Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 183: I want to know if you feel the same way!

Chapter 183: I want to know if you feel the same way!

Celeste proceeded to press the button for the second floor, and then she stood quietly beside him. She did not look at him, and she did not even say a word.

The elevator began to move, and as soon as it did, she suddenly turned toward him without warning

’Hmmm.’

Before Elion could react, she hooked her arm around his neck and pulled him down into a deep kiss. He froze for a second, completely caught off guard by her sudden move.

Celeste was not even shy about it. Her cold lips pressed against his with hunger, and she was the one leading the kiss. There was no hesitation in her actions, only urgency.

After the first moment of shock, Elion kissed her back. He wasn’t complaining, but this was very unlike Celeste.

She was usually calm, cold, and careful. Initiating something like this in an elevator, where someone could step in at any time, did not suit her usual personality at all.

Her grip tightened slightly, as if she didn’t want to let him go. He responded in kind, prying her mouth open with his tongue as she moaned into his mouth.

Like before, her teeth grazed him sharply before he finally found her small tongue. Wet kissing sounds began to ring out as they exchanged saliva, and their tongues battled each other, all while her grip around his neck tightened.

Elion responded by hooking his arm around her waist and pulling, pressing her body to his, but he did not go any further than that.

He wanted to do nothing more than to touch and grope her, but that would probably mess her uniform up. At least this way, even if someone saw them, the situation would still be salvageable.

Elion began to wonder what had caused this.

Had he underestimated how much she had missed him these past two days? Or was there another reason behind this sudden burst of affection from her?

The elevator began to slow down, and only then did she pull away. Their lips separated in a wet smack, with a thin thread of saliva linking their tongues at the ends.

Celeste took a steady breath, her red eyes looking into his blue eyes with a hazy look as she stepped back to stand beside him again.

She faced forward as if nothing had happened. But the faint red at the tips of her ears gave her away.

Elion looked at her with confusion. ’What was that about?’ He surely wasn’t complaining. The doors opened.

“Let’s go,” she said simply as she stepped out.

A couple of second years entered the elevator as they passed by. They gave Elion curious looks, since first years rarely came to this floor, but they didn’t say anything.

Celeste kept walking ahead. Elion followed behind her, still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

They walked the familiar path toward the dorms in silence. This was only the second time Elion had been here, but he recognized the route.

It seemed they were heading to the same place Liora had taken him before — Celeste’s large and elegant room.

Elion suddenly felt a small spark of excitement inside.

’Wait… don’t tell me I’m actually getting some action from Celeste today?’

If that were the case, then he might truly be very lucky. The kiss she had initiated in the elevator had been so intense and full of hunger that he found himself looking forward to what she had in mind.

But he forced himself to stay calm.

It could mean something.

Or it could mean nothing at all.

He activated Love metre on Celeste again. Only to find that it hadn’t moved an inch.

[69%]

After walking for a bit, they stopped in front of her door. Celeste took out a key, unlocked it, and stepped inside.

She paused just long enough for him to follow before closing the door behind them. Then she locked it.

’Now this… I’m looking forward to’, Elion thought with a small smile.

Celeste walked deeper into the room. The space was just as beautiful as he remembered, with soft lighting and elegant furnishings.

She moved toward the table near the window in the lounging area and picked up something that looked like an envelope. From it, she pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper that looked like a letter.

Without saying much, she walked back and handed it to him. Elion took it with a curious look.

“Read it,” she said simply.

He gave her a sideways glance.

“Hm? What’s this?”

He unfolded the letter and began reading.

From Lucius Chronos

To my dear Celeste,

It was clearly a letter written to her by her father.

By the time this letter reaches you, I imagine you are still immersed in your studies at the academy. I hope you are well.

I will not waste words. The situation at home has continued to worsen. Tensions along the border have been rising steadily, and each passing week brings more uncertainty. What was once manageable through restraint and negotiation is slowly turning into something far more unstable.

There is another matter I must address.

Your rejection of the Kletis family’s proposal has caused unrest among the elders. I will not lie to you — they are disappointed. Your mother shares their concerns, though she does not voice them as harshly.

Elion’s brows lifted slightly.

As for me… I find myself conflicted.

When I first informed you of the proposal, I told you that you could refuse. I meant those words. I have always believed you should not be forced into choosing a partner you do not want. If I have made you feel otherwise, then I have failed you.

However, circumstances have changed.

You are not only my daughter. You are the first princess of our clan. There are duties that come with that title, duties you cannot simply turn away from when the future of our people grows uncertain.

Elion paused there and looked up at Celeste. She was staring off to the side, her eyes distant and heavy.

Now he understood why she had acted the way she did in the elevator. He looked back down and continued reading.

After discussion with the elders and your mother, we have reached a decision.

You now have two choices.

You may accept Evander Kletis’ proposal and secure the alliance.

Or you may return home and undergo the Bloodline Awakening Trial.

His thoughts drifted briefly to the other day, when he had been pulled here by Liora and walked in on her in the middle of her awakening.

’Was that connected to this trial?’ He thought.

Probably.

He kept reading.

Should you choose the latter, I will send word to Maximus immediately so that arrangements may be made. It would be best for you to complete the trial before the Legacy Hidden World opens. That leaves us with roughly a month.

There is no need for you to participate in the academy’s tournament. Your presence is required here far more than it is there.

Whatever choice you make, know that it will carry weight.

We await your return.

With love,

Lucius Chronos

“Lucius, huh,” Elion muttered softly as he folded the letter.

“With love,” he added under his breath. “There’s no love in this letter at all.”

Celeste gave a quiet hum in agreement. She walked over and sat down on the couch. Elion followed and sat opposite her.

He wasn’t sure what she expected him to say.

He had already decided that he wanted to make Celeste his woman. Learning that Evander was trying to tie her down through politics irked him more than he liked to admit.

Now it made sense why Evander had been glaring at him so much during that meeting earlier. Maybe glaring was too strong a word.

But he had definitely been giving Elion more than a few obvious glances, more than anyone else at the time.

Now it all made sense.

’I don’t like the sound of this’. Elion thought.

He didn’t know what this bloodline trial entailed, but judging from Celeste’s expression, it wasn’t something simple.

“My father is never this forceful,” Celeste said quietly. “In fact, he spoils me so much that it annoys me.”

She let out a small breath.

“The last time he mentioned the Kletis family’s proposal, he told me I could refuse. But now… it seems the situation has become dire.”

Elion didn’t know all the details, but from what he had heard, tensions between the dragons and the vampire clan were getting tense.

Maybe even close to war.

Celeste sat quietly for a moment. Then she looked up at him.

“Now… as for why I showed you this,” she said softly, her voice calm but steady. “I’m sure you can guess, Elion.”

He held her gaze, waiting.

“I…” She paused.

For the first time since he had known her, she seemed unsure of herself.

A faint blush began to spread from the tips of her ears. It slowly crept across her pale, porcelain white skin, turning her cheeks a soft shade of pink.

“I… I like you, Elion.”

The words came out quietly and careful, as if she had to push them past an invisible barrier, her pride.

She shifted slightly in her seat, squirming, clearly embarrassed. Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her dress.

“I’m not sure if it’s enough to call it love yet,” she continued, her voice trembled just a little. “But this feeling…”

She pressed a hand against her chest. “The way you make me feel…”

Her eyes grew glossy as she looked at him with tears forming in her eyes. There was no coldness in them now, just the look of a woman seeking affection.

“I don’t want it to end like this!”

Her voice rose suddenly, so sincere and full of emotion that it startled him. Elion blinked in genuine shock.

He had never seen her like this before. And he was sure she had never acted like this before this

Right now, she was not the calm princess, definitely not the cold, untouchable beauty people knew her as. Just a girl, speaking honestly.

Honestly, it warmed his heart. He felt a small smile form on his lips despite himself.

“I…” she started again, her voice softer now.

“I want to know if you feel the same way, Elion.” She closed her eyes as she said it, as if bracing herself, as if she was afraid of the answer he might give.