Vierenna''s eyes remained fixed on Deon, awaiting his response. Yet, he merely gazed back at her calmly, saying nothing.


    “Don’t you love me in return?” She pinched his side, feigning anger.


    A pained expression briefly crossed his face as he tried to push her hand away.


    “You know the answer.”


    “Say it!”


    “No!”


    “Why not? Don’t I deserve it?”


    At last, he managed to move her hand away and stepped aside.


    “You do. But if I say it, I’ll suffer—and I know that.”


    He was right, of course. Vierenna would have toyed with him a little, but still…


    “I''m angry with you.”


    She turned her back to Deon, emphasizing the seriousness of her words.


    “You’ll forgive me. How else will I make up for monopolizing the lake in your time?”


    Vierenna turned back toward Deon, who now wore a sly smile.


    ‘A Super villain…’


    At the back of her mind, she sensed two figures approaching. Their auras now sharpened into focus, revealing their identities. The twins of House De Ressa, Anna-Accia and Felice.


    “You need some fixing. I still don’t feel respected by you.”


    Deon stepped slightly back at her words, but Vierenna extended her hand.


    “Come here. The twins are heading our way. We ought to be on our best behavior.”


    Deon obeyed, moving closer.


    “Are you talking about yourself?!”


    She slipped her hand under his arm, ensuring they appeared as proper siblings befitting their high status. However, her thoughts betrayed the neutral and gentle expression she wore.


    ‘He really does need fixing.’


    And Vierenna would enjoy doing so—she always did.


    …


    At that moment, Anna-Accia and Felice emerged from the shrubs surrounding the small lake. The blind girl was slightly ahead of her brother, who trailed only a few steps behind.


    “Hello, Accia. How are you?”


    Anna-Accia frowned at Vierenna’s sarcastic greeting but caught no mockery in her tone.


    “Not as well as I was two hours ago.”


    “And are you hoping to do something about that?”


    Vierenna released Deon’s hand as he quietly moved to sit on the nearby bench, as though fearing someone might claim it first.


    “I can only hope.”


    Facing Vierenna, Anna-Accia stood with her brother a few steps behind her, his expression slightly sullen.


    “Do you have something in mind?” Vierenna asked again, feigning ignorance.


    “Don’t play games Viera. It’s just us here.”


    Vierenna smiled at Ana-Accia’s scowl and gestured toward Felicee.


    “Your brother is here. To be honest with you, I’m not particularly fond of him right now. I don’t want him here… This place is special to me and my brother.”


    “A lovely lake you’ve got,” Felice remarked, ignoring Vierenna’s comments about him.


    “Quiet, Felice. You’re not here to sightsee.”


    He glared at his sister but fell silent as ordered.


    “Why is he here?” Though she already had an idea, Vierenna asked Anna-Accia for confirmation.


    “He’s here to atone for his mistakes, if anything can be mended.”


    Vierenna glanced at Deon on the bench. His gaze seemed absorbed in the lake, opening and closing his eyes as if lost in thought.


    She looked back at Felice, whose expression—apart from a faint frown—remained unfazed.


    “He doesn’t seem like it, but that’s not my decision to make.”


    Felice smiled calmly behind his sister. “Miss Vierenna is right. I’ll only apologize because I feel guilty toward my sister. Otherwise, I’d never hear the end of it.”


    Anna-Accia glared at Felice, her expression twisted with anger. Words failed her, but Vierenna was not so constrained.


    “You know I could shatter your face, right?” she remarked calmly, entirely unbothered.


    Felice flinched slightly at the threat but did not back down. “I’m aware, and I’d prefer to keep the details of my face intact.”


    He smiled again and gestured toward Deon on the bench. “But could he?.. Smash my face, that is?”


    Deon glanced at him calmly from where he sat, seeming mildly amused.


    Vierenna was ready to fulfill her promise—figuratively, at least—but Deon spoke quietly without even rising.


    “Is that why you’re here?”


    “No, he’s here to apologize. And he will do just that.”


    Anna-Accia grabbed most of her brother’s arm firmly and pulled him closer. Her expression was menacing.


    “My sister is right. I was wrong, and I admit it. But I’m not in the habit of apologizing just because I’m at fault. I can compensate you, but you only asked for an apology. Truthfully, you could demand one, but it would be for my sister’s sake—not yours. If you want a sincere apology, you’ll have to earn it.”


    Vierenna watched as Deon rose from the bench, an amused expression evident on his face.


    He moved to stand beside her, his gaze remained fixed on Felice.


    “You can compensate me.”


    Felice raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening.


    “And what is it that you want?”


    He likely thought Deon was afraid of him. However, Vierenna sensed no fear from her brother.


    “First, you need to understand that, in my eyes, you’re just a childish idiot. You sabotaged your sister’s opportunity out of sheer arrogance. And in that, I am no different. Out of pride, I ignored my sister’s request. I can’t even recall the last time she asked me for anything—and when she did, I nearly ruined it. I regret that.”


    Deon’s gaze did not waver as he stared intently at Felice, the latter’s frown deepened with each word.


    “This isn’t about you or me. So, if you truly care about what your sister wants? keep your mouth shut. That’s all I want. I don’t need your apology, let alone to earn it. Just keep your mouth under control if you care for your sister.”


    Felice’s eyes burned with fiery anger. He opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out.


    His pride had been trampled by someone he deemed inferior. But before he could even attempt to retaliate—


    “My brother and I thank the young master Deon for his kindness. We will always be grateful for your magnanimity and kind heart.”


    “What… What are you doing?”


    Felice stared in disbelief as his sister bowed at a perfect ninety degrees toward Deon.


    He couldn’t comprehend why she would do that.


    This Deon had just insulted his honor in front of her—


    Don’t she care about his honor?


    He averted his gaze from Ana-Accia.


    ‘She’s helpless, but I’m not.’


    Looking at the calm Deon before him only fueled his rage. Yet, before he could act or think of doing so…


    “You should leave now.”


    Vierenna’s melodic voice seeped into his mind, and something deep within him stirred.


    A wave of helplessness washed over him. Without understanding why, his body began moving away from the small lake.


    The thoughts that had been so clear moments ago faded into a singular notion.


    ‘I must leave.’


    Soon, he disappeared from Vierenna’s view, though her gaze remained fixed in his general direction.


    “Did he just… leave?” Deon turned to Vierenna with a questioning look.


    “She dismissed him,” came Ana-Accia’s response. While she didn’t seem pleased with what Vierenna had done, she remained silent.


    “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault your brother’s an idiot.”


    Vierenna turned her face away from Anna-Accia. This confirmed to Deon that Felice inexplicable exit was indeed her doing.


    “He’s not an idiot. Your brother’s just… wiser than his years.”


    Deon felt her gaze on him, despite her blindness. He sensed curiosity radiating from her and responded.


    “I’m not wise. Just logical.”


    Vierenna whipped her head up, staring at Deon with disbelief.


    “A logical person wouldn’t think… Mmph—!”


    Deon cut her off by clamping a hand over her mouth.


    “Wouldn’t think of what?”


    “She just likes to play with words,” Deon replied to Anna-Accia’s question as he tightened his grip on Vierenna’s mouth.


    Silence fell, filled only with Vierenna’s struggle to free herself.


    “Mm… Won’t you let her go?” Anna-Accia asked.


    “No, she’s fine,” Deon replied without expression.


    “She doesn’t look fine, and I need to talk to her about how we move forward from here.”


    “No, you’re fine.”


    Anna-Accia fell silent, unsure what to say in response.


    ‘Am I fine? I…’


    “You’re fine. You may leave now… we’ll talk later.”


    ‘What? He’s not as logical as he claims.’Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Anna-Accia studied Vierenna. She knew the girl could free herself if she wanted to—yet she didn’t. It seemed like she was struggling to free herself, yet at the same time, she was comfortable in her brother’s hold. Anna-Accia’s sight told her as much.


    ‘How strange.’


    As Anna-Accia was about to leave, following Felice, whom she sensed walking steadily toward the palace gates, but she noticed Vierenna finally freeing herself from her brother’s hold with minimal resistance—Though she made it seem like a struggle.


    “Is this how you treat your sister? Bullying her like this! This is unacceptable. We’re going to work on this later…”


    “You promised to keep your mouth shut.”


    “No, I said, ‘We don’t want her to think poorly of you.’ Yet here you are, acting like this. You’re not helping your case.”


    “You started it.”


    “You didn’t even know what I was going to say. This just goes to show your thoughts and proves the validity of my claims, which have now become facts, as we agreed this morning.”


    “We agreed on nothing. You just do what you always do. declare something, and poof—it becomes reality.”


    “Ah— take that back, mister.”


    “I won’t take anything back. What? Don’t you like hearing the truth?”


    Anna-Accia stood to the side, listening to their argument, which didn’t mean much to her. But she sensed Vierenna’s enjoyment, unlike Deon, who seemed to be on the oppressed side. That said a lot.


    Anna-Accia sighed to herself and intervened to interrupt the squabble. She still had business here.


    “Viera? May we talk?”


    Vierenna shifted her sharp gaze to Anna-Accia, initially looking angry but quickly calming down as if she understood the reason for the interruption.


    “Yes, right. There’s that!”


    But before that, she turned her gaze back to Deon, who looked at her expressionlessly in return.


    “As for you! Mark my words; I will fix you. I will fix you no matter how long it takes… do you understand?”


    Deon didn’t answer; he just stared at Vierenna without expression. However, Anna-Accia felt his heart skip a beat.


    She almost pitied him, but she had more important things to discuss right now.


    She returned to Vierenna, who was waiting.


    But she made a mental note to herself, if she ever became his knight.


    ‘It seems he needs as much pity as he can get.’


    ???


    Deon stepped aside and returned to the wooden bench, leaving space for Vierenna and Anna-Accia to talk.


    He was still irritated by Vierenna’s unpredictability—something he thought he’d grown used to. Yet somehow, she always managed to bring out the worst in him.


    Though he cared little about what the blind girl thought of him, he still felt uneasy at the idea—especially regarding what Vierenna might say.


    Deon didn’t truly think she’d go as far as to ruin his reputation in front of someone else, but out of caution, he had silenced her.


    He’d been wrong about her before, He wouldn’t risk it now.


    …


    The conversation between Vierenna and Anna-Accia was brief and efficient.


    They simply agreed to reopen negotiations, with the condition that Felice would be excluded from the talks.


    Anna-Accia thanked Deon again for his leniency before leaving, following her brother’s trail back to the palace.


    Deon pondered once more how the blind girl navigated her surroundings so effortlessly. He had a feeling she could see better than anyone.


    But his curiosity yielded no answers. The girl herself seemed reluctant to discuss the matter.


    Deon pushed the thought to the back of his mind and turned to Vierenna, who stood glaring at him disapprovingly.


    “What...?”


    “Nothing!”


    She looked away, making sure to appear as upset as possible.


    Deon sighed helplessly and rose from the bench, despite his fatigue.


    “Listen, I know you wouldn’t have said anything… well, unwise. But you always keep me on edge, so I acted out of caution.”


    “Excuses!”


    Vierenna acknowledged the honesty in Deon''s words, aware he wasn’t lying. But if she didn’t take advantage of the situation and come out with something in her favor, what kind of person would that make her? why waste an opportunity to gain leverage?


    And she didn’t have to try too hard. Deon placed his hands on her shoulders; they felt cold to the touch.


    “Since I was in the wrong, I’ll make it up to you.”


    The words came out of his mouth forced, but Vierenna relished them.


    She leaned into him, tilting her head back to meet his violet eyes.


    “That makes two.”


    Deon nodded in defeat.


    “Two of my choosing?”


    His eyes widened in alarm, and instinctively tightened his grip on her shoulders.


    “No—no, no! I’ll choose the compensation.”


    “How does that make any sense? You already owe me for monopolizing my lake—and you’re still doing it. Besides, you hurt my feelings. It’s only fair I choose.”


    Deon frowned. She was right, of course, but he wasn’t going to let her have her way. Surely, using the lake couldn’t be that costly.


    “You may choose compensation for your ‘hurt feelings.’ as you say. I admit I was wrong there. But the lake was merely an innocent act. Isn’t it natural for me to visit something precious our mother left us?”


    “Ah—  exploiting Mother’s authority to your benefit now.”


    Vierenna’s mouth hung open.


    ‘How could he?!’


    Deon maintained a neutral expression, but Vierenna sharp senses noticed the slight twitch of his lips.


    “I can’t deny that. I know how dear Mother is to you.”


    “You’re a demon.”


    Deon said nothing, merely tilting his head in feigned confusion.


    ‘A supervillain! How can he treat me this way?’


    “Do you enjoy treating me like this? Do you find pleasure bosing over your elder sister?”


    She glanced pointedly at his hands still on her bare shoulders.


    “Your hands have been here for a while now. Having thoughts?”


    Deon quickly removed his hands, retreating several steps away from her.


    “So you do? Using me to vent your frustrations? How convenient… does it make you feel—mmph!”


    Deon moved forward again, silencing her again.


    It was necessary—he felt he’d be corrupted if he listened further.


    Vierenna peered up at him through his grip. Somehow, her thoughts were readable to his mind.


    “You’ve been doing this a lot lately. How do you like being so close to me?”


    “This is necessary,” Deon replied to her unspoken thoughts.


    He felt her mouth form a smile beneath his hand.


    “Necessary for your own needs, I understand.”


    If he can read her thoughts, this defeats the purpose of gagging her venomous mouth , he realized.


    Vierenna offered no resistance this time, which Deon found strange. His eyes tracked her every move.


    She raised a hand slowly, as if wanting him to follow it—baiting his gaze. And Deon foolishly did.


    She lifted that hand and touched the necklace around her neck. She kept it there for a long while.


    Her fingers brushed the necklace at her throat, lingering for a long while. Deon grew tired of the boring act, and his eyes drifted downward—His heart skipped a beat.


    His focus, which had lingered where it shouldn’t, shifted to the devilish smile spreading beneath his hand, mirrored in her eyes.


    She glanced at his chest, and Deon followed suit, only to find her other hand resting softly on his chest, over his heart.


    His heart sank.


    In an instant, he shoved her away.


    “You’re insane!”


    That was all he could muster.


    ‘She’s insane. What possessed me to create such a character? But this is beyond her written boundaries!’


    Vierenna cupped her cheek and tilted her head to the side.


    “I’d say I’m disappointed, but I’m not. This was very… expected.”


    Deon stared at her wicked grin, and words escaped his lips before he could think.


    “Next time, I’ll do something about your hands. They’re as venomous as your mouth.”


    The moment he heard himself, he knew he’d regret it.


    It didn’t take long.


    “So you want me helpless? Immobile? Completely ‘under’ your mercy?”


    Her smile faded into a mock contemplation.


    “I don’t think I can aid such boldness, but I doubt that will stop you from trying.”


    She smiled again, but Deon was already fleeing his way out of her range. She was far too dangerous for him, and every moment proved it.


    ‘When will I learn?’


    Despite his escape, her words seemed to chase him.


    “You might succeed one day. You’ve already proven your… needs. Plus, your talent surpasses mine. it’s only a matter of time before you have me completely ''under'' your mercy.”


    ‘What did I do wrong in my life to deserve this?’


    The worst part? Deon had no retort.


    Any attempt to engage or play along ended in disaster—and one that hit him alone.


    All the horrifying escalation in Vierenna’s excessive teasing stemmed from his attempt to play along with her jokes two days prior.


    ‘Why did I say those things?!’


    But regret was futile now.


    …


    Deon ran through the backyard, making his way around the palace toward the front gate.


    His physical stamina was different from what it had been in his previous world, so he didn’t feel tired throughout his run.


    Soon, with a turn around the palace, the side view of the gate appeared in his vision.


    He sighed in relief and slowed to a stop.


    Climbing the short steps, he found Vierenna waiting for him, leaning against the wall where they had both stood this morning.


    Her slender frame was draped in the same short black dress.


    She fixed her obsidian eyes on him, lips curling into a smirk.


    Vierenna watched Deon’s face pale as the seconds of her silence ticked by.


    ‘Enough for today. Can’t drain him too quickly.’


    “Baby brother, you’re late. We’re dining with House De Ressa today. Don’t let your thoughts consume you. Behavior matters. You know better.”


    Deon stood at the bottom of the stairs in silence, watching her with distrust.


    Vierenna sighed, her fingers brushing her forehead.


    “Take my hand. It’s only proper.”


    Despite his wariness, Deon couldn’t refuse. For appearances sake, he had to comply.


    He climbed the few steps to where Vierenna waited and took her hand in his.


    Vierenna noticed all his tense movements, especially at her touch.


    She couldn’t resist but lean into him, closing the distance—as close as possible.


    Deon frowned at her, but she only smiled in return.


    “I can only do so much… For now, at least.”


    He ignored her jab.


    He merely did what was expected of him and acted in a manner befitting his name.


    When Vierenna got no reaction, she didn’t push further. She’d had her share of fun with him for the moment.


    Now, it was time to act professionally.


    ???


    The same long redwood table where negotiations with House De Ressa had taken place this morning now hosted a similar scene—with two key differences.


    The food was more lavish and meticulously arranged compared to breakfast—a large main dish flanked by side plates, bowls of soup, and salads... And Felice was nowhere to be seen.


    Anna-Accia, Anna-Lena, and Elder Jan sat in a row on one side, facing Vierenna and Deon across the table.


    “It’s fortunate your little dispute was resolved among the youth without my meddling,” Elder Jan remarked warmly. “This bodes well for the future of Houses Eirenios and De Ressa. A promising era lies ahead, led by the likes of you.”


    The agreement between the two houses had already been finalized. The terms were set, spoken, and agreed upon.


    The contract would last for three years, aligned with the academy’s program duration. There were no excessive conditions; almost nonexistent, more akin to a formalized friendship than a binding pact. The sole purpose was to allow Anna-Accia to attend the academy alongside Deon, sparing him the fear of her shadowing his every step.


    In the end, Deon found himself with a knight.


    As skeptical as he was, Deon had a good feeling about this arrangement.


    Though most likely, that feeling stemmed from his personal curiosity about his knight—or her ability to "see" when she supposedly shouldn’t.


    Deon had his doubts and theories but he kept them to himself—for now.


    “As elders say, we can only do our best,” Vierenna replied humbly to Elder Jan’s closing remarks.


    A faint smile touched on Deon’s lips as he closed his eyes.


    ‘It’s been a long day. I barely got to train. But at least this is over.’


    Deon was genuinely pleased. Relieved that everything had concluded without further complications beyond the morning’s events, and eager to return to his usual monotonous routine in preparation for the academy.


    He’d already lost too much time, and all he wanted now was to get back to the simplicity of his single-minded path.


    “That’s all any parent could ask for,” Anna-Lena responded this time.


    Deon opened his eyes to look at her. Something in her tone made him curious.


    His heart skipped a beat when he noticed her hesitant glance toward Elder Jan.


    ‘This isn’t good.’


    The tension in the air shifted, lingering for a breath too long—moments ago, it had been cheerful.


    Vierenna sensed the shift a beat slower than Deon, but by then, there was nothing she could do to prevent what was coming next.


    “There’s something I’d like to propose, if possible,” Jan interjected, “though personally, I see it as beneficial for the youth.”


    Vierenna tried to suppress her skeptical expression toward the smiling old man, but it still slipped through for everyone to notice.


    “Young Vierenna worries too much. The agreement has been made, and we won’t back out now,” Jan said with a knowing glance at Anna-Accia. “Accia would kill me if… Well, my suggestion is simple and constructive.”


    He returned his gaze to Vierenna but glanced briefly at Deon, who observed everything unfold with a cold demeanor.


    “A few friendly sparring matches among the youth—I will personally oversee them.”


    Vierenna frowned, but Jan cut her off quickly.


    “Ah, don’t look at me that way. This will dissolve lingering hostility. You worry too much over your little brother. And to be frank, I’m curious about young Master Deon’s capabilities. He’s now my granddaughter’s liege, after all. You understand.”


    The statement left no room for evasion.


    Vierenna glanced toward Deon, but his expression remained impassive the entire time.


    ‘I can’t let this continue.’


    So, Vierenna took a different approach.


    “You’re right—I do worry too much. But not about this. I simply doubt fairness if any of the three oppose me.”


    “No, that’s not—”


    “Why not let me propose something instead?”  she interjected, smiling at the tense expressions of House De Ressa’s elders.


    “The three can face me. It’s still unfair, but I’ll hold back as much as I can.”


    Anna-Accia’s jaw dropped, her face angeled toward Vierenna.


    Initially, she hadn’t reacted to her grandfather’s proposal for a spar. If anything, she was aware of it and didn’t particularly care. It was something her mother had privately arranged to settle Felice’s debt.


    They would pit him against Deon—a win or loss wouldn’t matter. At least Felice would get closure.


    But now Vierenna’s interference changed everything.


    And Anna-Accia wanted nothing to do with Vierenna, especially in a spar—a “friendly” match, as they might call it.


    ‘This is bad.’


    It was bad indeed.


    Yet Deon relished it.


    He hadn’t known how to bring up the subject with Vierenna, but this was the perfect opportunity to address one of his weaknesses:


    Swordsmanship—


    Deon had no formal training in swordplay, and he had never mentioned it to Vierenna for one simple reason.


    The Deon before him was supposed to have a solid grasp of swordsmanship basics—being a noble of one of the four great houses within the Macezar Empire.


    Additionally, noble houses typically had their own unique sword styles, which they taught their children. And Deon didn’t think House Eirenios would be an exception.


    Deon’s  ignorance demanded an excuse,


    But how could he explain his failure in swordsmanship when he was expected to be skilled?


    However, he had found a solution. In his studies, he had discovered something that could explain himself—but it would come at the cost of not being able to learn House Eirenios’s ancestral sword style.


    Deon was skeptical, but he prioritized his goals.


    ‘I can figure out how to learn the Eirenios sword style later if I want. But for now, I need Vierenna’s help and expertise. This opportunity can’t slip away..’


    Anna-Accia noticed the smile forming on Deon’s lips, and her heart sank.


    ‘Why is he excited?’


    She could sense his racing heartbeat from across the table.


    ‘Did they agree on this? No… How could they have known?’


    Even Vierenna felt unsettled by Deon’s smile, but unlike Anna-Accia, she attributed it to her own bold suggestion.


    So, emboldened by her perceived success, she continued justifying her proposal.


    “Though Elder Jan’s wisdom is unparalleled, I’m confident that real experience comes from unfair battles.”


    Elder Jan said nothing, attempting to appear as skeptical as he could.


    But Vierenna was a master of ignoring skepticism.


    “This will be good and beneficial for all of us. I, too, would value Elder Jan’s guidance. There’s much for me to learn, too.”


    Jan closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them.


    Vierenna had left him no room to maneuver, but his silence left Deon slightly uneasy. So, he decided to step in and support Vierenna in her endeavor.


    “If one isn’t curious about themselves, how can they learn and grow? Simply being next to my sister is already a great source of inspiration in itself. I see no reason why we shouldn’t proceed with her proposal.”


    The De Ressa family stared at Deon’s calm smile—and so did Vierenna, albeit for the wrong reasons.


    Unlike her unreadable demeanor, the three on the opposing side of the table bore expressions of prey caught in a trap with no way out but further in.


    They didn’t look very pleased, but what choice did they have?


    Elder Jan sighed on behalf of his entire household.


    “Very well. We’ll proceed as suggested.”