The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 565: Epilogue 10 - New School Year, New Troubles (5)

The afternoon class finally came to an end, releasing me from the suffocating grip of boredom that had plagued the entire school day. As the final lecture wrapped up and the professor bid us farewell, I wasted no time gathering my things, slipping out of the classroom before the usual flood of students crowded the halls. A sense of relief washed over me—I could finally breathe.

The crisp afternoon air greeted me the moment I stepped outside, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. My footsteps echoed against the stone pathways as I weaved through clusters of lingering students, their idle chatter blending into an indistinct hum. The golden sunlight filtering through the towering academy walls painted the courtyard in a soft, warm glow, casting long shadows that danced with the gentle sway of the trees.

Then, my gaze landed on the grand fountain at the heart of the courtyard. Water cascaded from the intricately carved stone, its rhythmic splashing a soothing contrast to the surrounding noise. But my attention wasn't drawn to the fountain itself.

It was to the lone figure standing beside it.

"Hello, senior!"

A voice, clear and unmistakable, called out to me.

Estelle Eclair.

I hadn't expected to see her again so soon after our encounter this morning, yet there she was—standing in the open, as if she had been waiting for me all along. The sight of her, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, felt almost surreal. However, what truly struck me was her boldness—choosing such a conspicuous place to meet. If anything, I had assumed she would have wanted something more private. But then again, maybe whatever she had to say didn't require secrecy.

"Were you waiting for me?" I asked, my tone even.

"Of course, I was!" She let out a soft chuckle, her lips curling into a smile—one that carried a mischievous edge, as if she were enjoying some secret only she knew. "I would love to have a talk with you, senior! Don't you remember when we were introduced? I told you I wanted to know you better, didn't I?"

There was something almost hypnotic about the way she spoke—each word laced with an undeniable charm. But I wasn't so easily swayed.

"Is it appropriate for someone who has a boyfriend to be speaking with another man without her boyfriend's presence?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. "I don't think that would be considered proper."

Estelle's expression didn't waver. Instead, her smirk deepened, a glimmer of amusement flashing in her eyes.

"Hmm, that's a fair point," she mused, twirling a strand of her silken hair around her finger. "However, I could say the same to you, senior."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "What do you mean?"

Her smirk turned positively devilish.

"I mean, is it appropriate for someone who already has a girlfriend—not just one, but three—to visit a professor's office for a tryst without his girlfriends' knowledge?" she asked, her voice smooth, almost playful. "That doesn't seem very proper either, don't you think? But then again, considering your relationships with many women, I doubt your girlfriends would mind all that much."

A faint breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves and carrying the distant sound of laughter from the other students. Yet, in this moment, it felt as though the world had shrunk down to just the two of us.

"Huh… That does make sense," I admitted, though my eyes studied her carefully.

How the hell did she know that? Had she been watching me? That was the only logical conclusion. Her knowledge of my affairs wasn't just surface-level; she seemed to know far more than she should. It was unsettling. Yet, at the same time, it didn't particularly concern me. After all, Titania and the others were already aware.

"So?" I asked, my voice steady. "What exactly did you stop me for?"

"Aww~. Are you really going to be so distant?" she teased, stepping closer, her voice dropping into something almost sultry. "Aren't we supposed to embrace? Maybe even share a kiss or two? We're basically long-lost siblings, after all. Shouldn't there be a heartwarming moment between the two of us?"

My expression remained unreadable.

"I don't think there will be," I replied flatly. "I don't even know who you really are. For all I know, you could be lying about being an Eclair. You could be deceiving me entirely. And besides—" My gaze sharpened. "I've never had particularly pleasant experiences with most of the Eclairs I've encountered."

The only one I had any real connection with was Elise.

As for Veronica and Leonora… our interactions had been brief—too brief to form anything meaningful. And if Estelle thought she could waltz into my life with sweet words and a devil's grin, she was sorely mistaken.

"Aww~, and here I thought I'd get a sweet reunion with my long-lost older brother…" Estelle sighed dramatically, placing a delicate hand over her chest as if lamenting some grand tragedy. Her soft, pink lips formed the faintest pout, her eyes shimmering with an innocence so convincing that, for a moment, I might've actually believed her sincerity—if not for the mischievous glint hidden just beneath the surface.

"And I even came all this way just to meet you," she continued, tilting her head slightly as her honeyed voice dripped with playful reproach. "Are you really going to leave your poor little sister all alone for the rest of the academy year without guiding her, like any responsible big brother should? Huh, big brother?"

She gazed up at me then, her wide, pleading eyes shimmering under the golden afternoon light. The soft curve of her lips, the faint quiver in her voice—everything about her expression was designed to be irresistible. And it was effective.

She was adorable. Too adorable.

…Which was probably why Duncan had fallen so easily for her.

I exhaled softly, refusing to let her theatrics sway me. "What are you really planning?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.

"Hmm?" She blinked, cocking her head ever so slightly, her hair cascading over her shoulder in waves of silk.

"You didn't come here just to meet me, did you?" I continued, my gaze steady. "There's another reason you sought me out."

For a brief moment, Estelle was silent. Then, her lips curved into a knowing smile—one that sent a chill down my spine.

"Senior—I mean, big brother—I don't think there's much to it beyond wanting to see you." Her voice remained light, teasing. "But if you insist on thinking otherwise…" She stepped closer, her fingers delicately tracing the hem of her skirt. "Then, would you allow me to come to your dorm room?"

There was an undeniable weight behind her words. Whatever she wanted to say wasn't meant for public ears. I gave her a silent nod and led the way.

The moment we stepped into my dorm, Estelle's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the surroundings.

"Woah! So this is your room, big bro!" she chirped, twirling once before stopping to take a deep breath. "It smells like you!" Then, she wrinkled her nose slightly, her grin turning wicked. "But… I can also smell something else. Like girls."

Her eyes flicked toward me, glimmering with mischief.

"Tell me, big bro, have you ever been naughty enough to do it with someone in this cramped little room?"

I ignored her teasing, silently closing the door behind us.

She let out a soft giggle. "Ohh~. It really does feel like your room," she murmured, her voice lilting with amusement.

I had no idea why she spoke as though we had known each other for years—like we were some sort of close siblings who had shared childhood memories. But I chose not to question it.

Then, without warning, she spun around and dove onto my bed, giggling as she kicked her legs playfully in the air. Her skirt fluttered slightly from the movement, offering a teasing glimpse of her thighs.

She grabbed one of my pillows, burying her face into it and inhaling deeply.

"Mmm~." She hummed. "Smells just like you."

"Can you stop messing around and get to the point?" I asked.

"Aww~, what's the harm in having a little fun?" she pouted, glancing back at me with an impish smile. Then, slowly, she ran a finger along the edge of her skirt, tilting her head suggestively. "Or… what about sneaking a peek up my skirt? I'm wearing something really cute today~."

I didn't even dignify her words with a reaction.

She sighed dramatically, pushing herself up until she was sitting at the edge of my bed. "How boring," she huffed. But despite her words, her eyes never lost that cunning glint.

Then, without warning, her expression shifted. The playful mischief faded, replaced by something sharper—something calculated.

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"You're probably already aware of this," she said, her voice carrying a weight that hadn't been there before, "but I'm a fragment of Lilith. To be precise, one of her fragments. Just like you."

That much, I already knew. But what she said next…

"I am a part of Lilith—just like you," she continued, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of my bedsheet. "When she was defeated, she split herself into five parts. If those five parts are ever reunited, then she can be revived." She smiled as she spoke, her tone almost too casual for the gravity of her words.

Then, slowly, her gaze met mine.

"Tell me, big bro…" She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glowing with an eerie sort of amusement. "Have you seen Lilith—our creator—in your dreams?"

I didn't answer. I had seen Lilith. Twice. And I had done far more than just see her.

Estelle's lips curled, as if reading my thoughts.

"The truth is…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "The reason I'm here…"

She leaned even closer.

"…is because Lilith herself told me to meet you."