Chapter 642: Aurelia and Eleanor

Third Person’s POV

Just imagining that possibility nearly caused her vision to darken.

She almost fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, Aurelia slowly turned back toward Lina before gently shaking her head.

"No."

Her voice remained soft and polite.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lina."

A faint apologetic smile appeared on her lips.

"But I will be fine on my own."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"Also, I already have someone I intend to accompany during this expedition."

The timid girl’s heart immediately leaped with joy.

Before Lina could lazily argue any further, she hurriedly forced a stiff smile onto her trembling face.

"A-As you wish, Miss Aurelia."

"Sorry for bothering you."

Without giving Lina any opportunity to speak again, she immediately grabbed her friend’s wrist and practically dragged the confused black-haired girl into the sea of students before Sharon or her followers decided to approach them.

Watching the two disappear into the bustling crowd, Aurelia simply smiled faintly before slowly turning her attention back toward Sharon’s group.

Her forest green eyes calmly swept across the gathered young nobles one after another.

However, midway through, her gaze suddenly stopped.

Among Sharon’s followers stood a familiar blond-haired young man.

A smug, malicious smile rested upon his handsome face, while his wandering eyes were filled with the same disgusting, lecherous greed that Aurelia remembered all too well.

The moment she saw him, the pleasant mood she had been in moments earlier disappeared almost instantly.

<anno data-annotation-id="c2779108-e612-e6f6-5de2-282846418286" data-title="It was none other than Draven Lucerra, a young master she had despised ever since her childhood in Dark North City.">It was none other than Draven Lucerra, a young master she had despised ever since her childhood in Dark North City.¹</anno>

Draven belonged to one of the collateral branches of the mighty Lucerra Family that had established itself within Dark North City generations ago.

Although that branch possessed considerable influence in the city, it was ultimately insignificant compared to the main bloodline that ruled the Marquis Household.

Even so, relying upon his family background and his own decent talent, Draven had always behaved arrogantly throughout Dark North City.

Ever since they were around twelve years old, he had stubbornly pursued Aurelia, convinced that someone as beautiful and talented as her would eventually become his woman.

No matter how many times she rejected him or openly ignored his advances, he refused to give up.

Instead, his obsession only grew stronger with every passing year.

When Aurelia later transferred to the main branch of the New Moon Magic Academy in Ice Emperor City through the academy’s transfer student program, she had naturally believed that she had finally escaped that nuisance.

Much to her annoyance, Draven had followed her here only a year later by making use of that very same transfer policy.

Fortunately, despite seeing her almost every day inside the academy, he no longer dared to bother her as openly as he had back in Dark North City.

After all, this was no longer a provincial city where his branch family carried considerable influence.

This was the New Moon Magic Academy.

Here, there were countless people whose backgrounds far surpassed his own.

Although he still belonged to the prestigious Lucerra Family, he was merely the descendant of one of its distant collateral branches.

Standing before someone like Sharon Lucerra, a direct descendant of the Marquis Family’s main bloodline, his status was completely incomparable.

As a result, the once arrogant young master now stood slightly behind Sharon with the posture of a loyal subordinate, behaving more like an attendant than an equal.

Seeing that familiar face once again, Aurelia’s expression remained perfectly calm.

However, a trace of coldness quietly flashed deep within her emerald-green eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

He would occasionally lean closer to whisper something into her ear.

Every few moments, however, his gaze would return toward Aurelia.

The malice within his eyes had only grown stronger than she remembered.

As Sharon listened to his whispers, the mocking smile upon her own face gradually widened.

It became increasingly obvious that whatever Draven was saying wasn’t anything pleasant.

Aurelia, however, had no intention of wasting her time on either of them.

Without sparing them another glance, she quietly turned around and began walking toward the large crystal fountain standing at the center of the academy square.

The soothing sound of flowing water gradually drowned out the surrounding chatter.

Just as she reached its edge, a gentle hand suddenly rested upon her shoulder.

Aurelia’s entire body stiffened.

Almost instinctively, she spun around, one hand already moving toward the sword hanging at her waist.

Only after recognizing the familiar face standing behind her did the caution within her eyes gradually disappear.

"Aunt Eleanor..."

Standing before her was the beautiful violet-haired professor, dressed not in her usual academy robes but in practical hunting attire similar to Aurelia’s own.

Her long violet hair had been tied into a neat ponytail, while her normally warm and gentle violet eyes were now filled with a mixture of anger, concern, and barely concealed frustration.

She looked directly into Aurelia’s eyes.

"Where were you last night?"

Her voice remained calm, but she could sense the underlying current in it.

"And why did you suddenly run out of class yesterday without saying a single word?"

She took a slow step closer.

"Tell me, Aurelia."

"What exactly are you hiding from me?"

The concern and curiosity hidden beneath those words were impossible to miss.

Looking into Eleanor’s unusually stern eyes, Aurelia immediately felt guilt welling up inside her heart.

She lowered her gaze slightly.

After taking several quiet breaths to calm the nervousness building within her chest, she finally looked back up.

"I’m sorry..."

Her voice was softer than usual.

"I’m truly sorry for worrying you, Aunt Eleanor."

She hesitated for only a moment before continuing, as a faint anticipation gradually appeared within her emerald-green eyes.

"But you will know everything very soon."

"Just..."

She looked toward the academy gates for a brief instant before returning her gaze to Eleanor.

"Please wait another half an hour."

"That’s all I ask."

The confidence hidden behind those simple words immediately made Eleanor’s brows knit together even more tightly.

<annotations style="display: none;">Ref Chap 34</annotations>