Chapter 193: Embarrased
"Hm? Is this some secret party I wasn’t invited to?"
As Alicia opened the door, Victoria walked in, stopping just before the entrance as she observed the people in the room.
"What brings you here, Big Sister?"
Alicia, changing the topic, quickly interrupted the conversation.
There was no way she would let her sister know what was happening in the room.
Victoria considered Diana one of her closest friends, but if she got to know about the recent events, then...
Alicia didn’t want her sister to see Diana in a bad light, or feel bad herself.
Kevin and the others, seemingly getting the message, quickly nodded their heads as if agreeing with Alicia’s question.
"Nothing special... I was just here to check on Kevin, but maybe... he didn’t really need my company."
Victoria uttered the words as she swept her gaze across the room, taking note of the reactions everyone displayed.
She could clearly see that they were trying to hide something, but didn’t want her to know about it.
Though Victoria was curious, she wasn’t foolish.
If Alicia didn’t want her to know whatever was happening before her entrance, then... that was fine by her.
Victoria had only heard loud shouts from inside, so she didn’t know the full extent of whatever had occurred in the room—or at least, that was what she displayed on the outside.
"I am perfectly fine, Sister, so don’t worry—"
"Yeah, I can see that."
Just as Kevin was about to place his hand over his stomach to show that his injury had healed, Victoria had already walked closer to him, placing her hands on his forehead.
"Sister—"
"Why were you sweating? Do you have a fever?"
Though Victoria asked it casually, Kevin couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
And adding to that, Kevin noticed a faint smirk on Diana’s lips the moment Victoria asked the question.
"That—"
"Aren’t you being too protective, Big Sister? I mean, seeing the temperature outside, I think it’s fairly normal for anyone to sweat in such a situation."
Alicia quickly interrupted Kevin to give a reasonable excuse before he could mess things up.
"Hm. That may be true."
Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Victoria turned to look at Alicia and the others while standing beside Kevin.
"Actually, I was here to invite Kevin to eat with me. So how about we all go together?"
"Huh? Why only him? Didn’t you think about us—"
"I was going to check on him first and then bring him along to invite the rest of you. But now that everyone’s already here, how about we head out? My friend has arranged a campfire, so let’s have a nice dinner."
Interrupting Alicia, Victoria quickly made everyone agree with her.
Well... her tone left no room for argument, so it was a given that everyone had to agree.
"How is your arm?"
As everyone began to walk out of the room, Alicia quietly approached her sister.
"Hm? It’s alright. I can at least make basic movements, and maybe within some days, I will be able to—"
"You won’t train."
"I won’t."
"..."
"I won’t."
Victoria reasserted her statement while gently pulling Alicia’s cheeks to dissolve her pout.
Click.
Closing the door behind her, Alicia followed the rest as Victoria walked alongside her.
There was a long silence between them, as neither initiated any conversation.
Diana walked beside Alicia, while Kevin and Noah were at the forefront, their steps quiet—as if this silence was what everyone needed the most at the moment.
"Are you worried?"
"Huh?"
Victoria’s words startled Alicia, who blinked repeatedly, not knowing what her sister meant.
Victoria didn’t speak further and simply kept looking at Alicia with a knowing gaze.
"I... maybe."
Though Alicia wanted to deny it, she knew the truth was easy to see.
Noah’s and Kevin’s expressions shifted, as both of them knew where the conversation was heading.
Kevin, giving a final glance to Alicia, shifted his gaze to Victoria, who just nodded in return.
Getting the hint, Kevin placed his hand on Noah’s shoulder and signalled him to move faster.
Noah, understanding the reason, increased his pace, and the two of them created enough distance.
"Do you think I am a petty person with an inflated ego?"
Seeing Kevin and Noah walking away, Victoria asked another question.
"Big Sis?"
Alicia stopped in her tracks and looked into Victoria’s eyes with concern.
"So you do think of me as—"
"I do not. And please stop with this sudden interrogation. You know I hate such things!"
Alicia pouted in frustration as she involuntarily raised her voice at the end.
Victoria just smiled in return and brought Alicia closer, placing her arm over her shoulder.
Alicia maintained her pout, shifting her gaze away.
"Kael—"
The moment Victoria uttered the name, Alicia shifted slightly, as if it wasn’t a topic she wanted to discuss.
Diana, too, looked at Victoria, her earlier anger replaced with silent guilt.
Though Victoria noticed Diana’s expression, she didn’t comment on it.
"Kael is your brother—by blood. It’s a fact that none can refute."
Neither Alicia nor Diana interrupted, both keeping their gazes lowered.
"You have every right to worry about him, just like you worry about me."
At those words, Alicia slowly raised her head and met Victoria’s softened gaze.
That gave Alicia the assurance that it wasn’t the vice-president of the student council speaking—but her big sister.
"So... stop being hesitant to talk to me. I won’t get mad just because you’re worried about someone else, okay?"
Victoria gently pressed Alicia’s shoulders as the girl’s eyes began to tear up.
"And the same goes for you, Princess."
Diana was pulled out of her thoughts as Victoria looked at her with a smile—one that felt unnatural for the vice-president the academy knew.
"I—"
"You care about him. I know it, and there’s no shame in that. So stop overthinking unnecessary details and speak freely. It’s not like I will eat you up if you end up taking his side."
"..."
Though Diana wanted to give a proper reply... She couldn’t muster any words at the moment, so just ended up nodding her head in acknowledgement.
Victoria simply smiled in return.
"Big Sister, about the elections—"
Alicia paused midway, hesitating.