HTNSA 20

Chapter 20

Eila had, in fact, lied to Felix about one thing.

The herbs she needed from the forest weren’t for his temporary treatment.

They were for Blue Moonflower—a key ingredient in the antidote to cure the poison the princess had been ingesting.

It was an incredibly rare herb, and its toxic properties made it impossible for a mere student to purchase openly.

‘I still have enough ingredients left for one or two more doses of Felix’s treatment… but it’ll run out soon.’

However, once she gained the princess’s trust, gathering materials for potions—whether temporary treatments or otherwise—would no longer be an issue.

‘So it’s not really a lie.’

With that justification, she kept a straight face.

“Anyway, can you come with me when I go?”

Instead of arguing or questioning her, Felix just sighed deeply and nodded with a stern expression.

“I was about to beg you to take me. Don’t forget to bring me along.”

Eila’s eyes widened.

She had expected to convince him, but not for him to agree so readily.

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

“You have to.”

“I will. I’m the one who asked for your help, after all.”

Still uneasy, Felix added,

“And if you’re planning anything else even slightly dangerous, tell me. Don’t act alone.”

Eila frowned at his worried expression.

‘Is he… concerned about me?’

It was almost funny—he had been so wary of her at first, yet now he acted like they were already allies.

‘Kind of cute.’

Of course, she knew his protectiveness stemmed from her being the only one who could make his medicine.

He might even see her as little more than a walking treatment.

But she didn’t mind.

Ever since being exposed as a fake and cast out, this was the first time someone had genuinely worried about her.

‘He’s probably years younger than my past self…’

Yet seeing him step forward to protect her made her heart soften unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, Felix exhaled quietly as he watched her.

He couldn’t begin to guess what she was thinking.

‘What’s so fun about sneaking into a dangerous forest?’

Honestly, he wanted to ask if there wasn’t a safer way to get the ingredients—one that didn’t involve breaking academy rules.

But seeing the determination in her eyes, the words died in his throat.

He already knew the resolve hidden behind that delicate face was anything but ordinary.

‘She broke off her engagement with Kadin right after being disowned and immediately came to strike a deal with me. That says enough.’

Even if he tried to stop her, she’d just take the risk alone.

So it was better to go along with her plan.

Besides, Eila was smart enough to create a treatment for mana insensitivity.

If she chose a difficult path, there had to be a good reason.

‘I can never predict what she’ll do.’

One moment, she seemed fragile—on the verge of tears. The next, she’d do something unimaginable.

Felix couldn’t figure her out, and that was precisely why she held his attention.

Cedric swung his sword wildly in the training grounds until exhaustion forced him to his knees.

Gripping his throbbing head, he let out a frustrated sigh.

‘What is Eila even thinking these days?’

He knew about Kadin’s shameless demand.

Hearing about it later from those present had infuriated him.

So he couldn’t blame Eila for rejecting Kadin—he would’ve done the same.

‘But right after breaking it off, she starts mingling with a commoner?’

The rumors spreading through the academy were vicious.

People whispered that Eila, with no sense of shame, had immediately taken up with a lowly commoner after her broken engagement.

Hearing such talk about Eila—once his precious family—filled Cedric with rage.

And Gerart’s words had only stoked his worries further.

“Is it true Eila’s gotten close to a commoner lately?”

“What does it matter?”

“You know Father’s been working hard to smooth things over with the viscount’s family after Eila’s rudeness. Now she flaunts her association with a commoner, making it seem like she’s mocking both houses.”

“……”

“At this rate, we might never be able to bring her back. You should talk to her.”

Cedric had heard the rumors too.

But Eila had denied any relationship with Felix, and he had wanted to believe her.

Yet the academy students seemed more interested in scandal than truth.

‘This is all because of that clueless commoner.’

Cedric gritted his teeth at the thought of Felix.

The boy had recently defeated Kadin in a duel, becoming the talk of the academy.

‘They say he recently cured his mana insensitivity? The professors are making a fuss, saying he could become a rare talent.’

But no matter how skilled Felix was, Cedric couldn’t stand him.

Even if Eila was now a commoner, Felix was no match for her.

Not unless he became a true Sword Master.

‘With no formal training since childhood, there’s no way he’ll reach that level.’

Commoners rarely ever became Sword Masters.

Nobles inherently surpassed them in physical ability and latent talent.

Occasional exceptions existed, but they appeared maybe once in centuries.

‘Eila, on the other hand—even if her magic is lacking, she’s knowledgeable, refined, and her potion-making surpasses most mages. She can’t marry some nobody commoner.’

Gerart and Cedric had planned to wed Eila to a noble of decent standing and title—if not Kadin, then someone else.

That would be far better than her marrying a lowborn commoner.

But a sudden worry struck him.

‘What if they actually start dating?’

The thought soured his mood instantly.

He recalled how he and Gerart had treated Eila.

They had never allowed any man to so much as glance her way.

He had even jokingly—yet earnestly—told her to stay unmarried and live with their family forever.

Maybe that was why he had never been fully satisfied with her engagement to Kadin.

She had been that precious to him.

‘When I first saw her, I swore to protect her for life.’

…So how had things come to this?

Not only was he estranged from Eila, but now he had to watch as some filthy insect clung to her.

Truthfully, he had avoided meeting her out of respect for Roshia.

Getting close to Eila again felt like an insult to Roshia, who had lived without the privileges she deserved.

But this was too much. He had to see her now.

Cedric was determined to talk her out of this.

‘I’ll make sure she never associates with Felix again. That’s the only way she can return to the family.’

For Eila to come back under their protection, she couldn’t afford any more scandals.

To protect his precious little sister, Cedric finally took action.