Third person pov:

"What do you want? Will you…marry the prince?" Leor finally formed some words after extensive silence.

"...Yes, I can't go…against my father…" Alya replied in a forced calm voice which still couldn't suppress the uncertainty in her tone.

Leor's fists clenched. "I asked… what do you want?" he demanded, his voice rising sharply, echoing in the space between them.

Tears slipped silently down Alya's cheeks. "I don't want to…" she admitted, her voice barely audible.

Leor just as he was about to reply felt a sharp pain in his head, which no one else was able to see. He was standing with his posture straight, completely unreadable to the outside world, staring at Alya's crying face, His mind slowly becoming a mess due to the sharp pain.

'Why's she crying? Stop crying! Please stop crying. It hurts. My head hurts. What a mess, I wish I never met you. Huh? What the hell am I thinking? Why am I thinking like this? I am grateful that I met her! Can I go back home? Can you shut the hell up? Who even are you? Comfort her first.' Leor took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, in an instant the pain went away just as it had appeared. Leor felt a warm feeling in his heart instead of that heavy pain. 'Was I just…talking to myself? No…no that was…that couldn't be me. What was that pain…They didn't notice it? I thought I wailing loudly.'

Suppressing the inner turmoil in his heart, Leor forced a faint smile on his Lips. Replying to Alya in a soothing tone, as soothing as he could muster. "Then there's nothing to worry about" He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "First, try talking to your father. Be honest. Tell him how you feel. Or—" His smile twisted to a creepy one, "Maybe say something like 'I will kill myself if you married me to him.'

Johan flinched visibly, 'What the fuck is wrong with you man? At least first try to stop her crying before teaching her how to manipulate her father….' Similar thoughts also brewing in Vane's head.

Leor continued, ignoring their disturbed gaze "And, If that doesn't work out, Vane also has some connections with Goddess's church…" I looked at Vane, as he nodded in response.

"Yes, If talking to your father doesn't work out, I can at least arrange your escape…New identity, and enough gold pounds for you to live the rest of your life comfortably. So I think this…If you want to, tell me…come to Goddess Aethira's church near your house." His voice wavered slightly, but the meaning was clear behind his words.

Alya's sobs quieted, though tears still streamed down her cheeks. She wiped them away, regaining her composure bit by bit. "Thank you… both of you," she said softly. Taking a deep breath, she stood straighter, her usual calm, unreadable demeanor sliding back into place.

She turned to Leor, her voice firm. "Can you teach me more ways to manipulate my father? Running away is my last option."

Leor smirked proudly, trying to lighten Alya's mood in his own way. "Sure thing. I've got like a hundred more ideas. But you'll need to practice delivery more—it's all in the execution."

"Ah, let's go to the Barbara's and get some Gateau first. I am literally starving, Treats on me." Vane said in a cheery tone. Turning toward Johan, his tone sharpened. "And maybe you could properly introduce your friend to us."

'Something's off about that guy… his aura… it's not human,' Vane thought, his gaze silently studying the quiet Johan.

"Yes, that sounds great!" 'He sounded like he didn't trust Johan. Well that's normal, he does look a bit suspicious.' Ignoring the thoughts, Leor replied before turning to Alya with a smug grin. "I'll teach you while we eat, disciple!" trying to lighten her mood.

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Playing along, Alya bowed gracefully. "Your word, my command, Master!"

Johan standing beside Leor thought quietly 'Did they all escape from some kind of Mental asylum? They look like the kind of people that buy the haunted house, I don't feel safe with them…Save me, my beautiful blonde-haired female knight!'

The group walked side by side down the bricked pathway of Lauriston Garden toward the academy's exit. The red bricks and greenery by the side made this path perfect for letting go of all troubles. The air was chill, as expected from the winters of the Thornfield Empire. Leor and Alya were deep in conversation, discussing the best words and expressions to manipulate Andrei Dmitrievich Ruriks, grinning from ear to ear. Leor's hands moved wildly, punctuating his points with exaggerated movements, while Alya nodded enthusiastically, like she was taking mental notes of everything Leor said.

As they walked Vane's stare towards Johan grew intense by the second, his brows knitting tightly together like deciphering every nook of Johan's body. Johan, sweating nervously, cast pleading glances at Leor, but his partner was lost in another world, oblivious to his silent cries for help.

"I–I am into girls sir!" breaking the uneasy silence, Johan said with a forced smile.

"Do I look like I care about that?" said Vane with an evil grin, probably trying to intimidate Johan, which looked to him like it was working as Johan was visibly shivering like about to shit himself. 'No… it feels like he's pretending, like he wants me to think he's scared so I'll back off. Could he be a slave trader targeting Leor's sister… or maybe a high-ranking cultist? I can't be too forward with my suspicion, I need to act friendly to understand his abilities properly. Vane smiled deeply looking at Johan with a soft gaze trying to comfort him making Johan widen his eyes in alarm.

'Help Mom !' Johan screamed internally as he suddenly darted forward, placing himself between Leor and Alya, startling them both. Vane froze in place, his mind racing. 'Was that a warning? Is he saying he'll kill them? I can't risk taking action now… they'd get caught in the crossfire. They're just normal humans.'

"What the hell are you doing?" Leor asked quietly, narrowing his eyes at Johan.

"Can I… walk in the middle?" Johan stammered, glancing nervously between Alya and Leor.

"Whatever." Leor shrugged, giving it no further thought.

The rest of the walk passed uneventfully, allowing them all a chance to breathe. The fresh scent of flowers and trees from Lauriston Garden calmed their nerves. Vane was still staring at Johan from time to time making him flinch everytime. Finally, they reached the large exit doors, pacing steadily toward the smaller doorway on the left. The guard from earlier glanced briefly at Johan but said nothing, letting them pass without comment.

"Barbara's Bakery, finally!" Vane exclaimed, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Is it really a good time to be out like this? We still don't know what happened at your house," Johan whispered in Leor's ear, his voice barely audible.

"You're right, but… well, we're just grabbing some lunch. Besides, Gateau is Alya's favorite—it might help cheer her up. You've probably never tried it either, so it'll be a good experience for you too," Leor replied, his tone evasive, as though trying to avoid returning to the topic of going back.

They climbed the four wooden steps leading to the medium-sized bakery. The building resembled a cozy wooden hut, its blackwood door adorned with intricate floral patterns etched into the small glass window. The rich, inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted out, enticing anyone nearby to step inside.

"Welcome!" A girl, around sixteen years old, greeted them with a bright smile, her tone as warm as the bakery's atmosphere.

To be continued......

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TYATE Additional Time: Gateau is a light and airy dessert that looks as delicate as it tastes. It typically has a soft, golden-brown exterior with a smooth and slightly domed surface. Inside, it reveals a fluffy, pale yellow crumb. The cake is often layered with whipped cream or buttercream in between, giving it a rich yet airy appearance. The top might be finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of chocolate, or fresh fruit for decoration.

It's made by creaming butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then gradually adding eggs and vanilla. Once combined, flour is gently folded in to maintain the airiness, ensuring the sponge is light. The batter is then baked until it's golden and bounces back when lightly pressed. Once cooled, the layers are assembled with cream or frosting, and any additional toppings are added to complete the cake.

It's said to originate from an ancient civilization that lived once in the Aurelin Empire, now forever lost to history.