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Chapter 15: "The Badge Is Missing"(1).
Pilea walked inside the mansion, her heart heavy with guilt — but she had no choice.
I have to use the council president's method instead, she thought, as if trying to convince herself.
A maid was busy cleaning nearby. Pilea's eyes drifted from the maid to the door behind her — Androsen's office. Unfortunately, the maid didn't seem ready to leave anytime soon.
Pilea sighed, her green eyes filled with unease. She inhaled deeply. She knew the risk she was about to take, but she didn't care. The only thing that mattered was her brother.
She walked toward the maid. "Excuse me," she said softly.
The maid looked up, her eyes filled with quiet curiosity.
"I placed my medicine on my bed, but it's gone. Could you please help me find it?"
The maid smiled gently. "I will, once I'm done cleaning."
Pilea clenched her hands around her skirt. She didn't want to sound too pushy or suspicious. "I really need it before my dance lesson," she said in a lower tone.
The maid hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Okay." She gave a slight bow and walked toward Pilea's room.
Pilea exhaled — she hadn't realized she was holding her breath. The hall was silent and enormous. She turned in the opposite direction of the maid's path.
On the wall hung a large painting. She carefully shifted it aside and found a small golden key hidden beneath it. Relief washed over her. She took the key and unlocked the door to Androsen's office.
The room opened up before her — grand, elegant, and perfectly organized.
Where could the badge be?
Her eyes scanned the vast room. A tall bookshelf stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with thick books. In the middle stood a massive desk cluttered with papers.
Then, her gaze fell on a glass wardrobe by the left side of the room. Her eyes lit up. "That's it," she whispered.
She hurried over. Through the transparent glass, she saw it — a beautiful red emblem crusted with gold stars. Even at first glance, she knew it was the nobility badge.
She opened the wardrobe — luckily, it wasn't locked — and grabbed the badge. Then she ran.
Since Androsen wasn't around, no one paid attention to her as she slipped out of the mansion.
Now the most important thing is to see Sam, she thought, running with all her strength.
"Pilea?"
She slowed down at the sound of a familiar voice. It wasn't Androsen. She turned to see the student council president.
"Senior?" she said, surprised.
"I'm going with you," he said firmly. "If something happens, you won't be able to handle it alone. It'll be safer if we both go."
Pilea looked at him for a moment, then nodded slightly.
When they reached the gate, she showed the badge to the guards. They exchanged uncertain glances but eventually let them pass.
Beyond the gate lay an open stretch leading into a dark, dangerous forest — one Androsen had once warned her about.
The council president gave her a reassuring look. But as they moved forward, he noticed two shadows following them.
He leaned closer. "We're being followed. They must have realized you took the badge. But because of your connection with Androsen, they won't attack us directly."
Pilea's eyes widened slightly. "How did they find out so fast?"
"Don't look back," he said quickly. "If you turn around, they'll know you've noticed them."
Pilea nodded nervously. The sky had grown darker.
"What should we do?" she asked. "The hospital is still far."
He looked at her with steady determination. "Go ahead and check on your brother. I'll stay and stop them."
Her hesitation showed clearly on her face. "But—"
"Have faith in me," he interrupted, his eyes filled with quiet resolve.
Pilea closed her eyes for a second to calm herself, then nodded. "Okay."
She turned to run, then looked back one last time. "Senior… please be careful."
He smiled faintly and nodded.
Pilea ran as fast as she could. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she entered the hospital, breathless and desperate.
She flung open the door to Sam's ward. "Sam!" she cried.
Her panic faded instantly when she saw him. Sam was sitting on his bed, reading calmly.
"...Sis?" he said, surprised.
Pilea froze, confused. "Sam, are you okay?"
He nodded. "I'm fine. But why are you so flustered?"
She ran to him and hugged him tightly. "I was so worried," she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm just so glad you're okay."
Then something struck her. Wait... something's wrong.
She pulled away quickly and reached into her pocket. Her fingers brushed against nothing.
Her face turned pale.
"The badge… The badge…"
Her eyes widened in horror.
"The badge is missing ".
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