Chapter 16

The next day, Adrelo found himself reluctantly agreeing to a favor for Milo, who needed potions and recipes from the Alchemy lab for the next day's Heritage Festival activity.

Milo, expecting a refusal, was surprised when Adrelo nodded curtly and grabbed the list without much protest.

Adrelo made his way toward the alchemy lab, clutching the note in his hand. As he rounded the corner, his heart nearly stopped. There, walking down the hallway with an air of elegance and authority, was the second prince Luxecio, surrounded by several professors engaged in discussion.

Adrelo froze, his instincts screaming at him to avoid any confrontation. He quickly darted down an adjacent corridor, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. His heart raced as he waited for what felt like an eternity. Once the coast was clear, he made his way to the alchemy lab.

The dimly lit room carried the faint scent of herbs, minerals, and old parchment. Adrelo stepped inside cautiously, his eyes scanning the shelves and cabinets for the items on the list.

As he moved toward the center of the room, his gaze landed on a figure slouched over a desk, seemingly asleep. His breath caught. Cielros Nevrine.

Cielros, the son of the head mage of the Magic Tower, and a character whose beauty and power were unparalleled even among the leads. His moonlight hair fell in soft waves, and his striking beautiful eyes, sharp even in rest, seemed to shimmer faintly. His presence exuded an intoxicating mix of grace and danger, making him both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Adrelo's body tensed. Memories from the novel flooded his mind.

The scenes where Cielros mercilessly obliterated anyone who crossed the female lead or his close circle. His playful yet sadistic tendencies toward minor villains like Adrelo weren't forgotten either.

Carefully, Adrelo tiptoed to the cabinets, trying not to disturb the sleeping mage. He managed to locate a few of the required potions and scrolls, his movements as silent as possible.

But then, disaster struck. A glass bottle slipped from the shelf, its lid clattering loudly against the stone floor.

Adrelo's heart leapt into his throat as he froze in place, his wide eyes darting toward Cielros. For a moment, the mage didn't stir, and Adrelo let out a shaky breath of relief.

As he reached for another item, a shadow loomed over him. He turned his head slightly, and there it was a pale, elegant hand pressed against the wall beside his head.

"Care to explain what you're doing here?"

A smooth, icy voice whispered in his ear.

Adrelo's stomach dropped. He didn't dare look behind him, his mind screaming in terror.

"Hmm?"

The voice hummed again, playful yet carrying a dangerous undertone. A soft chuckle followed, as warm breath brushed against Adrelo's ear.

"I wasn't aware we were allowed to sneak around in the alchemy lab after hours."

"Looking for something?" a low, playful voice murmured behind him.

Adrelo swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he clutched the list. He felt the presence behind him shift closer, and suddenly, a chin rested lightly on his shoulder.

"What's this? Silent treatment? How rude."

The voice was now teasing, but Adrelo couldn't miss the sharp edge beneath the words.

Finally, Adrelo turned his head slightly, his eyes locking with those molten gold irises that seemed to glow even in the dim light. Cielros studied him, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

"Well, well..."

Cielros murmured, leaning back slightly but keeping his hand braced against the wall.

"If it isn't the infamous Adrelo Le Ven Dierre. I've heard so much about you."

His gaze swept over Adrelo's figure, his smirk widening.

"Though I must say, you're not quite what I expected."

Adrelo's legs felt weak, his mind racing with thoughts of every cruel fate Cielros had inflicted on villains in the novel.

The memory of the ball scene where Cielros had humiliated the original Adrelo surfaced vividly, and Adrelo could almost feel the suffocating shame.

Cielros tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from Adrelo's face with deliberate slowness.

Adrelo flinched at the touch, his breath hitching.

"You're trembling,"

Cielros observed, his voice softening as if he were coaxing a frightened animal.

"Are you... scared of me?"

Adrelo's lips parted, but no words came out.

Cielros chuckled again, this time more warmly, though his gaze remained sharp.

"Interesting. You're like a little lamb, aren't you? Fragile, wide-eyed... trembling in fear."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Makes anyone want to protect you... or devour you."

Adrelo's knees nearly buckled, but he forced himself to stand firm.

"I... I just needed some potions for tomorrow's festival," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper

Cielros's smirk returned.

"Potions, hmm? And you thought it'd be a good idea to sneak in without permission?"

"I-I didn't know anyone was here," Adrelo blurted out, his words tumbling over each other.

Cielros straightened, crossing his arms as he regarded Adrelo thoughtfully.

"You're quite the enigma, you know. The rumors paint you as this cruel, short-tempered brute... yet here you are, shaking like a leaf. It's... adorable."

Adrelo's face burned with humiliation and confusion.

Cielros stepped back slightly, allowing Adrelo some breathing room.

"Go on, then. Finish your little errand. I'll allow it this time," he said, his tone still laced with amusement.

Adrelo didn't need to be told twice. He quickly gathered the remaining items, his hands fumbling as he tried to avoid Cielros's penetrating gaze.

As he turned to leave, Cielros called out,

"Oh, and Adrelo?"

Adrelo stopped, glancing back hesitantly.

"You should smile more,"

Cielros said, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

"It suits you."

Adrelo hurried out of the lab, his heart pounding in his chest. Once he was far enough away, he slumped against a wall, his breathing uneven.

"Why does everyone here feel the need to toy with me?" he muttered under his breath, clutching the potions tightly.

Back in the lab, Cielros leaned against the desk, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

"What an interesting little lamb..."

He murmured, the memory of Adrelo's wide, tearful eyes lingering in his mind.

****

Adrelo's legs carried him swiftly down the hallway, his mind reeling from the suffocating presence of Cielros Nevrine. His chest felt tight as if he had narrowly escaped a predator's claws, and the cold sweat trickling down his back only worsened his sense of vulnerability. The dimly lit hallway seemed endless, yet every step away from the alchemy lab brought his fears into sharper focus.

As he walked, his mind spiraled into vivid recollections of the original Adrelo's fate as described in the novel, a fate he now shared unless he could rewrite his future.

The first memory to surface was the grand gala event, a significant turning point in the story.

The original Adrelo had spent weeks plotting to disgrace the female lead at the gala. Fueled by jealousy and his bruised ego, he planned to sabotage her performance by tampering with her dress, ensuring she would be publicly humiliated. However, the plan failed spectacularly. Cielros, sharp as ever, uncovered Adrelo's scheme and turned the tables.

The original Adrelo had been exposed before the entire court. Cielros's icy voice rang in Adrelo's ears, echoing the words that sealed his social death:

"A snake deserves to be stripped of its fangs."

The son of the head mage wielded his status and wit like a weapon, reducing Adrelo to a quivering mess in front of the aristocracy. It was a moment that cemented Cielros's place as one of the female lead's staunchest protectors, and Adrelo's greatest nightmare.

Adrelo's steps faltered as another memory rushed forward, this one drenched in moonlight and heartbreak. It was the night of the Academy's celebration of their victory against rival institutions.

The courtyard had been decorated with lanterns, laughter, and music filling the air. The original Adrelo had been lurking in the shadows, seething as he watched the female lead bask in the admiration of her peers. Then it happened, Cielros, with his moonlit hair and confident demeanor, pulled her aside.

Adrelo could still picture the scene clearly.

The two of them standing beneath a canopy of blooming nightflowers, their soft glow enhancing the female lead's delicate beauty.

Cielros had cupped her face with surprising gentleness, whispering words that made her cheeks flush, before leaning down to kiss her.

The moonlight had framed the moment perfectly, making it seem like a scene from a painting.

But for the original Adrelo, it had been a moment of utter devastation. Rage and envy had consumed him as he watched the girl he claimed to love being swept away by Cielros's charm. It was this moment that pushed the original Adrelo to act recklessly, attempting to harass the female lead later that evening in a drunken fury.

That act solidified his role as a despised antagonist in the story, and Cielros's retaliation had been swift and merciless.

Adrelo's fists clenched at the memory. The humiliation, the scorn of the nobility, the isolation, it was all so vivid in his mind. And yet, what terrified him most wasn't the events themselves but the looming presence of Cielros Nevrine.

Cielros had been a force of nature in the novel, his charisma and intellect matched only by his ruthlessness. The way he played with his prey, manipulating them until they broke, was something Adrelo couldn't forget.

The final memory came like a dagger to his chest. The female lead's first kiss.

It wasn't with Cielros as the original Adrelo had believed, it was with another male lead, an event that fueled further discord between the main characters. But the revelation had been devastating for Adrelo, who had deluded himself into believing he had some claim over her.

That kiss had been a pivotal moment in the novel, highlighting the female lead's independence and the growing web of relationships around her. For Adrelo, it marked the beginning of his downfall.

Adrelo shook his head, trying to clear the storm of thoughts.

'None of that has to happen', he told himself, gripping the edge of a pillar to steady himself.

'I'm not him. I don't care about the female lead. I just want to survive.'

But even as he reassured himself, the memory of Cielros's piercing silver eyes and teasing smirk lingered in his mind. The way Cielros had trapped him in the lab, the subtle amusement in his voice, and the predatory gleam in his gaze, it all felt like a prelude to disaster.