HTNSA 99

Chapter 99

Kadin walked briskly, his expression hard.

When he arrived at the greenhouse, Freya’s attendants recognized him and bowed politely.

This greenhouse was Freya’s private garden, granted by the academy in exchange for generous donations.

Except for a few, entry was strictly prohibited.

Just as Kadin stepped through the entrance, he spotted Freya and Rosia speaking in hushed voices in the distance.

“…Can you finish preparations before the Spring Subjugation Festival?”

“Yeah, I’ve found everyone we need. What about you?”

“I’ve got it here. Do you know how hard it was for me to get this—”

Watching them whisper conspiratorially, Kadin narrowed his eyes.

Rosia held something out, and Freya looked down at it with satisfaction.

What are they scheming this time?

Sensing something suspicious, Kadin strode toward them.

Rosia, startled by his presence, flinched.

“K-Kadin.”

She quickly tried to hide the object in her hands.

“What’s going on here?” Freya demanded sharply.

Instead of answering, Kadin stared at what Rosia was trying to conceal.

It was hidden by her hands, but it looked like a small glass vial.

…It looked like it was filled with fine strands. Almost like hair.

Kadin frowned and spoke in a low, probing voice.

“What are you hiding?”

Rosia seemed flustered but soon forced herself to speak calmly.

“I-It’s just… I cut my hair and put it in here.”

“Your hair?” Kadin’s eyes scanned Rosia sharply.

“Why would you put that in a vial?”

“I have a use for it… Anyway, what brings you here?”

Rosia stood awkwardly, trying to greet him with a smile.

But Kadin’s suspicion only deepened.

Rosia’s hair was a vivid pink, bright in color.

Yet the strands he had seen in the vial were a much softer shade.

Elegant and pale, like cherry blossoms…

Like Eila’s hair.

The moment that realization struck him, Kadin’s expression turned cold.

He spoke in an icy tone.

“I don’t know what you two are plotting, but I’m sure I warned you before.”

His gaze pierced straight through Rosia.

“Don’t lay a hand on Eila again.”

At his frigid words, Rosia visibly paled.

Freya couldn’t contain her anger and jumped to her feet.

“Kadin, what the hell are you saying? What do you think we’ve done?”

Kadin ignored them, glancing around the greenhouse.

“Forget it. Just give me what I left here last time.”

“What thing?” Freya asked irritably.

Kadin didn’t bother to answer.

“There it is.”

He spotted a neatly folded handkerchief on a nearby table.

Carefully, he picked it up.

Rosia’s gaze naturally followed it.

It was close enough that she could clearly see the gold dragon embroidered on the fabric.

The gold dragon—the symbol of House Blanche.

Realizing this, Rosia’s eyes trembled faintly.

Handkerchiefs with a family crest were usually given to lovers.

Since she had never given him such a thing, it could only be something Eila had given him in the past.

Realizing this, Rosia’s lips quivered.

“Who gave you that handkerchief?”

“None of your business.”

Unable to hold back, she finally spoke.

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

Kadin furrowed his brows and turned to her.

“…What do you mean?”

Rosia bit her lip before forcing out her words.

“You’re going to get engaged to me anyway. How long are you going to keep ignoring reality?”

“Hah.”

Kadin let out a hollow laugh.

He strode toward Rosia.

His tall frame cast a long shadow over her, making her small figure look even smaller.

Yet Rosia did not back down.

“As someone from the Marquisate of Reit, your future is already decided. Just accept it.”

She stepped closer to him.

“How long will you keep clinging to someone who doesn’t even look at you?”

Kadin’s red eyes sank coldly.

“…I told you before.”

For the first time, his gaze was sharp with anger as it pierced through Rosia.

“I can call off this arranged engagement anytime.”

“Hah, do you really think Eila would want that?”

Rosia sneered.

“Why don’t you at least pretend to love me? Who knows, maybe then Eila would finally look back at you.”

Kadin’s face twisted.

Seeing her reflection in his eyes, Rosia felt a strange satisfaction.

For the first time, his gaze was focused solely on her.

But the words that followed crushed her completely.

“You… I can tolerate you saying whatever you want about me.”

Rosia flinched.

“But don’t you dare speak of Eila like that ever again.”

His voice was as cold and merciless as ice.

“This is your last warning.”

Leaving those words behind, Kadin turned and walked out of the greenhouse as if she was no longer worth acknowledging.

Freya, staring at Rosia, widened her eyes.

“Rosia, are you okay?”

But Rosia didn’t respond.

She simply stood there, staring at Kadin’s retreating back with bloodshot eyes.

Every spring, the academy held a Subjugation Festival.

For the students, it was a stage to prove their skills and a crucial event to fulfill their duties as nobles.

Those who performed well during the festival gained significant recognition in noble society, making the participants objects of admiration and envy.

“I wish I could join the Subjugation Festival!”

“But only the top students can participate. It has nothing to do with us.”

“Yeah, last year, only six students per grade were selected. There’s no way we’d get in… unless you’re in the top ten.”

As they spoke, one student turned their head.

There, Eila was walking absentmindedly, as if lost in thought.

She was one of the strongest candidates for this spring’s Subjugation Festival.

But Eila herself seemed completely uninterested.

“What’s she thinking about?”

“Yeah, she should be preparing for the festival.”

“Maybe… she’s thinking about Felix?”

“What? Haha, that could be true.”

Just as the students said, Eila was completely preoccupied with something unrelated to the festival.

Felix…

As soon as she heard his name, memories from a few days ago rushed back, and her face flushed.

Ever since his unexpected confession, she had been avoiding Felix.

I know I shouldn’t, but… when I see him, it feels like I’ll have to give him an answer.

She ran a hand over her face to calm herself and sat quietly on a bench.

What was Felix thinking? Why did he say something like that out of nowhere…

She couldn’t even tell Peony, so she had been struggling with it alone.

This won’t do. I need to pull myself together. There’s something more important to focus on right now.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push her thoughts away.

Immediately, a flood of other concerns rushed in.

I need to meet the cosmetic developer before the Subjugation Festival. Before Count Arman does.