Amid the blue-tinged dim light of the mess, Mahina knelt down.
Since Merlin was unwilling to pay her any attention, the only light she could grasp now was this pile of cold petals and ice fragments. The dress she had carefully chosen to please someone now dragged carelessly across the dusty floor. Trembling, she reached out and her fingertips touched the cold debris.
This was the last trace Merlin had left behind—her discarded trash, yet everything Mahina now treasured.
Sharp ice crystals cut into her pampered fingertips. Bright red droplets of blood instantly appeared, falling onto the clear, deep-blue ice dust, adding a glaring red to the blue-black.
Does it hurt? Mahina stared at the wound, her eyes hollow.
This little pain was nothing compared to the hollow feeling in her chest.
She neither cried nor groaned in pain. She just slowly gathered the scattered ice fragments into her palms. Even though her fingertips were already frozen purple, even though the wounds still bled, she dared not miss a single grain.
With the faint Magic Power she had left, Mahina carefully guided the tiny specks of light and placed them into a small pouch she kept close to her body.
When the last ice crystal was secured, Mahina let out a relieved sigh.
Mahina pressed the cold little pouch tightly against her chest, feeling the biting cold seep through her clothes into her skin.
It made her feel alive, and that there was still a sliver of connection with Merlin.
By the reflection in the glass window, she saw her disheveled appearance. The corners of her eyes were red from the cold wind, and her makeup was smudged.
Mahina grabbed the cold railing and stood up. Her legs were numb from kneeling for so long.
“Phew…” She took a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes, biting her lip to keep new tears from falling.
Mahina looked at the campus under the night sky. At this moment, all the teachers and students were gathered inside this luxurious building. Outside, the campus was quiet and deserted, with only a few dim yellow lights illuminating the paths.
When the cold autumn wind had soothed the redness from her eyes, Mahina touched up her makeup under the dim yellow light, pulled herself together, and returned to the hall.
Boom— Waves of heat, fragrance, elegant string music, and the clamor of voices washed over her, instantly drowning her.
Mahina casually took a glass of champagne from a server’s tray to hide the trembling of her hands.
She pretended to casually scan the room, but her eyes were involuntarily drawn to the center of the hall.
That was the center of the world. Merlin stood under the spotlight. The silver-haired, gradient-tressed Elf Princess was as pure as an untouched snow-covered peak.
The dream was over. The Little Merlin who only ever revolved around her, calling her name in that soft, sweet voice—that was ultimately just a fleeting illusion.
Mahina had only been indulging in a child’s brief moment of tenderness.
Mahina’s hand holding the glass drooped slightly. Bitterness spread on her tongue.
No matter where she went, Mahina’s reputation at the Academy had plummeted. But even a bad reputation was still a reputation; wherever she went, she attracted attention.
She lowered her head, trying to hide herself in the shadows away from the light, moving slowly along the wall.
“Oh my, isn’t that Mahina?”
“Shh, keep your voice down. I heard she went to the terrace earlier to find Her Highness the Princess, trying to cling to her again.”
“Serves her right. She abandoned her before, and now that she’s regained her status, she wants to cling to her.”
“Stay away from her. That ungrateful aura is really uncomfortable…”
Those whispers, not particularly hushed, pierced Mahina’s eardrums with precision.
Once, no matter where she went, the crowd would automatically part to make way for their esteemed Student Council President, the jewel of House Talane. Men would vie for her smile, and women would imitate her outfits with pride.
But now, the crowd still parted. Yet it was as if they were avoiding some filthy plague, trying to get as far away as possible.
Men still wanted to take advantage of her vulnerability, while women whispered insults about her.
Mahina sighed. She knew this was what she deserved now.
She carefully made her way to a sparsely populated corner, then took a detour into the restroom. After waiting for a while, she naturally turned into a small path.
This was her escape route from her first year. Back then, she was still the Young Lady of House Talane, the Empire’s rising star, the jewel of House Talane, the Student Council President of this Academy, the young lady who could remember everyone and treat them kindly, the hero who had hunted many Magical Beasts.
Mahina back then was like a popular actress at the theater; even just passing by, she would be mobbed by people.
And Mahina would still show that warm, spring-like smile.
That was why Mahina wanted to avoid the boys attracted by her beauty and power, as well as the noble young ladies who would pick fights with her from time to time.
But now it was different… Having voluntarily withdrawn from House Talane, she was no longer the young lady of that house. Now Mahina was just an ordinary Magic Department student with diminished Magic Power.
Her reputation had also taken a nosedive ever since the newspapers reported the hostile relationship between Merlin and Mahina.
Moreover, after Mahina obtained the power that had saved the Empire, she abandoned Merlin and sought her own gain.
What was there to be proud of? It was like a fox using the tiger’s might.
With her reputation at the Academy ruined, students avoided her like a bomb. After all, what if they got caught up in her downfall by associating with Mahina, whose reputation had hit rock bottom?
Now everyone wanted to stay away from her. Once, everyone had longed for Mahina’s warm smile.
Although both times she was avoiding attention and leaving early, the situation she faced now was completely different.
Mahina’s gaze was fixed only on Merlin, but that didn’t mean those noisy voices couldn’t pierce her heart.
Especially when it came to Merlin… Mahina took a deep breath and decided to leave along the same path she had used before, avoiding the main entrance to make an early exit.
Back then, she had to take a breath away from the crowd of flowers and applause in order to escape overly enthusiastic admirers.
Back then, she was so proud, so dazzling.
Back then, she could never have imagined that a year later she would walk this path again.
Not to escape admiration, but to escape disgust.
Since she couldn’t speak with Merlin today, since she was unwelcome here, she might as well leave with dignity. It would be too embarrassing to wait until Merlin rejected her again, or until someone threw champagne at her, before leaving…
Mahina stopped and looked back one last time at the brilliant, sparkling hall.
Through the gap of the slightly open door, she saw Merlin turn her head and give a faint smile to the person beside her.
Mahina took a deep breath, then gently placed the untouched, expensive glass of champagne on the windowsill by the roadside.
Since she was already destined to be a joke, at least she could make her exit tonight a little more dignified.
Still think she deserved it, but it’s good she admits it