NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Princess Phoenia(2)
Forest Encounter
Hearing a familiar voice behind him, Ed reflexively turned around, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
"What is Phoenia doing here?" — the thought flashed through his mind.
The moment he saw her, memories of the game's plot surged through him with terrifying clarity. In the original story, Ed was a scoundrel—he abused his high status in the academy, indulging in despicable behavior. But his arrogance played a cruel joke on him—one day, he crossed paths with the game's protagonist and got what he deserved.
However, Ed didn't learn his lesson. Blinded by a thirst for revenge, he resorted to a vile act—he falsified the protagonist's entrance exam results. And perhaps his scheme would have worked if not for Princess Phoenia, who caught him red-handed.
The consequences were catastrophic: Ed was expelled from the dormitory, barely avoiding being thrown out of the academy altogether. His family turned its back on him.
But the worst part? Everyone began to hate him. No one wanted to even speak to him.
Phoenia was one of those people, and Ed knew exactly why.
"And now she stands before me, filled with the same disgust."
"What are you doing here?!" — she suddenly snapped, her fiery gaze locking onto him. "Why are you still in the academy?!"
She stepped forward, her movements firm, confident—even threatening.
Any other person would have instinctively backed away in fear. But Ed didn't even flinch.
For a brief moment, he actually considered taking a step back. But then—something shifted inside him. A strange calmness settled over him, and instead of retreating, he simply stood his ground, gazing at her with an impassive expression.
Phoenia froze, almost bumping into him.
She frowned, her sharp eyes scanning his face, searching for the familiar look of fear, cowardice—anything that reminded her of the old Ed.
But there was nothing.
"What happened to him?!" — the thought flashed through her mind. "Before, he would've run a mile away from me!"
Still, despite her momentary confusion, she had no intention of backing down.
Taking another step forward, she deliberately invaded his personal space, using her presence to press down on him.
"I'll be brief," — she said, her voice low and firm.
Then, suddenly, her tone sharpened.
"Get out!"
There was pure loathing in her voice.
"I don't want to see shameless scoundrels like you! So just leave! Unfortunately, I can't throw you out myself."
The Forest Meeting
Hearing her words, Ed finally realized the reason behind her frustration.
The academy's headmaster had informed him that his expulsion was postponed. That meant even Phoenia, despite being the princess of the Empire, had no power to change that.
For the first time, Ed spoke:
"Shouldn't you be accompanied by at least a dozen soldiers to ensure your safety?"
The moment Ed heard those words, his body tensed.
Phoenia felt a shift as well—but hers wasn't fear. It was suspicion.
Something about Ed's tone unsettled her.
But he wasn't done.
"And yet… the princess of the Empire wandered into the depths of this forest all alone?"
Phoenia narrowed her eyes.
"So, it's true…" — she thought. "He really might be connected to the demon."
In an instant, magical energy flared around her hands as she prepared to strike.
"If you're planning to threaten me—" — she began, but she was abruptly cut off.
"Threaten you? Oh no, not at all. I simply want to express my gratitude…" — Ed said smoothly, lowering himself onto one knee with a calm smile.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Phoenia furrowed her brows, momentarily questioning if her hearing was failing her.
But as she realized she hadn't misheard and caught sight of the gentle smile on Ed's face, her suspicion only grew.
That smile… it reminded her of her father's.
"A smile like that could belong to a person with a kind heart."
"But Ed's father…"
He was drenched in darkness. He hid it well from everyone—everyone except her.
Phoenia possessed magic that could detect lies. Without hesitation, she activated the spell, determined to expose him.
"Gratitude? What utter nonsense."
But then, her eyes widened in shock.
Ed was telling the truth.
Phoenia still struggled to believe it. There was something undeniably strange about him. And yet, her magic detected no trace of deceit. He was being sincere.
But why?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Ed suddenly stood up and began speaking rapidly, giving her no chance to interject.
"You must be preparing for the class assignment test soon, right? You'll have to find beads hidden throughout the forest. Well, as a token of my gratitude, I'll tell you where to find one—the one that will secure your place in Class A."
Phoenia barely had time to blink before he continued.
"If you go to the river in the southeast part of the forest, you'll find a small grassy island. At its center stands a massive tree. There, you'll find… a gift I've left just for you."
He took a step back and smiled once more.
"Well then, that's all. See you after the test."
And with that, Ed swiftly turned and disappeared into the trees—leaving Phoenia completely stunned, without a chance to say a single word.
She remained standing there, blinking in confusion.
"Huh? Wait… What just happened?!" — she murmured, glancing around as if trying to make sense of the situation.
The forest had fallen silent once again.