Chapter 6

Camilla slammed the door shut, slid to the floor with her back against it, and drew in ragged breaths. Her face had gone pale.

She gripped Jean's hand tightly. "J-Jean? D-Did you see that?"

"W-What?" Jean stammered. She had not yet recovered from what she had seen.

"T-Those… were s-skeletons! They h-had swords… covered in blood… And the zombies… all over the floor… And h-he… He glared at us…"

Camilla gulped, her whole body trembling. Whatever she meant to say showed in the way she shook.

For a split second, the two young women had met Leon's eyes and sensed everything in them: apathy, a lack of mercy, and killing intent.

Outside, Leon grinned in mock amusement. Who would have thought Camilla would react so strongly? Then again, anyone would scream at the sight of an animated skeleton coated in blood.

Leon was in no hurry. He had not come here to win their favor or admiration, so there was no reason to care if he had frightened them.

And if she thought that sturdy steel door would keep him out, she was mistaken. The moment the skeleton knight charged, it would tear the door from its hinges.

Meanwhile, Logan stared at the two young women, stunned by their reactions. "What the hell are you two on about? Skeletons? What did you see?"

Jean's shoulders trembled.

"L-Logan, there are living skeletons outside! Just like the ones in that horror movie we watched together!" she squealed, already moving as if to throw herself into his arms. "It's so scary!"

Camilla might still have been shaken, but her instincts remained sharp. 'You goddamn hoe. That's my man you're trying to latch onto.'

She moved before Jean could, lunging straight into Logan's arms. Pressing herself against his chest, she shot Jean a sidelong glance.

"Loggy, I was so scared. You'll protect me, right?" she cooed.

A quiet, smug smile tugged at her lips. 'Sorry, Jean. You're up against a master. That's why you'll lose.'

Logan had no patience for this kind of petty competition. If not for the food they had promised him, he would have shoved both of them away already.

He steadied Camilla against his shoulder and forced a concerned look. "Yeah, right. I said I'd protect you. But I still have to ask… where's the food you mentioned?"

"Um…" Camilla faltered. How was she supposed to explain? Leon was still out there, surrounded by armed skeletons.

Jean caught the hesitation and smiled, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, so that was your boyfriend outside the door, Milla. I thought I saw him bringing in food at the risk of his life."

"Your… boyfriend?" Logan's voice dropped.

His grip on Camilla's shoulder tightened. He might not care for her, but that did not mean he was fine with being used as a backup. He was the universally acclaimed dreamboat of Reunis University, the school's official hunk. He would not have given Camilla a second glance if not for the promise of food.

"N-No! Don't listen to her! She's making things up!" Camilla said in a rush. Any trace of her earlier act vanished as panic set in.

Jean widened her eyes and covered her lips, feigning innocence. "I'm sorry, I just assumed you two were together, Milla. You kept contacting that Leon guy, after all. And you kept calling him 'my king' and 'my regnant man,' like you were roleplaying something steamy. I honestly thought you were a couple."

"Stop making shit up, Jean!" Camilla snapped.

It did nothing to ease the tension hardening Logan's expression. One look at his face told Camilla that her usual meek act would not save her this time.

Desperate to shut Jean down, she finally told the truth. "Don't listen to her, Logan. Leon's just a simp I use to get more food. I've never liked him. I talk to him, sure, but only to stay on his good side so he keeps sending me food."

It was the truth she had never said aloud, but she had no choice left.

…

Leon could hear everything inside the room. The orb had significantly sharpened his hearing, so he caught Camilla's admission in full.

Any trace of pity he might once have felt for her no longer mattered. At that point, all sympathy had vanished. He gritted his teeth, his anger cold and controlled.

The skeleton warriors seemed to mirror their master's mood. Their bones creaked louder, and the flames in their eyes burned brighter.

…

Jean was not finished. She had struck a gold mine and intended to keep digging.

"There's more to this story than what she wants you to know, Logan—" she began.

"Stop! Now is not the time for that," Logan cut in, his tone grave. "That Reagan guy is outside right now, isn't he? And he brought food with him, right?"

Being the cutest guy at the university came with unexpected perks. For one, he never lacked women willing to throw themselves at him. It also gave him plenty of experience, enough to read their intentions with ease.

At present, he wanted Camilla to convince Leon to hand over all the food. He planned to take everything and leave the two of them with nothing. In his view, any food spent on scheming bitches was wasted.

"That's exactly right! He's right outside! I'll get him to send the food in now!" Camilla replied, her voice bright with excitement, as if she had already forgotten the undead soldiers nearby.

"Leon! Are you there?" she called out without opening the door.

This time, she did not bother to sound meek or sweet. There was no need with Logan present. Besides, the Leon she knew would never leave her, no matter how coldly she treated him.

Seeing Logan might even push Leon to reflect and question why she would choose someone else over him. She would not be wrong.

In his past life, Leon had been such a devoted fool that he once bought two sets of breakfast for Camilla and her boyfriend.

…

Leon had initially planned to break into the room, but Camilla's words gave him a better, colder idea. He would use their arrogance against them.

"Yes, it's me! Open the door, Milla! I've brought food!" he said.

"Really?" Camilla's excitement surged, then faltered as the memory of the skeleton warriors returned. "B-But I think I saw some… bloody, moving skeletons near you! What were those?!"

"Skeletons? What are you talking about? There's no such thing as moving skeletons. Open the door and see for yourself," he said, then muttered under his breath, "Begone."

The skeletons vanished, except for two that slipped away toward the 16th floor.

The door creaked open.

Camilla peered out and rubbed her eyes. The skeletons were gone. Only Leon stood there.

Leon opened his bag and showed her the food. He wore an expression his past self had used for her far too many times. "Can I come in now, Milla? Please?"