How did Alfred managed to resist her charms?


    If a girl as charming as La was devoted to me, I would have fallen for her a long time ago. But it''s not like that, and I''m d it''s not. I don''t need any moreplications in my life.


    [<Does that mean I haven''t devoted enough to you?>]


    ''You are apart.''


    [<Why!>]


    I shook my head to clear it and turned to La, who was sitting next to me on the bench.


    "What are you sitting here for? ss will start soon," I asked her.


    "Hm? ss starts in an hour. They informed us yesterday in ss," she replied.


    I groaned inwardly. I had woken up early for nothing. Yesterday, I was in the infirmary and missed the ss announcement. I should have checked my messages and calls.


    I should have checked them, now I am embarrassing myself in front of La out of all people.


    [<Karma.>]


    [Karma.]


    What were Alfred and Thomas doing leaving their room?


    They''re probably on a date, so leave it alone.


    "I know ss starts in an hour, I just need to see someone," I said to La.


    [Lies.]


    Ignoring the voice, I asked, "What about you?"


    "Me?" she asked, leaning back on the bench and sighing. "Thesest few days, I haven''t been feeling good. I want to do something about it, but I''m afraid it could cause a lot of problems."


    I started to sweat when I heard her words.


    "What kind of problems?"


    La shrugged. "I don''t know. Maybe it''s just me overthinking things."


    What is she nning…?


    Surely nothing good, I have to do something.


    I nced around the campus, watching as students rushed to their sses. "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I''m here."


    She smiled gratefully. "Thanks, I appreciate it."


    Still not?


    "You want to do something, huh? Like stalking Alfred?"


    My sudden mockery caught her off guard, but I could see her amused by myment.


    "It''s not stalking if you''re keeping an eye on your future husband," La replied with a smile.


    Iughed at her simple answer. "Ah, that''s true. But do not forget, he''s not quite yours yet."


    "Perhaps~"


    I raised an eyebrow at herment, unsure of how to respond. La always had a way of making me feel uneasy. I couldn''t tell if she was being genuine or if she had a hidden agenda.


    "By the way, what happened yesterday?" La shifted the topic. "Uncle appeared to be in a bad mood. "Have you done something heinous again, dear Edward?"


    As we continued our conversation, La brought up the incident from the previous day. I couldn''t help but roll my eyes at the mention of my shitty father.


    "Has he ever been in a good mood?" I scoffed.


    "Hm?"


    La looked at me with a curious expression. She was never one to hold back her thoughts, which sometimes led to ufortable conversations.


    "Uncle was in a good mood though…before your mother''s death."


    This girl really has no tact but I wouldn''t be upset because of that.


    Considering that our parents were acquainted, she obviously understood what she was talking about. Also, both my mother and her mother had passed away, and our moms had been close. It must be why she spoke without delicacy to me. We shared something inmon, which was why I felt a slight sense of closeness with her, and it might be the same with her; otherwise, she wouldn''t have even started to talk to me, knowing my previous despicable acts. Like me, she didn''t have real friends and knew she couldn''t have real friends because she was putting on a facade the whole time.


    "Then why did you leave your family?" La asked with a curious expression.


    I could tell she was trying to establish a friendly rtionship with me, but I wasn''t going to let her use me for her own purposes.


    "La, that question doesn''t fit your IQ. You know perfectly well about my rtionships with Simon, Elona, and my father," I replied, giving her a pointed look.


    Every noble in the academy was aware of my strained rtionships with my family, so I found it hard to believe that La didn''t know.


    La let out a smallugh. "I''m sorry, Edward. I suppose I''m just curious about your life but…"


    Suddenly, her cheeks flushed red.


    "I didn''t know that the great Edward was regarding me like that, I feel a little embarrassed…"


    I averted my eyes.


    How is she doing that?!


    It was too much for my heart.


    I wasn''t even sure if she was pretending or if she was actually embarrassed. In any case, she was an expert at provoking men''s instincts.


    La nodded in agreement when I mentioned my family issues. "I can rte," she said. "My father hasn''t spoken to me properly for years now."


    I couldn''t resist making a jab at her. "Your creepy brother was there for you anyway."


    La''s expression changed a bit at myment, but she quickly regained herposure. "Hey! Don''t call my brother creepy. He''s my family."


    I shrugged nonchntly. "A creep as well."


    To my surprise, La just smiled at my insult. She was good at keeping her emotions in check.


    We sat in silence for a moment before I decided it was time to talk about my n. "I know what you want, La," I said.


    La''s yful side emerged as she responded, "It''s not a statement fitting your IQ, dear Edward. Everyone knows I want His Highness."


    "I''m not talking about Alfred," I said, meeting La''s gaze head-on.


    She looked at me, a flicker of confusion in her red eyes.


    "What are you looking for, La? A bond that goes beyond what you had with your mother," I continued.


    La didn''t say anything, but her expression was enough to show that I had hit the nail on the head.


    "And Alfred can provide that for you," I said, confident in my analysis.


    I got straight to the point, telling La what I wanted and what I could offer her.


    "I need Alfred away from Milleia, but you want him. I''ll help you by keeping Milleia away from Alfred and by working to have that idiot return your feelings," I said.


    La looked surprised at my offer, but I could see the gears turning in her head.


    "I also want to make something clear. You need to stay away from Milleia and Jayden," I said firmly to La.


    It was crucial for my n to keep La away from Milleia and Jayden. The slightest harm to them could trigger the viiness'' route, and I couldn''t let that happen. Saving Milleia''s life was paramount.


    "I don''t know what your intentions were towards Milleia, but I won''t let you hurt her," I warned her.


    The tension between us was palpable as I stood my ground. I couldn''t afford to let La spoil everything. My survival in this game was at stake.


    Things were going well, but I knew La had something up her sleeve. She was bing envious of Milleia much earlier than in the game, and I had to put a stop to it before it was toote.


    It was fortunate that I could meet her in an isted ce.


    "Then?"


    I turned to La and waited her answer.


    She had been quiet this whole time, so I had no idea what she was thinking.


    La gave me a piercing look that felt like she was trying to read my thoughts.


    "You''re in love with Milleia, aren''t you? She seemed to have a high opinion of you."


    "Huh?"


    Wait, what? Did I hear that right?


    [<No, but you dide across as a little creepy when you told her to stay away from Milleia.>]


    I felt a vein pop in frustration.


    "What are you talking about? I don''t have feelings for anyone, and Milleia doesn''t have feelings for me."


    I scowled at La, trying to convey how serious I was.


    "If you say so."


    La replied with a sly grin.


    I couldn''t tell if she was just teasing me or if she was genuinely suspicious.


    "Moreover, she is in love with someone; it''s Jayden."


    "Jayden? You mean themoner with a strong legacy?"La tilted her head. "How can she fall for him when you who are someone better in all respects, is near her? Is she more intomoner men?"


    Was she trying to seduce me with tter?


    It won''t work.


    "Better?" I scoffed. "He is popr and has better looks."


    I couldn''t just let La believe that I was in love with Milleia, so I had to set things straight. I even brought up Jayden to make sure she knew that Milleia was into him instead. But La just looked at me like I was missing something.


    "What''s up?" I asked her, not knowing what to expect.


    La just shook her head and gave me a sly smile. "You really don''t get it, do you?"


    I was confused. "Get what?"


    La got up and walked towards me, standing close to me. She stared into my eyes and said, "You''re not fooling anyone, Edward."


    She suddenly leaned in close to my face, making me jump. I couldn''t help but notice how good she looked in her zer uniform, though.


    "What are you doing?" I asked, trying to lean away but realizing I was already sitting back against the bench.


    La stared at me for a moment before speaking.


    "That''s what I thought," she said, nodding to herself.


    I raised an eyebrow. "Can you exin what you''re talking about?"


    La smiled, but she didn''t step back. Instead, she ran her fingers down my face, starting at my forehead and ending at my chin. It was a slow, almost sensual movement that made me feel a little uneasy.


    "You''re more popr than that Jay-what already?," she said, shaking her head. "Anyway, I''m not just talking about your...reputation."


    I tried to guess the implication, but before I could say anything, La spoke again.


    "People like you, Edward. It might have been different before, but in a single month, most of them changed their views because you changed as well. They''re drawn to your confidence, but more than that, they like your handsome foreign features. You don''t even realize it, do you?"


    I shook my head, feeling a little dazed. Was she serious? Could I really be more popr than Jayden? It didn''t seem possible.


    What the heck?


    As a man, that girl was driving me insane.


    If it was her n to pocket me, she proceeded very well.


    I couldn''t hold back my virgin''s reactions, and I could see La''s lips curling up the more I showed them. She was clearly enjoying all my spontaneous reactions. I saw her often doing that against others, but rarely with me, so I was caught off guard. But I really thought I could deal with her perfectly!


    "Yes. Indeed, in looks, you have nothing to envy either; objectively, you are the second most handsome man I have ever seen in my noble life."


    "Huh?"