Chapter 162: Escape the room
"This building only has two rooms on each floor. Only students who have made significant achievements at the academy or pay a rent of five thousand Credits per month are allowed to live here," Sophia explained as she sat on the single-seat sofa.
Vlad stood behind the three-seat sofa, his hand still holding Seraphina’s head in a firm grip. She sat before him, her eyes lowered with guilt.
"Th-there aren’t many students who come around the front of this building," Sophia continued, feeling a bit nervous about the current situation. "Once the warden leaves for lunch, you could easily leave. Also, you just need to avoid catching the eyes of anyone while leaving. Once you’re out, no one is going to suspect you. Although entry into the dorms is strictly forbidden for boys, it’s still pretty common for them to come outside the girls’ dorms to meet their lovers or female friends."
Seraphina gave her a sharp glare while she was explaining everything to Vlad, causing her to flinch in fear.
"Behave yourself," Vlad muttered to Seraphina, the glare not going unnoticed by him. His grip tightened on her head as he leaned closer to her ear and said, "How should I deal with you, little vixen?"
She wanted to retort and just shrug off what she had done to Vlad under the pretext of helping him escape. However, perhaps because Vlad was holding her so dominantly, she couldn’t utter a word of defiance. It was as if her mind knew what to say, but her tongue refused to let the words out.
"Co-couldn’t you overlook my little prank for the favour I did yesterday?" she asked, raising her head towards Vlad pleadingly. She was referring to the letter of sponsorship she had given him.
"That favour belongs to the whole of House Cendral," Vlad said, his eyes narrowing at her. "And didn’t I already make it even with you by offering my precious blood?"
"Y-you..." Seraphina’s brows knitted together in defiance.
"What?" Vlad asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," she murmured, lowering her eyes.
"Alright then. For the move you tried to pull on me, we are completely even for what I did ten years ago," he whispered into her ear. "I will no longer be serving you as your errand boy."
"No!" she instantly screamed out, but quickly lowered her voice so Sophia couldn’t hear her. "You promised to serve me for a year. You cannot go back on your word."
"That was if you behaved properly," Vlad shrugged. "You need to learn the consequences of your actions."
Seraphina’s eyes dropped, her cheeks puffing up in a sulk. "Do as you wish."
Throughout the entire exchange between the two, Sophia looked at them with widened eyes. She even cleaned her glasses in between to make sure she was seeing it right.
’I-is it really Lady Seraphina in front of me?’ she exclaimed inwardly. ’When did she become so obedient? Not even Lord Cendral’s presence made her behave like this. Is she really the dominant one in the relationship? She seems to be completely under Vlad’s thumb.’
Vlad removed his hand from her head as he settled beside her. "Now, now, stop sulking," he said in a calmer tone. "Isn’t it better this way? You can treat me like your friend instead of your subordinate."
"Friend?" Seraphina’s pink eyes rose, meeting his crimson ones. ’But I do not want us to be just friends,’ she muttered inwardly.
"Speak loudly," Vlad said, leaning closer to her.
"I said get lost," she snapped, pushing him back. "Isn’t that what you wanted?"
Vlad looked at the time on his phone. It was 12:25 already. "Oh yeah. It’s almost time. Gotta go!"
He quickly moved towards the window and checked his surroundings. There was no one outside. Just to be sure, he even activated his Foresight Eye.
Realising no one was there, he looked at Seraphina over his shoulder and said with a gentle smile, "Thanks for having me."
The way his long hair fluttered in the wind as he gently looked at Seraphina made her heart skip a beat. She simply responded with a nod as he jumped out of the window.
"H-hehe, I should also leave and get ready for the afternoon class," Sophia chuckled awkwardly as she rose from her seat.
Seraphina’s sharp eyes instantly turned towards her. Because of this shortie’s blabbering mouth, Vlad had gained the upper hand on her. She was definitely not letting her off so easily.
She instantly crossed the distance between them, grabbed her cheeks with both hands, and muttered, "Dummy, dummy, dummy."
"Anh... Lady Seraphina, that hurts," Sophia whimpered under her mercy. For some reason, she felt like Seraphina’s words weren’t really meant for her.
---
"So you have found a sponsor already?" Victor’s voice came through the phone. He didn’t seem surprised at all. "Is it House Cendral?"
"Yes, Professor," Vlad nodded as he wore his academy coat over his blazer, his phone on speaker. "How do you know?"
"I’m your professor," Victor chuckled before continuing, "Come to the Knighting Hall in two hours with proof that House Cendral sponsors you. You may also invite your friends as well. It is a big day for you, after all."
"Will do," Vlad replied before hanging up the call.
He turned to Noah, who was sleeping on his chest in his undergarments, and said, "I will be promoted to a knight today. Will you come?"
No response came from him, just like always. Vlad released a sigh and was about to move when Noah asked, his head covered beneath the pillow, "Did you bend the knee?"
"No," Vlad replied. "I got a sponsor."
Noah lifted the pillow, his blue eyes fixing on Vlad’s figure. What Vlad couldn’t see beneath the strands of Noah’s silver hair was an expression of respect.
"When is the ceremony?"
"In two hours."
"I will be there," he replied before hiding his face in the pillow again.
Vlad’s brows rose at the unexpected answer. Nevertheless, it brought a smile to his face. "Thanks," he said before moving out of the room.
Once Noah heard the sound of the door closing, he rose to a sitting position and muttered, "It’s only been a month since he arrived, and he must have already surpassed me. Perhaps with him here, I don’t need to hold myself back anymore."