The Next Day.
After enduring relentless glaring from Tiamat for quite some time, Yujin finally made it to the next day.
Fortunately, he had managed to clear himself of any ulterior motives regarding Elicia, which allowed him to escape unscathed. However, that didn’t mean he was off the hook entirely. Tiamat made it clear that taking responsibility for Elicia wasn’t something Yujin could handle on his own; it had to be properly discussed and decided together with her.
Of course, this was all under the assumption that Elicia’s emotions remained unresolved. If things went according to Yujin’s plan, there wouldn’t be a need for such discussions in the first place.
For now, he decided to set aside the issue of Elicia and focus on today’s matter. That is teaching a class in the labyrinth. He mulled over his next steps.
How am I supposed to clear up this misunderstanding with Professor Reina?
It seemed that, once again, they would be co-teaching the class. And given what had happened yesterday, Reina’s wariness toward him had undoubtedly intensified.
Tiamat had suggested that he try approaching her honestly, but Yujin wasn’t convinced that things would be so simple.
Diverting the attention away from the Headmistress had been a smart move, but in doing so, he had only deepened Reina’s suspicion. Now, she couldn’t even fully trust the Headmistress anymore.
At this point, it was far too late to come clean and admit that everything had just been an act or a joke. Even the Headmistress couldn’t vouch for him anymore. Because Reina wouldn’t believe him either.
Revealing that he was a dragon was an option, but he preferred to keep that as a last resort. The fewer people who knew, the better.
In the end, Yujin decided to stick to his original plan. Rather than playing the outright villain, he would act as more of a contrarian figure. Following Tiamat’s advice, he would gradually reveal his sincerity while shedding his villainous image.
For example, he could maintain his role as an antagonist but, at the same time, present himself as a kind and passionate professor to his students.
At first, Reina would likely see it as nothing more than an image-building strategy. But as time passed, she would inevitably sense the genuine care he had for his students.
Eventually, as time went on, the villainous image ingrained in her mind would start to fade. Then, at the right moment when she was sufficiently confused, he could reveal the truth and offer a proper apology.
Of course.
“……”
“Good morning, Professor Sahart.”
But judging by the look in her eyes, which held not just wariness but outright fear, it seemed he had a long way to go.
Well, it was his own doing, after all. Yujin decided to accept it.
“Shall we go? Today’s lecture is taking place in the labyrinth, correct?”
“…Yes.”
With that thought in mind, determined to make things work, he set off for the labyrinth alongside Reina.
***
Meanwhile.
“…Mmm…”
Elicia who was still half asleep furrowed her brow slightly as she felt the sunlight streaming in through the window. Slowly, she began to open her eyes.
“…Ah…”
Letting out a dazed sound as she opened her eyes, she blinked her one remaining eye a few times before raising a hand to shield herself from the blinding sunlight. Then she slowly sat up.
She felt an inexplicable unfamiliarity in the air and instinctively looked around before muttering,
“…Where is this…?”
A space that felt both familiar and unfamiliar. A room that appeared to be an office.
Though Elicia herself had no memory of it, this was a place she had visited multiple times while unconscious for various reasons. The academy Headmistress’s office.
She tried to recall why she was here.
I was with Professor Yujin…
She had gone on a nighttime stroll with him and after that…
“…Ah.”
Right. Now she remembered.
It had been during their conversation, as they walked together under the night sky.
Out of nowhere, Yujin had asked her to consider what she would do once all her problems were resolved. How she could find happiness.
Without thinking, she had let herself imagine a future with him. A life shared together, even building a family with him.
At the time, she hadn’t fully realized her own feelings, but now, there was no denying it.
This was love. She was in love with Yujin.
In the depths of her despair, he had reached out a hand to her. That small gesture had unknowingly planted the seed of affection within her heart. And every action he had taken since then had nurtured that seed, slowly allowing it to sprout.
At some point, the budding feelings had grown, and his presence had taken deep root inside her. It was only then that she fully grasped her own emotions.
The mere thought of happiness had led her to picture a future with him, and even just indulging in that fantasy had brought her overwhelming satisfaction. From that moment on, Elicia had become aware of her true feelings.
But what had Yujin said?
That is a misguided emotion.
When he told her that their connection would end once the contract was fulfilled, she had reached for him…. desperately, and instinctively. She had tried to make him hers.
But he was not a man who could be taken so easily.
He had seen through her feelings, rejected her without hesitation, and dismissed her love as something wrong.
Why?
Why?
Why was it wrong?
These were feelings she had embraced of her own will.
Feelings she wanted with all her heart.
So why? Why was he telling her she couldn’t have them?
Yujin had undoubtedly known. That was why he had tested her.
And yet, he had told her that her feelings were wrong.
But he was mistaken. These feelings were not wrong.
She had to make that clear to him.
She had to show him. Without a doubt.
That these feelings were not a mistake.
That no matter how much he pushed her away, she would never let him go.
“……!”
Elicia sprang to her feet.
Her entire body felt heavy and dizzy, but it didn’t matter.
She had to find Yujin right away.
She had to tell him again.
That he was wrong.
That these feelings were not a mistake.
Her hurried footsteps carried her toward the office door.
And then—
Click.
“You’re awake, Princess Elicia.”
“……!”
Before she could even open the door, someone stepped inside.
For a brief moment, her body froze.
A woman with red hair, a mature figure, and golden eyes.
Ines Karandar. The academy’s headmistress and one of the strongest among mortals.
With a cold gaze that suggested she already knew everything, Ines locked the door behind her.
“Princess Elicia, where exactly were you planning to go?”
“……”
She had already heard everything from Yujin.
At the time, the situation had been so absurd that she hadn’t taken it seriously. But now, Ines had determined that this was far more serious than she had initially thought.
That was precisely why she couldn’t allow Elicia to run off somewhere. Not like this.
More specifically, she couldn’t let her go to Yujin.
Because it would only make things worse.
“……”
And then, as Elicia caught the look in Ines’s eyes, she clenched her fists, warily watching her. It was an instinctive reaction; she could sense that Ines saw right through everything.
Still, she tried to talk first.
“Headmistress, please step aside.”
“Where do you plan to go?”
“That’s…”
“If you’re looking for Professor Yujin, he’s not at the academy. He should be on his way to the labyrinth by now.”
“!”
Elicia’s eyes wavered at those words, but only for a moment. She gritted her teeth and spoke again.
“Move.”
“Are you planning to chase him all the way to the labyrinth? Do you even know which level he’s on?”
“……”
“No, even if he were still at the academy, you wouldn’t be able to see him.”
At that, Elicia’s hands began to tremble.
Her emotions were already unstable, and the feeling of something weighing down on her, binding her in place, was unbearable.
“…Why?”
“Why? Because that’s what Professor Yujin wants.”
“Liar!”
Elicia’s voice rose, but Ines didn’t so much as blink.
“He told me himself. That you need to be sent back to the imperial palace.”
“!”
“I know what you want right now. But your emotions are too unstable. He doesn’t want you coming to him like this.”
In that instant, Elicia froze.
Her mind went blank.
Her chest tightened as if it were being crushed, a pain like her heart was shriveling up wrapping around her entire body.
Professor Yujin… doesn’t want me?
That couldn’t be.
It just couldn’t be.
Her fingertips trembled slightly. Her breath grew unsteady.
The cold anxiety wrapping around her entire body was all too familiar.
Just like when her mother had collapsed, bleeding, during her childhood.
A hollow emptiness, as if the world were crumbling, clawed at her chest.
She clenched her teeth.
She wanted to deny that feeling.
And finally, as if forcing down the turmoil boiling inside her, she raised her voice.
“…No. This isn’t what Professor Yujin wants…! The Headmistress…. you’re the one trying to separate us, aren’t you?”
“No, this is what he wanted.”
Ines remained composed.
But to Elicia, those words felt like someone was carving into her heart.
“Princess Elicia, Professor Yujin isn’t casting you away. He wants you to return to the imperial palace, spend time with your family, and sort out your emotions. Instead of clinging to him, swayed by your feelings like you are now, he wants you to take time to think for yourself, to understand for yourself, to process your emotions on your own.”
Her gaze was unwavering. Her voice, low and steady, carried an undeniable certainty.
This was the conclusion she had reached, and she had no intention of accepting any excuses.
“This is his way of treating you. And it’s for your sake as well.”
Elicia bit her lip.
She tensed her entire body and glared at Ines. Her eyes were raging like a storm with emotions raging in them.
“Let it go. I’ll say it again. This is for your own good.”
Though Ines’ voice remained calm, the firm resolve in her tone left no room for further discussion.
“…No.”
Elicia’s voice trembled.
She clenched her teeth.
“That can’t be true…”
Even in despair, she refused to let go of the hope that kept her grounded.
Professor Yujin was pushing her away?
He was rejecting the very hand she had longed for so desperately?
That couldn’t be.
He had saved her.
He had reached out and taken her hand when she was on the brink of the abyss.
And now, that same hand was pushing her away?
No, that couldn’t be true.
“I… I love you, Professor.”
In the end, the words burst from Elicia’s lips.
Her whole body trembled. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her heart pounded wildly.
Just for this moment, she didn’t want to hide.
The hollow pain she had felt when she lost her mother,
The emptiness that lingered even as she was surrounded by people,
And the warmth and solace she had finally found within it all—
Everything had existed in the moments she spent with Yujin.
“And yet… yet you’re telling me he’s rejecting me?”
Tears welled in her eyes.
At this moment, more than anything, she wanted to deny it.
She took a step forward.
Moving toward Ines, she pleaded, almost desperately.
“Headmistress… please. Let me see him.”
Ines silently looked down at her.
There was a trace of sympathy in her gaze, a flicker of pity for her student. Yet beneath it remained unwavering resolve.
“You can’t.”
In an instant, the strength drained from Elicia’s body.
Like a crumbling wall, her expression twisted with despair.
“Why…?”
Ines spoke coldly.
“Because that’s what he wanted.”
That final blow shattered her.
Elicia collapsed where she stood.
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