After showing his selected skills to Vulcan Ashbourne, Ronan exited the restricted library with Aura still perched atop his head. Vulcan had waited in the antechamber, arms crossed, studying him as he erged. When Ronan presented Pain-Tempered Circulation Technique and Steel Bone Armant, Vulcan’s expression shifted – not to disapproval, but closer to doubt.
"Are you certain?" Vulcan asked, tone flat. "Those thods are–"
"Painful. Yes." Ronan t his gaze without flinching. "I’m sure."
Vulcan studied him a mont longer, and Ronan could feel the weight of that stare.
There was clear doubt in his father’s eyes – doubt that Ronan would actually follow through with techniques known for breaking students.
But Vulcan’s approval mattered little. The man had already gotten what he wanted.
Leverage over the engagent.
What Ronan did with his library access was secondary.
Without another word, Ronan turned and walked.
The hallway stretched long as Ronan walked. Ashbourne fla motifs carved into the stone walls seed to watch him pass.
Aura’s claws dug lightly into his scalp as she adjusted her balance.
"Ronan."
The voice stopped him.
Unfamiliar.
He turned.
Victoria Ashbourne stood ten paces behind him, hands folded neatly before her, posture perfect, and her face expressionless.
Despite Victoria being his older sister, Ronan realized this was the first ti he’d heard her speak ever since transmigrating.
"How are you doing?" Ronan asked, keeping his tone casual.
Victoria ignored the question entirely.
"The letter you sent ."
Ronan tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Letter?"
"About that girl. Athyst or whatever."
"Ah." Ronan let recognition dawn slowly across his face. "You an Sapphire. Not Athyst."
Victoria yawned – a genuine yawn – before nodding halfheartedly. "Sure, whatever. I agree to et with her."
"Does that an you found her runic work acceptable?"
"No." Victoria’s tone didn’t shift. "They were terrible. Riddled with weaknesses. But I can tell she’s alright where it counts."
Ronan blinked.
That was probably the closest thing to praise Victoria had ever given anyone outside Irene.
"Tell her she can et at the research tower," Victoria continued, already turning. "South side of the Academy."
She walked away before Ronan could respond.
No farewell, nor any acknowledgnt that the conversation had ended.
Just the quiet click of her boots against the marble as she disappeared around the corner.
Ronan stared after her.
He rembered what he could about Victoria from the novel.
She had been described as the type of person who cared about no one — focusing solely on research, advancent, runic theory, and magical innovation. A woman dedicated to her research alone.
In the story, it was shown she had a little affection for Irene, but only because they shared a mother. But that was all. Irene was the exception, the one person Victoria allowed herself to care about.
Ronan didn’t think he bore that sa exception.
Ronan had a different mother from Victoria and Irene. And from the way Victoria had looked uninterested throughout the entire family eting – and now this conversation – he could tell she didn’t feel much of anything for him.
She didn’t hate him or anything. Just plain indifference.
He turned and left the Ashbourne estate.
Lucia waited near the estate gates, hands folded neatly against her apron.
When she spotted Ronan approaching, her expression softened imdiately, warmth spreading across her face.
"Young master," she said gently, stepping forward. "I’m here to see you off."
Ronan smiled. "Thank you, Lucia."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly. "And thank you for the intel you provided . It was very useful."
Lucia’s face went pink. She glanced around quickly, leaning in with a sharp whisper.
"Don’t say it like that! You’re making it sound like we’re doing so conspiracy."
Ronan grinned at her. "Is it not?"
Lucia slapped his arm, fighting back a smile of her own. "I simply thought it was in your best interest to know that Miss Irene was made the secret heir. You’ve been doing so well recently – picking yourself back up – and I didn’t want to see all that go to waste because you were caught off guard by news like that."
"I’m very grateful," he said quietly, offering her a small hug. "For everything you’ve done for these past years."
Lucia stiffened in surprise, then relaxed, returning the embrace. "Of course, young master. I’ll always look out for you."
Internally, his thoughts were a lot colder.
She’s been even more useful than I thought.
The information she had given him allowed him to go more on the offensive during the deal with his father, which proved useful. He would need to keep Lucia close.
When they pulled apart, her eyes glistened slightly, though she quickly blinked the moisture away. Then her gaze dropped to Aura, still perched regally on Ronan’s head in cat form.
"Can I hold Princess one last ti?" Lucia asked, eyes glowing with affection.
"Sure."
Aura bristled imdiately, ears flattening, but she didn’t resist as Lucia gently lifted her into her arms. Lucia cooed softly, stroking the top of Aura’s head.
"You’re so cute," she murmured.
Aura’s tail flicked once – clearly irritated – but she stayed still, enduring the indignity with silent fury.
Ronan watched the scene with faint amusent, then nodded to Lucia. "I should get going."
"Take care, young master."
He turned and walked away from the Ashbourne gates, leaving Lucia behind with the cat still cradled in her arms. Once he was far enough away, Aura leaped free and landed beside him, transforming mid-stride back into her human form.
"I hate you," she muttered.
Ronan smirked. "You didn’t resist. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you enjoyed it."
"I didn’t resist because you told not to."
"So obedient. Maybe you should start transforming into a dog rather than a cat–"
Aura’s hand clamped over his mouth and her eyes glowed dangerously.
—
When Ronan returned to class the next day, far too many gazes followed him.
"Why are Grace, Iris, and Irene staring at you?" Elara muttered from beside him, not bothering to lower her voice.
Ronan glanced up. Grace sat near the front, absently twirling a pen while her eyes drifted his direction every few seconds.
Iris occupied the row behind her, posture perfect, gaze cold and direct. She was shalessly staring at him, and when Ronan looked at her, the stare beca that much more intense.
Irene sat in her chair as well, and she too was staring right at him, only looking away when she thought he was looking back.
"No idea," Ronan lied smoothly.
Elara smirked. "Did you seduce all three?"
Ronan reached over and smacked the back of her head.
"Ow–"
"Irene is literally my sister."
Elara rubbed her skull, muttering sothing about him not understanding jokes.
Ronan ignored her and his gaze swept across the room again.
Kazuma was absent.
Strange.
The assassin rarely missed class, and his perfect attendance record had been one of the few consistent details Ronan rembered about him from–
His thoughts drifted.
What had he been thinking about?
Ronan frowned, trying to pull the thought back, but it slipped away like water through his fingers.
Instead, his mind returned to the three girls watching him.
Iris made sense.
Vulcan had renewed the engagent negotiations, and Iris now knew Ronan had agreed – conditionally.
She would be wondering what ga he was playing, whether he truly wanted the engagent or if he was maneuvering for sothing else.
Irene made sense too.
She had been present yesterday when he burned the contract, defied Vulcan openly, and resisted his pressure without collapsing. Her suspicion had only deepened.
Grace, though.
Grace was staring at him with an unusual intensity.
Her eyes were heavy, dark circles visible even from across the room, and her usual bright energy seed muted.
She looked exhausted.
Had she been up all night doing sothing?
Their eyes t briefly.
Grace turned away first.
Interesting.
Before Ronan could consider it further, the door opened, and Selene Voss walked into the room. The atmosphere shifted imdiately. Students straightened and conversations died. Even Grace seed to wake up slightly.
The woman was just that terrifying to the students.
Selene moved to the front of the room, dropped a stack of training schedules onto the desk with a heavy thud, and surveyed the class with the sa cold gaze she had shown them yesterday.
"Good. You’re all still here," she said flatly. "Let’s begin."
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