NOVEL NEXT Chapter 213: Invitation
Lorraine and her best friend, Nari, were walking side by side along the quiet academy front yard, heading toward Miss Brown's office.
The building wasn't as busy as it usually was, since it was the weekend, and most students were either out in the market or resting in their dorms.
Nari adjusted the brim of her oversized purple witch's hat, tilting it slightly as if she was checking her reflection in one of the tall glass windows they passed.
She was known around Astralis Academy as the "Purple Witch" not just because of her clothes, but because of her personality.
Mischievous, bold, and always ready to pull a prank or two, she had become infamous among both students and professors.
Lorraine sometimes worried about being dragged into Nari's antics, but at the same time, her best friend's carefree attitude was comforting.
It balanced out her own cautious nature.
"Are you sure you really want to invite her?" Nari asked suddenly, her violet eyes flicking toward Lorraine.
She adjusted her hat again, this time in thought. "I mean, Miss Brown seems… too perfect, don't you think? People who look and act that flawless usually have something hiding beneath the surface."
Lorraine pressed her lips together.
She didn't know why, but she also had a strange feeling about the woman. Still, she forced herself to push away the doubt. Everyone had their secret.
"Anyway," Nari continued with a sly grin, "a friend of Lorraine is a friend of mine. So if you want to invite her, I'll keep my suspicions to myself. For now."
Lorraine gave her a side glance. "Thanks for your confidence."
"Don't thank me yet," Nari teased.
Then her grin widened as she leaned a little closer. "Besides, I'm more interested in that guy everyone saw you walking around with. Azel Thorne, right?"
Lorraine blinked, her heart skipping for just a second. "H-Him?"
"Yeah, him," Nari said, dragging out the words as if she was savoring the taste of gossip. "I didn't even know you hung around someone like that. He doesn't look like the type of person you usually spend time with."
Lorraine looked away, trying to hide the faint pink rising to her cheeks.
"It just… happened," she muttered. "Besides, we're just friends."
"'Just friends,' huh?" Nari hummed with a knowing tone. "For now."
Lorraine's hands tightened around the hem of her dress. She didn't answer, but her silence only made Nari's grin grow wider.
As they approached the door, the place grew quieter. Lorraine reached out to push the door open, but then both of them froze.
From inside, faint sounds drifted out.
"Ah~ Be slower~"
The voice was unmistakable.
Miss Brown's voice.
Lorraine's eyes widened, and her face heated instantly.
Her mind jumped to the worst conclusion.
Was Miss Brown… having sex? In her office? On a weekend when professors could still be around?
There was a shuffle of movement inside.
"I'm trying," came a deeper voice.
Lorraine's stomach dropped. She recognized that voice immediately.
Azel.
'What the hell is Azel doing here?' she thought, her heart clenching uncomfortably.
Was he really having sex with Miss Brown? The thought made her chest ache in a way she couldn't explain, like a knife twisting in her chest…
Before she could stop herself, Lorraine pushed the door open with a glare, storming inside.
The sight that greeted her made her freeze.
Azel was standing in front of Miss Brown, but instead of anything indecent, the woman was trying to force a black jacket onto him.
Azel's broad shoulders and toned muscles were making it difficult for the jacket to fit properly, and he looked more annoyed than anything else.
He sighed heavily as Miss Brown tugged on the fabric. "It's not going to fit if you keep forcing it."
Lorraine blinked, her face flushing even redder.
She had jumped to the wrong conclusion entirely. Relief flooded her chest, but embarrassment quickly followed.
Miss Brown, noticing the interruption, stopped and turned toward the two girls. Her hands slipped the jacket off Azel, and she quickly bowed.
"My apologies," she said calmly. "I appear to have gotten the measurements wrong for your coat, Sir Azel."
She folded the jacket neatly in her arms. "You may come and collect the corrected version tomorrow. I'll ensure the proper measurements are taken."
Azel raised a brow. "With your eyes?"
Miss Brown nodded without hesitation. "That's my superpower."
She returned to her post behind the desk with the same composed air as always, leaving Azel free to gather the rest of his belongings.
Lorraine let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She glanced at Nari, who seemed more amused than anything.
Her best friend's lips curled into a sly smirk as her gaze locked on the black jacket Miss Brown had been holding.
"That's the Representative coat, isn't it?" Nari asked.
"Yes," Azel said, keeping his stuff inside his storage ring. "It is."
Lorraine and Nari both widened their eyes at the confirmation.
The academy had just sent out the results of the Entrance test.
Without another word, Azel turned and began heading toward the door.
Lorraine hesitated, remembering she had wanted to invite Miss Brown out, but the moment had slipped away.
Instead, she simply gave the woman a polite wave. Miss Brown returned it with her usual serene smile.
Lorraine followed after Azel, with Nari close at her side. Once they were back outside, Nari wasted no time breaking the silence.
"Ah, I see now," she said with a playful tone. "I can see why Lorraine is head over heels for you."
Lorraine nearly choked on her own saliva.
"N-Nari!" she sputtered, her face turning crimson. Was her friend trying to sabotage her on purpose?
Azel blinked, then turned his gaze toward Lorraine with a curious expression.
"Head over heels?" he repeated.
Lorraine panicked. She quickly shoved her hand in front of his face, as if she could block the words from reaching him.
"Don't listen to her!" she said desperately, avoiding his gaze.
Azel chuckled softly and looked away, clearly entertained by her flustered reaction.
Nari, however, wasn't done.
She smoothly looped her arm around Azel's, linking with him as if they were already a couple.
Her grin was bold and unapologetic.
"We were actually about to go out somewhere," she said casually, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief. "Do you want to come with us?"
Azel thought about it for a moment.
He still needed to familiarize himself with more areas of the academy, and spending time with them could help with that.
Besides, there was no harm in accepting the invitation.
"Well," he said at last, "if you want me to come along, I don't see why not."
"Perfect," Nari said immediately, tugging him forward with enthusiasm. "Then it's decided."
She glanced over her shoulder at Lorraine, who was still recovering from embarrassment. "Be quick, Lori. Don't fall behind."
It was time to start Operation: Get Lorraine A Man.
[Author's Note]
[Sigh... Could only do 4]