Chapter 22: Just Follow Them
Part 1
The moment Androsen and Pilea stepped into the school compound, all eyes turned toward them.
Some students stared at Androsen with admiration, their eyes shining with awe. Others couldn't stop glancing at Pilea—some filled with annoyance, others with jealousy that she couldn't hide even if she tried.
Three girls stood not too far away, glaring at Pilea.
One of them leaned closer and whispered in a hushed tone,
"I heard the prince even took Pilea to his clan's cocktail party."
"You really can't judge someone by their appearance," the girl beside her replied quietly.
"Looks like we can't offend her anymore," the third girl muttered.
As Androsen passed by, he sent them a chilling gaze—cold and sharp. Instantly, their mouths shut.
At the front of Pilea's class, Androsen stopped. Without caring about the countless stares and whispers, he placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
Pilea stiffened.
She didn't dare look at him directly, unable to understand why he kept doing things like this—so openly, so carelessly.
"I'll come again when school is out," Androsen said calmly.
No one wants you to come, she thought bitterly as she watched him walk away.
"What should I do…?" she whispered.
Just as she turned to enter the classroom, she paused. The intense gazes of her classmates weighed heavily on her back.
With a quiet sigh, Pilea walked to her seat and dropped into it lazily.
"What should I do?" she murmured.
"If he keeps dropping me off like this… afterwards…"
Before she could finish her thought, three girls approached her desk.
Her body stiffened instantly.
She knew those faces anywhere.
They were the same girls who had bullied her—hit her—humiliated her.
But today, something was different.
They wore forced smiles, stiff and unnatural.
The girl in the middle gently sat beside Pilea and placed a small box on the desk.
"Schoolmate Pilea, these are pastries I made myself."
She pushed the box toward her with a wide smile.
"Let's go outside and eat together."
Pilea stared at the box… then at the girl.
"Huh?" she muttered, confused.
The girl beside her spoke calmly,
"With someone like you now, how could anyone dare treat you carelessly?"
"Pilea," another added quickly, "are you interested in joining our club?"
Pilea lowered her eyes.
"Aiya," the third girl laughed lightly, "you're calling her so intimately. Are you very close to her?"
"Schoolmate Pilea is undoubtedly going to join our club," she said confidently.
Without saying a word, Pilea stood up and walked away.
The girls called after her, but none of them dared to follow.
The terrace was quiet.
A gentle breeze brushed against Pilea's face as she stood by the railing. She rested her head on her hands, staring at the endless blue sky.
"If this keeps going on," she whispered,
"will it really be fine?"
Her eyes darkened, anger slowly surfacing.
"Becoming someone I despise the most… myself?"
"Why do you come to a place like this alone?"
Pilea gasped and turned around.
Androsen stood behind her, his voice calm, his expression unreadable.
"Didn't I tell you to wait in the classroom?" he asked.
"Androsen…"
She turned back toward the sky. "I can go back by myself."
He stepped closer and placed his hands on the railing, trapping her between him and the edge.
"Hm," he murmured.
"Do you know? This kind of resistance of yours will only backfire even more."
Pilea frowned, her brows knitting together.
Before she could say anything, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
"Let's go," he said, almost excited.
"I have something for you."
When they arrived at the mansion, Androsen turned to one of the maids.
"Is everything I instructed you to do ready?"
"Yes, young master," the maid replied respectfully.
"Good. Take her there."
Pilea watched the exchange silently, curiosity burning inside her, though she refused to show it.
She looked at Androsen calmly.
"Where do you want to take me?"
Androsen smiled faintly.
"Just follow them."
He sat on the couch, sipping his wine calmly.
Moments later, Amaud walked in with her head bowed.
"She's ready."
A mysterious grin spread across Androsen's face as he took another sip, then stood up and left the room.