She who held the world

Chapter 3: The cold Gaze (2)

"You..." Kaelen spoke, his voice low, devoid of any emotion, yet it echoed clearly in everyone's ears. "Raise your hand against her again."

The instructor swallowed hard, sweat rolling down his face despite the cold. "Y-Your Highness... I... I was just teaching—"

"I said," Kaelen interrupted, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Do it again. And I will turn your entire arm into ice shards before you touch her."

Silence. Absolute silence.

No one dared to breathe.

Kaelen’s gaze shifted from the instructor to Celestia.

She was standing there, looking small and fragile. Her silver hair was slightly messy, and her violet eyes looked up at him with that same empty, dull expression.

To anyone else, she looked pitiful. But seeing her standing there, taking all this abuse without fighting back, made something inside Kaelen’s chest twist painfully. It wasn't pity. It was something darker. Something possessive.

Why doesn't she cry? Why doesn't she scream? he thought angrily. Why does she let them treat her like this? She is... mine to look at. No one else has the right to touch her.

He didn't say anything to her. He didn't approach her. Instead, he just looked back at the instructor.

"Leave."

The word was simple, but it carried absolute authority. The instructor didn't wait another second. He scrambled away, tripping over his own feet, running away as if his life depended on it.

Satisfied, Kaelen withdrew his aura. The coldness faded, but the fear remained.

He turned his back to everyone, preparing to leave. But before he walked away, he stopped and spoke without looking back.

"She may be weak. But she is still a Lady of this estate. Anyone who dares to disrespect her... disrespects me."

His voice was cold, harsh, and final.

Then he left, his black cloak sweeping behind him like a dark cloud.

Celestia stood there alone in the middle of the field. The other students were now looking at her with fear, not because of her, but because of the Ice Prince who just defended her.

‘Why?’ Celestia wondered, confusion finally showing in her eyes for a split second before she hid it again.

Why would the coldest man in the continent care if a useless girl like her got hit?

She touched her arm subconsciously. She could still feel the lingering chill in the air. It was scary, yet... strangely safe.

"He really is something else," she whispered softly.

She didn't know that Kaelen wasn't the only one.

High up on the balcony, Cyrus Ignis watched the entire scene. He had his arms crossed, his face grim.

"That fool almost touched her," Cyrus growled lowly, his grip on the railing tightening until the stone cracked. "Kaelen was too lenient. I would have severed that hand."

Beside him, Lucien smiled, swirling the wine in his glass.

"See? I told you she was special," Lucien murmured, his red eyes glowing with excitement. "Even the Ice King is melting. How fun... Let's see how long she can keep hiding that little secret of hers."

The three monsters had set their eyes on the same prey.

And Celestia? She was just walking back to her room, thinking that today was just another weird day.

Little did she know, her peaceful life was officially over.