Chapter 161: A Conversation About Kael

The academy halls were unusually quiet.

Most students had already returned to their dormitories after the day’s activities, while others were still gathered around the training grounds, discussing tomorrow’s practical evaluation.

The Inter-High Tournament was getting closer.

Everyone could feel it.

Charlotte walked through the corridor with a stack of documents tucked beneath her arm.

She had just finished delivering some paperwork for the Disciplinary Committee and was heading back toward the dormitory when she noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction.

Silky black hair.

Calm expression.

Pink eyes.

Charlotte immediately recognized her.

"Lilith."

Lilith stopped.

She looked at Charlotte for a moment before giving a small nod.

"Charlotte."

There was an awkward silence.

Neither of them moved.

Charlotte shifted the documents under her arm.

"You heading back to the dorm?"

"Yes."

"Same here ."

Another silence.

Then Charlotte sighed.

"Well, we might as well walk together."

Lilith nodded.

"Fine."

The two started walking down the hallway.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable.

But it wasn’t particularly comfortable either.

Their first meeting this semester had ended with them fighting in Kael’s dorm and Kael even slept through the whole ordeal.

And after that they cooked together.

Since then, they had developed something neither of them could quite define.

They weren’t friends.

Not exactly.

But they weren’t enemies.

At least, not most of the time, it didn’t even star out as a rivalry when they first met.

Lilith glanced at Charlotte.

"You spend a lot of time with Kael."

Charlotte looked at her.

"That’s your opening question?"

"It’s an observation."

"Sure it is."

Lilith’s expression remained calm.

"But you do spend a lot of time with him." She continued

Charlotte shrugged.

"We’re both on the Disciplinary Committee."

"That isn’t an answer."

"Well that’s the answer I plan on giving you are asking an obvious question."

Charlotte sighed.

"You’re really straightforward, aren’t you?"

"When necessary."

They continued walking.

Lilith’s eyes remained forward.

"How long have you known Kael?"

"Since our first class assignment where we were paired up."

"And before that?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"I barely knew him only snippets of rumors nothing much."

Lilith nodded slowly.

"I see."

Charlotte glanced at her.

"Why are you asking?"

"I want to know more about him."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t already know enough?"

"No."

That answer came instantly.

Charlotte stared at her for a moment.

Then she laughed.

"You’re really obsessed with him."

Lilith stopped walking.

Charlotte immediately realized what she had said.

"Uh..."

Lilith slowly turned toward her.

"Is that a problem?"

Charlotte felt a strange chill run down her spine.

"No."

"Good."

Lilith resumed walking.

Charlotte followed.

After a few seconds, she muttered,

"You’re scary sometimes."

"I’ve been told and you already know what I am." Lilith replied turning to Charlotte who didn’t say anything in return as they kept walking.

The two continued toward the dormitory.

Lilith was quiet for a while.

Then she asked,

"Do you have a crush on Kael?"

Charlotte nearly tripped.

"What?!"

Lilith didn’t even blink.

"You heard me."

Charlotte stared at her.

"Why would you ask me something like that?"

"Because I want to know."

"That’s none of your business."

"It becomes my business if it concerns Kael."

Charlotte’s face became slightly red.

"I don’t have a crush on him."

Lilith looked at her.

Charlotte looked straight ahead.

"I don’t."

"You’re lying."

Charlotte’s steps stopped.

"I’m not."

"You are."

"How would you know?"

Lilith calmly continued walking.

"Because you became defensive immediately."

Charlotte hurried after her.

"That doesn’t prove anything."

"It does."

"No, it doesn’t, who asks that kind of question out of the blue anyway."

Charlotte frowned.

"You know, you’re incredibly annoying."

"So I’ve been told."

Charlotte crossed her arms.

"I don’t have a crush on Kael."

Lilith looked at her again.

"Then why are you blushing?"

Charlotte immediately touched her cheek.

"I’m not."

"You are."

"It’s hot."

"It’s evening."

"Maybe I’m sick."

"You’re not."

Charlotte groaned.

"He why are you interrogating me?"

"Because I want an honest answer."

"You already got one."

"No."

Charlotte stopped.

Lilith stopped too.

Charlotte stared directly at her.

"Fine. Let’s say I did like him. What would you do?"

Lilith’s expression became completely serious.

"I would ask you how serious you were."

Charlotte blinked.

"That’s it?"

"For now."

"For now?" Charlotte tilted her head in confusion.

Lilith nodded.

"Kael’s feelings matter more than mine."

Charlotte wasn’t expecting that.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Lilith continued.

"I love Kael. I won’t pretend otherwise. But loving someone doesn’t mean I can decide who they should love."

Charlotte stared at her.

That was surprisingly mature.

Especially coming from someone who had nearly started a war inside Kael’s dormitory over her.

Charlotte looked away.

"You really love him."

"Yes."

There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation.

Charlotte sighed.

"You’re lucky."

Lilith looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because Kael actually likes you."

Lilith’s expression softened.

"I know."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"You sound very confident."

"He came to me."

Charlotte’s face tightened slightly.

There it was.

That annoying feeling again.

She didn’t like hearing about Kael being with Lilith.

She didn’t like seeing them together.

And she definitely didn’t like how easily Lilith could make her feel like she was being pushed out of Kael’s life.

But Charlotte refused to acknowledge what that meant.

She wasn’t in love with Kael.

She simply cared about him.

That was all.

At least, that was what she told herself.

Lilith watched her carefully.

"You do care about him."

Charlotte looked at her.

"Of course I care about him."

"More than a friend?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

Charlotte immediately realized her mistake.

"Well..."

Lilith said nothing.

Charlotte sighed.

"He’s my friend. That’s all."

"You’re still lying."

"Stop saying that!"

Lilith’s lips curved slightly.

"Interesting."

"What’s interesting?"

"You get angry whenever I question your feelings."

"Because you’re annoying!"

"That isn’t a denial."

Charlotte groaned.

"Why are we even having this conversation?"

"Because I was curious."

"Well, now you’re satisfied."

"Not really."

Charlotte gave her an exhausted look.

Lilith smiled faintly.

For some reason, Charlotte found that smile more irritating than her usual expression.

They resumed walking.

The hallway stretched ahead of them, illuminated by the soft magical lamps along the walls.

After a while, Charlotte spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Why Kael?"

Lilith glanced at her.

"What do you mean?"

"You’ve known him since childhood, right?"

"Yes."

"But Kael barely remembers those meetings."

"I know."

"And you still..."

Charlotte struggled to find the right words.

"Still love him?"

"Yes."

"Even though he doesn’t remember?"

"Yes."

Charlotte looked at her.

Lilith’s expression was strangely peaceful.

"I don’t need him to remember everything for my feelings to be real."

Charlotte went quiet.

Lilith continued.

"When I was younger, Kael was kind to me when he didn’t have to be. It wasn’t some grand event. He simply treated me like I mattered."

She looked ahead.

"I remembered that."

Charlotte lowered her eyes.

"That’s actually kind of sweet."

"It was."

"Then why are you so scary?"

Lilith looked at her.

"Because people keep trying to take him."

Charlotte laughed.

"Fair enough."

They continued walking.

Eventually, Charlotte spoke again.

"So what happens if Kael chooses someone else?"

Lilith was silent.

Charlotte expected some frightening answer.

Instead, Lilith said,

"I’ll accept it."

Charlotte looked surprised.

"You will?"

"If that’s what he truly wants."

"Even if it hurts?"

"Especially if it hurts."

Charlotte stared at her.

Lilith smiled faintly.

"But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop loving him or I might just kidnap him." Her faint smile immediately became dangerous in Charlotte’s eyes.

"I’m just kidding." Lilith said with a chuckle.

Charlotte nodded slowly releasing a tired sigh.

"I don’t really understand you sometimes."

They reached the entrance to the dormitory building.

Students passed them occasionally, but neither paid attention.

Lilith turned toward Charlotte.

"Now I’ll ask you one more time."

Charlotte immediately became suspicious.

"What?"

"Do you love Kael?"

Charlotte sighed.

"You really won’t let this go, will you?"

"No."

Charlotte looked toward the dormitory entrance.

Then toward Lilith.

She knew the truth.

She had known it for a while.

She liked Kael.

Maybe more than she should.

Maybe much more.

But saying it aloud felt like crossing a line she wasn’t ready to cross.

So she smiled.

"No."

Lilith stared at her.

Charlotte smiled wider.

"I don’t have a crush on him."

A few seconds passed.

Lilith nodded.

"Alright."

Charlotte relaxed.

Then Lilith added,

"I’ll believe you when you believe yourself ."

Charlotte’s smile disappeared.

"You are impossible, and being all chubby with me after your earlier statement of kidnapping him is quite weird."

Lilith walked toward the entrance saying nothing to her statement.

"Goodnight, Charlotte." She greeted heading to her room.

Charlotte stood there for a moment.

"Goodnight."

Lilith disappeared inside.

Charlotte remained outside for several seconds.

Then she touched her chest.

Her heart was beating faster than usual.

She frowned.

"Damn it..."

She looked up at the night sky.

"I really don’t like him."

She paused.

"...Right?"

There was no answer.

Charlotte sighed and entered the dormitory.