WINTER'S SWEET EMBRACE

Vincent sat behind Maelle, holding onto the leather saddle grip. After the heavy tension of the confrontation with Lucianne, the open road felt oddly peaceful.

"So... That went surprisingly well. All things considered."

Maelle kept her hands firm on the reins, staring straight ahead as the distant spires of the Academy came into view against the darkening orange sky. "It was necessary. Lucianne believed her noble blood rendered her immune to consequences. She was wrong."

"Yeah, but public expulsion and life imprisonment in a foreign dungeon? You don’t do half-measures."

"In my position, half-measures are an invitation to be slaughtered."

"Right, right. You know... I’m surprised you let me ride with you. Gwen explicitly told me not to get on this horse with you. You don’t care about how this looks?"

"Gwen is overprotective," Maelle said as a faint, almost imperceptible tilt appeared at the corner of her lips. "Besides, you’re my Familiar. You being at my side is only natural. People will just have to get used to it."

"Wooow, you’re pretty smooth in the art of flirting." Vincent teased. "I gotta admit though... you’ve got some big cojones, Princess. Talking about taking on Lulu’s family and an entire all at once? That’s some serious villain-level swagger."

Maelle didn’t turn around, but her shoulder twitched slightly. "It is not arrogance. It is simply a statement of fact. With you and the element of surprise, they cannot easily crush us."

"That’s quite a lot of faith you’re putting in me. You sure you’re not just being reckless?"

"....."

’And now she decides to go quiet.’

They spent the rest of the ride in comfort silence until they finally turned into the quiet stables located near the grand front gate of the academy grounds.

After dismounting and handing the reins to a waiting stable boy to return the horse, Maelle turned to face Vincent, "Thank you, Vincent. For everything today."

"Don’t sweat it. I enjoyed my time here. And it’s only going to get more interesting from here on out."

"’Intersting’ is certainly not the word I would use... Well then. I shall dismiss you for the evening so you may rest–"

"Wait," Vincent stopped her, raising a hand. "Remember what I told you this morning? Before all the madness started?"

Maelle blinked, pausing mid-gesture. "Right... you said you had something important you wanted to tell me."

"Yeah. Seeing as you have time, do you want to talk about it?"

"Okay. But not here. Follow me to my dormitory room where we can speak in private."

"Lead the way."

As they crossed the courtyard and navigated the campus’ gilded corridors, eventually making it to the dormitory buildings where all around were students gathered in small clusters.

The moment Maelle passed by a group, the atmosphere would visibly shift to uncomfortability each time. Their expressions would twist in open disgust or quiet disdain. Not a single person offered a friendly greeting or even a polite nod.

Vincent watched the reactions with growing unease.

He recalled the lecture hall earlier that afternoon – the way the rows of desks surrounding Maelle had been empty, as if she carried a contagious plague.

"Hey, Maelle..." Vincent murmured low, keeping his voice beneath the venomous whispers.

"What is it?" she asked without breaking her stride.

"I’m just gonna come out and say it. I noticed it in class earlier today, nobody sits near you. Nobody talks to you. Out here, everyone looks at you like you just kicked their dog. Do you... actually have any friends? Beside Gwen. Maybe a secret one no one knows about?"

"Friends are a useless luxury in a place like this. Connections here are built on political leverage and mutual greed. True friendship is a vulnerability I cannot afford."

’Oh my goodness... Mama, this baby needs love.’

They soon reached the double doors of the female dormitory and entered inside. A group of girls lounging in the lobby immediately stiffened as Vincent walked in behind Maelle.

"... What? Is that... a man?"

"Wait. Why is Princess Maelle bringing a male here?! Is she– In her room– They’re going to–!"

Maelle just ignored them, stepping onto the carpeted staircase as if the girls were invisible.

Vincent, feeling the burn of a dozen outraged glares, held up his hands in an apologetic gesture

"Sorry, ladies! Official business, I swear it’s nothing nefarious!" He quickly jogged up the stairs after Maelle.

"V-Vincent...?" a soft, trembling voice called out from the second-floor landing.

He paused on the stairs, looking up. Standing near the banister was Ava – back in her disguise as the shy, petite student with dark twin tails and thick-rimmed glasses.

"Oh! Hey, Ava. Are you doing okay? You were hyperventilating pretty hard earlier."

"Why are you h–!? *Ahem!* Aha.. Ha..ha..ha I-I’m fine! The nurse gave me a soothing potion. I’m much better now! Thanks for asking."

As Vincent stepped up onto the landing, his scent carried straight toward her nose.

"Hnngh~! *Gasp!*"

Slap!

The moment it hit her, her eyes dilated and a sudden, intense shudder ran down her spine. She instantly slammed both hands over her nose and mouth, her face burning red as she took a sudden step back.

"Whoa! What’s wrong?!" Vincent asked, panicked.

He raised his arm and sniffed his sleeve anxiously. "Wait... do I stink?!" ’Did I pick up a sewer smell?!’

"N-NO!" Ava blurted out. "NO! You don’t stink at all! You smell... you smell really, really good! TOO GOOD! *Gasp!*"

She immediately slapped her hands over her mouth again, her hazel eyes wide with total self-horror.

From further up the stairs, Maelle stopped, looking down at them with an unimpressed stare. "Vincent. We do not have time for this."

"Right, coming! Sorry, Ava, I gotta go. I’m glad you’re doing bette–"

"W-Wait!" She quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Hmm?"

Realising what she had just done, she swallowed hard with panic. Her heart was hammering wildly as she desperately searched her brain for an excuse as to why she stopped him other than impulse.

"I-I know this sounds really weird! But... When is the Princess going to dismiss you for the night?! I mean! I was just wondering! Because I saw you together all day! And, and... it’s late! And the dorm rules say all students must be back by eight o’clock unless it’s an emergency! And I was worried you’d get in trouble with the dorm mother! And, and–!"

"That’s oddly specific, Ava. Asking when Maelle is going to dismiss me?"

"BECAUSE!" her face practically leaking steam. "Because... because I care about... dorm policy! And... proper sleeping habits! Yes! Sleeping habits!"

"Riiiigght. Well, don’t worry. We’re just going to have a quick talk in her room, and then I’m out of here. Plus, I’ve got terrible sleeping habits as it is. Maelle will probably execute me if I sleep here and unconsciously act out."

"I... I have bad sleeping habits too!" Ava blurted out desperately, taking a half-step closer. "I stay up late reading, and–"

"Vincent. Enough." Maelle’s voice rang out from the top of the stairs.

"Coming for real this time! Catch you later, Ava. Try to... relax a little, alright?"

"Relax... Y-Yeah... bye..."

She let go of his sleeve and turned around, walking away down the hallway with stiff, trembling legs, shuffling her feet nervously like an anxious little penguin.

Vincent chuckled under his breath before turning and jogging up the remaining stairs to join Maelle.

Once he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, Ava stopped dead in her tracks.

Her shoulders slumped and her hands slid down her face as she let out a long sigh – breathing so hard it sounded like she had just narrowly escaped a gruesome death.

’What the ACTUAL fuck is wrong with me?! It’s that goddamn scent of his! Argh! Get a grip, Ava! You are a succubus assassin! Why are you babbling about sleeping habits to him?! FOCUS!’

She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing to calm down.

’At least I got something out of that. I see her attendant isn’t with her and he’ll be dismissed after a brief talk. But I’ll wait just in case. I’ll wait until two in the morning when the entire campus is asleep... and then I’ll strike.’

....

Inside Maelle’s lavish room on the highest floor, the heavy door clicked shut.

The room was expansive, featuring high ceilings, a huge sofa, a writing desk covered with books and papers, and a massive balcony overlooking the campus grounds.

Maelle poured two glasses of water, handing one to Vincent before taking a seat on the sofa. Vincent sat down opposite her in a plush leather armchair, taking a small sip.

After a few moments to collect himself, Vincent set his glass down on the side table and began talking.

"Alright. Down to business."

"I’m listening."

"So, here’s the thing... It’s about the dragon. The dragon familiar you were originally supposed to summon but got me instead."

"What about it?"

Vincent ran a hand through his brown hair, letting out a defeated sigh. "I’ve looked into it and, Maelle... there’s no way to reverse a Familiar contract. There’s no way to swap me out or change familiars."

He looked down at his hands, his voice tinged with genuine remorse. "I’m sorry. I know after I told you about it, you were expecting a legendary beast. It’s just... I’m sorry. Looks like we’re stuck together."

He braced himself for her reaction, expecting anger, disappointment, or at least a quiet wave of bitter resentment.

Instead, Maelle simply stared at him.

A quiet beat of silence passed. Then, she let out a breath of relief with a small smile.

Vincent was utterly baffled.

"I do not mind," she said smoothly, taking a small sip of her water. "In fact... I much prefer you."

"You prefer... me?! I thought you wanted a dragon. A huge, fire-breathing, flying lizard that can wipe out armies in seconds."

"Something that you could also do. But no, I never said anything of the sort. You jumped to that conclusion on your own."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Vincent stood up from his chair and gestured with his arms. "Think about it! Aren’t dragons objectively cooler than me! Why are you so calm about this?!"

Maelle let out a quiet sigh, leaning back against the sofa cushions. She looked at him with a steady, searching gaze.

"Vincent... I have been meaning to ask you. Why are you so fixated on this dragon?"

Vincent froze mid-gesture. He opened his mouth to say ’Because my life was ruined when I got summoned to this world!’, but the words caught in his throat.

He looked at Maelle – at her stoic, lonely face, at the heavy burden she carried as an outsider because of her blood – and he couldn’t bring himself to say it. It would only hurt her. Though she probably wouldn’t show it.

"It’s just... I thought your life would have been way better if you summoned that dragon instead of me. You would have been way happier."

Maelle’s violet eyes widened slightly in genuine shock.

Something softened deep within her hard demeanor as she stared at him for a long moment. Slowly, she reached over her shoulders and took off the white denim jacket Vincent had given her yesterday.

She held the white jacket out toward him. "This made me happy."

"... Huh? My jacket made you happy?"

"No. Well, yes. But the fact that it was given to me as a gift made me happy. This is the first gift I have ever received in my entire life, Vincent. Beyond that... you saved my miserable life when it was nearly stolen away in those mountains. And I intend to use this life to build a far better future for myself."

She set the jacket back down, her expression hardening back with absolute conviction.

"Would my life have been better if I had summoned a dragon? No. It would have been infinitely worse."

"... Why?"

Maelle clenched her right hand into a tight fist resting on her knee. "Because, as I have told you before... long ago, an evil tyrant king of Ebonspire ruled our realm with absolute cruelty.

"I told already told you on the day I woke up when you saved me from those bandits, he possessed a legendary dragon Familiar. If I – a disgraced Ebonspire princess – had summoned a dragon, all courts across all nations would have seen it as the return of a tyrant. They may even have executed me on the spot."

She looked up, her violet eyes locking onto his brown ones. "Summoning a dragon is something I would have never been happy with. I am far better off with you."

"Well... when you put it like that, I guess I’m a pretty great trade-off."

"Indeed, you are."

"It’s too bad. That guy was looking forward to being reincarnated here. Now what am I going to do with him?"

Maelle leaned back, shifting the subject. "By the way... what did that girl want from you on the stairs?"

"Oh, Ava? She’s nice. Super socially awkward, though. And she’s got a crazy sensitive nose. She was just asking when you were going to dismiss me for the night. Worried about dorm policies or something."

"... That is a very strange thing to ask. I shall dismiss you now," Maelle said, standing up from the sofa. "However... expect to be summoned back again in a few hours. I believe I may be attacked by this ’Ava’ tonight."

Vincent let out a baffled laugh. "Whoa! Hold on! That’s a huge reach! How the heck did you get to that conclusion?!"

"No student asks for the exact time a Familiar will be dismissed unless they are tracking movement windows. Call it paranoia, but I find her behavior highly suspicious."

"If you’re that worried, why don’t I just stay here and hide in the room with you tonight?"

"You said it yourself. She has a sensitive nose. If an assassin is coming, your absence will draw them straight into my trap."

Maelle raised her hand at him, conjuring a magic circle that expanded beneath her palm as she prepared the dismissal spell.

"If nothing happens tonight... then you might be right in saying she is simply socially awkward, and she truly cares about ’dorm policies’."

Vincent raised both hands, crossing his index and middle fingers with a broad grin. "Fingers crossed she’s just weird, Princess."

"Hm. Return."

The magic circle flashed with light, enveloping Vincent in a translucent glow as his body dissolved into particles of mana, returning him back to the Divine Realm.