In front of me, I could practically feel Silvano enjoying this. I didn’t even need to look at him. The audacity was radiating.

’I’ll deal with him later.’

Preferably with something sharp.

For now, I lifted my chin slightly, summoning every ounce of confidence I owned and a few I borrowed from people who actually deserved to be in this class.

Guess how many?

One.

"I call this piece," I began smoothly, "Grace in Shadows, Shadows in Grace."

The moment I removed the cloth, the snickers instantly died.

For a moment, no one spoke.

My piece stood there—an elegantly carved figure of a girl. Her hair cascaded down her back in smooth, flowing lines, blending seamlessly with the delicate folds of her dress.

Every detail was intentional, from the intricate patterns carved into the fabric to the gentle curve of her arms resting at her sides. Her face was calm, eyes closed, as if she were caught in a quiet, peaceful dream.

Miss Belle tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "Why is it called Grace in Shadows, Shadows in Grace?"

Without a word, I reached out and flipped the piece upside down.

The entire mood shifted, I could almost hear them gasping.

Someone even whispered, "What the hell?"

The same flowing hair and elegant dress now twisted into something else entirely—jagged, chaotic, almost violent. The soft lines became tangled branches, the intricate patterns warped into something resembling thorns or barbed wire. The girl no longer looked peaceful.

She looked trapped.

Her once serene expression now read as strained, almost desperate, like she was caught in something invisible but suffocating.

It was the same piece.

And yet—it wasn’t.

Miss Belle leaned in slightly, her bright expression replaced with genuine fascination. "Can you explain your piece?"

"I wanted to show," I rested my hand lightly against the wood, "that a situation can be perceived differently depending on perspective."

Miss Belle’s entire face lit up like she had just discovered gold.

"Oh," she breathed. "Oh, that is brilliant."

I nodded politely. "Thank you."

She leaned in just a little, eyes gleaming in a way that immediately set off every internal alarm I owned.

"What would you say if I asked you to be my assistant?"

I knew that look. I’ve seen it before—in business meetings, negotiations, and once when someone tried to recruit me into a pyramid scheme disguised as a "community."

And now, she’s giving the kind of look where people don’t want to teach you but want to use you and call it mentorship.

I bowed slightly, keeping my tone perfectly respectful. "It’s an honor to be considered, Miss Belle, but I’m still learning. I wouldn’t want to burden you."

Translation: Absolutely not.

"But under my guidance, you could learn more!" she insisted, smile tightening just a fraction too much.

I almost smiled. ’Learn what? How to emotionally blackmail students into free labor?’

"I’ll have to decline once again, Miss Belle," I said, then calmly walked back to my seat like I hadn’t just rejected her twice in front of an audience.

Behind me, I could practically feel the shift in temperature.

By the time I sat down, her face was red, not the cute kind, but the "I will remember this for the rest of your academic career" kind.

"Miss Belle! I want to volunteer as your assistant!"

"Me too! If she doesn’t want it, I’ll take it!"

"Pick me!"

I rested my chin on my hand, smiling faintly like I was watching a particularly entertaining stage play.

Miss Belle glared at me but I pretended not to notice.

’Go on,’ I thought lazily. ’You wanted an assistant, didn’t you? Why not pick one?’

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" Silvano muttered beside me.

"Very much," I replied without even looking at him.

Right on cue, the door burst open.

"I’m sorry I’m late!"

Vivienne stood there, slightly disheveled but still somehow glowing like she had a personal lighting crew following her around.

"One of the professors asked me to supervise his class," she added, catching her breath.

"Vivienne! I’m so glad you could still attend!" Miss Belle said instantly, her tone doing a complete emotional reset. "You may sit down."

I frowned slightly. ’Why is the main character here too...?’

This class was supposed to be peaceful.

Vivienne scanned the room and naturally walked straight to Silvano. "Sil, thanks for saving me a seat!" she said brightly, sitting beside him.

Silvano blinked. "Huh? Oh—yeah."

I stared at him suspiciously.

He certainly did not save that seat.

Let’s be honest—no one sat there because he radiated "do not approach unless you have a death wish" energy.

Miss Belle clapped her hands again, regaining full control of the room like nothing had happened five minutes ago.

"Before you all leave," she announced, smiling brightly, "find a partner! You’ll be presenting your next work together. The theme will be—"

She paused dramatically.

"Eternal Cycle of Nature."

A collective murmur spread across the room like gossip had just been declared a group activity.

"I always wanted to partner with Vivienne, but as usual she’s gonna pick Silvano again."

"I’d rather go with Blanca. At least I have a chance of passing."

"I’m choosing grades over romance."

"I never had a chance with Vivienne anyway..."

I sat there, smiling faintly, enjoying the chaos like it was free entertainment.

I suddenly felt multiple aggressive stares like I had suddenly become a limited-time offer.

"...You’re Blanca, right?"

"Blanca, it seems that you don’t have a partner yet."

"Why don’t we partner together?"

"Pick me, I’m good at carving!"

"Me too, I can carry—"

’...Oh so now I’m popular?’

I raised a brow and cut them off before this turned into an auction.

"Weren’t the ones who were scared that I might drag you down with me?" I said casually. "You know... like in the evaluation test?"

Silence.

Someone coughed.

Someone else laughed awkwardly like they had just remembered they had somewhere else to be.

A few exchanged glances that screamed "this was not part of the plan."

Meanwhile, beside me—

"Should we partner again, Sil?" Vivienne asked sweetly, like this was already decided and we were all just extras in her script.

"I’m sorry, Viv," Silvano replied.

Pause.

"I’m already partnered with someone else."

The room froze.

Vivienne blinked. "Really? Who? You never partner with anyone else but me."

"I already said yes," he replied simply.

...Oh no.

No.

Absolutely not.

I turned slightly, already preparing to accept the first desperate volunteer and escape this incoming disaster, when suddenly, my hand was grabbed.

I stiffened.

I turned slowly.

Silvano.

Of course.

"You said yes earlier, right?" he asked, looking down at me like this was already settled.

I frowned. "Yes to wha—"

Before I could even finish my sentence, he turned his head towards the small crowd still hovering around me. "Go find someone else," he said flatly.

They immediately scattered in an instant, leaving me to stare at the empty space where they had been.

I slowly turned my head, processing what had just happened but at the edge of my vision, I saw Vivienne glaring at me.

I blinked but she was already smiling.

Sweet, bright, and completely harmless.

"You didn’t tell me it was Blanca!" she said, as if this was a fun little surprise.

I looked at Silvano instead. "Since when..." I whispered slowly, "did I agree to this?"

"Just help me out," he murmured back like we were discussing state secrets. "I need to improve my grades."

"Why do you need my help anyway?"

"I’m going to fail if I mess this up one more time," he said, like he was announcing the weather.

...Oh.

Well, that explains the audacity.

"Then ask Vivienne," I hissed, leaning closer. "Why me?"

"Is everything alright?" Vivienne’s voice floated in, light and curious, like she wasn’t two seconds away from starring in a drama.

"Yes, we are," Silvano said immediately.

"No, I’m not," I said at the exact same time, still glaring at him like I was seconds away from carving his name into the table.

"She’s great and all," he added under his breath, "but she doesn’t have the same skill as you."

"Oh?" I said, slowly letting out a grin. "Should I tell Vivienne that?"

His eye twitched. "Please don’t."

"I will."

"You won’t."

I turned my head just enough. "Hey, Viv—"

"I promise to help you once in the future," he cut in quickly. "Whatever you need."

I stopped mid-breath.

’Now that was a better offer.’

I turned back to him, narrowing my eyes. "You swear?"

"I swear on the Orientaly family legacy."

I stared at him for a long second.

That was the kind of oath you don’t take back unless you’re ready to ruin your entire bloodline’s reputation.

I leaned back slightly, tapping my finger against the table like I was calculating interest rates on his soul.

"Fine," I said at last. "But if you drag me down, I will personally make sure you fail in ways the academy hasn’t even invented yet."

He actually looked relieved.

I turned to Vivienne, putting on my sweetest, and most harmless smile.

"Hey, Viv," I said casually, lifting my hand just enough to very clearly display Silvano still holding it like we had signed a lifelong contract. "It almost feels like I’m part of the group now. You don’t mind me partnering with Silvano, right?"

Her eye twitched so subtle most people would miss it but I didn’t.

"No, that’s okay," she said, smiling like she wasn’t mentally rearranging my guts.

’So scary... Let’s annoy her more.’

"It’s alright if I call you Viv, right?" I continued, tilting my head slightly. "After all, you gave me permission."

"Y-Yeah," her smile twitched next. "Like you said... you’re already part of our group."

"Also," I continued innocently, "I’m sorry you didn’t get to partner with Silvano. You were late, after all."

That one landed.

Direct hit.

"That’s okay," she replied smoothly, recovering faster than expected. "I’ll just find someone else."

And just like that, the floodgates opened. Students swarmed out of nowhere like this was a once-in-a-lifetime lottery.

"I’ll partner with you!"

"Vivienne, pick me!"

"I’m top of the class in carving!"

"Please, I won’t be a burden!"

I leaned back slightly in my chair, watching the scene unfold like I had just lit a match and stepped away from the fire.

I was just about to rest my chin on my hand when I realized my hand wasn’t moving.

I tried again but it was still stuck.

I looked down to see Silvano still holding my hand. "So..." I said, my voice dangerously calm, "when will you let go?"

"Huh?" he replied, like a man who had absolutely no awareness of his current crimes.

"My hand," I clarified.

He looked down. "Oh—sorry," he said quickly, letting go like he had just realized he’d been holding a live wire.

I flexed my fingers slightly, making sure circulation still existed, before resting my chin on my hand again like nothing happened.

I stared straight ahead, watching the ongoing chaos around Vivienne as students continued to fight for her attention like it was a limited-time offer.

I’m starting to think this academy needs rules.

Very specific ones.

Preferably titled: "Do Not Hold People’s Hands Without Consent, Especially If You’re Socially Confusing."