Chapter 317: A Familiar Face

With the meeting scheduled for six in the evening, they had the rest of the day to themselves.

"We should find a hotel closer to the academy," Soren said, already pulling up a map on his phone. "It’ll save us time later, and it’s better to settle in before we start handling formalities."

Ethea nodded in agreement. "We can tour the city after that, too."

With the day also planned, they started browsing the hotels and chose a relatively close hotel with expensive but luxurious accommodations. With all the money Soren had earned from his investments and gate diving, they weren’t worried about the cost.

Once the booking was confirmed, they packed up their belongings and checked out of the previous hotel. Fortunately, they had teleported next to the academy district, on the eastern side of the Ademary City, so they didn’t have to travel far.

About half an hour later, they arrived at their new accommodations. The lobby was elegant, with polished marble floors and soft lighting that made the space feel inviting.

Soren approached the front desk while Ethea waited nearby. "Reservation under Everly."

The receptionist checked the system and nodded with a polite smile. "Yes, Mr. Everly. We have you in a deluxe suite on the twelfth floor." She handed him two key cards. "Please enjoy your stay."

Soren pocketed the cards and walked back to Ethea. "Twelfth floor. Let’s go."

They made their way to the elevator, and when they arrived, Soren pressed the button, and the doors slid open. He wheeled Ethea inside and turned the wheelchair around just as the doors began to close.

But in that brief moment, two figures emerged from the other elevator: a man and a woman, walking side by side.

’!’ Soren’s eyes widened.

For just a split second, he caught a glimpse of the woman before the doors shut — long red hair cascading past her shoulders, sharp brown eyes, and a familiar face he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The elevator began to rise, but Soren remained frozen, his gaze fixed on the closed doors.

Ethea immediately noticed his abnormality. "Dear? Are you ok?"

Soren didn’t answer right away as his mind was still processing what he had just seen.

"..." Ethea, although still worried, chose to stay silent till he recovered.

A long moment later, Soren shook his head, muttering, "I thought I saw someone I knew."

Ethea studied his expression. "Someone you knew?"

"...Maybe," Soren exhaled slowly, still not entirely sure himself. After all, her hair color was different from what he remembered. It could have been his eyes or mind playing tricks on him, or she might have just dyed her hair.

’But those eyes...’ He couldn’t forget them. That piercing gaze and the way she carried herself, even in that brief glimpse, felt too familiar to be a coincidence.

But he shook his head, not to make Ethea worry. "It’s probably a mistake. Let’s not think about it for now."

Ethea nodded, though she made a mental note to keep an eye out. She had a guess as to who it might be, but like Soren, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions without more information. More importantly, she didn’t want their mood to be ruined because of them, especially with the long-awaited day just around the corner. If necessary, she would use her connections to take care of the matter quietly.

For now, she pushed the thought aside and focused on the present.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open on the twelfth floor. They stepped out and glanced down the corridor. Soft lights lined the walls, and the floor was carpeted in deep blue. Their suite was at the far end, marked by a small golden plaque that read 1208.

Soren unlocked the door and wheeled Ethea inside. The suite was spacious and well-furnished, with a large bedroom, a separate living area, a small kitchenette, and a private bathroom. A few windows stretched across one wall, offering a clear view of the academy district below.

He set their bags down and began unpacking the essentials. Since they had booked the room for a month, it made sense to settle in properly. Ethea helped where she could, directing him on where to place certain items.

Once everything was organized, they changed into fresh clothes and put their disguise items back on. Soren adjusted the collar of his summer jacket and glanced at Ethea, who had already concealed her features with a magic mask. They both looked like an ordinary couple with ordinary appearances.

"Ready?" he asked, raising his sunglasses with his finger.

Ethea nodded. "Let’s go."

───────

[A few minutes earlier.]

"..." Sevrin stopped and looked at his wife, who was glancing around with squinted eyes. "What’s wrong, dear?"

She stopped and looked at him. "It’s nothing. I just felt someone was looking at me just now."

Sevrin let out a light chuckle. "Perhaps they were simply captivated by your beauty. It wouldn’t be the first time." A dark glint passed through his eyes as he spoke, there and gone in an instant.

His wife stared at him for a moment, then snorted coldly. "Spare me the useless flattery."

Sevrin ignored her tone and continued walking. "...Remember to control yourself later. She shouldn’t notice any abnormalities."

"I know." Her reply was flat and sharp. "And... How many times do I have to say it? I know it better than you. There’s no need to remind me again and again."

Sevrin didn’t respond, only offering a faint smile as they left the hotel. A car was already waiting for them outside. A gray-haired old man in a crisp black suit stood by the rear door, his posture straight and his expression neutral.

"My Lord. My Lady." He bowed slightly and opened the doors for them.

Once they were seated, the old man moved to the driver’s seat and started the engine. He glanced at them through the rearview mirror.

"Where to, My Lord?"

"Aldric, take us to the Academy," Sevrin ordered. "We’re going to see Nura."

"Understood." Aldric nodded and pulled the car smoothly into the flow of traffic, heading toward the Etenia Academy.