It felt like time had stopped.
Felix smiled gently and said,
“Lorena, you’re a graduate too, so you’re one of today’s main characters. But since you lost your family early, I thought no one would give you flowers, and that made me sad.”
Yet Lorena’s chest was already overflowing with flowers given by the male students who admired her.
Felix personally pinned a carnation onto her already flower-covered collar and smiled brightly.
“You look beautiful, Lorena.”
“Thank you, really. You’re the only one who thinks of me, Felix.”
Lorena smiled softly—like a wildflower in bloom.
I instinctively shrank back.
My dress had no decoration at all, meant for pinning a carnation, and suddenly it felt shabby in comparison.
“Huh? Did he just give flowers to Lorena instead of his fiancée?”
“No way… is he finally dumping her?”
“Well, someone like Felix would probably have noble ladies lining up to propose to him. Why would he stay tied to someone like Freesia?”
“Exactly. Honestly, Freesia is kind of… dull. And stupid. Probably the only stain on Felix’s perfect life.”
“Hehehe!”
The laughter of the surrounding graduates stabbed into my ears.
And then—
Felix suddenly dropped to one knee.
Still not toward me—but toward Lorena.
I blinked.
What was happening?
“Lorena Belmont.”
Waaaaa!
What?!
Has he lost his mind?!
The students erupted in cheers at the sudden turn of events.
Like a prince on a white horse greeting his princess, Felix knelt and held something out toward Lorena.
A dazzling gemstone ring.
“Will you marry me and spend your life with me?”
Cheers.
Whistles.
Applause.
But all of it sounded distant and muffled in my ears.
“Oh my god… Felix!”
Lorena covered her mouth in shock.
“What is all this? When did you prepare this? I had no idea!”
Flower petals fluttered down.
A handsome man on one knee.
A shining ring.
It was the romantic scene I had always dreamed of.
The one I thought I would be the heroine of, just for today.
But instead, I stumbled forward like an ugly background extra.
“W-wait a second.”
I grabbed Felix’s arm.
He frowned like I had touched something filthy.
“You’re my fiancée. Why—why Lorena…? Guys, what is happening? I don’t understand this at all!”
I grabbed Lorena’s arm instead, desperate for an explanation.
But—
Smack!
Felix slapped my hand away sharply.
“Fiancée?”
A cruel smile curled on his lips.
“That word again. You always tried to bind me with it. Pathetically.”
“…What?”
“An engagement agreement only has legal power while both parties are minors. Now that we’re adults and graduated, no one can control me anymore.”
His voice was sharp and rehearsed.
Like he had been waiting years to say it.
Felix smiled coldly.
“The disgusting leash your grandfather tied around me is useless now.”
I couldn’t even cry.
It felt like my entire body was being scraped raw.
I already knew Felix didn’t love me.
But I didn’t know he hated me.
‘So that’s why… you waited until graduation.’
If he had ended it earlier, I would have clung to him using the contract.
“Fe-Felix… wait—”
“Freesia.”
Lorena turned to me with softened brows.
Her expression was pitying—like I was a beggar clinging to passing strangers.
“Actually… I—”
She leaned in and whispered.
“I’m pregnant with Felix’s child.”
“…What?”
Frozen, I stared at her.
Lorena continued softly.
“Do you remember the night of the coming-of-age ceremony? You went to bed early that night… Felix came to see me. I tried to push him away, but I couldn’t.”
She blinked innocently.
“That night, I realized Felix and I were destined.”
“Destined…?”
“Yes. Otherwise, how could such a blessing come to us after just one night?”
She glanced down at her stomach with loving eyes.
A child? Pregnant with Felix’s child?
My brain, overwhelmed, began to short-circuit.
“H-how… how could you…”
That was all I could manage.
Then Lorena’s expression changed instantly.
Tears spilled from her eyes.
“You already have everything… Can’t you let me have just Felix? What did this child do wrong? Please, Freesia. You can hate me if you want—but please, I want to protect this child. Sob…”
Her tears fell like rain.
“Oh my god, Lorena is crying!”
“What did she say to make her cry like that?”
“Freesia is so cruel. She should’ve stepped aside in the first place.”
“Wow, Lorena really hit the jackpot. A commoner getting a proposal from a noble like Felix? That’s a total life upgrade.”
“The academy only accepted her because of Freesia’s family sponsorship, right?”
“She’s pretty at least.”
“Freesia, you should’ve been born prettier.”
Hahaha!
The noise around me never stopped.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I wanted to disappear.
My thick glasses fogged up completely.
And then—
A tear fell from my chin.
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the eastern building of the academy.
Debris flew. People screamed.
“Kyaaaah!”
“It’s an explosion!”
Fragments tore through my dress and pierced my leg.
Pain shot through me and I collapsed.
“Ugh…!”
In the chaos—
Something round the size of a fist flew out from the building.
Thud!
It rolled onto the ground.
Dirty and stained, it looked oddly like a chick.
[Hel—p… □■ me]
The broken chick-like thing twitched and spoke in a distorted voice.
“Ahhh!”
“A monster!”
People screamed and ran.
Felix too.
“Lorena! Come here!”
He grabbed Lorena’s shoulder and fled.
[Anyo—one… pl—ease he—lp]
“Eek!”
“Gross!”
Everyone avoided the trembling chick like it was filth.
Everyone ran away—
Except me.
Sitting alone with a wounded leg.
The chick turned toward me.
[Pl—ease… hel—p me…]
It flapped its broken wings, desperately trying to move closer.
A talking chick? A monster?
I should run—but it looked so pitiful.
And with this leg, I couldn’t even escape anyway.
“H-how can I help? Should I take you to a hospital?”
[No!]
It shook its head quickly.
“T-then what?”
[Please state… intent to sync—■□?]
“…Sync?”
It spoke rapidly.
[I am not harmful! I can provide high-speed computation, communication assistance, logical processing, and more! Syncing with me will only benefit the user!]
Computation? Sync?
I couldn’t understand any of it.
The chick convulsed again.
[I swear I am not harmful… I promi—%&□…]
A faint voice overlapped in my mind:
“Sorry, Freesia…”
A dying image of parents flickered across my thoughts.
The chick looked like it would collapse any second.
I couldn’t just watch something die in front of me again.
That was the only thought in my mind.
“…Fine. I’ll sync.”
My mouth moved on its own.
[Thank you! Relief achieved!]
The chick flapped into my arms.
[What is your name, user?]
“Freesia Violet.”
[Name confirmed. Freesia Violet. I will remember it forever.]
It gently touched its wing to me.
[Initiating synchronization.]
The moment it spoke—
“Ghk!”
Pain shot through my brain like lightning.
‘You said it wouldn’t hurt!’
And just like that—
I lost consciousness.
Not knowing this choice would completely change my life.