CHAPTER 243: UNCOMFORTABLE

Chapter 243

Lumiya

Walking through the halls, I let the envious stares wash over me like rain on stone. Of course they look. They always do.

I am beauty, I am pedigree, I am the bloodline nobles whisper about when arranging their marriages. My every step is calculated elegance. My every glance is deliberate.

And the man on my arm—Felix Leonhart, heir to the throne—only makes their envy burn hotter. He is more than they could ever dream of attaining. With him at my side, I am the future queen.

The whispers follow us, but they do not touch me. I do not care about them.

Nor do I care about the prince’s little distractions—his lovers, his fleeting passions, the ones who think themselves special because his gaze lingered a moment too long. They are nothing.

Let him dally. Let him collect a hundred women if he so pleases. It changes nothing.

As long as my position is secure—as long as my crown remains inevitable—I will not waste my breath on jealousy.

I glance at Felix’s profile, the way his jaw tightens when he thinks no one is watching, the way his golden eyes harden under the weight of expectation. He does not even realize how tightly I already hold him in my grasp.

One day soon, it will not be speculation. Not whispers. Not envy.

It will be law.

And I, Lumiya of House Snowfrost, will sit where none of them can ever reach.

Queen.

***

Felix

"With exams approaching, it’s our duty as the student council to maintain order."

My fingers tap against the polished table, the sound sharp, steady, the only thing keeping me awake as the meeting drones on.

Across from me, sprawled like she owns the place, is Daphne Nyxclaw.

Her tail flicks lazily over the arm of the couch. She’s half-turned, half-bored, like all of this;the council, the academy, even me is beneath her notice.

I heard she attended the royal council at the palace. Sitting in the same chambers as my grandfather’s advisors, debating matters of state. What is she even doing here then? Why bother coming back to the academy if she’s already that entrenched in power?

She makes me uncomfortable.

Not just her presence—the way she is.

The male uniform hangs off her broad shoulders like it was designed for her. No one dares question it. No one points out how improper it is. Just like no one points out the other abnormality: her relationship with that Longear. A female Longear.

Why is no one saying anything? Why is no one bothered by this?

I can feel it, like a splinter under my skin: the imbalance she brings. The way she exists outside rules that the rest of us are bound to.

"Might as well commission a painting, little lion."

Her voice cuts through the council chamber like a lazy slash of claws. The room falls quiet instantly, all eyes turning toward me.

My fingers freeze mid-tap.

"You misunderstand," I say, forcing calm, smoothing the irritation from my tone. "I was merely lost in thought with exams coming soon."

"Hmnn." Her hum is low, dismissive, uninterested.

Then she turns, curling deeper into the couch like the laziest predator, tail flicking idly, as if none of this matters.

***

Daphne

I don’t know why the male lead is staring at me like that.

Anyway.

I mentally nudge the system. Progress check.

[SYSTEM 404: HAREM SCAN ENGAGED.]

[Harem Breakdown: 31.34% Complete]

[ Lira Moonfox

Race: Fox Beastman (Elder Twin)

Affection Level: 65%

Lani Moonfox

Race: Fox Beastman (Younger Twin)

Affection Level: 31%

Velesia Coilsong

Race: Snake Beastman

Affection Level: 89%

Lumiya Snowfrost

Race: Snow Leopard Beastman

Affection Level: 60% ]

Well, progress—at least Poppy isn’t on this cursed list anymore. But why the hell did Lumiya’s and Lira’s affection levels go up?

And Velesia? Down a single percent? One. After everything Felix has put her through, she still clings to him with numbers that high?

Also from Velesia it’s reduced by... what, 1%? One.

Really? After everything, after the way Felix treats her, she still clings to him with numbers that high?

I’ll never understand it.

The next one to target is obvious: Lani. The younger fox twin is already cracking at the seams, quietly competing with her sister. A little chaos, and she’ll implode.

And chaos is exactly what I have Edith for.

Honestly, I’m glad she’s here. With her around, I don’t need to get my hands dirty. All I had to do was release her into the field.

From everything I uncovered in my background check, Edith—Jessica—was lethal when it came to my late brother’s love interests. She dismantled them with precision. Efficient. Elegant.

I wonder what she’ll do this time. I look forward to Jessica’s actions in this world.

All she asked for was my unlimited support and backing. And she has it.

Stretching lazily as the rest of the student council meeting drones on. Paperwork, procedures, budget allocations... honestly, half of them just like hearing themselves talk.

My tail flicks against the couch, restless, while my mind drifts somewhere else entirely.

To her.

My little bunny.

I wonder what I’m going to do with her.

Not much, if I’m being realistic. Exams are coming and she’s wound tighter than a bowstring, hunched over notes with those big anxious eyes. I could snatch her away, keep her in my lap until she remembers to breathe, to eat, to exist outside of her books. That’s what I want to do.

But she wouldn’t thank me for that.

I could say, Don’t stress. I’ll take care of everything. Just curl up, and let me handle the world.

But I don’t think she’d be happy with that.

So bored.

This world with no TVs, no internet, it’s depressing. No chaos, no real entertainment. The academy plays are stiff and slow, everyone claps politely like their souls aren’t rotting. I can’t even fight anyone, because no one’s stupid enough to challenge me.

What’s the point of power if nobody’s bold enough to let me sink my teeth in?

I sigh.

Guess I’ll just go up to my studio and paint.