Near the entrance, there was heavy security. Soldiers scanned everyone from head to toe.
"Feels like an airport," Noah thought.
Captain Ramirez was overseeing the whole process.
"Commander Luis had to leave due to Lady Miya's orders. Damn it… if we don't catch the intruder, I don't know how I'll explain this."
Just as anxiety clouded his thoughts, he noticed a pair of students walking toward him.The male was tall, with black hair, but Ramirez couldn't see his face clearly due to the oversized glasses.
The girl, on the other hand...
She had a well-developed figure, despite clearly being a teenager.
Ramirez immediately slapped himself.
"Control yourself! She's just a kid!"
As they approached, he stepped forward to intercept them.
"Halt!"
"Yes? What's going on?"
Ramirez didn't answer right away, instead scanning the badge on the male student's uniform.
"An Elite," he thought.
He saluted the student.
"Commander Ramirez, at your service. Apologies for the inconvenience — we're conducting inspections. I hope you'll cooperate."
"An inspection? Seriously? I'm busy," the student complained.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I must insist," Ramirez said.
"Not again..." he thought.
Elites were rarely stopped at the gate. Some had even threatened the guards for daring to delay them.
"These kids are really spoiled," Ramirez thought.
"I see… has something happened?" the student asked.
"No, we're just tightening security for your own safety. So… please, cooperate."
"Of course," the man replied.
"And your... companion?"
"Oh, her? She's also a student here — though she's just a mutt," the boy said, laughing.
"I see... then, please place your finger here," Ramirez said, pointing to the scanner.
The girl nodded and complied.
In a second, her profile appeared.
Carly Thorson.
"All right... you may pass," said Ramirez.
"Thank you," Carly replied as she walked past.
Then it was the male student's turn.
"Sir, please place your finger here."
"Of course."
The student reached into his pocket... and pulled out a finger.
He placed it on the scanner.
"Wha—?" Ramirez started, but before he could react, the student whispered into his ear:
"[Chain] — My order is: Forget everything that happened in the last minute."
"Yes… master," Ramirez said, his voice void of emotion.
Hugo Wegner.The name flashed on the screen as the door opened. Noah stepped through and exited, leaving the vacant-eyed Ramirez behind.
Seconds later, Ramirez blinked back to life.
"What was I doing...? Oh, right, the inspection. Let's see if I can spot anything suspicious..."
As I walked toward the car I had parked near the school, I finally let out a sigh.
What a day...
"Um… Sir Ivan?"
"What is it?"
"What should we do now?"
"For now... you should head home. Tomorrow, the school will likely be shut down."
"How do you know?"
"Because they didn't catch the intruder. Miya will probably check every security camera until she finds something."
"I see…"
"Let's go. It's getting late and I have things to do."
I started the car.
"By the way, I don't know your address."
"Oh, right… I live in Spring's Condominium."
Spring's?
Wasn't that the place where only the ultra-rich could afford a spot?
"So... you're a lady of status?"
"No, no! My dad just happens to have money…" Carly said, her face flustered.
I chuckled and drove toward her home.
Thirty minutes later, we arrived.
We could've made it in twenty, but I had to stop to change. My clothes were drenched in sweat and reeked.
I changed into a black hoodie to hide my white hair. My brown contact lenses masked my crimson eyes perfectly.
"By the way… why haven't your parents called? It's pretty late."
"My dad is on a business trip in England, and my mom is working there too, so they're staying overseas for now."
"I see."
"They text me every day, but today they warned me they'd be busy, so…"
I didn't pry further.
"All right. Rest. I'll come pick you up tomorrow afternoon."
"Y-Yes!"
I turned to leave.
"H-Hey!"
"?"
I turned back to Carly.
"T-Thank you! For everything!"
Why was she thanking me?
All I did was kill people and use her as bait.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she hated me.
Not that it mattered. Until this was over, she would cooperate — one way or another.
"You're... welcome?" I said.
"You… you're my hero!"
Hero?I'm many things. But a hero isn't one of them.
Still… if that's what she wanted to believe, I'd let her.
I waved, started the car, and drove toward the warehouse.
One last stop.
[Look at you — a hero. I, your sister, am proud of you.]
Hero...?That's the first time anyone's ever called me that.
I chuckled.
[Are you happy?]
Neither happy nor sad... titles mean nothing to me.
I drove toward the coast.
I didn't notice the blood dripping from my nose and eyes.
[Carly's POV]
"I'm home…"
"My lady!!"
A petite maid appeared. Her twin-tailed blonde hair bounced as she rushed over, hugging me tightly with teary green eyes.
"My lady… sniff… I called you so many times! I was so worried! Wahhhhhh!"
"There, there," I said, petting her head. "I told you I'd be late, didn't I?"
"But… but… that message was from hours ago!"
"I know... things got a bit… complicated."
"Complicated? How come?"
"It's a long story… I'll tell you tomorrow. For now, I just want to sleep."
I was so tired…
"Prepare a bath, please."
"Yes, my lady!"
"And don't wake me early."
"How come?"
"Classes are suspended today."
"Understood, my lady!"
"Good."
Lucia ran off to prepare the bath. I collapsed onto the sofa and sighed.
What a day...
I checked my phone. Several missed calls from my father.
I called back.
Barely two rings before he picked up.
"My daughter!"
"Daddy."
"My daughter! I heard what happened at your school! Are you okay!?"
"Yes, Daddy, I'm fine."
"Good. I'm so sorry, dear. I put you in that school because I thought it was the best. Who would've thought..."
"It's okay, Daddy."
"No, I already spoke with your mother — we'll transfer you to LeCrepion immediately!"
"My grades aren't good enough for LeCrepion."
"Who cares!? No one's stopping me from giving my daughter what she wants!"
"Daddy, I told you… I want to earn things through my own efforts."
"But my daugh—Ugh!"
I heard the phone shuffle, then another voice.
"Don't listen to your ridiculous father."
"Mom…"
I smiled.
My dad was overprotective — it was thanks to Mom that I was even allowed to live here alone.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?"
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine."
"Good."
"Ask her about food! Is she eating well!? Should I send her a chef!?"
"Shut up, darling."
I chuckled.
Usually, I dreaded calls from my parents. I never wanted to seem weak — especially not in front of them. My father was one of the richest men in the world, though he came from poverty. He was brilliant, wise, and built a fortune in just 40 years.
My mother, a top chef with restaurants worldwide, was a civil war survivor. She almost starved to death as a child. My father met her while volunteering in Asia. With his support, she opened her first restaurant 20 years ago.
Compared to them, I always felt… inferior.
That's why I never asked for anything.
I wanted to earn my place.
But today…
I thought of Sir Ivan, and my cheeks flushed.
There was something I hadn't told him.
Earlier today… I had decided to end my life.
I was tired.
Tired of bullies.Tired of school.Tired of pretending everything was fine.
But then… he appeared.Sir Ivan.And suddenly, the world wasn't so dark.
I needed help.I just… didn't know how to ask.
"So… it's okay to ask for help..."
"Did you say something, sweetheart?"
"Mom… Dad… I… I want to ask for something."
Silence.
Then...
"HAHAHAHAHA! FINALLY!"It was my dad.
"Sweetheart, you don't know how long we've waited for this!"
"Huh?"
"You've always been so well-behaved. Too well-behaved," Mom said.
"You never asked for anything — even when we wanted to give you the world."
"We respected your independence, but deep down… we hoped you'd lean on us someday."
"I-I'm sorry…"
"Don't be. This is a celebration. So, tell me — what do you want? A house? A car? A country?"
"Anything, darling. Just name it."
I remembered everything Sir Ivan had done.
I smiled.
"I want... him."