Chapter 109: “The Freeloader” Comes Knocking

Everyone who knew Isabelle Stacie was well aware of one unshakable fact: this “friend” of hers—the one she claimed to exist—was none other than herself. Only a pure, unabashedly innocent little girl could open a conversation in such a manner and somehow make it seem natural.

Yuna exchanged a glance with the other girls. In that brief, silent communication, they shared a mutual understanding without a single word spoken.

Though Yuna had only recently become close friends with Stacie, she had done her homework before ever stepping into battle with her. Knowledge of one’s friend—and one’s opponent—was the key to victory, after all. She had a fair grasp of Stacie’s lifestyle, habits, and the little quirks that made her who she was.

The other girls had been friends with Stacie for much longer. They knew the inner circle around her, the people she spent time with, and most importantly, which boys paid attention to her. As the freshman goddess of the academy, Stacie drew a lot of admirers, though, curiously, she never seemed to fixate on any of them. All of them—except one, that is…

Leo Merlin.

Especially considering what had happened just yesterday, when the Moon’s Dark Whisperer had gone berserk. According to Senior Yuna, it was Merlin who had defeated the Moon’s Dark Whisperer, saving Stacie and preventing disaster.

The girls exchanged another glance, a silent agreement passing between them. This wasn’t just idle gossip—it concerned Isabelle Stacie’s love life. Mishandling it could result in rumors spreading across the entire academy. And with Stacie’s shy, innocent nature, a careless comment could leave an indelible mark on her heart.

Stacie’s beauty needed no introduction; her personality was equally delightful. As a prodigy among the fairy practitioners, she had the potential to become a legendary archmage in the future. Her noble lineage—bearing the surname Isabelle—marked her as a member of the elven royal family. Pair her with Leo Merlin, and they were a perfect match.

And what of Leo Merlin? He was no ordinary peer either. A genius of the Alchemy Department at the Arcane Academy, he had invented countless beloved culinary creations and established his own thriving business within the academy. Young, talented, and wealthy, his victory over the Moon’s Dark Whisperer alone spoke volumes of his power. The Merlin family was an old noble house in the Dawn Empire, and Leo himself was even dubbed the “Prince of the Arcane Academy.” To date, none of the girls had seen a young man more handsome than him.

If Stacie was the dream girl of countless male students at the Arcane Academy, Leo Merlin was correspondingly the dream boy of countless female students.

Suddenly, it struck them—these two were perfect for each other.

Even Yuna had to admit that Merlin was, among her peers, in a league of his own—though, admittedly, his sheer attractiveness was the main factor. Everything else almost seemed secondary.

Setting her teacup down, Yuna looked at Stacie with gentle eyes and spoke softly, “To like someone… it’s the same as disliking someone in the sense that it’s entirely beyond your control. You cannot choose the emotions that arise within your heart. It is like the flowers in spring, quietly blooming under the sun, or the leaves in autumn, drifting to their destined resting place in the wind. It is nature’s choice.”

Stacie blinked, startled slightly, as though Yuna’s words had struck a chord within her. She lowered her gaze, pondering the deeper meaning behind them.

Indeed, liking someone often happened naturally, without warning, as if orchestrated by fate itself—an invisible hand guiding the heart to flutter unbidden. Likewise, the feeling of dislike was a force of its own, an irresistible emotion, like a thorn embedded deep within one’s chest, constantly reminding you to maintain distance.

Yuna’s eyes shone with quiet wisdom, her mind clearly working on how best to guide her friend. “You can tell your friend that feeling affection—or love—is not a bad thing. As for the difference between the two… I suppose one likes first, and love comes after. But truthfully, I am no expert in these matters.”

She leaned in slightly, her tone soft yet resolute. “However… speaking recklessly about such private concerns—whether for you or your friend—can lead to ill impressions. We cannot discuss others behind their backs, can we? Unless, of course, your friend wishes to speak openly of it herself.”

The surrounding girls all nodded in agreement.

Stacie scratched her head, slightly embarrassed, her cheeks flushed. “Y-yes… that does seem… right. I think I understand… um… indeed, it’s not good to discuss others behind their backs…”

The other girls, Yuna included, exchanged knowing smiles, their expressions tinged with fond amusement. Was Stacie perhaps just a little too adorable for her own good?

Meanwhile, Merlin stared at the thick pile of invoices on the table, his head in his hands, a faint frown of frustration on his face. He glanced at Scarlett, who had taken over Stacie’s duties, and asked quietly, “Where did you go last night?”

Scarlett, bleary-eyed from being overworked, blinked and recalled her activities. Ah yes… she had ventured into the Beast Forest in search of a warm place to sleep. She had claimed the nest of a Honeyflower Flightbird as her makeshift bed and slept soundly inside it.

Merlin sighed inwardly. Had Scarlett been available the previous night, he might have saved himself the cost of a slew of single-use alchemical items. His own oversight had been the cause—he should have gone to the Church of Light earlier to purchase more Light-based alchemical tools, potions, and scrolls.

After all, Light magic was the perfect counter to Dark magic—they were opposing elemental forces.

If Merlin had used Light-based alchemical items last night, he might have defeated the Moon’s Dark Whisperer at half the cost.

He also resolved to keep Scarlett at the academy as his personal bodyguard. Despite her perpetually sleepy demeanor, she was a genuine Fourth-Rank mage—a rarity even among second- or third-year students. Rumor had it that during the final exams, she had effortlessly hypnotized her opponent—a fellow Fourth-Rank mage—into slumber without them even realizing it.

Merlin mused that he needed to expedite development of a proper mattress for her. Retaining Scarlett in the villa was his first priority; assigning her as a personal bodyguard came second.

“Went looking for a bed last night. Do you still care about that, boss?” Scarlett asked, her tone tinged with exhaustion.

Merlin shook his head, unwilling to waste words. Originally, the afternoon had been scheduled for the “Honey Snow Time” brand launch at the Arcane Academy. But with Stacie under house arrest due to the academy’s punishment, the plan had to be altered.

The first-year exams were not yet over, and a week from now, students would undergo assessments in the Beast Forest. During this period, free time was abundant.

“Boss Merlin, someone’s here to see you,” Scarlett’s lazy voice called out. She was completely drained yet could not help but admire Stacie’s ability to handle so many daily responsibilities with ease.

“Please, send them in,” Merlin replied.

To his surprise, the visitor turned out to be… him.

“Kaelos?”

Kaelos cast a glance around the villa’s interior. He had to admit that, through the lens of his elven royal sensibilities, the villa was unexpectedly artistic in design—truly in line with the elves’ aesthetic tastes. Merlin, he mused, was indeed a man of some substance.