Chapter 87: She Knows!(1)
Steve walked with a measured step, his shoes clicking softly against the polished marble floor of the academy.
His expression was unreadable, carved into something calm and composed, but his eyes darted left and right—always scanning.
Just ahead of him, Rapunzel moved with graceful indifference, the hem of her long uniform fluttering behind her.
The hallway they moved through was mostly empty. A few maids lingered here and there, dusting or wiping ornate window frames, but their motions slowed as they turned to watch—each of them pausing at the sight of a man walking confidently through the academy typically reserved for women.
Steve didn’t acknowledge them. His mind was set. He had a mission—quite literally—and the target was already in sight. His gaze briefly flicked to Rapunzel’s back again.
He slowed his steps, letting her get a little farther ahead before he turned suddenly down an adjoining hallway. They had reached a secluded section of the building where the foot traffic dwindled to nothing.
The walls here were high, trimmed with gold lining and old portraits whose eyes seemed to follow him.
With a quick glance back to confirm no one else was around, he took a steady breath.
Then, he called out.
"Hey, Mary!"
The sound of his voice echoed slightly, bouncing off the stone walls.