HTNSA 122

Chapter 122

The cold night air brushed against the nape of her neck, but Eila didn’t feel cold at all. It was thanks to Felix’s gentle touch as he carefully wrapped his arm around her back.

Eila slowly lifted her now-freed hand and placed it on his shoulder.

It was something she could’ve never done if the sky hadn’t already turned dark.

As if bewitched, the two continued their kiss, only pulling away after a long while, seemingly returning to their senses.

The night wind kept blowing, making the leaves rustle like crashing waves.

Eila covered her flushed cheeks with both hands and looked around anxiously, afraid someone might have seen them.

But perhaps because it was already so late, all the students seemed to have returned to their dormitories.

Relieved, Eila snuck a glance at Felix.

‘What did I just do?’

Her face burned up again. An awkward tension filled the air.

Just a while ago, they had been talking so naturally. But now, she had no idea what to say next.

That didn’t mean she regretted the kiss.

‘In fact… I liked it.’

Startled by her own thought, Eila froze.

She gathered her courage and looked back at Felix. She was dying to know what kind of expression he was making.

Unfortunately, the shadows from the tree blocked his face too well.

Felix cleared his throat and spoke first.

“Then… what are you planning to do next?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, will you go back to the Blanche family now? Since the Duchess and Cedric both know you’re the real daughter?”

Caught off guard, Eila couldn’t answer right away.

But soon, she shook her head firmly.

“No, I won’t. I gave up on going back the moment they cast me out.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Right now, the most important thing is proving that Rosia is a fraud and making her pay for what she’s done.”

Eila clenched her fist tightly, as if reaffirming her resolve.

Just imagining Rosia still living confidently as a noble lady made fury surge within her.

‘If I want to completely drag her down, there’s still a lot I need to do.’

Of course, it was a relief that her mother and Cedric had broken free from the brainwashing and accepted the truth.

But there was no room for complacency or carelessness.

‘The incident during the subjugation festival still hasn’t been fully uncovered. I asked Darian to investigate, but…’

She hadn’t expected much from him anyway.

Even in the original story, Darian had never been someone you could truly rely on.

‘I need to gather the evidence myself and expose the truth.’

Eila swore to reveal every single crime Rosia had committed—without leaving anything out.

To do that, she also had to keep the fact that her mother and Cedric had regained their memories a secret until the right time.

And most of all…

“Even after I get revenge, I doubt I’ll be able to go back to being a happy family like before.”

Felix quietly looked at Eila’s face, full of resignation.

Just moments ago, she had been on the verge of tears, reunited with her family. Now, she was drawing a cold line again.

That alone was proof of how much pain and heartbreak she had endured.

‘And if the dragon’s vision of the future is true, Rosia Blanche isn’t our only enemy.’

With so much left to do, it made sense that she couldn’t fully enjoy her reunion.

Felix felt sorry for her, but he didn’t show it. Eila wouldn’t want pity from him anyway.

‘Instead, I’ll do what I can.’

Rather than cheap sympathy, he wanted to be someone she could rely on.

Felix reached out again and gently held Eila’s hand. As their fingers intertwined, her eyes wavered slightly.

“I’ll help you until the truth comes out.”

“…”

“So if you ever need anything, just say the word.”

At some point, Felix had grown able to understand her even when she didn’t say anything.

Just a few months ago, she used to push him away, unable to hide her confusion around him.

But now, with every word and action, she was starting to open up little by little.

“…Alright.”

Eila nodded quietly.

She seemed so strong on the outside, yet so soft and fragile within—it made Felix love her even more.

With a playful smile, he suddenly changed the subject.

“By the way, Eila. What are we now?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, after what just happened… You’re not going to say we’re nothing, right?”

“Wh-What do you mean, what just happened?”

“Well, it’s not like people go around kissing each other for no reason.”

“K-Kiss…”

Eila’s eyes trembled violently, as if the moment had replayed vividly in her head.

‘So she does get flustered like this too.’

Seeing this side of her made Felix’s chest flutter and a smile tug at his lips.

“P-Piyo!”

“…What?”

“I forgot to feed Piyo dinner! I have to go, sorry!”

Eila shot up and bolted away.

Felix watched her silhouette disappear into the darkness and shrugged.

“…Did I push too hard?”

Even as he muttered to himself, an undeniable smile crept across his lips.

He lifted his hand and gently touched his lower lip. He could still feel the warmth where Eila’s lips had touched his.

* * *

After returning home late, Cedric washed his face over and over again.

The passing servants recognized him and bowed politely, but he didn’t have the energy to acknowledge them.

‘Even if she pretended not to care… she must’ve missed Mother terribly.’

Eila had always maintained a detached, indifferent attitude in front of him and their older brother.

As if she had truly become a stranger.

But the moment she came face to face with Irene, Cedric never expected her to break down so completely.

Though she hadn’t said a word, it was clear how desperately she had longed for their mother.

‘What did we do to that poor girl…’

Just thinking about it made tears sting his eyes.

Since the subjugation festival, Cedric had been overwhelmed with guilt about Eila to the point that he couldn’t even think straight.

So he went to his mother and confessed everything.

Surprisingly, Irene received his confession calmly. As if she had expected it all along.

“Cedric… Take me to her. I want to see my daughter again.”

To grant her wish, Cedric had loaded his mother—who was recovering in a distant region—into a carriage and brought her to the academy.

And Eila, surprisingly, welcomed them more kindly than he had imagined.

‘After all we’ve done to her, she had every reason not to…’

Mentally and emotionally exhausted, Cedric just wanted to collapse in bed and sleep like the dead.

He staggered down the hallway—and then suddenly stopped.

At the far end of the corridor, he spotted a man hesitating at a doorknob.

‘Who… Ah, Gerard.’

The place Gerard stood in front of was Rosia’s bedroom.

Realizing this, Cedric’s brows furrowed in displeasure.

‘That used to be Eila’s room.’

Along with the room came all the love, attention, and status Eila once had.

Rosia had stolen it all from her and made it her own.

Meanwhile, Eila—the rightful heir—had been thrown out with nothing but a few spare clothes and her gathered herbs.

How bitter and angry must she have felt, being cast out without even a chance to argue?

‘Rosia threw out everything Eila owned the moment she left the house.’

Even though he had witnessed it up close, Cedric hadn’t been able to stop her.

Because back then, he still believed Rosia was his real sister.

‘What a fool I was…’