Chapter 12: Golden Ticket

"Lady Arestionne, I presume?"

Despite his composed, almost pleasant expression, Lydia could feel Ephraim’s Sentinel Resonance pressing against her as he approached and addressed Rishe.

He wasn’t even bothering to hide his anger.

"Your baseless accusation toward me yesterday has garnered quite a bit of unwanted attention from the students."

As he spoke, Ephraim calmly rubbed his left cheek on purpose. The same exact spot where Rishe had slapped him the previous day as if he wanted to remind her about what happened between them yesterday.

His gesture almost made him look like a patient nobleman reprimanding a troublesome young lady.

Of course. So Ephraim.

Lydia nearly rolled her eyes.

This was Ephraim’s usual manner whenever he spoke to women. Polite. Reserved. Charming.

He could probably insult someone while wearing the sweetest smile imaginable and still make it sound like a compliment.

"Greetings to the future sun of Adelstein, Crown Prince Ephraim. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Rishe gave him a graceful curtsy as if she hadn’t noticed his blatant hostility.

Her smile was angelic. But Lydia noticed that Rishe’s smile never reached her icy blue eyes.

"I simply did my best to help a lady in distress against improper behavior."

Ephraim’s eyebrows twitched at her words.

He folded his arms across his chest, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

For a moment, he looked less like the charming Crown Prince and more like someone who had finally found a worthy opponent.

I felt like I was trapped between two apex predators. Geez. Why is it hot and cold at the same time here?

"Lady Lydia is my fiancée," Ephraim stated calmly. "What we did was nothing more than a normal gesture between lovers."

Lydia rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Damn Ephraim and his fake charming prince persona. I’ve had my fair share about your real personality beneath that facade.

After folding her fan, Rishe only glanced away and gave a disappointed look at Ephraim.

"But that still cannot justify forcing yourself on an unwilling woman. Consent is the most basic manner every human being should be aware of."

"It’s not as though we have never done such things before. We are engaged, after all." Ephraim’s eyes narrowed slightly. "That means we will become husband and wife someday."

"I am well aware of that, Crown Prince Ephraim."

Rishe’s smile remained perfectly polite.

"And I am deeply concerned for the future of the Empire of Adelstein because of this matter."

Ouch. Girl, talk about being passive-aggressive. You are the real definition of being bold. I sure could learn a thing or two from Rishe.

A hint of caution entered Lydia’s eyes as she sensed the hostility between them. Rishe’s brutal politeness had clearly pushed Ephraim’s patience to its limit.

"What are you implying, Lady Arestionne?" His voice remained calm, but the patience behind it was beginning to wear thin.

"Your concern is unnecessary, since I am more than capable of—"

"Ephraim, stop it."

Lydia stepped between them before the argument could escalate.

"You two are making a commotion here. Lady Rishe meant no harm."

Gentle scolding from Lydia brought a semblance of peace between them. Or not.

Rishe’s lips curved upward behind her fan, forming a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk. Ephraim, standing close enough, caught it immediately.

Lydia missed the amusement behind Rishe’s polite facade. She was too busy trying to stop her fiancé and new roommate from starting a verbal war in the middle of the university.

"Lady Arestionne, you—"

Before Ephraim could say anything else, a familiar voice called from farther down the passage.

"Ah! There you are, Lady Arestionne!"

A staff member hurried toward them, slightly out of breath.

"Head Principal has been looking for you everywhere. He needs you to complete the necessary transfer documents."

Rishe turned toward the staff member and gave a polite nod.

"Of course. I apologize for keeping him waiting."

With another graceful curtsy, she smiled politely at Ephraim.

"I shall excuse myself, Your Highness."

Everything about the gesture was perfectly elegant and respectful. Well, until she leaned closer and whispered out loud to Lydia behind her fan.

"Careful not to let the lion eat you, Lydia."

The emphasis on her name was subtle but Lydia caught it. So did Ephraim.

Before either could respond, Rishe followed the staff member down the passage. Blue lines embedded in the silver walls lit up as they walked past, illuminating the way ahead.

Lydia watched her disappear around the corner, only to be startled when Ephraim spoke right beside her ear.

"Why did she call you by your first name already?"

"Kyaaah!! Distance, distance, Ephraim. You’ve startled me."

He frowned and straightened himself. "So?"

"Rishe is my roommate. She’s been kind to me. What’s wrong with getting along with her?"

"Nothing."

His answer came too quickly.

There was definitely something wrong with his strange behavior. Lydia couldn’t put her finger on it, though.

Why was this Ephraim so different from the one in my previous life?

Lydia was still lost in her thoughts when Ephraim’s voice brought her back to reality.

"You should go to the Faculty Office to report it. Official reports are mandatory under Article 58 of the Sentinel and Guide Act."

There it was again. The ridiculous Crown Prince persona he used whenever there were other people around.

"Geez." Lydia rubbed her forehead. "Like I said, drop that fake prince persona, Ephraim. You’re not fooling anyone here. It’s just me."

For several seconds, Ephraim was silent as he considered her words before finally letting his shoulders relax.

"That’s much better."

"I was only following proper procedure."

Unfortunately, Ephraim had a point.

Her eyes drifted toward his face, and Lydia suddenly noticed something else. There was still a faint red mark on his left cheek.

It was a little swollen, too.

Must be from Rishe’s slap yesterday. He deserved it, though.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re obviously thinking about something."

Lydia’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "I was just thinking that your face looks a little uneven now."

"Does my fiancée want to kiss it better?"

"Rishe slapped your left cheek yesterday, right?" Lydia raised her palm and pointed it at his uninjured cheek. "Your beloved fiancée can make it even for free. A good slap might help our Crown Prince to regain some of his manners."

His face remained completely deadpan, but the amusement in his crimson eyes gave him away.

"Both of you are unhinged ladies."

"Then just annul our engagement. I need my financial freedom."

"No."

"You annoying piece of—"

A strange warmth suddenly spread through her chest and cut her words.

"Oof!?"

The sensation pulsed outward, traveling through her body in waves as tiny motes of warm light began gathering around her.

"What...?"

They floated through the air like fireflies, circling her body before slowly becoming brighter.

"Lydia?"

She barely heard him.

The warmth inside her chest intensified when something appeared above Lydia’s head.

Two small ivory-colored antlers emerged through her silvery-blue hair, smooth and delicate against the light.

At the same time, something brushed against the back of her legs.

A fluffy white tail!

"What?"

The light motes faded, leaving Lydia standing there with a pair of white antlers and a soft tuft of deer tail behind her.

"You have manifested your Spirit Animal."

"So that white deer was really my Spirit Animal..."

"You need to control your emotions better, Lydia."

Just like Kathy’s Spirit Animal features appeared when she got too excited, hers had surfaced too.

"I can’t believe this appeared because I was angry at you."

I don’t know whether to feel upset or happy about this.

Lydia turned her head as much as she could to look at the fluffy tail behind her.

Her antlers were surprisingly smooth beneath her fingertips. She gently rubbed one of her antlers and got fascinated by the unfamiliar sensation.

"Soooo fluffy. So soft. How adorable."

Suddenly, Ephraim’s wandering hand reached over and rubbed the other antler of hers.

"Aaah... ah... nnh...!"

Soft moans escaped Lydia before could stop them.Something about it made Ephraim take off his hand as if she just scalded his hand!

"Ephraim!! What did you just do to me?!"

Even an apple held no candle against Lydia’s blushing face. Her cheeks were practically burning from Ephraim’s touch.

"Sensitive, aren’t we? You do know that lions eat deer, don’t you, Lydia?"

"I never knew that my horns were that sensitive. You pervert!!"

Lydia immediately jabbed her antlers toward Ephraim, but he managed to catch it with one hand. Thanks to their height difference.

"Careful."

"You’re horrible! Let go!"

A loud laugh escaped from Ephraim as he finally released her.

For someone who had spent years maintaining the perfect image of a charming Crown Prince, Ephraim seemed to enjoy teasing Lydia far too much whenever they were alone.

There was no point arguing with him. Lydia huffed.

"I’m going to the Faculty Office to report my Spirit Animal."

She turned toward the door, and the silver panel slid open with a soft mechanical hum. Before she could step through, Ephraim’s voice stopped her.

"I am sure you’re well aware that this could also be a good chance for you to reevaluate your Guide Rank."

"Pardon?"

Ephraim’s expression became more serious.

"Spirit Animals help Sentinels and Guides handle their mental power better. That makes controlling your mental power easier and helps you grow faster."

Ephraim’s brief explanation made things much clearer. Lydia listened carefully as he continued.

"To put it simply, your Spirit Animal may give the Faculty a reason to reconsider your current Guide Rank."

A chance to raise her Guide Rank would be a huge stepping stone for her future.

Lydia’s F-Rank Guide status had haunted her for years, even in her past life. This might be a golden ticket to change her fate.

"I hope I’ll be able to raise my Guide Rank then."

"Then make the most of this chance."

His words were simple, but Lydia could tell Ephraim meant them.