CHAPTER 838 194.3 - PATH

Lilia paused at his question, her crimson eyes locking onto his. Astron's expression remained unreadable, his voice as cool and detached as ever, but there was something beneath the surface—something subtle. His dark purple eyes, distant yet sharp, held a glint of curiosity, faint but present.

It made sense. Astron was observant, more so than most people gave him credit for. He must have noticed how she had carried herself throughout the night, how she had played the game differently than usual. And now, he was curious.

Lilia exhaled, tilting her head slightly. "You really do like watching people, don't you?" she mused, her voice quieter now, less guarded.

Astron didn't blink. "Observing," he corrected. "People are predictable if you pay attention."

A small smirk tugged at Lilia's lips. "And what? You think I wasn't acting like myself?"

Astron studied her for a moment before replying. "I think you were acting like someone who wanted to win."

Lilia stilled. It wasn't an incorrect statement, but coming from Astron, it felt oddly precise.

Wanted to win? She turned the words over in her mind. Did she really want to win, or did she just refuse to lose?

She let out a quiet sigh, glancing away toward the dimly lit training grounds in the distance. "I feel…" She hesitated, as if the answer itself was caught somewhere between her thoughts and her pride.

She considered lying—saying something light, something dismissive. But Astron wasn't the type to accept shallow answers. He'd only see through it.

So instead, she answered honestly.

"Frustrated. Tired." Her voice was steady, but she didn't hide the weight behind her words. "But more than that… disappointed."

Astron didn't react immediately, but she saw it—the way his gaze flickered slightly, as if processing her words with more care than expected.

"Disappointed in what?

This is the end of Part One. Upgrade Premium to read full content:

Upgrade Now

[/img/novelbin.png]