Chapter 114 - day before the training
"You...!"
Luna realized what I had done.
Her expression immediately changed.
The anger in her eyes intensified as she looked at my retreating figure.
Then—
She chased after me.
"Do you think you can run away forever?"
I looked back at her.
"Maybe."
"Who knows?"
A smirk played across my lips.
Luna stared at me in disbelief.
"You’re shamelessly admitting it?"
She immediately ran faster.
I laughed and continued running.
She followed me into the garden, but the smile on her face never disappeared.
When she finally started catching up to me, I suddenly pointed ahead.
Luna narrowed her eyes.
She clearly thought it was another one of my tricks.
"No."
I looked at her seriously.
"Really."
"Look."
She hesitated.
Then, just to make sure, she grabbed my hand with one hand and looked ahead.
Sure enough...
A large group of people was walking toward us.
Soon, they came directly in front of us.
Most of them looked surprised when they noticed that Luna and I were holding hands.
A few boys even gritted their teeth.
My eyes immediately narrowed.
Among them...
I spotted Chloe and Eithen.
Eithen’s expression darkened the moment he saw us.
His teeth were clenched.
I stared at him for a moment.
What is this bastard thinking?
I had already noticed the way he looked at Luna.
He was free to admire her.
But there was a difference between admiration and intent.
Especially when he already had someone beside him.
If he dared to cross that line...
I would make sure he understood exactly who he had chosen to provoke.
A coldness briefly flashed through my eyes.
Then I looked at Luna.
My expression softened.
I leaned closer to her ear and whispered.
"I thought you were shy."
"And here you are, holding my hand in front of more than ten people."
Luna looked toward the group.
Then she looked at our hands.
Then at my grinning face.
Her eyes widened.
She finally realized what she had done.
She immediately released my hand and calmly put on her usual expression.
But...
Her ears were bright red.
I couldn’t help enjoying the sight.
Just then, a girl from the group stepped forward.
She smiled politely.
"Hello."
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Luna and Lord Gray."
"My name is Elara Oceancres."
I looked at her.
She had light blue hair and beautiful ocean-blue eyes.
I extended my hand with a smile.
"Yeah."
"It’s nice to meet you."
"I presume you’re one of the candidates selected for tomorrow’s training camp?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Luna also joined the conversation, and before long, several of the other candidates introduced themselves as well.
I listened and spoke with them naturally.
Chloe and Eithen, however, remained slightly apart from the group.
I didn’t care whether they joined the conversation or not.
Eventually, I decided it was time to leave.
"Well, I’ll take my leave."
"Luna and I have plans."
I deliberately glanced toward Eithen when I said it.
His expression immediately tightened.
Good.
If you have the courage to do something...
Then do it.
I’ll make you regret it.
The others nodded politely.
I turned toward Luna.
She looked at me with confusion.
Her expression practically asked,
What plans?
I simply smiled.
Then I took her hand and started walking.
Luna froze for a moment.
She was clearly flustered.
But she followed me without saying a word.
Her mind was probably already filled with questions.
After we walked some distance away, I finally realized I was still holding her hand.
I stopped and took a seat.
Luna seemed to finally return from whatever endless thoughts had occupied her mind.
She sat beside me and glared.
"What was that for?"
I shrugged.
"Nothing."
"I just felt like doing it."
"What?"
"Did our princess get offended?"
I placed a hand over my chest dramatically.
"Is this poor man going to lose his life now?"
Luna rolled her eyes.
"Tell me the truth."
"I know you."
"You don’t normally do things like that."
I sighed.
If I wanted to...
I could have made another joke.
I could have placed a hand over my chest and dramatically asked whether she thought so little of me.
But I decided to tell her the truth.
"It was because of that Eithen guy."
Luna blinked.
"He kept looking at you like you belonged to him."
"And even though he seems to be close to Chloe..."
"He still kept watching you."
"I don’t like people who act like that."
Luna stared at me dumbfounded.
Of course, she had noticed Eithen’s behavior too.
As a princess, she had received that kind of attention countless times.
Most people who looked at her that way wouldn’t even survive long enough for her to confront them.
Her mother was the Empress.
And Isabella was the Crown Princess.
Few people were foolish enough to openly cross Luna.
But looking at my expression...
Luna suddenly smiled playfully.
"Oh?"
"Is someone jealous?"
My eyes widened.
"Jealous?"
"Me?"
"Never."
I immediately looked away.
Her smile only widened.
"Oh?"
"So you’re not jealous?"
"No."
"Absolutely not."
She continued teasing me.
And judging from her expression...
She had discovered a much more entertaining way to get revenge for what I had done earlier.
I eventually gave up trying to defend myself.
The rest of the day passed peacefully.
Luna and I spent the entire day together.
We wandered around the palace grounds, talked about all kinds of things, joked around, and enjoyed each other’s company.
Before we realized it...
It was already dinner time.
We both entered the dining hall with huge smiles on our faces.
The Empress immediately noticed.
So did Amy, Elena, and Isabella.
They exchanged glances.
But thankfully...
No one commented.
We simply sat down and began eating.
After dinner, everyone eventually returned to their rooms.
I entered mine and looked around.
Tomorrow would be the beginning of the special training program.
So I went to my closet and chose a suitable outfit.
I hung it up, prepared everything I would need, and then collapsed onto my bed.
I fell asleep almost immediately.
⸻
The next morning arrived.
I woke up, washed up, and put on the outfit I had prepared the night before.
After making my bed, I headed downstairs.
When I arrived, I saw Luna waiting there.
Her long hair flowed down naturally, and she was already wearing a training outfit.
I stared at her for a moment.
I wonder if her hair ever gets in her way during training.
Luna noticed my expression.
She immediately answered.
"No."
"I can manage my hair perfectly."
"I don’t need to do anything with it."
A smile appeared on her face.
I stared at her.
"Do you have mind-reading abilities?"
Luna burst into laughter.
"Who needs mind-reading?"
"You were staring at my hair while thinking deeply."
"I could guess what you were thinking immediately."
I scratched my head.
"That’s a fair point."
I lightly slapped one hand against the other.
Luna looked at the gesture.
Her smile only grew.
Just then, Amy arrived.
"Oh?"
"Isn’t this our pair of lovebirds?"
Luna and I immediately glared at her.
"Lovebirds?"
"Don’t spout nonsense."
Amy burst into laughter.
Elena soon joined us, and together we entered the dining hall.
All the other members of the group were already present.
We took our seats and began breakfast.
The Empress and Mother talked while we ate, explaining some of what we could expect from the training program.
We listened carefully.
After breakfast...
It was finally time.
The twenty selected candidates would begin their special training.
Luna and I exchanged an excited glance.
Then we left the dining hall together.
The real training was about to begin.
Then we entered the training hall.
Inside, all the selected participants were already gathered and standing in their respective groups.
Luna and I looked at each other before heading toward the line for our age group.
Once we reached it, I took the position at the front of the line, while Luna stood directly behind me.
Several people around us began whispering as they looked in our direction.
But one sharp glare from Amy was enough to immediately silence them.
Amy and Elena then moved toward their respective age-group lines and waited for the instructor to arrive.
A few moments later, a muscular man entered the training hall.
He walked toward the front of our line and stopped.
Then he looked across all of us.
"I am an SS-Rank Awakened."
"From today onward, I will be your instructor."
His voice was deep and commanding.
Then—
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from his body.
The pressure descended upon us like an invisible mountain.
Several participants immediately staggered.
Some gritted their teeth and struggled to remain standing.
I looked at the instructor calmly.
I could endure the pressure.
But then I thought about it for a moment.
Why should I waste my energy enduring it?
Instead, I quietly activated my Space Affinity.
A thin layer of space formed around my body, separating me from the overwhelming pressure.
The moment I did—
The pressure completely disappeared from my body.
I stood there as calmly as before.
I glanced toward the instructor.
Let’s see what happens next.
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A/N:
DreyEA, thank you so much for the Golden Tickets!
I really appreciate the support!