The chime of the final bell echoed through the grand halls of the academy, marking the end of another long school day. Rena Amberheart rose slowly from her seat, her crimson hair catching the fading light like flickering fire. There was something subdued about the way she moved—graceful, but weighed with thought. Her golden eyes, usually sharp and unwavering, held a softness today, the kind that lingered after a decision had finally settled in.
As she slung her bag over her shoulder, Leona and Lilia approached her from behind.
"Rena," Leona began, brushing a few silver strands from her face, "do you want to walk with us? Maybe get something to eat?"
Rena turned, her gaze meeting Leona's icy blue eyes, then Lilia's deep green ones. She shook her head gently.
"I can't. I have to go to the Rotschy estate. Starting today... I live there." Her voice was calm, but there was a flicker of hesitation—subtle, but undeniable.
"You mean, you're not staying in the academy dorms anymore?" Lilia asked, surprised.
Rena nodded again. "Lady Naoko won't allow it. And now that Jin has returned... I have to go back. I'm part of their family now."
There was a beat of silence as the weight of those words settled between them.
Suddenly, Leona's eyes lit up. "Perfect! I'll go with you then!"
Lilia blinked, caught off guard. "Go with her? Under what excuse?" she asked, not unkindly, but directly.
Leona's smile only widened as she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a sleek black device engraved with a silver crescent moon—the mark of the Rotschy family.
"Jin gave me a spatial device too," she said proudly. "Said I can visit whenever I want."
Rena stared at the device, lips parting slightly. Hers had been a crystal of grade S—a rare relic. Leona's was different, but still personalized. She recalled Jin casually tossing it to her, telling her that the coordinates were already set to the Roche mansion. But to give another one to Leona…
Was she... special to him?
That small thought twisted something quietly in Rina's chest. No—Jin only gave her a device because he trusted her as a friend. Right?
Just as eRina was about to say it was fine, a sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.
"You're not going, Leona."
They all turned to see Nox—Leona's twin brother—approaching, his white hair slightly tousled, his blue eyes cold and sharp.
"Nox?" Leona blinked. "Why not?"
"You're not going to the rotschy estate again," he said firmly, folding his arms across his chest. "And you're giving that device back to Jin. Hand it over to Rena. Now."
Leona flinched. "Why? What's the problem?"
Nox didn't hesitate. "Because you're not part of their family. You're a Leonhart, and you don't belong in that house. Mother and Father were furious the last time you went there without permission. I didn't tell them right away, but they found out. You're banned from visiting. You know that."
"But—" Leona began, frustration rising in her voice.
"You're only using their hospitality to run from your duties," Nox snapped. "You're becoming a burden. That's not like you."
There was silence for a beat. Leona's posture stiffened, but her eyes narrowed—her pride bruised.
"I'm not a burden," she said lowly. "Jin said I could come. He trusts me."
From the side, Lilia nodded solemnly. "Leona, we love you. But Nox is right. Rina is part of the Roche family. You're not. It's not fair to impose."
Rena stood in silence, golden eyes flicking from one friend to another, feeling the tension coil tighter and tighter like a string ready to snap. She opened her mouth, unsure what to say, but then—
Ethan, ever the calm center of their group, stepped in.
His dark blue hair glinted faintly in the light, and his eyes—deep and cool like the sea—met Leona's.
"I agree," he said gently, but firmly. "The Rotschy family accepted you once. That was generosity. But generosity isn't an open invitation. If you keep pushing, it reflects not just on you—but on your family. Especially if you're doing this for your own... reasons."
Leona's lips trembled slightly, and Rena saw something flicker in her friend's eyes—not just defiance, but something deeper.
A sting. Shame.
Leona turned to Rena, forcing a smile, but it faltered. "You don't think I'm a burden too… do you, Rina?"
Rena felt her chest tighten. She wanted to deny it, to comfort her. But in truth, she didn't know what she felt. Part of her had been grateful for Leona's company. But another part—a darker, more possessive one—had bristled at the way Leona smiled so freely at Jin. The way he had given her that device without hesitation.
"I..." Rena started, but the words stuck.