Chapter 130: Calling Their Bluff

Okami seemed satisfied by the exchange between Starlight and Sera, so he guided Starlight toward the two-seater sofa beside his own. He sat down first, leaving enough room for her beside him, and she settled onto the cushion, carefully arranging the fabric of her red gown so that it wouldn’t become trapped beneath her. Elle, meanwhile, glanced around the seating area before noticing Eden sitting on the adjacent sofa. Recognizing the Eclipse House president, she approached with a friendly smile and took the empty seat beside him. "Hi, everyone," she greeted, lifting her hand in a cheerful wave.

Eden returned the greeting with a polite nod, while Sera smiled at her. Kage offered a casual acknowledgment, and even Nikolai managed a brief nod, though his expression remained noticeably tense. Mikhail said nothing, his attention still fixed on Starlight. Beatrice, however, merely scoffed.

"I honestly don’t understand why they keep letting just anyone into these gatherings," she remarked, loud enough for everyone seated nearby to hear. Her gaze swept over Elle with open disdain. "Some people really have no sense of when they’re out of place. I suppose having nothing better to do makes it easier to chase after people who actually matter."

Elle’s smile faded slightly as she turned toward Beatrice, clearly taken aback by the insult. She had barely sat down, yet the princess was already treating her as though she had committed some unforgivable offense simply by joining the group. Before Elle could even think of something to say, Starlight turned her head toward Beatrice, her expression settling into a cool, unimpressed look.

"That’s an interesting thing to say when the only thing you know how to do is insult people you barely know," Starlight remarked. "I suppose having everything handed to you makes it difficult to recognize basic manners when you see them." Her tone remained deceptively calm, but the words landed with enough precision to make Beatrice’s expression tighten.

Starlight tilted her head slightly, studying the other girl with feigned curiosity. "Or is being rude the only way you know how to make yourself feel important? Because if that’s the case, I have to say you’re doing a wonderful job of proving how little you have to offer beyond your family name and title." Elle’s eyes widened, while Kage abruptly lowered his gaze toward his glass.

His hand instinctively rose to his neck as the memory of Starlight nearly strangling him at the swimming complex resurfaced. That girl is absolutely terrifying, he thought, swallowing hard as he silently reminded himself never to get on her bad side again. Eden’s eyebrows rose slightly, and he paused to study Starlight with renewed interest. He had expected her to respond to Beatrice’s provocation, but he hadn’t anticipated such a direct and merciless verbal counterattack. Sera pressed her lips together, her expression reflecting her surprise at Starlight’s bluntness. However, having already experienced firsthand what happened when someone pushed Starlight too far, she probably should have expected this. After all, Sera knew better than most of the people sitting around them that Starlight wasn’t someone who would quietly tolerate being insulted.

Beatrice’s face flushed with anger. "You little—" she began, leaning forward as though she intended to deliver a much harsher insult. However, before she could finish, Nikolai interrupted her, his attention fixed on Starlight. "What are you doing with him?" he demanded, his gaze shifting briefly toward Okami before returning to her. The question came out sharper than he had intended, carrying an unmistakable note of displeasure.

Starlight turned toward him, her eyebrows drawing together as she tried to understand what exactly he expected her to say. "What is that supposed to mean, Your Highness?" she asked. "Are you asking why I came here with Prince Okami, or are you trying to tell me who I’m allowed to spend time with?"

Nikolai’s expression hardened. "I asked you a simple question, Miss Dawson. What are you doing with him?"

Starlight let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "And I asked you a simple question in return, Your Highness. Are you seriously trying to control who I hang out with now? I didn’t realize the corrective conduct program extended to deciding who I’m allowed to associate with outside those sessions."

The moment the words left her mouth, the atmosphere around the sofas changed. Kage’s eyes widened as he looked between Starlight and the Crown Twins, his earlier amusement disappearing as he realized she had just revealed something that clearly wasn’t common knowledge. Elle turned toward her with a startled expression, having never expected Starlight to bring up the corrective conduct program in the middle of the gathering. Sera frowned, her attention shifting between Starlight and the twins as she tried to make sense of the revelation. Eden, who had been reaching for his glass, paused with his fingers hovering just above it.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "This is really going to blow up."

Nikolai’s face darkened, and for a brief moment, he looked as though he might rise from his seat. Mikhail, however, turned toward his brother with a sharp glare that made his displeasure unmistakable. Whatever Nikolai intended to say next, Mikhail’s expression warned him to think carefully before speaking. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

Okami, who had been sitting quietly beside Starlight, slowly turned his head toward her, his earlier pleasant expression replaced by open curiosity. "Corrective conduct program?" he repeated, looking directly at Starlight. "What do you mean by that, Starlight? What exactly is this program you’re talking about?"

Starlight blinked once, feigning momentary surprise at the question.

Although she hadn’t planned to reveal the program so soon, Nikolai’s reaction had practically handed her an opportunity she would have been foolish to ignore. When she had been preparing to attend the gathering, she had hoped to find a way to draw the Crown Twins into a conversation about the arrangement and perhaps force them to acknowledge what they were putting her through. She had expected to work for that opportunity, not have it presented to her so conveniently. Now, with Okami asking questions and everyone around the sofas waiting for an explanation, she could hardly believe how easily the conversation had turned in her favor.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she glanced toward Nikolai, whose expression had become even more severe.

"It’s just something the Crown Twins decided I needed to undergo for my own good, of course," Starlight began, her tone deliberately casual. "Apparently, they believe I need a little corrective training for defending myself against people they consider to be above me, so they’ve arranged a program for me to attend with them. They even forced me to agree to—"

"It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with," Mikhail interrupted, his voice cutting cleanly through her explanation. He looked toward Okami, his expression composed, but his tone carried a clear warning. "It’s a private matter between us and Starlight Dawson. There’s no reason to turn it into a discussion for everyone here." His words were measured, but the abruptness of the interruption made his intentions obvious. He did not want Okami asking questions, and he certainly did not want the rest of the Elite Circle learning more about the program than they already knew.

Starlight’s smirk widened slightly as she watched him, recognizing the effort he was making to shut down the conversation before she could say anything else. Okami’s expression shifted.

The warmth that had accompanied him throughout the evening gave way to a more serious look as he turned fully toward Mikhail. "Your Highness, I don’t remember asking you," he said evenly. "I asked Starlight what the program means, and I’d appreciate it if she were allowed to answer for herself." He paused, his gaze moving briefly between Mikhail and Nikolai. "From the way you’re both reacting, it’s fairly obvious that you don’t want the rest of us to know what she’s talking about. So forgive me if that makes me even more curious. What exactly are you putting her through, and why are you so determined to keep it quiet?"

Nikolai’s fingers tightened around the armrest, his jaw clenching as his gaze shifted toward Okami. He clearly had no intention of allowing the conversation to continue, but before he could respond, Sera leaned forward on her sofa. Her gaze moved from the Crown Twins to Starlight, her expression thoughtful but firm.

"Your Royal Highnesses, I have to agree with Okami," she said. "You’re both making it rather obvious that there’s something you’re trying to hide. If this program is as harmless as you’re making it sound, then I don’t see why Miss Dawson shouldn’t be allowed to explain it herself." She turned toward Starlight, her curiosity evident in her expression. "Go on, Starlight. We’d all like to know what this corrective conduct program is about."

Starlight immediately felt the weight of the Crown Twins’ attention settle on her. Mikhail’s expression had grown cold, his eyes fixed on her with a warning that needed no words, while Nikolai looked even more displeased. His jaw was clenched, and the sharpness in his gaze made it clear that he was not at all happy with the direction the conversation had taken.