The walk to the gate was short, yet Kael could feel the guards’ jealous stares on him.

  Apparently, word of his engagement had already spread.

  When they arrived, a guard was waiting for them. He bowed politely toward Cassandra, a pleased smile on his lips.

  "You look stunning, my lady," he said, then shifted his gaze to Kael. His expression sharpened into an open challenge.

  Kael sighed inwardly. They would have to play this convincingly.

  He stepped closer to Cassandra and slipped an arm around her waist. She flinched briefly at the sudden contact but remained composed. Kael met the guard’s stare calmly.

  "My apologies," he said evenly. "Would you open the gate? I wish to escort my fiancée to her quarters, if you don’t mind.”

  Cassandra smiled and placed her hand over his, reinforcing the image.

  The guard clenched his jaw, clearly displeased, but stepped aside and signaled for the gate to open.

  Kael and Cassandra passed through. Once the gates closed behind them, he withdrew his arm and rubbed the back of his neck.

  "I'm sorry for startling you," he said quietly. "It was the only way to avoid unnecessary questions."

  She shook her head.

  "It's fine. Technically, what you said wasn’t wrong.”

  Kael glanced up at the starless sky.

  "Yeah..." he murmured, then turned back to her. "Let's go. We should move quickly.”

  He had barely taken a step when Cassandra stopped him.

  "Wait."

  He turned, slightly irritated. She gestured toward their clothes—his white suit and her elegant dress.

  "Shouldn't we change?" she asked. "These outfits are rather conspicuous."

  Kael shook his head without hesitation.

  "No, we need to keep them on. It’s important for the story you’ll tell afterward.”

  Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

  “And what exactly is that story?”

  Kael motioned for her to walk, and as they walked side by side, he spoke in a low voice.

  "After the announcement of our engagement, you were overwhelmed with joy and readily agreed to see the sword when I asked. Your status as a maiden in love... apologies for the phrasing... made you careless. But the longer we stayed inside the academy, the more you began to sense that something was wrong."

  He glanced at her briefly.

  "That's why we ran straight from the entrance to where the sword is kept—before you could noticed my deception."

  Cassandra considered his words, then nodded slowly.

  "It's believable," she said. "No one would suspect that I acted in concert with you."

  She sighed, her gaze drifting ahead.

  "But calling me a maiden in love might be a bit much, don't you think?" she added quietly.

  Kael let out a soft chuckle.

  "Perhaps," he admitted. "I may have exaggerated that part."

  Cassandra laughed, then tilted her head and studied him curiously.

  “But how did you plan to knock me out?” she asked. "I'm far stronger than you."

  Kael tapped his chin thoughtfully.

  "Let's just say," he replied with a faint grin, "I would've taken advantage of your slightly drunken state as a maiden in love."

  "You—!" Cassandra exclaimed, playfully punching his arm. Kael laughed, and the tension and nervousness drained away, replaced by the lightness of their shared banter.

  They fell silent as they continued walking through the academy grounds. The quiet between them was soft and strangely comfortable.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  They passed a few students who were still celebrating. Their laughter echoed faintly through the courtyards. Most students had already retreated to their dormitories, unaware of the events quietly unfolding within the academy walls.

  The air was cold, the wind sharp and fresh. Kael noticed Cassandra shivering in her thin dress. Without a word, he slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

  She relaxed instantly, pulling it closer around herself with both hands.

  "That's much better," she said warmly. Then she looked up at him, now standing in nothing but his white shirt.

  "But aren't you cold now?"

  Kael shook his head with a small smile.

  "The adrenaline keeps me warm."

  Cassandra laughed softly at that.

  After a short walk, they reached the building that housed the headmaster’s office and the professors’ wing of the academy.

  Two knights stood guard at the entrance, unmoved by the cold. Their presence radiated the familiar mixture of calm discipline and quiet lethality.

  As Cassandra approached with Kael at her side, the knights inclined their heads. The one on the left spoke, his voice metallic and deep beneath his helmet.

  “My lady. What brings you here at such an hour?”

  His gaze flicked briefly toward Kael, dismissively, before returning to Cassandra.

  Kael barely noticed. His attention was fixed on the number of knights stationed around the building, each one was clearly stronger than either of them.

  We never would have made it in with the original plan, Kael realized grimly. This would have ended in disaster.

  He glanced back just as Cassandra finished explaining why she was there so late. The knight hesitated, briefly turning toward his companion. Though his face was hidden, the pause was unmistakable.

  Cassandra noticed it, too.

  "Is something wrong?" she asked politely, smiling effortlessly.

  The knight looked back at her, shook his head, and stepped aside, gesturing for them to follow.

  "Of course not. You are permitted to retrieve your sword," he said. "But I must remind you that this privilege applies only within the boundaries of the academy."

  His gaze shifted to Kael, cold and warning.

  "I trust it is unnecessary to remind you that the sword is not to be sold."

  Cassandra chuckled softly.

  “Don’t worry. I’m well aware of that.”

  She turned back to Kael, took his hand, and raised it deliberately so the knights could see.

  "I just wanted to show my fiancé the sword and let him train with it. After all,” she added lightly, “once we are married, what is mine will be his as well.”

  The knight’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword—subtle, but unmistakable.

  “My congratulations on your engagement,” he said coolly. "However, this blade belongs only to one who has earned it. It is one of the Order’s principles, and it cannot be broken. Not even by someone of your standing, my lady.”

  His gaze shifted briefly to Kael, sharp and dismissive.

  "You have the right to decide who may touch it," he continued, "but I advise against letting it fall into the hands of someone unworthy."

  Kael knew the insult was meant for him, but he remained calm. Cassandra’s expression, however, darkened instantly. She was about to speak when Kael gently stopped her by pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.

  "Thank you for trying, my love," he said softly. Then he turned to the knights.

  "I only wished to watch her train with it." His gaze grew distant and almost reverent.

  "Just imagine her movements with that blade in her hands. Absolute perfection."

  He sighed dramatically and looked back at Cassandra.

  "But it seems my dream will remain just that."

  Cassandra’s anger vanished, replaced by brief amusement. Effortlessly playing along, she met his gaze with exaggerated sympathy.

  "Don't be sad, my love," she said gently. "I promise I'll make it up to you once we're back in my room."

  Kael froze.

  His eyes widened and his mouth fell open in stunned silence.

  The knights exchanged deeply uncomfortable glances. One of them cleared his throat.

  "...Very well," he said stiffly. "You may take the sword. But it must be returned by tomorrow evening. Is that understood?"

  Cassandra nodded as if nothing unusual had happened. Meanwhile, Kael turned away, his ears burning.

  Retrieving the sword proved to be surprisingly simple.

  They were escorted through the building to the swordmaster’s office by three knights. After a brief exchange, one of the knights entered the room and returned moments later carrying a white scabbard. The hilt of the blade gleamed faintly in the torchlight.

  The knight handed the scabbard to Cassandra and led them back to the entrance. He issued one final warning about the blade’s proper use.

  Once the building had disappeared behind them, Kael suddenly leapt into the air and embraced Cassandra exuberantly.

  "We did it," he said, grinning widely. “We actually did it.”

  Cassandra laughed and passed the sword to him.

  "I told you it would work."

  Kael carefully took it, his fingers brushing over the smooth scabbard.

  "All that effort," he murmured, "for something that looks so ordinary."

  His smile faded slightly. "I hope you're worth the pain I endured for you."

  Cassandra studied him, her expression softening. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

  "I promise," she said quietly. "I will tell Lia that she will always be the one you choose—if not as a lover, then as something equally important."

  Kael nodded gratefully and met her gaze.

  “Thank you, Cassandra. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  She smiled, but the expression quickly shifted into a thoughtful frown.

  “But how do you plan to reach the tunnel?” she asked. "You still have to get past the knights."

  Kael laughed softly.

  "I have time now. Nothing has happened yet. I’ll just wait here until morning, and then I’ll go through the tunnel like I did before. I’ll blend in with the students entering the building and take the tunnel.”

  Cassandra studied him for a moment, then smiled.

  “And how do you plan to spend your last night at the academy?”

  Kael’s gaze drifted upward, distant.

  "I think I'll go to the place that holds the most memories for me," he said quietly.

  "It's a shame I can't visit them there with this," he added, lifting the sword slightly.

  "But at least... I can still feel close to them there."

  Cassandra nodded, as if she had expected nothing else. She slipped Kael’s jacket from her shoulders and held it out to him.

  "You'll need this," she said softly.

  Kael smiled, feeling a calm settle in his chest that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  But before he could take the jacket—

  A deafening explosion tore through the night.

  The ground seemed to shudder, and Kael spun around just in time to see a towering wall of fire rising in the distance near the palace.

  His breath caught.

  His eyes widened in shock.

  No...

  The real plan had begun.