The quiet night settled deeper into the room, the faint silver glow of the moon filtering through the open window and stretching across the floor in soft patterns of light and shadow. The gentle movement of the curtains allowed cool air to drift inside, brushing lightly against the walls, yet the calmness of the atmosphere did little to ease the tension that had formed between the two figures seated upon the bed.

Luca remained still for several moments, his gaze lowered slightly as his thoughts searched for words that refused to come easily. The weight of what he carried pressed heavily against his chest, yet the difficulty did not lie merely in speaking—it lay in deciding how much he could reveal, and when. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Celestia watched him quietly.

Her crimson eyes remained steady, unblinking, her attention focused entirely upon him as though she could already sense the existence of truths he had not yet spoken aloud.

"I know you are hiding something," she said calmly, her voice neither harsh nor demanding, yet leaving little room for avoidance.

"You have been concealing it since the moment you began your report."

Her gaze did not waver.

"What is it?"

Luca's response came almost immediately, instinct guiding his words before thought could intervene.

"No… I am n—"

He stopped.

The denial faltered midway, dissolving before it could fully form.

His head lowered slightly as he exhaled slowly, the quiet breath carrying with it the weight of acceptance.

There is no point denying it…

And… I do not want to.

He lifted his gaze once more, meeting her eyes directly now, the hesitation within him replaced by quiet honesty.

"Yes," he admitted softly.

"I am hiding something."

Celestia's brows shifted slightly as she prepared to respond.

"What—"

Luca raised his hand gently, stopping her before the question could fully form.

"I cannot explain it right now," he said quietly.

Before she could object, he continued carefully.

"Please… trust me."

His voice remained calm, yet sincere.

"I will tell you everything."

"I just need some time… to sort certain things out first."

He paused briefly.

"…Alright?"

Silence followed.

Celestia did not respond immediately.

Her crimson eyes studied him carefully, observing not merely his words, but the intent behind them, the hesitation within them, and the quiet determination beneath it all.

For several seconds, she simply looked at him.

Measuring.

Considering.

Evaluating.

Then—

She gave a small nod.

"Very well," she said calmly.

"But on one condition."

Her gaze remained fixed upon him.

"And when the time comes… you will tell me everything."

Luca allowed a faint smile to appear, the tension within his shoulders easing slightly as he nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

He paused briefly before asking,

"So… what is your condition?"

Celestia remained silent for a brief moment after stating her condition, her crimson eyes lingering upon Luca as though confirming that he would not withdraw his promise. Then, without further explanation, she shifted slightly and reclined upon the bed, her golden hair spreading softly across the pillow as the moonlight reflected faintly upon its surface, giving her an almost ethereal presence even within the quiet simplicity of the dormitory room.

She looked at him briefly, her expression carrying a hesitation rarely seen in someone who ruled an empire without faltering.

"Lie down," she said softly.

Luca blinked faintly at the unexpected request, though he did not refuse. Slowly, he adjusted himself beside her, maintaining a small distance as though uncertain how close he was permitted to be.

Celestia turned slightly toward him, her crimson eyes studying his face for a brief moment as though she wished to say something more, yet the words did not come easily. Instead, her gaze faltered faintly, and she turned away from him, her back now facing him as silence stretched quietly between them.

Luca watched her with a puzzled expression, uncertain what she intended or why she had suddenly grown so quiet.

Then her voice came, softer than before.

"H-hold me."

The words were almost hesitant.

So quiet that for a moment Luca thought he had misheard.

"W-what?" he asked instinctively, the confusion in his voice unmasked.

Celestia did not repeat herself.

Instead, she reached gently for his hand without turning back, guiding it firmly yet carefully around her waist before shifting closer, drawing herself toward him as though seeking reassurance she would never openly ask for.

Her back pressed lightly against his chest.

The faint warmth of her presence felt unmistakably real.

Luca's body stiffened instantly, his posture rigid as though unsure how to respond to the unexpected closeness.

Celestia spoke again, her voice carrying a quiet firmness that contrasted with the subtle vulnerability within the gesture.

"Just… sleep like this."

A brief pause followed.

"And…"

Her tone sharpened slightly despite the softness of her position.

"Do not ever make someone pretend to be your wife… or even your girlfriend again."

The words carried faint jealousy hidden beneath the calm delivery.

Luca did not respond verbally.

He simply nodded faintly, understanding that any attempt at explanation would only complicate the fragile peace forming between them.

Slowly, the stiffness left his body.

His arm relaxed slightly around her waist, the warmth of her presence gradually easing the tension that had accumulated throughout the exhausting mission.

For the first time since returning, his thoughts began to quiet.

The exhaustion he had ignored until now finally claimed him.

The steady rhythm of her breathing, calm and reassuring, blended with the cool night air drifting through the open window.

And slowly—

Sleep overtook him.

For now, at least, the turmoil within his mind faded into silence.

Morning light filtered gently through the window, the soft golden glow spreading gradually across the quiet dormitory room as the first signs of day arrived. The faint rustle of curtains swayed lightly with the early breeze, carrying with it the distant sounds of students beginning their routines across the academy grounds.

Luca's eyes fluttered open slowly.

For a brief moment, his thoughts remained hazy, caught somewhere between sleep and wakefulness as he adjusted to the quiet brightness of morning.

Instinctively, he shifted slightly.

His gaze moved to the side.

Empty.

The presence beside him had already vanished, leaving behind only faint impressions upon the sheets that slowly flattened as time passed.

He sat up slowly, exhaling softly as he ran a hand lightly through his hair.

"My relationships really are becoming more and more complicated…" he murmured under his breath, the thought slipping out before he could fully suppress it.

As he moved to stand, he paused briefly.

Something felt… off.

A faint discomfort lingered within his body, subtle enough to ignore, yet persistent enough to remain noticeable beneath the surface.

It was not pain.

Not exactly.

More like an unfamiliar heaviness pressing faintly within his chest, as though something deep inside him had yet to settle after the past few days.

He dismissed the feeling quickly, attributing it to exhaustion, and proceeded toward the bathroom.

Warm water flowed steadily as he showered, the familiar sensation usually enough to refresh both body and mind.

Yet even as the water ran across his skin, the subtle discomfort did not fully fade.

If anything, it lingered quietly beneath his awareness.

After finishing, he retrieved his academy uniform from his storage ring, the black fabric trimmed with gold settling neatly against his form as he prepared for the day ahead.

Even as he adjusted the collar slightly, a faint unease stirred once more.

Still subtle.

Still ignorable.

Still present.

He stepped outside, the morning atmosphere of Arcadia Academy calm and orderly as students moved along familiar paths toward their respective classes. The sound of conversation drifted lightly through the air, the peaceful environment contrasting with the quiet unrest within him.

As he entered the classroom, several familiar gazes immediately turned toward him.

Kyle leaned slightly forward, concern evident in his expression.

"You were absent for several days," he said plainly. "Was something urgent?"

Aiden looked at him as well, curiosity clear upon his face.

Selena remained quiet, though her violet eyes studied him carefully.

Despite the subtle discomfort pressing faintly against his chest, Luca maintained a calm expression.

"Nothing serious," he replied evenly.

"Just a minor family matter that required attention."

The explanation satisfied them for the moment, and they nodded without pressing further.

Luca moved toward the last row and took his usual seat, exhaling quietly as he settled into place.

Even as he sat, that strange uneasiness stirred again faintly.

Eric arrived shortly afterward, sliding casually into the seat beside him.

"You look uncomfortable," Eric observed immediately, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Still tired?"

Luca forced a small nod.

"Probably just travel fatigue," he replied calmly.

"That happens sometimes."

Before further conversation could continue, the classroom door opened.

An assistant instructor entered instead of Seraphina.

"The professor will not be present today," she announced calmly. "She is currently unwell."

"I will be conducting the lecture in her place."

Luca's brows lowered faintly.

Unwell…

Or avoiding me…?

The thought surfaced uninvited.

He dismissed it quickly, focusing instead upon the lesson, though the faint discomfort continued lingering throughout the day.

Time passed.

Lecture followed lecture.

Yet the strange sensation within his body did not fade.

If anything, it slowly grew more noticeable, an unfamiliar tension pressing quietly within his chest, subtle yet persistent.

By late evening, Luca finally returned to his dormitory room, the quiet atmosphere greeting him once more as he stepped inside.

He exhaled deeply.

For a moment, he simply stood still, allowing the silence to settle around him.

Then—

A sharper sensation struck suddenly.

His breath caught briefly.

A dull pain surfaced within his chest, spreading slowly outward as though something inside him had shifted unexpectedly.

His hand moved instinctively toward the source of discomfort.

"What… is happening…?" he murmured quietly.

Then—

His eyes widened slightly.

"…What is this?"