Chapter 36: The Mask of Pain

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Cantoria Academy, the dormitory lights-out bell rang.

After a full day of classes and student council duties, Natia Vida lay straight on her bed as always, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling.

Across the room, Vivian rolled around restlessly, scratching and flailing like she had ants under her clothes.

“Do you have fleas?”

Natia Vida finally turned her head, irritation written all over her face.

But obviously, given the state of their well-maintained dorm, fleas or cockroaches were impossible.
Vivian’s agitation clearly came from the empty bed in the room.

“Natia Vida, why don’t you just use some of your family’s influence to investigate what the heck Sal’s been dealing with lately?”

Just thinking of Sal’s sunken eyes and deathly tired expression from lunch made Vivian’s heart twist.

“If she keeps sneaking out daily like this, it’s not even about being caught and punished anymore… Seriously, you didn’t see the dark circles under her eyes?”

“No, I didn’t.”

She said that.
But her fingers twisting anxiously under the blanket and her unsteady breathing exposed her lie instantly.

This might fool others, but not Vivian—her long-time roommate and closest friend.

Right now, Natia Vida was probably even more worried for Sal.

Based on the past month, even while clearly affected by something, Sal continued to display extraordinary magical talent.

As student council president, Natia Vida didn’t want to watch a highly promising student collapse due to some unknown danger.
As Sal’s roommate, she wanted to help her in any way possible.

She was even prepared to use her family’s connections—but Sal had firmly refused her during an indirect inquiry.

“Sorry… This issue… I don’t want to drag any of you into it.”

Hearing her tone then, Natia Vida knew this matter was no small thing.

She told everything to her mother—
The same mother whom even the Emperor had to show respect to in public,
And who held vast influence both inside and outside the Empire.

She hoped her mother could investigate Sal and possibly provide assistance.

But even her mother, with all her power, gave this answer after days of investigation:

“Little Na… This isn’t something you should get involved in.”

It happened on a weekend, when Natia Vida was home.
Her mother, Navita, unusually summoned her to the study where she handled official affairs and met important figures.

Hearing the knock, Navita lowered the document she was reviewing.

“Come in.”

“Mother, you called for me?”

Navita nodded and gestured for her to sit, then went straight to the point.

“The matter you asked me to look into two days ago…”

“You found something?”
The moment she heard it was about Sal, Natia Vida stood up too quickly, forgetting noble etiquette.

Normally a grave offense—but Navita did not scold her.

“Yes, I found… a little.”

Navita looked at the single sheet of paper—
Then at her daughter.

After flipping it several times, as if struggling with a decision, she finally made up her mind.

A spark ignited between her fingers—

The report documenting everything about Sal and the incident she was involved in burst into flames and turned to ash in less than two seconds.

“Mother, what are you—”

“This is not a field you should meddle in.”

Navita, usually strict but indulgent toward her daughter’s requests, was unequivocal this time.

Seeing she had no room to negotiate, Natia Vida pressed for at least some information.

And she got it.

But that information was exactly what made her abandon the idea of helping Sal altogether.

“To put it simply… this matter involves direct members of the royal family.”

One short sentence—yet it carried despair.

The royal family was involved.

Meaning—this matter touched the Imperial King himself.

Anything connected to the royal family…

She absolutely could not interfere.

Not only could she not use connections, she couldn’t even personally involve herself.

Not for safety reasons alone—
But because if any royal was harmed or killed during conflict…

Even their powerful noble family could be purged by the King.

She had no choice.
She couldn’t help Sal.

“So all we can do now is quietly pray Sal can solve this herself.”

After a month together, both had begun treating Sal like a younger sister.
Saying those words caused an ache in Natia Vida’s chest.

At that moment, they were lying peacefully in their dorm.

Meanwhile, Sal might be facing danger.
Suffering.

…

In fact, Sal was experiencing danger and suffering—

Just not the kind her two roommates imagined.

They were still at “Exotic Pleasures.”
Still at the bar counter.

But now, beside Sal, sat a dragon girl dressed in a high-waisted bunny outfit—
Complete with exposed dragon horns and red-black slit pupils.

And trapped between Rein and this dragon girl, Sal wore the expression of pure pain.

An outsider wouldn’t understand.

But stepping into Sal’s perspective—

Anyone would start questioning their worldview harder than she already was.

Especially after learning that this attractive woman beside her…

Was actually her morally questionable old man in his true form.

Pain.
Too much pain.