HYVT | 002

<Episode 2>

Time seemed to stop.

Felix smiled brightly and said,

“Lorena, you’re a graduate too, so you’re one of today’s stars. But since you lost your family early, I felt heartbroken thinking no one would give you flowers.”

Yet Lorena’s chest was already overflowing with flowers from male students who admired her.

Felix, personally pinning a carnation to Lorena’s already flower-laden collar, beamed.

“You look beautiful, Lorena.”

“Thank you, truly. You’re the only one who thinks of me, Felix.”

Lorena’s gentle smile was as lovely as a wildflower.

I instinctively shrank back. My plain dress, left bare at the chest for a carnation, suddenly felt shabby.

“Huh? Did he just give a flower to Lorena instead of his fiancée?”

“No way. Is he finally dumping her for an upgrade?”

“Well, with Felix’s status, every noble lady must be lining up with marriage proposals. Why would he stay tied to someone like Freesia?”

“Exactly. Honestly, Freesia’s a bit… dull, isn’t she? And dim-witted. The only stain on Felix’s perfect life, really.”

Giggle, giggle, giggle!

The mocking laughter of the surrounding graduates pierced my ears chaotically.

That’s when it happened.

Felix suddenly dropped to one knee.

Still facing Lorena, not me.

I blinked.

What’s happening?

“Lorena Belmont.”

Wooo!

What?!

Insane!

The graduates erupted in cheers at the sudden turn of events.

Like a prince on a white horse kneeling before a princess, Felix held something out to Lorena.

A dazzling gemstone ring.

“Will you marry me and spend your life with me?”

Cheers.

Whistles.

Clapping.

All the noise sounded muffled in my ears.

“Oh my gosh, Felix!”

Lorena gasped, covering her mouth.

“What is all this? When did you prepare this? I never imagined!”

Falling flower petals, a handsome man on one knee, a sparkling ring.

It was the romantic scene I’d always dreamed of.

I thought, at least on this day, I would be the heroine.

Like an ugly, cheap extra, I stumbled into the scene.

“W-Wait a second.”

When I grabbed Felix’s arm, he grimaced as if he’d touched something filthy.

“Your fiancée is me. Why… why are you doing this with Lorena? Guys, what’s going on here? I don’t understand at all.”

Desperately seeking an explanation, I grabbed Lorena’s arm next.

Smack!

Felix sharply slapped my hand away.

“Fiancée?”

A cruel sneer curled on Felix’s lips.

“Yeah, you always tried to chain me with that word. So pathetic.”

“…What?”

“A prenatal betrothal only holds until the parties are minors. Once we’re adults and graduate from the academy, no one can tell me what to do.”

His words flowed effortlessly.

As if he’d been waiting for this day to say them.

Felix gave a cold smile.

“That disgusting leash your grandfather put on me? It’s useless starting today.”

Tears didn’t even come.

It felt like my entire body was being clawed to pieces.

I knew Felix didn’t love me.

But I hadn’t realized he despised me this much.

‘So that’s why you waited until graduation.’

Because if he’d done this earlier, I might’ve clung to him pathetically, waving the contract that spelled out our prenatal betrothal.

“F-Felix, wait—”

“Freesia.”

Lorena turned to me, her eyebrows drooping.

Her expression was one of pity, like she was looking at a beggar clinging to passersby.

“The truth is…”

Lorena leaned in and whispered.

“I’m carrying Felix’s child.”

“…What?”

To my frozen self, Lorena continued whispering.

“Remember the night of the coming-of-age ceremony? You went to bed early… That night, Felix came to me. I tried to push him away, but I couldn’t.”

Lorena fluttered her eyelashes pitifully.

“That night, Felix and I realized we were fated.”

“Fated… you say?”

“Yes. How else could such a blessing come to us after just one night?”

Lorena glanced at her belly, her eyes full of love and tenderness.

A child? She’s pregnant with Felix’s child?

My brain, battered by consecutive shocks, creaked and broke down.

“How… how could you…”

Like an idiot, that was all I could say.

Then, in an instant, Lorena’s expression changed, and tears poured out.

“You have everything, Freesia. Can’t you let me have just Felix? What did this child do wrong? Please. You can hate me all you want. But this child—I want to protect this child no matter what. Sob…”

Tears streamed down Lorena’s clear, large eyes.

“Oh no, Lorena’s crying!”

“What did she say to make her cry like that?”

“Freesia’s ruthless. She should’ve been the one to step back first.”

“By the way, Lorena’s life is set now, huh? A commoner getting proposed to by a noble like Felix—what a turnaround.”

“She only got into the academy because a noble family sponsored her, right? Wasn’t that Freesia’s family?”

“She’s pretty and lucky.”

“Freesia, you should’ve tried not to be so plain.”

Hahaha!

My ears buzzed with endless chatter.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I wanted to shatter and disappear entirely.

My thick glasses fogged up, blurring my vision.

As tears rolled down and dripped off my chin—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the academy’s east wing.

Debris flew, and people screamed.

“Kyaaa!”

“It’s an explosion!”

Shrapnel tore through my dress and lodged into my calf.

I groaned and collapsed from the sharp pain.

“Ugh…!”

Amid the chaos.

A fist-sized, ball-like object flew out from the east wing.

Thud!

The unidentified object that hit the dirt looked, despite its filthy, speckled appearance, exactly like a chick.

[Help, please? □■Save me]

The mysterious chick, rolling on the ground, made strange, broken noises.

“Argh!”

“It’s a magical beast!”

People screamed and fled in terror.

Felix was no exception.

“Lorena! Hurry, over here!”

Hastily wrapping an arm around Lorena’s shoulders, Felix ran off into the distance.

[Someone, please, $◆□save me]

“Kyaaa!”

“Gross!”

People shrieked and dodged the trembling chick as it approached.

As if it were some filthy garbage, everyone fled in an instant.

Everyone except me, collapsed with an injured leg.

The speckled chick spoke to me, the only one left.

[Want to live□▲ Please help?■]

The chick flapped its broken wings.

It seemed to be desperately trying to reach me.

A talking chick? Is it really a magical beast?

I knew I should run, but the chick’s pitiful state tugged at me.

With this leg, I couldn’t escape anyway.

“Uh, how do I help? Should I take you to a hospital?”

[No!]

The chick shook its head vigorously.

“Then, what?”

[Please declare your intent to synchronize with me! ■□?]

“…Synchronize?”

I hesitated, and the chick spoke quickly.

[I pose no harm! I will provide you with ultra-fast computational abilities, communication assistance, logical calculations, and various other support! Synchronizing with me will bring you nothing but benefits, I guarantee it!]

Computational abilities? Synchronization?

I couldn’t make sense of the sudden nonsense.

At that moment, the chick convulsed again.

[I swear I mean no harm. I promise, &%□. Please save me]

‘I’m sorry, Freesia.’

Over its trembling wings, the image of my dying parents flickered.

The chick looked like it could collapse and die any second.

I couldn’t bear to watch someone die in front of me again. That was the only thought filling my mind.

“Alright. I’ll synchronize.”

My mouth moved on its own.

[Thank you! What a relief!]

The chick fluttered into my arms.

[What is your name, user?]

“Freesia Violet.”

[My savior’s name is Freesia Violet. Learned. I will remember it forever.]

The chick, speaking in a serious tone, pressed its wing against me.

[Now, we will begin synchronization with Freesia Violet.]

The moment I heard that voice—

“Ugh!”

A sharp pain jolted through my mind.

‘You said it wouldn’t hurt!’

I blacked out.

Completely unaware of how this choice would change my life.