Chapter 2: Orange, School
In Eric’s home, Angus sat by the bedside, brows furrowed, her mind a tangled mess, endlessly pondering future strategies.
Eric gently pushed open the door, carrying a plate of fruit.
The golden oranges on the plate gleamed brightly under the light.
“Elena, have some fruit,” Eric said, his voice warm and full of care.
Absentmindedly, Angus picked up an orange, peeled it, and popped a piece into her mouth.
As she bit down, she suddenly noticed Eric’s shocked expression, and her heart leaped to her throat.
“Elena, didn’t you always hate oranges?” Eric’s voice was filled with doubt and confusion, his eyes glinting with suspicion.
Angus’s heart skipped a beat, panic surging within her.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she stammered, “Brother, I… I don’t know, maybe my tastes have changed.”
Eric frowned, his gaze locked on Angus, as if trying to unearth the truth from her eyes.
“This change is too sudden, Elena. Are you hiding something from me?”
Angus quickly shook her head, her eyes brimming with panic as she tried to mask her fear.
“Brother, really, there’s nothing. It’s just… after everything that happened, I don’t remember a lot, including my food preferences.”
Eric fell silent for a moment, giving Angus a deep, piercing look that seemed to see through everything.
“I hope so. Rest well.”
With that, he turned and left the room, softly closing the door.
Angus sat on the bed, her heart still racing.
She knew this mistake had deepened Eric’s suspicions.
She cursed herself inwardly—how could she be so careless, slipping up on such a small detail?
The night grew deeper, and Angus lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a cold glow on the floor, making her mood even heavier.
She thought about how to handle Eric’s suspicions and how to avoid being discovered as an imposter.
As her thoughts swirled chaotically, she suddenly heard faint footsteps outside the door.
Her heart raced, and she stared at the door, holding her breath.
The footsteps lingered at the door for a moment before slowly fading away.
Only then did Angus exhale, her forehead beaded with sweat.
The next morning, sunlight poured into the room through the window.
Angus rose early, her face pale and haggard from a sleepless night.
She slowly walked to the mirror, gazing at her reflection.
It was an exquisitely beautiful face—pale skin with a sickly pallor; sapphire-blue eyes, elegant yet filled with a pitiable helplessness; silver-white hair, disheveled and cascading loosely; a slender waist, graceful yet so delicate it seemed a breeze could snap it.
Most striking were her extraordinarily full breasts, prominent and towering like majestic peaks.
Their rounded curves strained against her clothing, exuding a captivating allure.
Yet, this exaggerated bust seemed out of place on her frail frame, making her appear more vulnerable to unwanted attention and harassment.
She sighed softly.
The person in the mirror bore no resemblance to Eric.
Eric had black hair and red eyes, his appearance plain but his tall stature and commanding aura intimidating.
Thinking of this, Angus’s mood grew even heavier.
“Elena, get ready. We’re going to school,” Eric’s voice called from the living room.
Angus responded, her heart uneasy.
She wasn’t sure if Eric would watch her more closely at school.
Glancing at the school uniform by the bed, an image of Elena’s alluring figure beneath her nightgown flashed through her mind, sparking a fleeting thrill.
But she quickly realized such thoughts could lead to trouble and cast a quick-change spell, instantly dressing herself.
On the way to school, both were silent.
Angus occasionally stole glances at Eric, only to find his face dark and unreadable, lost in thought.
At the school, the Royal Academy of Magic and Battle Aura, Eric said, “Elena, you’re in Class 3 of the second year. I’m in Class 1 of the third year. Head to your classroom.”
With that, he turned and walked toward his own class.
Angus arrived at the academy, a prestigious institution with a long history of nurturing exceptional talents in magic and battle aura.
The campus was grand, with towering magic spires, expansive battle aura training grounds, and a library steeped in mystical ambiance.
Entering Elena’s classroom, Angus was immediately surrounded by a few friends.
“Elena, where have you been these past few days? We were so worried!” one girl asked urgently.
Angus’s heart raced, but she forced herself to stay calm and said vaguely, “I… I was sick and resting at home.”
“Oh, you had us so scared! Are you okay now?” another girl asked with concern.
Angus nodded.
“I’m fine, thanks for worrying.”
Seizing the moment, she added, “I’ve been a bit foggy from being sick. Tell me about my brother Eric, and about me.”
A girl laughed.
“Elena, you’re such a kind and warm-hearted girl. As for your brother Eric, he’s one of the academy’s top three powerhouses, always taking on external missions. He’s incredible! The other two are Leo, the son of Duke Lucas, who’s not only noble but immensely powerful, and Prince Alex, the eldest prince, with both noble status and exceptional talent.”
Other girls eagerly joined the conversation.
“I think Leo’s hotter and stronger. Every time I see him on the training field, my heart races,” one said.
“I disagree. Prince Alex is more charming—his grace, his high rank, it’s irresistible,” another countered.
Angus couldn’t help but ask, “What about Eric?”
A girl scoffed.
“Come on, Eric’s just a third-tier advanced mage and warrior. Prince Alex is a fourth-tier beginner in both, and Leo’s a fourth-tier beginner warrior.”
Angus thought to herself, ‘What a joke. I’m a fourth-tier beginner mage myself, and though I’m just a researcher, I have some strength. Yet Eric crushed me like a dog. He’s definitely hiding his power—probably at least fourth-tier intermediate.’
A classmate suddenly asked, puzzled, “Why do some say Leo’s stronger than Alex when they’re…”
Another cut in, “You don’t know? The Lucas family has a unique battle aura technique that can transform someone into a magical beast. Leo’s called the Silver Wolf. They say it lets him unleash power far beyond normal in battle.”
Angus feigned envy.
“How can I become as strong as them?”
The same girl mocked, “You’re just a second-tier advanced mage. Dream on!”
Through this banter, Angus gleaned valuable information.
The bell rang, and the students returned to their seats.
Angus sat in Elena’s place, her mind too restless to focus.
The teacher lectured at the front, but she couldn’t absorb a single word, consumed with thoughts of how to contact her family.
The day’s classes finally ended, and students began heading home.
Angus walked alone, gazing at the familiar yet strange scenery, her heart filled with conflict.
Her steps were heavy, each one laden with endless indecision.
Her heart was a stormy sea, thoughts crashing like waves.
She desperately wanted to flee to her family, to tell them of her ordeal and seek their protection.
But every time the thought arose, Eric’s imposing, oppressive figure loomed in her mind.
The thought of Eric’s potential retaliation sent a shiver through her, fear coiling like a cold serpent, eroding her courage.
She vividly remembered his piercing gaze, as if it could unravel all her secrets, leaving her nowhere to hide.
Angus questioned herself, ‘Is it worth the risk? If Eric finds out, what will he do to me? Will he torture me again?’
Her heart raced, her breathing quickened, and fear nearly paralyzed her.
Yet, her family’s expectations and her own grievances screamed within, urging her to act.
‘Maybe my family can help me escape Eric’s threat.’
But another voice countered, ‘Don’t be foolish. You’re just a bastard child. Will the family even protect you?’
Caught between contacting her family and the terror of Eric’s wrath, Angus was torn, her inner struggle agonizing.