Lilliana Roseblood POV
The academy was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
With summer break in full swing, the once-bustling halls had become a ghostly maze of echoes.
Most students had long since left to return home or embark on their vacation adventures, leaving only a handful of professors and assistants behind to keep things in order.
Among them was Lilliana Roseblood, who sat hunched over a desk stacked with paperwork taller than her.
Her pen scratched across the pages with methodical precision, the rhythmic sound filling the small office beside the professor's dormitory.
A half-finished cup of black coffee sat forgotten beside her, the liquid long since gone cold.
"...And that's the last of the transfer reports," she murmured to herself, setting her pen down.
Her voice carried that same delicate softness it always did, gentle and polite, but laced with exhaustion.
Her lime-green eyes fluttered closed for a moment, and she leaned back in her chair, releasing a sigh that deflated every ounce of tension in her small frame.
'How many forms have I signed today? Fifty? No, more like eighty…'
The dhampir tilted her head back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The faint glow of the late afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, painting her pale skin a warm gold.
'It's peaceful without Ren around…'
Her lips twitched into a small, knowing smile.
Peaceful, yes, but also lonely.
She blinked, shook her head, and stood, her movements a little wobbly from sitting too long.
Her shoulders and back ached, and she gave a small groan as she stretched her arms over her head.
Her fluffy pink hair, meticulously cared for, bounced with each motion.
"Well then," she said softly, her tone brightening just a little, "I suppose I deserve a break."
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Outside, the air smelled faintly of summer rain and warm soil.
Behind the professor's dormitories was a modest garden, her garden.
Rows of flowers lined the space in orderly patches, blooming in a spectrum of colours.
Lilliana crouched beside one of the flowerbeds, her eyes soft as she carefully plucked away a few withered petals.
The flowers leaned toward her as if greeting her presence.
"You've all grown so much since spring," she murmured, brushing her fingertips along the petals of a white carnation.
The warmth in her voice was unmistakable.
It wasn't the tone of a professor or noble, it was the tone of someone who loved.
The little dhampir continued tending to each flower in turn, watering, trimming, and humming softly under her breath.
Her stubby ears twitched occasionally as the breeze passed, and her small fangs peeked out whenever she smiled.
The world felt gentle.
After a while, she stopped in front of a single flower pot near the garden's edge.
A single piece of crimson stood there, a red rose, its petals deep and vivid.
Lilliana stared at it for a long time.
"...You really do remind me of him," she whispered.
The rose caught the light just so, its petals gleaming with that same soft hue as Soren's eyes.
"Weak, stubborn, a little rough around the edges… but beautiful, too." She chuckled faintly, covering her mouth. "You'd probably get annoyed at me for saying that, wouldn't you, Ren?"
Her laughter was quiet and tender, the kind that lingered in the air.
Then her smile softened, her lime-green eyes dimming slightly.
'I wonder what you're doing right now… probably getting into trouble again, right?'
She stayed like that for a while, just staring at the rose as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
The soft rustle of the wind against the leaves broke the silence as Lilliana strolled down the cobblestone path between training halls.
The air was warm, the scent of grass faintly sweet after last night's rain.
Her light pink hair swayed with every step, and her hands were folded neatly in front of her as she admired the quiet campus.
'It really is peaceful when everyone's gone…'
Her small smile faltered when she heard a familiar, overly confident voice echoing from around the corner.
"C'mon, don't look at me like that. I'm not that bad of a guy, right?"
Lilliana sighed quietly.
'Oh no…'
She turned the corner and, unsurprisingly, found Felix leaning against the stone wall outside the sparring arena.
His shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing a toned chest marked with tattoos of intertwined flowers, and his sun-kissed skin stood out starkly against the pale walls.
His short, messy blonde hair caught the light as he smiled in what he probably thought was a charming way.
The girl he was talking to, a flustered second-year, was clearly not buying it.
"I-I'm sorry, Junior, but I really should go–!"
"Aw, come on, just a coffee? It's not a date or anything, I just want to get to know a beauty like you."
Her face went redder, and she mumbled something incomprehensible before practically fleeing down the corridor.
Felix clicked his tongue, exhaling in defeat,
"Tch. Tough crowd today."
That was when his hazel eyes caught sight of Lilliana standing there, hands clasped neatly behind her back, watching him with exasperation.
"Ah… Professor Roseblood." He straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin. "Didn't see you there."
Lilliana tilted her head lightly, her lime-green eyes soft but unimpressed.
"I gathered as much."
He laughed awkwardly, shifting his weight onto one leg.
"You, uh… saw that, huh?"
"I did." Her sigh was quiet. "Are you really planning to spend your entire summer break flirting, Felix?"
Felix shrugged, flashing that lopsided grin that always seemed to get him out of trouble.
"What can I say? Gotta keep myself busy somehow."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Busy? That's one way to describe it."
He chuckled, scratching his cheek.
"Besides, I can't let myself fall behind, right? At this rate, Soren's gonna get engaged before I even get a date," he said jokingly.
Lilliana froze for just a moment.
The words hit strangely, like a small, unexpected sting in her chest.
"E-Engaged?" she repeated, blinking as if she hadn't quite heard right.
Felix nodded, waving a hand dismissively.
"Yeah, you know what he's like? He hardly talks to anyone, yet still keeps picking up princesses."
Lilliana forced a small laugh, though her fingers fidgeted lightly with the hem of her sleeve.
"I… I guess that's true."
Her smile stayed gentle, but her heart ached faintly in a way she didn't quite understand.
'Why does it… hurt a little?'
She pushed the thought aside, clearing her throat.
"Anyway, you should at least try to rest during the break, Felix. Or… perhaps study?"
He grinned.
"You wound me, Professor. Studying on break? That's cruel and unusual punishment."
"Then do something productive," she countered.
He held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright. I'll think about it. Maybe I'll even go train a bit."
Lilliana smiled faintly.
"That would be a start."
There was a short silence between them.
Felix shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall again, his posture relaxed.
"So," he said after a moment, "you think that guy's doing alright? He said he was going home, right?"
Lilliana looked out toward the distant academy gates, her expression softening.
"I hope so…"
"Well, if he's not, then we can just cheer him up when he gets back. We're used to it by now."
She giggled softly and nodded.
"That's true."
Felix tilted his head.
"And what about Amelia? Have you heard anything? Soren told me that her father asked her to go back home."
Lilliana tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I did hear something. I don't know much, but I heard that they were preparing for a battle…" She smiled faintly. "Knowing Miss Einhardt, she is probably on the frontlines."
"...That sounds exactly like her," Felix said, rolling his eyes. "She was always so timid next to Soren, so I sometimes forget that she's the Wild Wolf."
"At least she's quiet," Lilliana said.
After a while, the moment settled into a peaceful lull.
Felix stretched his arms, yawning loudly.
"Well, I should probably head back to the dorms. The heat is killing me."
"Try not to flirt with anyone else on your way back," Lilliana joked.
"No promises," he said with a grin, giving her a wave as he began walking away. "See you around, Professor Roseblood."
She watched him go, shaking her head with a faint smile.
"Honestly… How did Soren get close to someone like him?"
As his figure disappeared around the corner, Lilliana's smile faded into something softer and more thoughtful.
"...Engaged, huh…"
The word slipped out under her breath, almost inaudible.
She closed her eyes briefly, taking a steadying breath before turning to continue her walk.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Late one evening, after dinner and a hot bath, Lilliana sat on her sofa.
Lined neatly before her were several blood packs, sealed and labelled.
The faint metallic scent filled the room, subtle but intoxicating.
She stared at them for a long moment, her throat tightening.
'Focus, Lilliana. You don't need it yet.'
Her eyes flickered faintly, red bleeding through the green for a brief second.
She inhaled sharply, gripping the armrest of the couch.
Her dhampir instincts were stronger when she was tired.
It took a long while before she calmed her breathing and looked away.
Her gaze softened again as her eyes landed on the small handwritten label on one of the packs.
The letters were slightly messy, with strokes that were heavier than they should have been.
– Sorry for being so busy, I hope these help. From your one and only friend, Soren.
A small, genuine smile graced her lips.
"...You're too kind, Ren."
She traced the writing gently with her finger, her heart fluttering faintly.
He had taken the trouble to prepare these for her before leaving for his summer break, knowing she wouldn't ask for help even if she needed it.
"He really is cute sometimes…"
The words slipped out before she could stop them, her cheeks warming slightly.
She laughed softly at herself, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I miss you, Ren."
The confession came out in a whisper, barely audible even in the stillness of the room.
The reflection in the window looked back at her with tired eyes and a small, wistful smile as the faint crimson hue in her pupils glowed softly against the glass.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
The nights stretched on quietly.
After organising the blood packs into her small cooling cabinet, Lilliana went to her bedroom and sat on the edge of the window, glancing once more toward the garden outside.
The moonlight poured through the opening in the clouds, painting the petals silver.
She leaned her chin into her palm, letting the night breeze ruffle her hair.
'Is Soren also seeing this view?' She asked herself, but quickly shook her head. '...Probably not, he's usually sleeping like a baby by now.'
The thought made her giggle softly, the sound light and musical.
But beneath the laughter, there was a quiet ache, a longing that grew stronger the longer she looked out at the empty garden.
'I hope you're taking care of yourself, Ren.'
Her eyelids grew heavy.
The rhythmic chirping of crickets filled the night, mingling with the faint scent of roses drifting through the open window.
"Goodnight, Ren…" she whispered as she lay down on her bed, her hand clutching the edge of her blanket.
Within moments, her breathing slowed, her expression softening into peace.
Outside, the flowers swayed gently under the moonlight, one crimson rose standing taller than the rest, glowing faintly, as if it too was waiting for someone's return.
By morning, the garden would greet her again.
And until then, Lilliana Roseblood would dream quietly of warmth, of sunlight, and of a certain boy whose kindness lingered in her heart like the scent of blooming roses.
————「❤︎」————