"Hey, Novie, where exactly are we going? This doesn't look like the way to the banquet hall."
After following Novie for some time and noticing the dwindling number of people around, Linen finally spoke up.
Ahead of him, Novie's eyes flashed with a faint irritation. As expected of you, Onii-chan—even after my interference, you still sensed something was off.
She turned, presenting a dazzling smile, her voice sweetly seductive, "Since we're going to do something more... intimate, wouldn't it make sense to find somewhere a bit more secluded?"
"Oh, so that's it," Linen nodded, feigning sudden understanding. Then, curiously, he added, "But aren't we waiting for Elena? She still seems to be caught up in that duel."
Novie merely responded with a faint smile.
"Why wait for a woman who's already doomed to fail?"
Wait? We could—but there's no need.
Under the influence of her newfound powers, that shameless woman trying to seduce Onii-chan couldn't possibly win.
Though she was interested in seeing how that defeated dog would cry pitifully on the ground, imagining Elena's tears as she watched them do joyful, forbidden things together—now that would be true pleasure.
At the mere thought, Novie instinctively squeezed her black-stockinged thighs together, breathing quickening slightly.
Thus, she completely overlooked Linen behind her, whose lips curled slightly into a knowing smile.
Feeling confident, Novie? Unfortunately for you, provoking a protagonist is your greatest mistake in this little scheme.
Indeed, Linen hadn't been affected at all by Novie's mental interference. After unlocking the "Dragon's Soul" talent, his mental fortitude was comparable to a living dragon itself.
A mere Novie? Even if she repeatedly tried to bend and twist Linen's mind dozens of times with her clumsy, inexperienced manipulations—his dragon would remain erect and unwavering!
Because this wasn't just a difference in quantity, but an overwhelming dominance in both quality and quantity!
The reason Linen pretended to be influenced, obediently following Novie around like some perverted old man, was only partially because of those black stockings.
More importantly, he suddenly realized this was the perfect chance to drop Elena's affection points!
Elena was currently fighting passionately for him, yet here he was, casually leaving like some heartless scumbag. Anyone in her position would explode with rage!
As for Elena's safety, he wasn't the least bit worried.
Compared to Senior Vanya, Linen instinctively felt that the current Novie was far more dangerous.
Leaving Elena there to duel Vanya would not only drop affection points but also keep Elena safe—why wouldn't he take advantage of such a perfect opportunity?
Linen suddenly recalled the "rejection order" given by his mother, Empress Tivira, and felt a surge of warmth.
Family truly is the most reliable.
Previously, his biological mother had actively helped him gain rejection rewards. Now, his adopted sister was helping him lower the female lead's affection.
After being cruelly abandoned, he refused to believe Elena's affection could still rise!
Come on then, my foolish little sister. Show me what new tricks you have left.
...
Meanwhile, back at Elena's duel…
Linen had disappeared?
At that moment, Elena felt utterly foolish. She was fighting desperately for him, yet that man had heartlessly abandoned her and just walked away…
A wave of despair surged from within, clouding Elena's previously clear, focused mind. Vanya's relentless assault, however, didn't slow down at all.
Initially, Elena had barely managed to hold her ground with her clear mind and flexible tactics, but now she instantly fell into a disadvantage. Had someone been observing closely, they would have noticed an eerie purple haze swirling deep in Elena's pupils, growing thicker with each wave of negative emotion that washed over her.
Had Teresia been present, she'd have instantly recognized this as the Third-Ring mental arcana, Mind Disruption, known for magnifying its victim's darkest fears and anxieties. For Elena, her deepest fear was unquestionably being utterly abandoned by Linen.
As the duel continued, the arcana's influence intensified. Elena's resolve wavered. Memories of Linen's indifferent attitudes and sarcastic remarks flooded her mind. She even began doubting—why was she fighting so desperately?
"A freshman's a freshman. For you to make it this far is already impressive."
Suddenly, empowered by wind arcana, Vanya appeared next to Elena, her voice triumphant.
"I'll be claiming both victory and Norton for myself!"
Vanya declared her win boldly, raising a tightly clenched fist. A formidable Third-Ring wind spell began to surge forth, ready to strike.
But it was precisely these words that triggered something deep within Elena. A powerful, uncontrollable fear surged violently into her heart.
Right… if she wins, Linen will be forced into a relationship with her.
That man already abandoned me. Who he dates…what does that have to do with…
No! NO!!
Elena's face twisted with agony.
In a split second, numerous visions flashed vividly through her mind like a waking nightmare:
Every day after class, that beautiful, domineering senior would wait at their classroom door, arrogantly lifting Linen's chin to demand kisses.
During exploration missions, even though Elena and Linen belonged to the same study group, this elite senior would shamelessly claim Linen for herself, dragging him away forcefully. Elena would only helplessly watch as Linen comforted her apologetically while being pulled away.
Late at night, their dorm would brightly glow, filled with sweet laughter and seductive whispers, while Elena stood miserably outside the window alongside Hysteria…
No…
No!!!
I absolutely won't allow Linen to be stolen!
At that moment, rather than dissipating, the violet flames in Elena's eyes burned even brighter. Her determination became utterly unshakable.
As an emerald light flashed, Vanya's vision distorted briefly. Elena somehow produced a magical shield, deflecting Vanya's lethal blow to the right, nearly throwing it off-course.
"Impossible!"
Vanya grit her teeth fiercely, forcibly shifting her strike leftward by mere centimeters. But the next instant, her fist met nothing but empty air. Elena's image dissipated; there had never been any shield!
Vanya had instinctively redirected her attack, completely fooled by an illusion Elena had created—not only visual, but tactile deception as well!
"This is something a mere First-Ring illusionist can achieve?"
Vanya muttered in disbelief.
Finally, Elena raised her head, directly meeting Vanya's gaze. Rather than diminishing, the violet flames blazed wildly in her eyes.
"Senior, you've misunderstood two things."
A deck identical to Linen's appeared, except with white-backed cards, swirling around Elena's slender form.
"Weave Meditation?"
Vanya's eyes widened in shock. This technique had taken her until her third year to master—yet a freshman…?
"Firstly, I'm not a First-Ring mage anymore. Just now, I advanced to the Second-Ring."
"Secondly—"
Elena coldly drew a card from the deck, displaying it openly to Vanya, her voice sharp as frozen blades:
"You shouldn't have tried to forcibly steal Linen from me! How dare you shamelessly kiss him openly in front of our class door!"
"Wait—hold on! I never did anything like that!"
Vanya's protest wasn't even fully voiced before her vision was engulfed in flames.
Countless fireballs, exactly the type Hysteria specialized in—each the size of washbasins—rained down upon Vanya.
"What the hell? Is this illusion? Why are there so many—and why do they feel so real?!"
Vanya panicked, searching desperately for the real attack. Amidst the confusion, a sudden Wind Blade flashed out, striking her squarely and sending her flying backward. Her vision went dark as she collapsed unconscious.
Elena calmly tucked away the artifact Wind Stone, turning away without a backward glance, eyes now almost completely consumed by violet fire.
No one can take Linen away from me.
No one!
...
At the same moment, far away near the edge of the academy's grounds, Novie suddenly felt her heart skip a beat.
How strange. Her arcana hadn't been discovered or dispelled—quite the contrary, it was activated even faster than anticipated. Normally, that would be good news, but she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling she'd just stirred up big trouble.
I have to hurry up and finish this quickly!
Behind her, Linen casually surveyed the surroundings, making his own judgment.
They had reached the academy's outskirts, near the edge of mana coverage, farthest from where the teachers were busy repairing the training grounds. Whatever Novie was planning, she'd surely make her move soon.
Just as expected, Novie suddenly turned around sharply, staring intensely at Linen, her resolve clear in her eyes.
"Onii-chan…you actually weren't affected by me at all, were you?"
Novie narrowed her eyes, sapphire irises glinting coldly.
"Heh, you noticed already? Seems we're both excellent actors."
Linen dropped his pretense, folding his arms as he calmly observed the girl before him.
"After going through all that trouble—distracting everyone else, bringing me here—you must have something important to tell me. Coincidentally, Novie, I have something to say to you too. Let's talk."
"Alright, let's talk then."
Novie lowered her head slightly, messy golden bangs shadowing her eyes. Her voice trembled involuntarily:
"When you left the imperial palace to come to the academy…you could've taken me along, couldn't you? Onii-chan, why…why did you abandon me?"
"Is it because…you've grown tired of me?"
When she asked that question, a vague confusion and sense of dissonance rippled through Novie's heart.
And deep within the girl's mental world, the black shadow curled its lips into a crooked smile.
Linen leaving the imperial palace—on the surface, it was to "study," but in truth, it was exile.
Novie knew that. Which was why she had always believed that it was her cowardice, her lack of resolve to follow him, that made Linen so cold toward her afterward.
Yet under the influence of the black-robed mage's Heart-Aspect Arcana, Novie's guilt had quietly transformed into resentment.
The black-robed mage's plan was simple—use that resentment, drive her to a moment of emotional collapse, and make her kill Linen with her own hands.
When that happened—the Spring Cup champion, the Third Prince of the Norton line, slain by his own younger sister—the scandal would annihilate both Zijinghua's royal dignity and Eden Academy's reputation overnight.
The black-robed mage couldn't even imagine a way this plan could fail.
The deeper the love, the sharper the hate.
And besides, this was a question with no right answer—a death sentence disguised as dialogue.
Novie's mind was already twisted; no matter how Linen answered, there was no path that would reach her heart.
An absolute death trap—one of those questions where every answer kills you.
Die, Norton whelp. Destroying my vessel, ruining my plan—pay for it with your life!
A strange silence thickened.
The air grew dangerously taut.
Just as Novie's trembling hand brushed the hilt of the Holy Sword at her waist—
Linen suddenly did something no one expected.
He stepped forward and pulled Novie into a tight embrace.
"Eh…?"
Feeling that broad, steady chest around her, Novie froze.
The dark tide of emotion that had been boiling inside her instantly subsided by half.
Even her eyes, which had been hollow and veiled in chaos, seemed to clear, if only for a moment.
And in that same instant, the black-robed mage realized—her mental link to Novie had almost completely snapped apart.
"I'm sorry, Novie," Linen murmured, tightening his arms as though afraid the girl might vanish like a feather if he let go.
"I have to admit… leaving without you was deliberate."
"You… you what?"
Novie tried to speak, but Linen's bitter smile cut her off.
"You know our mother doesn't like me. Compared to you and the others, I'm a defective product—a failure, a dragonborn without dragon blood…"
"No, you're not—!"
"But that's not what Mother believes, is it?"
Novie faltered. Because… he was right.
Their mother was like that. For the sake of the Zijinghua Empire, she would sacrifice anything.
If someone only talked about sacrifice but always sacrificed others, that was despicable.
But the Red Dragon Empress was different—she was truly willing to sacrifice everything, even her children, even herself if necessary.
That made her noble.
Novie couldn't condemn her. But neither could she deny Linen's words.
Linen sighed softly.
"I'm sorry, Novie. Even if I could redo everything, I still wouldn't have taken you with me."
"Why?"
"Because there were too many reasons. Because the world isn't as safe as we wish it were."
Linen lowered his head, his voice full of quiet shame.
"The Norton line may be royal in Zijinghua, but that doesn't mean everyone bows to us. The Northern Duke's son, the Tower examiner at the Artificer's Exam, even my own homeroom teacher—they were all infiltrators from the Tower of Chronomancy. My surroundings are filled with enemies."
"When it comes down to it… I'm simply too weak. I couldn't bear to drag my little sister into that kind of danger."
"Please forgive your selfish brother."
"…But perhaps this will be the last time."
The sound of metal sliding free split the air.
Novie gasped as the invisible Holy Sword pressed against Linen's neck, slicing his skin and drawing a thin line of blood.
"If you truly hate me this much… then go on, Novie."
"My little sister—take my life."
"Mother won't blame you. She'll make my death useful—blame it all on the Tower of Chronomancy."
"No… no, I can't!"
Faced with Linen's calm, gentle gaze, Novie's grip trembled for the first time.
No, you can! Do it! Don't listen to him—he's gaslighting you!
The black-robed mage was panicking. The mental link had gone dead—as if her influence had been erased.
It would take only the slightest movement of that sword to separate Linen's head from his shoulders—yet the girl's own body rebelled, frozen in defiance.
And even worse—her bond with the mage was fading completely. She was regaining control of her own body.
But just as Linen thought he'd succeeded—
Novie spoke again, voice soft but trembling:
"Then, Onii-chan… may I ask you just one question?"
"Of course, ask away, my little princess."
Linen's tone was gentle, indulgent.
"So… all of this—it was part of your plan, wasn't it? Everything you did was intentional?"
"Yes, of course."
"…Including those two girls you seem so close with?"
A question mark flickered in Linen's mind; his tone wavered, ever so slightly.
And that brief hesitation made him curse inwardly.
"Onii-chan… hesitated."
The once-soft atmosphere shattered in an instant.
A suffocating pressure erupted from Novie's body.
Simultaneously, the black-robed mage felt the fading mental link surge back to life—reconnecting in a heartbeat.
Rage flared in Linen's eyes, burning so fiercely that even the mage, thousands of miles away, flinched in terror—as if Linen's gaze had pierced through space and shadow straight into her soul.
"Damn you, Tower of Chronomancy," he growled. "To think you'd stoop to such a filthy trick, trying to drive a wedge between us siblings."
"Well then, as you wish."
He raised his head, golden light igniting in his eyes.
"Let's settle this—"
"Let's fight!"