Chapter 738: Date With a Crimson Flower

The Royal Academy Light Spot was filled with lively noise, even more than it had been the previous day.

And that was because today was Sunday.

It was widely known as a resting day for many students.

And with their usual academic activities put aside, a large number of them had decided to spend their free time at the Light Spot.

Some came in groups of friends, while others arrived as couples.

There were also students who preferred to visit to simply enjoy the various facilities on their own.

The restaurants were busier than usual, and the paths connecting the different attractions had a steady flow of visitors.

Voices mixed with the sounds coming from the Game Center, while groups of students could be seen moving between the various facilities.

There were even some who had visited the Light Spot the previous day and returned again today.

That was just how exciting coming to the Light Spot could be.

For many students, it was one of the few places within the Royal Academy where they could spend an entire day enjoying themselves without having to worry about their lessons or other academic responsibilities.

As for Ezra...

His second date had already begun.

"Isn’t that Lady Willow Derlis?"

A Second-Year student sitting at a restaurant table with four other Second-Years pointed towards the entrance.

His friends followed the direction of his finger.

A young noble boy was walking into the restaurant alongside a beautiful young lady.

Their arms were linked, and the two appeared to be heading towards the stairs leading to the VIP section.

The lady had crimson hair.

Her gown was also a combination of black and crimson, making her appearance rather easy to recognize.

"Well, you can’t miss that crimson hair or the combination of the black and crimson gown. But doesn’t she look so stunning?"

One of his friends replied with an expression of admiration.

His eyes followed Willow as she walked beside Ezra.

The two were already attracting attention from the moment they entered the restaurant.

Some visitors recognized Willow immediately, while others needed only a brief look to identify the young gentleman accompanying her.

"But that is Ezra Ashenlocke she’s with, right?"

Another student added, wearing a clearly envious expression.

"But I heard that yesterday, he was with Lady Selena Galehart, and now he’s with Lady Willow Derlis today."

Another one spoke with jealousy.

He looked at Ezra again, then towards Willow.

It was difficult not to notice the connection.

Yesterday, Ezra had been seen with Selena Galehart.

Now, he was walking arm in arm with Willow Derlis.

For a student who had never even spoken to one of the Flowers of the Kingdom, seeing the same young noble boy spending time with two of them on consecutive days was enough to stir up envy.

The group continued watching.

Ezra and Willow walked towards the stairs leading to the restaurant’s VIP section.

The security staff stationed around the entrance checked them in before allowing them to proceed.

Once their entry had been confirmed, the two began climbing the stairs towards their booked VIP room.

Their figures gradually disappeared from the view of the students seated below.

However, the attention they had attracted did not disappear with them.

Many eyes in the restaurant had followed the pair.

Some students who had been eating paused with their utensils in hand, while others turned their heads to get a better look.

Even a few people who had been engaged in conversation briefly shifted their attention towards the stairs.

It was almost as if everyone in the restaurant had forgotten what they were doing.

All they could think about was staring at the Lady of Derlis and the Child of Ash.

"Well, on the bright side, from his constant interactions with the Flowers, I don’t think his relationship with them can go beyond him getting with only one of them."

A Third-Year Young Nobleman said calmly while taking a sip of his drink.

He was seated at another restaurant table with several other Third-Years.

Unlike the younger students, he didn’t seem particularly surprised by Ezra’s appearance with Willow. Instead, he appeared to be considering the situation from a different perspective.

"He might not even end up with any of the Flowers."

A Third-Year Young Noble lady added.

"Why do you think that?"

Another lady within the group asked curiously.

She was a Non-Noble, so it was understandable that she didn’t know much about what the title of Flower meant when it came to marriage.

The other students glanced at her.

The matter wasn’t particularly complicated to those who understood the social standing associated with the title.

However, it was not something every student was familiar with.

"Because that kid hasn’t gotten any high status yet. He’s only in the development stage of his status, and the Flowers are people who can only end up with gentlemen of power."

The Third-Year Young Nobleman who had spoken earlier answered.

He placed his glass down briefly before continuing.

"At the end of the day, he can’t compete with those gentlemen from rich and powerful backgrounds in this Kingdom. He will just be a loyal dog of Ashenlocke, using his inventions to make a name for himself within the family and perhaps even in the Social Line of Craftsmanship."

He leaned back in his seat.

His tone carried the confidence of someone who believed he had already figured out Ezra’s position in the larger picture.

"But that won’t help him compete with the future Lords of big and small cities, or Presidents of big companies and industries."

The Upperclassman said confidently.

He picked up his drink again.

To him, Ezra’s inventions might help him gain recognition within his family and establish a place in the Social Line of Craftsmanship.

However, that was different from possessing the status and influence needed to stand beside someone like a Flower.

He seemed convinced that there was a clear gap between the two.

"Ezra Ashenlocke is just a boy the Flowers are comfortable hanging around with. That’s a fact, because Sir Lucien Derlis and Sir Carmina Bergwyn don’t take him seriously."

He leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.

The other students listened.

Some appeared to agree with his assessment, while others remained quiet, allowing him to continue.

"Let’s say he was only close to Lady Vera Ashenlocke and only Lady Vera Ashenlocke..."

He paused.

His eyes moved across the faces of the people seated around the table.

"Then the possibilities would have been different."

He concluded with a sure expression.

His point was clear enough to the others.

In his view, Ezra’s constant interactions with the Flowers made it difficult to regard his relationship with any one of them as something serious.

If he had only been close to one of them, the situation might have been different.

However, that was not what was happening.

At least in the eyes of everyone.

"Unlike Prince Daniel Aethelmont, who can’t keep his composure because of a man hanging around someone who isn’t even his fiancée... Hahaha..."

A Young Noble lady laughed mockingly.

The other Third-Years seated around the table laughed quietly.

Their conversation continued, with the earlier topic providing them with another reason to find amusement in the situation.

***

Inside VIP Room 012...

"Ahhh..."

Willow sighed as she poured water into a colourless glass cup.

The cup had a luxurious pattern formed through its molding, and several ice cubes rested inside.

As the water entered, the ice shifted against the glass, producing a faint sound.

She raised the cup and took a few gentle gulps.

The cold water seemed to help her recover from the activities they had enjoyed earlier.

"I feel relieved with this."

She lowered the glass and picked up her black handkerchief.

A faint crimson lipstick mark had been left on the rim.

Willow used the handkerchief to wipe it clean before placing the cup back on the table.

"You did go wild during the Water Gun game and Archery game, Lady Willow."

Ezra said calmly.

He was sitting comfortably on a navy-blue one-seater sofa opposite Willow.

A round glass table stood between them.

Several drinks had been arranged on it, including fruit-wine, water, and fruit juice of different flavours.

A silver and gold bucket containing drinks with ice cubes sat among them.

Trays of fresh fruits had been arranged neatly on one side of the table.

Another tray filled with baked snacks occupied a different section.

The room provided them with enough space to rest after their activities.

"I didn’t run wild."

Willow replied in a serious tone.

"I only wanted to win, that’s all."

She said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Ezra narrowed his eyes at Willow.

He remembered what had happened during the Water Gun game.

They had joined a team with several other students, and Willow had immediately taken command.

She gave instructions to everyone in the group as though they were preparing for an actual battle.

It wasn’t the kind of attitude Ezra had expected from someone participating in a recreational activity.

He remembered one of her exact words.

"Wield this water gun like your life depends on it."

Ezra said dryly, repeating the words Willow had spoken before the game commenced.

"Huh?"

Willow looked at him, taken aback by his words.

Her hand, which had been resting near her glass, paused.

"When the upperclassman said it was just a game."

Ezra paused.

He leaned forward, then rested his right elbow on the armrest of the sofa and placed his cheek against his right hand.

His plain gaze remained on Willow as he recalled what had happened during the Water Gun game.

He remembered the glare in Willow’s crimson eyes.

It was the glare she had given the upperclassman and the other students who had treated the activity as nothing more than a game.

At the time, the upperclassman had explained the rules and reminded everyone that the activity was meant to be enjoyable.

However, Willow hadn’t seemed interested in treating it that way.

She had taken command of their team almost immediately, giving instructions to the others with the same seriousness she might have shown during an actual battle.

Ezra could still remember her expression.

And now...

It was the same glare she was giving him.

Willow’s crimson eyes remained fixed on him.

Ezra looked back without changing his expression.

At the end of the game...

Willow had forced everyone in their team to take the activity seriously.

They had won so dominantly that the losing squad eventually complained to the staff about the force they had used.

Of course...

Since it was Willow Derlis.

The staff brushed off the complaints, actually laughing their heads off.

It wasn’t as though the activity had caused any serious trouble.

The students had simply taken the game more seriously than the others expected, and Willow had made sure her team played to win.

To Ezra, it had been quite an interesting sight.

Seeing a lady act the way Willow did during what was supposed to be a recreational activity was rather unexpected.

He had not imagined that she would become so serious over a Water Gun game.

And that wasn’t the only activity.

She had also participated in the Archery game with the same determination.

Ezra’s gaze remained on Willow for a moment.

He was now imagining if Vera and Willow were in the same team or opposing teams in that game.

What would have happened?