Why Noir?

"I abandoned her?"

Noir asked with wide eyes, looking at Sirius.

"That's what she has been saying all these years, and—ahhh, don't even talk about it…" Sirius replied with an annoyed face.

Even Sirius was annoyed by her? Noir thought as he glanced at the ever-changing expressions of the beauty in front of him.

"I abandoned her, huh… Looks like… I really did…"

Thinking this, he extended his left hand and ran it through her side hair.

Her hair is so silky… My hand feels like it's in the clouds… I… I want to touch her…

His hand moved from her hair to her cheek.

Her cheeks are so soft… like pudding… I… want… to eat her…

Noir's breathing grew slightly heavy.

His breath became uneven.

His face started moving closer to hers.

His expression was like a prince in a trance after seeing his princess—or was it something else?

His face came very close, his lips slightly parted…

"Oh c'mon! Are you really gonna kiss her right here, right now?" Oliver's exaggerated voice rang out.

Noir snapped out of his trance.

He saw Shyamal staring at him with wide eyes, full of expectation. Her cheeks were deeply flushed, like a crimson bun.

She looked incredible.

But this time, instead of getting entranced, Noir was terrified.

His eyes widened in shock.

His mouth gaped.

His hand, which was still holding Shyamal's chin, started trembling.

Noir's whole body trembled.

He suddenly stood up and unconsciously glanced at Sirius and Oliver. Both had shock written all over their faces—not that he could blame them.

Panic set in. Noir bolted for the door.

He didn't even notice the shocked students, the assistant, or the instructor.

The instructor's face darkened. He had been giving his big speech—correction, his complementary speech (BS).

Oliver and Sirius were still processing what had just happened. Noir ran away? Just because Oliver made a comment? That didn't make sense.

Even if he was shy, there was no need to run like that. If anything, he should have blushed.

But this…

And when Oliver had spoken, Noir's face—his expression—it was like he had been caught red-handed in some crime.

There was something there.

Maybe guilt.

But why?

When Noir had looked at them before running, it was as if he was searching for something in their expressions… but what?

What is going on?

The two bolted after him. This was concerning.

Something had happened to their friend.

Meanwhile, Shyamal was frozen in place.

She touched her cheek—the spot Noir had just touched.

He almost… kissed me?

Why did he react like that?

Does touching me… disgust him?

But he was looking at me with such tenderness… like he wanted to eat me.

So why did he suddenly look at me with horror—as if he had done something wrong?

D…di…did he… really abandon me?

Her wide eyes flickered with unstable emotions.

Unknowingly, she started scratching the cheek Noir had touched.

Her mind spiraled with hundreds of dangerous thoughts and conclusions.

She clenched her fists.

Hehehe…

The instructor on the podium, watching Oliver and Sirius run out, slammed his palm against the wooden podium—crack!

His gaze sharpened toward the door.

"This academy runs on academy rules, not on your family rules!" he bellowed.

"The first rule is to respect your teachers! What is this behavior? First that boy, now these two? Are you all taking me too lightly? Do you not care about this academy's face?"

His face turned redder with each word.

But deep inside, he knew—he couldn't actually do anything to them.

So, instead, he turned his lecture toward the lower nobles, protecting his own reputation.

"If anyone wants to leave, they can leave! If you don't respect this academy—"

Before he could finish, the doors slammed open again.

Shyamal ran out without hesitation.

The entire hall stared at her, then turned their gazes to the instructor.

His face… was so red…

Even tomatoes looked pale in comparison.

And then—

"Khe…he…"

A single laugh slipped from a student.

Then, the domino effect.

Slowly, one by one, students began chuckling.

And as we all know—

If one person does something, it's a crime.

But if millions do it—

It's just a mistake.