Chapter 36: Dead Bodies

"Don’t worry, we handled everything. The students who assaulted you have been transferred to different academies under our two Houses’ recommendations."

Transferred? Yeah, right...

I don’t think you can exactly transfer people whose heads aren’t part of their bodies anymore.

"Transferred?"

"Yes, they’re..."

Trish seemed to hesitate, like she was about to say one word but switched, then switched again. I don’t blame her. If she knew what the actual situation was, I’m sure she’s struggling to find a better word that wouldn’t automatically lead to murder cleanup.

"...Well, they won’t be touching you again."

"Well, that’s reassuring."

Trish smiled, her gaze drifting toward the window. The smile widened, just slightly, as if she’d spotted something outside that pleased her.

"Please excuse me for a while. Anna’s waiting by the gate."

"Don’t let me stop you."

Once she’d gone, I leaned back against the headboard and let the satisfaction settle in. Whatever the two of them had done, I hoped Trish knew the full scope of it.

Having her involved in the cleanup alongside Anna would accelerate everything considerably. Anna had already crossed the threshold into full villainess. If Trish was complicit, truly complicit, not just running errands on assumption, then she was already most of the way there too.

I might love the slow burn, but sometimes you have to appreciate a shortcut when the world hands you one.

✧ ✦ ✧

"Reyn, are you feeling better?"

Anna entered my room wearing something obviously different from what she’d had on when she committed the murders.

"Where’s Trish?"

"She’s handling your laundry. She said she’ll be back after a while."

She didn’t ask before sitting beside me on the bed, grabbing a box from her bag. I immediately recognized the brand and label. It was a premium delicacy from one of the city’s most expensive and well-known bakeries among the nobility.

Historia’s Cakes and Bread.

The same Historia as Aqua von Historia. The novel had described it simply: a bakeshop designed to attract both commoners and nobles alike, with a simple name built for that exact purpose.

Using the Historia family name alongside such an unpretentious title to draw in both crowds. And if this world really was following the novel’s events, then Aqua herself had suggested the naming convention.

She’d definitely be a good target. Even if she wasn’t a full villainess in the actual novel.

"How much did you spend on that?"

"Don’t worry about it. It barely even dented my wallet."

"As a man, you should still let me know."

"Well... one hundred thousand Aurion. But...! Don’t worry, it’s expensive for a reason. I had House Historia custom-make it with medicinal herbs and everything at their disposal. Lady Aqua even gave me a discount when she heard about the purchase I was making!"

I stared at Anna for a long moment, processing the number she’d just casually thrown at me. One hundred thousand Aurion. For a box of cakes. Even with a discount from House Historia, that was more than most commoner families earned in a year.

"Let me pay you back."

"No."

She said it with such finality that I actually paused mid-reach for the box.

"Consider it part of my apology for not arriving sooner. If I’d paid more attention, if I’d stayed closer to you—"

"Anna."

She stopped, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the ribbon on the box. Her eyes still had that wild edge beneath the calm surface, like glass over a storm.

"You already saved my life. You don’t owe me anything."

Her gaze snapped to mine.

There it was...

The thing I’d been cultivating. Raw, hungry, desperate to be useful.

Desperate to be needed.

"Then... don’t send me away. Let me stay here until you’re fully healed. Let me take care of you. Please, Reyn."

The way she said it, the way her voice cracked at the end, left no room for misunderstanding. This wasn’t a request from a concerned friend. This was a plea from someone whose entire sense of self had narrowed to a single point.

I reached out and placed a hand over her fidgeting fingers. She stilled instantly, like my touch had short-circuited whatever spiral she’d been about to fall into.

"Stay."

Her breath hitched.

"Really...?"

"Stay as long as you want."

The smile that spread across her face could have lit up the entire mansion. She practically melted against me, her head finding its place on my shoulder, one hand pressing flat against my chest as if to confirm I was still there.

She tilted her head up to look at me, and for a moment, she looked so fragile I almost felt bad for manipulating her into this state.

Almost.

"From now on, I won’t leave your side. Not during classes, not after school. I’ll walk you home every day, and I’ll be the first person you see every morning. That way, nothing like this can ever happen again."

I had to admit, her dedication was impressive. Even now, she was already reorganizing her entire life around me, building a schedule that ensured maximum proximity.

But I also knew it wouldn’t stop there. If I let her, she’d probably have me moved into House Rose’s guest quarters by the end of the week, under the guise of "protection."

I’d have to be careful. I wanted her obsessed, not suffocating. There was a difference, even if the line between the two was razor-thin.

"That sounds perfect. But you’ll still leave me some time to train, right? I still need to get stronger."

She considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly.

But now that she was more relaxed, it was time to ask what had been on my mind all along.

How she’d dealt with the dead bodies.

Because if I was going to make these crazy women happy, I needed to make sure they felt accepted. Murderous tendencies and all.

"Anna, how did you handle the dead bodies?"