Chapter 166: Miss Seo???

Chapter 166: Miss Seo???



The clicking sound of the clock resonated in the room, marking the passage of time, while the soft, cold winds blowing outside slipped through the slightly ajar windows, adding a crisp chill to the air.

Yui had quickly dressed her after the earlier awkward incident, and now I found myself seated at the dining table, facing Seo.

She sat across from me, her eyes fixed on the breakfast Yui had prepared, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of the plate as if anchoring herself.

Although only a few minutes had passed since we sat down, the tension in the air was palpable.

The nervousness and embarrassment from the incident still lingered between us, like an unspoken weight neither of us knew how to address.

My stomach growled quietly, reminding me of my hunger, but it felt wrong-rude even-to just start eating with Seo still so visibly shaken.

I'd already apologized, taking full responsibility for what happened, assuring her that it was entirely my fault.

It felt like the right thing to do, the moral thing, but my words didn't seem to reach her.

Seo remained silent, her eyes refusing to meet mine, her gaze locked onto the untouched food before her.

Her usual confidence was nowhere to be seen; instead, she looked small, almost fragile, as if the slightest movement might shatter the delicate balance of the moment.

Seo was never particularly skilled in social interactions.

I was a bit worried that she might be oblivious to the implications of what had just happened, but seeing her like this, I realized she was far more aware than I'd given her credit for.

The situation had clearly affected her, and while I was relieved she had some self-awareness, it made the silence between us even more difficult to bear.

11

".....

It would've been easier if Yui had stayed, at least to break the ice or steer the conversation in a less awkward direction, but that maid of mine had made a quick exit, clearly not wanting to be part of this uncomfortable situation.

For some, what had happened might not have been a big deal, something to brush off and laugh about later.

But for Seo, it was different.

This was a girl with significant social anxieties, someone who probably didn't even know where to begin in situations like this, nor did she seem to want to start a conversation at all.

Yet, if I let this silence drag on, we'd be stuck in this awkward limbo indefinitely, neither of us knowing how to move forward.

I could see it in the way she kept her eyes downcast, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

She was trying to make herself small, trying to disappear from the moment, but I knew that wouldn't help either of us.

"Seo..." I began, my voice soft but determined to cut through the tension.

"...." She didn't respond, but her shoulders tensed slightly, a sign that she was listening.

"I know I've already said this, but I'm really sorry... What happened back there was truly an accident. I swear to you, it won't happen again-"

"I-It's fine... It was my fault to begin with... T-that's why let's just forget about it, o-ok?" she replied, her voice trembling as she slowly lifted her gaze to meet mine.

The vulnerability in her eyes was clear, and I could see she was struggling to keep her

composure.

Seeing her like this, trying so hard to push past her discomfort, a small smile crept onto my lips before I even realized it.

"Okay..." I agreed gently, nodding to show her that I understood.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

There was no need to dwell on it any longer, no need to make her feel worse than she already did.

Though the tension didn't exactly fade, now that Seo was a little more open to conversation, we were at least getting somewhere.

It was clear that continuing to dwell on the awkwardness would get us nowhere, so I decided to shift the topic.

"So, why exactly did you come here, Seo?"

This was the boys' dorms, after all.

I knew she had Stealth skills, but if she got caught even once in a guy's room, her social life at the academy would be practically over.

The students here were particularly adept at spreading rumors, and who knows what kind of scandal could blow up just from seeing her in my room.

Not to mention the potential punishments-her status as the top-ranked student in the knight department might not save her from the school's strict enforcement of this particular

rule.

"...I just wanted to see you..." she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damn it... why are you so cute?

"Um... is that so? I'm grateful for the thought, but... you could've met me some other way,

right?"

"I'm on probation..."

'Ah, that's right, I'd almost forgotten.'

"And also... I wanted to apologize for what happened last time as well..." she added, her gaze dropping to the floor as she fidgeted with her hands.

"That day, I got ahead of myself and ended up making the situation troublesome for you... I deeply regret it," Seo said, her voice soft but sincere as she met my gaze.

"It's okay. What happened that day couldn't be helped. The situation spiraled out of control due to unfortunate coincidences, and I was at fault as well, so please don't blame yourself." The suddenness of everything that day made it impossible to manage, especially with emotions running high.

Seo's behavior was odd, but it was more about her innocent curiosity-she was trying to navigate feelings she didn't fully understand.

Rose's reaction, on the other hand, was partly my fault, a consequence of my own

indecisiveness.

And Alice... well, she was just an innocent bystander who got pulled into the chaos.

But if I had to point fingers, it would be at that damn cat, Cheshire.

If he hadn't gaslit and manipulated everyone's emotions, the fight between the girls might

never have happened-or at least wouldn't have blown up to the extent that it did.

His meddling turned a tense situation into an all-out clash.

"But if I hadn't asked you for that kiss, then maybe-"

"Stop right there. I told you, it's not your fault."

Seo's lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but no words came out.

Her gaze dropped, lingering on her plate as she fidgeted with her hands.

Maybe the fluttering in her stomach and the warmth spreading across her cheeks hinted at

emotions she had yet to fully comprehend.

Maybe this was the love Lina had been trying to help her understand... but Seo wasn't sure.

All she knew was that something was gnawing at her, something that left her feeling distinctly annoyed.

"I know I've already said this, but I'm really sorry... What happened back there was truly an

accident. I swear to you, it won't happen again-"

"I-It's fine... It was my fault to begin with... T-that's why let's just forget about it, o-ok?"

Riley's attempt to dismiss the incident quickly, to act as if they could just move on and pretend it never happened, struck a hidden nerve deep within Seo.

His nonchalant attitude, the way he tried to brush it off as if it were nothing, only made her

irritation grow.

'Why isn't he embarrassed...?'

An annoyance kept brewing inside her.

Seo understood that dwelling on the matter wouldn't do any good, but every time she glanced

at Riley, she couldn't help but feel her frustration deepen.

The way he talked, the way he looked at her-it all felt too casual, too indifferent.

It was as if what he had seen didn't matter to him at all, like it was something he could easily

forget.

And Seo didn't like that one bit.

It was unfair!

How could he be so unaffected when she was a whirlwind of emotions?

How could he look at her so calmly when her heart was racing, her thoughts tangled in

confusion?

It was unfair that he could be so composed when she felt anything but.

It was unfair that he could so easily decide to forget about it when it was all she could think

about.

'Riley is just trying to be nice....'

But...

The more she thought about it, the more it irritated her.

She wanted him to feel the same embarrassment, the same confusion, the same... something

that she was feeling.

This wasn't something she could just let go of, not when it had affected her so deeply.

Seo didn't know what exactly she wanted from Riley, but she knew one thing for certain: she didn't want to be the only one left feeling this way.

Seo's chest had always been a sensitive and deeply personal issue for her. Ever since she was young, she had been more generously endowed than her peers, blessed with a body that seemed designed by the goddess to please her future partner.

All her life, she had taken great care to conceal her figure, wearing baggy robes and loose

clothing to diminish the attention her curves might attract.

It was something she had grown accustomed to, a habit born from a mixture of shyness and a

desire to avoid unwanted scrutiny.

But now, all of that had been undone in an instant. A young man, someone she cared about

deeply, had seen her in all her unguarded, vulnerable glory.

The thought alone made her heart race, a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and something

she couldn't quite identify coursing through her.

She had never intended for anyone to see her like that, least of all Riley. But now that it had

happened, an odd sense of justice sparked within her.

"Take your shirt off... let me see yours too," she demanded, her voice shaky yet resolute.

Riley blinked, clearly taken aback. "Seo, what are you-"

"Just let me see... you saw mine... so it's only fair."

In her mind, it was a simple matter of equality.

As best friends, someone who had seen her in her most vulnerable state, it was her right to see

him as well.

She wasn't entirely sure why she felt so strongly about it-whether it was to ease her own

embarrassment or to satisfy a curiosity that had suddenly been awakened.

But what she did know was that Riley had seen a side of her that no one else had, and now she

wanted to see a side of him that was just as intimate.

The Chest was just the start and Seo knew the upper portion of a man's body wasn't

something they needed to embarrassed of.

But the lower half was another....

Her heart pounded as she took a step closer, her eyes locked onto his.

There was no turning back now; the words had already left her mouth, and she was

determined to see this through.

"S-Seo where are you looking right now?"

Recalling the secret techniques from her book.... She was prepared to use it on Riley just to see

his embarrassed face.