Chapter 20: Let’s Make a Deal
CRUNCHY leaves whirled slowly to the ground. The trees were almost entirely bare now, with only a dusting of leaves left, clinging desperately to the boughs as the bitter north wind whipped past.
Angelica didn’t notice the cold, however. She was distracted by a mild sense of excitement.
Angelica was lying in wait on the path to the dorms.
There was a cluster of trees where the path to the boy and girl dorms forked. Angelica was huddled under the trees, waiting.
He wouldn’t go back to class after that. Probably, he’d go straight back to his own dorm room.
Her predictions proved correct.
As the sound of footsteps grew closer, Angelica slid out onto the path, leaving the cover of the trees to waylay her prey.
Felix stopped short, eyes widening in surprise.
“Angelica?”
He still looked pale. The attack, whatever it was, had been painful to watch, let alone experience. Seeing it first-hand, it made perfect sense now why he’d had to repeat first year.
But now Angelica knew there was a reason why Felix was even allowed to repeat first year.
“Uncle…”
Maybe it was out of desperation, not wanting anyone to fetch Mia. Maybe it was because he was feeling so ill and couldn’t think straight. Whatever the reason, it had just slipped out.
Angelica had connected the dots immediately. Felix wanted his uncle, did he?
Angelica knew the name of every aristocrat connected to the school, as well as their relatives. But the identity of the chairman of the board’s nephew had previously been a mystery. Yes, Randolph Meyer Lohenstein’s nephew. Prince Emil Felix Leonard Lohenstein.
There was no need for her to juggle two boys anymore.
She pictured Zeke’s face for a moment.
The time they spent together was fun, she had to admit. But she had to discard him. Father would hardly be proud of her for snagging a random boy like Zeke.
“Are you all right?”
She imagined herself as a ministering angel, trying her hardest to radiate care and concern.
“Oh. Yes, I’m fine now. It was nothing life-threatening.”
“…Your illness still hasn’t gotten better, has it?”
“It’s more of a chronic condition, I guess. Something I have to live with. Anyway, why aren’t you in class? You’re an honor student, not a slacker like me. You shouldn’t skip class.”
Shooting her a mild, apologetic glance, he made as if to walk away.
Quickly, Angelica threw a question at him.
“Why didn’t you want us to call that girl—Mia Baumann—to help you?”
The sound of that name made Felix visibly stiffen.
“It wasn’t that serious.”
Felix turned to Angelica again, smiling. It looked like he was trying to hold back tears. Looking at him made Angelica’s chest prickle painfully for some reason.
He looked so noble, so regal in that moment.
But it was clear that he hadn’t given up on Mia. And it was also clear that he’d only gotten close to Angelica to serve some purpose or other, something that would ultimately benefit Mia.
The thought made Angelica burn with jealousy.
Why Mia? What’s so great about her?
Angelica was furious.
Since early childhood, she had been raised to be the perfect aristocrat’s wife. To cast aside her own desires and steel herself to her fate, for the sake of her family, for the sake of her father.
Because what other purpose did Angelica’s existence serve, if not that?
So why did Mia, who seemed to do whatever she liked, get to steal everything from her?
Did she deserve sympathy just because she had a sick mother? Well, Angelica didn’t even have a mother. Angelica would never see her mother again. Didn’t that make Angelica even more worthy of sympathy?
It didn’t make any sense to her at all.
“My lord, Felix…what about me? Can’t I help you?”
She gazed at him with solemn eyes. Then, throwing herself into his arms, she brought out her big lie.
“I’m in love with you, Prince Emil!”
“What?!”
Felix jumped, looking around in a panic, too flustered to even deny it. Luckily, classes were currently in session. No one ought to be around at that time.
Hmm? I sense someone nearby, even though everyone should be in class…
After taking a quick look around to make sure herself, Angelica gazed flirtatiously back at Felix.
“As I was saying, my prince…let’s quit all the games and make a deal, shall we?”
“Make a deal?”
Felix hesitated, eyes wide and wild.
“I’ll give you what you want. If you give me what I want.”
Felix thought hard for a few moments, then responded in a weak voice.
“What is it you want?”
Just then, they could hear footsteps nearby. Felix tried to free himself from Angelica’s embrace, but she clung on.
Panicked, Felix tried to shake Angelica off. Still holding on, she leaned in and whispered right in his ear.
“What I want is…”
It was what she’d wanted for a long time. Something she absolutely had to have.
Felix swallowed hard. “Let me think it over,” he muttered, his face distorted by pain and turmoil.
“I’ll be waiting…with excitement.”
Angelia smiled, letting go of Felix at last and walking away.