nothing to say. Was there anything wrong with what Isatia had said?
Not at all. She had already articulated everything he wanted to explain. To say more would only be repeating her.
Then what could he possibly add? Could he really just nod along in front of Mirexia and confirm, "Yes, that's exactly it"?
Winnie felt absolutely certain he must never utter those words, doing so would only make things infinitely worse!
'Virtue 200.'
Current Virtue: 10744.
"An... agreent??" Mirexia's delicate brows tightened, causing even her normally unchanging icy expression to show signs of cracking.
"Oh? Mirexia, you weren't aware of this?" Isatia tilted her head slightly, her expression blank as she looked at Mirexia. "It's sowhat complicated, and ultimately, it's a private matter between Winnie and , sothing we've agreed to keep confidential."
"Uh... uh..." Winnie wanted to explain, but found himself at a loss for words. After all, she'd just declared it a private matter, sothing she didn't want others to know.
"??"
'Virtue 300.'
Current Virtue: 11044.
"???" What? Why did her virtue suddenly surge by so much again?
Winnie, standing nearby, was utterly stunned. He had no idea what outrageous thoughts had crossed Mirexia's mind to cause such a massive spike in her virtue.
As for Isatia, a re glance into Mirexia's eyes was enough to give her a rough idea of what the other girl had guessed. Mirexia's emotional fluctuations were simply too pronounced, further confirming one of Isatia's suspicions.
For so reason, the corner of Isatia's lips curved upward ever so slightly, an imperceptible smile. No one could tell what she was thinking at that mont.
Yet she offered no clarification, allowing Mirexia to continue her wild speculations. She said nothing, and therefore, had nothing to explain.
"What are you implying, Isatia? Why would I know?" Mirexia's cold, beautiful face tensed even further.
"Nothing. I just thought you should know," Isatia replied evasively, continuing to speak in vague, ambiguous terms, leaving Mirexia to guess and ponder at her leisure, her tone exuding effortless confidence.
"Isatia, I don't rember everything, especially outdated or invalid agreents. Naturally, I wouldn't recall those," Mirexia gradually regained her usual composure.
"Of course it's not an outdated agreent. And even if it were obsolete or nullified, it probably wouldn't concern you, Mirexia," Isatia said coldly, taking another sip of coffee.
The implication was clear, Mirexia doesn't have the standing to comnt on this matter.
"I'm Winnie's friend and childhood companion."
"I'm aware," Isatia replied without hesitation, her noble purple eyes calmly observing Mirexia as if an emperor surveying a subordinate.
"My information network is simply more reliable than yours," Isatia continued. "From the southern to the northern reaches of the Tyrell Empire, from the far east to the far west, I have complete awareness. Beyond the empire, I also have access to certain intelligence."
"For instance, occasional trivial matters concerning you and Winnie occasionally reach my ears."
"?!" Mirexia instinctively clenched her fist slightly. Isatia's words felt like a direct hit to her weak point, leaving her montarily speechless, unable to respond.
Mirexia imdiately understood the implication.
Isatia, considering Winnie's presence and his dignity, had only referred to "trivial matters" between her and Winnie. But the truth of what she was implying was clear to Mirexia.
She was hinting at the past, before their enrollnt, before that banquet where Winnie spilled red wine all over Aesphyra.
Her relationship with Winnie had been extrely delicate, perhaps even tense.
Everyone in Calla knew how Winnie had pursued Mirexia like a lovesick fool, only to be rejected. The scandal had even reached foreign nobles.
Such matters were naturally impossible to hide from Isatia, the Imperial Princess of Tyrell. They had inevitably reached her ears.
But unlike other gullible or gossip-loving nobles, Isatia adhered to the principle of listening to multiple sources to gain understanding, while partial information leads to bias. She maintained an observational stance toward all rumors, treating them rely as references.
For example, regarding the rumors about Winnie's identity, background, his conduct in Calla, and his true character, she never fully believed any of it.
Her approach proved correct, every false rumor about Winnie could now be definitively labeled as 'slander.'
In Isatia's view, Winnie might have pursued Mirexia, but the extent of his 'obsession' was questionable, likely exaggerated by those with ulterior motives.
As for Winnie's public confession to Mirexia and his subsequent rejection, Isatia remains half-skeptical.
Now, she was certain, such an event absolutely occurred.
How did she know? Mirexia's current gaze and expression had completely revealed the truth to Isatia.
A single glance told her everything.
That look, of soone whose weakness had been exposed, montarily rendered defenseless, overwheld by sha and ntal turmoil, even feeling utterly humiliated, was impossible to fake.
Despite Mirexia's desperate attempts to conceal it, how could she possibly deceive soone as perceptive as Isatia? The fleeting glimr in Mirexia's eyes had already completely betrayed her.
She rembered rejecting Winnie's confession and advances. She rembered how cruel she had once been, unaware that Winnie's actions were all for her sake. She had offered her kindest smiles to insincere nobles, yet reserved her harshest treatnt for the one who loved her most.
Isatia said nothing, only ntioned 'trivial matters', yet to Mirexia, it felt as if she were being directly questioned.
Mirexia was soone with extrely high moral standards. Whenever she recalls these mories, guilt overwhelms her, leaving her speechless and emotionally conflicted, incapable of 'fighting back' against Isatia.
"Amazing, Mirexia." Just as Mirexia was emotionally unsettled, she heard Winnie speak.
She looked up in confusion, only to find that Winnie had sohow picked up the form she'd dropped on the floor. He was now gazing at the checked-off items with genuine admiration. "As expected of Mirexia, did you finish all these tasks?"
With that, Winnie picked up the pen and returned everything to her.
Mirexia's lips parted slightly, but she remained silent.
'Virtue 150.'
Current Virtue: 11194.
"Isatia, can Mirexia sit here?" Winnie asked, pointing to the seat in front of them.
"If you'd like," Isatia naturally wouldn't refuse Winnie's request.
"Mirexia, just sit here, no need to find another spot," Winnie said. "Is that okay?"
"Mmm." After a mont's hesitation, Mirexia nodded, picked up her papers and pen, and sat down. She glanced at Winnie, then shifted her gaze to Isatia.
Upon realizing Mirexia's gaze, Isatia didn't look up. She continued reading her book, silently.
In her eyes, this situation was no longer a concern.
Confessing and being turned down creates a lasting divide, no matter how close the two people were before or beco afterward, or how much their relationship improves, that fracture can never be completely undone.
In fact, the closer and more intimate they had been previously, the more awkward the rejection would make things later, ultimately making even friendship impossible. They'd beco two parallel lines, never to intersect again.
Even if one party later developed similar feelings, that rift would resurface like a ntal demon, constantly obstructing them and forcibly keeping them apart.
Judging by Mirexia's eyes, Isatia understood perfectly. As the one who had rejected him, Mirexia knew the situation was awkward and damaging to their relationship, but she had still underestimated its power, and especially its impact on Winnie.
It was like this, so things, once lost, are simply gone. One day, you suddenly realized you need that thing again and want to retrieve it, but the chances are nearly zero. Where exactly on which street or corner was it thrown? How could one possibly find it again?
Winnie, bound by their childhood friendship and close companionship, likely wouldn't seriously consider any romantic possibility with Mirexia in the future. After all, if he confessed again and was rejected, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends.
Isatia could clearly see that Winnie absolutely did not want to lose even their friendship with Mirexia.
Isatia deeply understood that every person's character was built upon decades of accumulated experiences.
Thus, she suspected that Winnie's reluctance to take initiative in love might have been shaped by Mirexia herself.
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