Phoenix (6)

'Hm... How did this happen? Did that bird really plan this all along? His master is Rosalyn, so I assume that would be correct? He did... That bastard. I will surely cook and turn him into a fucking roasted bird. This two conspired together. I can't even get mad at Rosalyn because she's a pitiful person that came from a shitty household. My sympathy weighs more than being angry, but I know that I shouldn't. Or should I? She obviously did it without my permission...?' Surges of thoughts were flowing inside my head while sitting in my bed with Rosalyn's arm around my waist. My thoughts are clashing against each other.

'...Damn you, temptation.' I glanced down and saw that her skin was quite healthy than before, and what's more, she's obviously had a pretty good-looking body. Furthermore, there are no signs of us doing it.

'Wait, nothing?'

"What to do, now...?" I said, scratching my neck.

'What do I do? Did she make some noise? But from how quiet the place is, I would assume no one heard it?'

While having my inner monologue, my eyes wander in a certain direction where a particular roommate of mine was staring at me deadeye—It was Lars. His head was peeking over, below me. "Shit! A ghost!" I screamed like a frightened little girl.

"If you're going to bring a woman over, can you at least tell me beforehand? I can't sleep through the moa—Tsk. You're lucky that every room in here is soundproof, and that Erik is a heavy-sleeper."

"..."

"For crying out loud, Claude, I won't report or tell a single thing to others but choose the place where you will do it. Not in the night where people are sleeping. We have classes tomorrow. This is why I curse handsome people like you because their dick is always busy, while a hard-working person like me, busting my ass off." Lars said angrily before going back to his bed.

I'm speechless.

'What was that? Moreover... Lars... I thought it would be awkward for the both of us, but I'm the only person who felt it that way.'

I shake my head to get hold together because I'm in big trouble right now. According to the male dormitory rules, I can't bring any woman in here without a guest pass. Furthermore, it's past her curfew which would also be a huge pain in the ass for both of us. I bit my lips and search my bed for her clothes, as mine was tossed at the far end. After finding it, I swiftly put Rosalyn's clothes on her, despite having the missing bra. I carry her into my arms and teleport ourselves outside of my dorm, as far away as possible.

Once we teleported, the night was too dark and our only source of light was the moon from above, but the trees are on the way, leaving me no choice. I snap my finger to ignite flames at the tip of my finger, enough for me to see. I place Rosalyn down and rest her head on a tree.

'Do I just leave her here? But what if she gets cold—Wait, she has the phoenix... What if some freak approaches her—She's also a freak... What if...'

I slap myself for thinking such a thought. "Fuck. Why do I feel responsible for her now? I hate myself. It's hard to turn my head and overlook everything. O, humanity... This is all that bird's fault. And, as well, the principal for telling—... Who am I kidding... Ack!"

Then suddenly, someone tackled me from behind. Looking at my back, a red hair smacked against my face.

"Claude, hehehehe~ I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

Upon hearing the voice, a cold sensation slithers down my spine up to my crotch. Rosalyn kept rubbing her face on my back, while her hands are slowly crawling their way up to my chest. I teleport behind her. "Rosalyn..." As expected, she's already about to pounce. I restrict her movement with my chains.

"Haaa... First of all, let's talk like rational people—"

"I love you♥" Rosalyn tilts her head slightly to the side and gave me one of the brightest smiles I've ever seen.

'What the hell!? She's too cute!! No! Get your mind straight! I've never seen a person who can speak that out loud without getting embarrassed. Well... with the exception of during sex... She's just too cute. She's making it too hard for me.' I thought to myself, as I'm trying my hardest not to show it in my face.

While I'm dying over Rosalyn's cuteness, I squint my eyes and approach her face. I held her soft cheek with my other free hand then got closer to her eyes. Unlike before, her eyes seem normal now. "That fucking bird of yours seem to be cooperating now, but..." 'Looks like he's saying the truth. Like, really? I just helped her back then once, and she fell in love?'

Rosalyn has been struggling and her eyes are fixated on my face, wanting to touch and feel it. Then when I saw her bright face crumble into sadness along with her tears. I release Rosalyn from the chains and she instantly embraces me with both of her arms and leg around my back.

"I can't do anything about it other than accept the reality."

"Please, please, please, don't leave me. I only wanted to be with you. Please, please, please. I'll do anything. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you." Rosalyn said while shaking terribly.

I grit my teeth and stroke her hair gently, placing my cheek at the top of her head. "I won't leave you." were the words that left my mouth as soon I saw Rosalyn's heart-breaking emotional distress which is also the words that will probably either haunt me for life or will be the best thing... It could go two ways.

What kind of household is her home... Can I even call it a home? Her brother was placed in a tight spot and became devoured by negative emotions. It's also the reason why he seeks salvation. But in Rosalyn's case, she only seeks love and warmth—perhaps a familial love. She's afraid to be left alone. Stephanie once said to me that she had never seen Rosalyn leave her brother's side, not even once.

Albert on the other hand...

'Inciting Rosalyn's emotion by injecting it to her... those emotions that's supposed to be for Albert... What sly one. It looks like, I've been playing under his hands all this time without realizing it. Now, he's closer to me because of Rosalyn. It all went according to his plan, huh? That chicken. Did he plan all of this? I can't tell.'

"Really?"

"Yes, yes. I won't."

In the end, I fell on the phoenix's hand. Regardless of my decision, instead of getting angry, it felt enlightening to accept Rosalyn because throughout my life I lived with people around me. It is what made me who I am today. I am basically nothing if I didn't meet Master Irene that fateful, weird day. I already realized that even way before coming here in this world.

I can't understand what Rosalyn has been through since we're on other sides of the spectrum, whereas, I lived through people around me and she lived with just her brother that's on the verge of losing his sanity and ended up being alone. No one to rely on. If I push her away, there's a high likely chance that it will only make it worse than it is. And someday, there will a point in time where I will be filled with regrets because of that decision of mine.

After begging Rosalyn to come back, she finally agreed and gave me a kiss before she left. While seeing her silhouette vanish, I thought to myself that she'll either bring destruction or blessing into my life.

I look at the starry night. 'Haa... Accepting Rosalyn comes to a great responsibility of problems. Her greedy father will surely be overjoyed.'

(We can just kill him.) Diana giggles.

(Diana... They're likely had great relations with the royal family considering their family history. Or even the Council. Let's see what course of action I need to take. Just remembering his face makes me want to puke.)

Life is precious, especially mine. But at the same time, I can also easily take the life of others away without hesitation when it's necessary. Slowly but surely, I'm getting influenced by the world...

(Fufufu~ Then take over the kingdom. That would be easy your physical body can handle it.)

(Oho~? You're quite evil, Diana. Why not just take over the world? Hahaha.)

(I don't mind, as long you're with me.) Diana said cheerfully.

(...)

Then I remembered that two of Maiveil kingdom's princes were also admitted to this school. "Factions, huh? Let's check them... But first, I need to explain the situation about Rosalyn to them..."

I teleport back to my dorm room and saw Lars still sitting at his bed, all defeated. When I appeared, he didn't react as if I don't exist. I went to my bed without asking and left him alone. It's absolute that everything will be awkward for us from now on. I will be having a hard time facing him this morning.

I buried my face in my pillow to smell of citrusy, sweet smell of Rosalyn. Before sleeping, I remove the bedsheets and shove them at the side of my bed because I fully know there's some substance within it, a liquid substance.

"I'll wash that tomorrow..."