What Did She Just Say!?

“Heh-heh. Sneaking out after curfew this time, there's no way they'll catch me.”

The disguised Lilith carefully dodged the patrolling instructors as she crept toward the Academy Dungeon.

Her goal was crystal clear:

She was going to tell Greg—the guy who had looked down on her—that she had defeated Victoria in today's Placement Exam.

Though she had no idea how he had guessed beforehand that her opponent would be Victoria, nor why he thought she would lose to a feint...

In short, it was all just a joke now—

“...”

Yet, thinking about it, Lilith couldn't bring herself to laugh either. If Greg hadn't brought up that detail during their conversation, she really might have been tricked and lost the duel.

“Still!”

Lilith vigorously shook her head as if to toss away that touch of unpleasantness, her ruby-like eyes gleaming once more with pride.

“Regardless, the ultimate winner was me! The victor is me, Lilith Kahn!”

Yes, that was the main point.

Since victory belonged to her in the end, Greg's so-called prophecy fell apart on its own.

It was her, relying on her own judgment and strength, who broke his expected script!

That was why she was in such a hurry, setting off for the dungeon in the dead of night.

It was all to see that annoying guy's shocked face as soon as possible.

Seeing the instructor patrolling leisurely in the distance turn around, turning his back to her, Lilith immediately darted out from behind her hiding spot—a statue—ready to dash across the final stretch of open ground in one breath.

However, the moment she took her very first step—

“Eek!”

A figure loomed out from the shadows off to her side without warning, colliding head-on into her!

Both let out muffled groans as they stumbled backward.

Lilith landed squarely on her butt against the cold stone floor, a sharp pang hitting her rear.

Rubbing her throbbing forehead, she glared up angrily at the reckless fool—

The next instant, her movements froze.

By the dim, yellowish glow of the distant streetlight, she clearly saw the face, which wore an expression just as shocked as her own.

Blonde hair slightly disheveled from the impact, amber eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the dim light, his handsome face was currently filled with the exact same surprise as hers.

Greg Sass.

What was he doing here?

While she was still taken aback, Greg spoke up first. “Lily, why are you here at a time like this?”

“Of course it's because I wanted to...”

Mid-sentence, Lilith's voice ground to a sudden halt.

Because she abruptly realized that if she followed that train of thought—“wanted to come see you”—it sounded way too easy to misinterpret!

She was the kingdom's noble Second Princess, and this guy was a man she used to despise!

She couldn't let him start having any weird, wild fantasies!

But... besides her actual purpose, what plausible excuse could she find to explain her presence near the Academy Dungeon entrance in the dead of night?

Seeing the girl in front of him suddenly at a loss for words, her gaze darting around, her cheeks seemingly flushed with red, Greg felt his initial guess further confirmed.

This reaction of hesitating after having a secret exposed... was all too familiar to him.

In his past life, those workhorses who pulled all-nighters in the library, did extra sets at the gym, and secretly ground while everyone else was relaxing usually wore this exact face when bumped into by acquaintances.

Still, since she wasn't competing against him, Greg had no intention of exposing her or prying deeper.

He even gave her an easy way out, his tone carrying a touch of understanding and comfort.

“Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you wanting to sneak into the dungeon at night for extra training.”

Although Lilith complained inwardly, Greg had indeed provided her with a convenient excuse, so she played along:

“That's right, I just wanted to go to the dungeon for extra practice! It was definitely not... not to see you or anything! So... so don't you dare get the wrong idea!”

“Yes, yes, yes, I know, I understand,” Greg replied calmly.

He stood up first and naturally extended a hand toward Lilith, who was still sitting on the ground.

“Sorry, I wasn't paying attention and bumped into you.”

His hand was offered right in front of Lilith.

Slender fingers, well-defined knuckles, and a palm showing a healthy hue under the streetlight.

Lilith looked at that hand and froze.

Aside from her royal father and a few exceptionally close elder royal relatives, she had almost never had direct physical contact with any male.

Court etiquette taught her to maintain distance, and her identity as a princess made her instinctively avoid such contact.

At this moment, facing Greg's well-intentioned gesture, she felt a sudden wave of panic. Her heart began beating faster for no reason, her hand hovering in midair, unable to decide whether to take it or not.

“Hey, you aren't actually mad, are you?”

Seeing her hesitate for so long, Greg assumed she was still angry and prepared to pull his hand back.

“W-Who's mad?! I am not mad!”

As if provoked by his words, Lilith grabbed Greg's hand just as he was about to withdraw it.

The instant their fingertips touched, a wave of warmth passed between them.

Lilith's face instantly flushed crimson.

She could clearly feel the temperature and strength of his palm, along with the firm support pulling her steadily to her feet.

Greg, of course, had no idea that Her Highness's blushing face and racing heart stemmed from the massive shock of actively holding a man's hand for the very first time in her life.

In his eyes, Lily Carlo was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, someone who should have been long accustomed to standard social contact.

Her bright red face right now was probably just a surge in blood pressure from the shame and embarrassment of getting caught grinding in secret.

This made Greg complain inwardly:

“Since you're fine, I'll be taking my leave.”

After pulling Lilith up, Greg let go of her hand.

He really had important business to attend to and no time to delay here.

“Ah... right...”

Still somewhat dazed, Lilith responded reflexively.

Only when she saw Greg actually turn around to leave did she suddenly snap back to reality—

Wait!

Why had she snuck out in the middle of the night?

Wasn't it to tell him the outcome of the match and take delight in his face when his "prophecy failed"?

How could she just let him walk away like this?!

“Wait!”

In her haste, she stepped forward quickly and grabbed the sleeve of Greg's jacket as he turned.

“Is there something else?” Greg turned back, inquiring amber eyes fixed on her.

“I-It's just—!”

Lilith opened her mouth, only to find the words stuck in her throat, unable to flow out smoothly.

It was so simple!

All she had to do was say, “I beat Victoria, your prophecy was wrong!” and laugh at him to her heart's content!

Wasn't this exact scenario what she had planned?

But...

Why did it feel like... she was eagerly reporting her grades, desperately waiting for his approval or praise?

That realization instantly reignited Lilith's pride.

What a joke! She was the victor! She came to announce the result and crush his spirits!

She certainly wasn't here seeking praise!

Looking at the girl grabbing his sleeve, her face bright red, eyes darting about, stuttering without uttering a full sentence, Greg let out a helpless sigh.

“Alright, alright, you really don't need to worry.”

Softening his tone like he was comforting a pouting child, he added, “I promise I won't tell anyone about you sneaking into the dungeon for extra training. If there's nothing else, I really have to go—I'm in a rush too.”

He waited patiently for another two seconds. Seeing that Lilith was still just clutching his sleeve with her head lowered in silence, he gently yet firmly pulled his sleeve free and turned around once again.

This time, his footsteps did not hesitate for a moment.

However, before he had even taken three steps, an urgent shout suddenly came from behind him:

“Princess Lilith defeated Victoria with Flame Burst in the Placement Exam! Her Highness is much more amazing than you expected!”

Greg paused mid-step and turned back in surprise, only to find that the girl who shouted those words had already dashed out from behind him like a startled rabbit. Then... without looking back, she sprinted off at top speed toward the girls' dormitory area—completely opposite to the dungeon entrance.

“???”

Greg watched the slender figure rapidly disappear into the darkness and building shadows, scratching his head in utter bewilderment.

He shook his head, assuming she was just so panicked after having her secret exposed that she got her directions mixed up.

Without giving it another thought, he prepared to carry on with his actual business.

Yet, the moment he took another step, the words Lilith had just shouted exploded in his mind like a delayed-trigger spell.

“Wait a second!”

Greg slammed to a sudden halt, freezing in place as his pupils shrank slightly.

“She said Lilith... defeated Victoria... with Flame Burst?!”