Anya looked up. There he was—a tall, annoyingly handsome young man standing there, somehow both alive and intimidating.
His academy tie was loose, casual in that "I don't care about rules" way. Hands in pockets, shoulders slightly slouched. The vibe screamed "trouble with a capital T," yet strangely… magnetic. Behind him, a few boys shuffled, half followers, half background decoration.
"Anya?" Lucian asked, disbelief in his voice.
"What's the matter?" Anya's lips twitched into a small smirk. Her tone? Cold. Controlled.
Her brain ran through him—quick scan—and she almost jumped.
Lucian, young master of the red noble Lu family in the Starfall Empire. Like her, his family had served the empire for generations. Even now, the Lu family held deep influence in Kyoto.
Lord Lu senior still commanded respect and authority, and the family's status was nearly untouchable.
For families like theirs, rank determined influence. Anya's family? Not so lucky. Grandfather in the hospital, Brandon's position stalled. Ye family's glory faded.
But that's not the point. The real kicker? Lucian's grandfather and Anya's grandfather had fought side by side—and arranged their childhood engagement. Cringe-worthy, yes. But binding.
So here he was. Her fiancé?
Memory told her he never cared about her. Only Luna. Typical.
Lucian tilted his head, eyes scanning her like a predator evaluating prey.
"You really are Anya?"
Before, she was timid, fawning even. Now? Hair cut short, uniform crisp, posture deadly precise.
Anya straightened, locking eyes with Lucian, smirked slightly. "If nothing else, I'll go."
She wasn't wasting time on this spoiled brat. A few steps to stretch legs seemed more worthwhile.
"Who said you could leave!" Lucian grabbed her arm.
Not soft. Firm, cold, muscular.
Anya's gaze sharpened. "Let go."
He released.
Followers yelled, "What attitude is that?"
"Talking to Master Lucian like that? Want to die?"
"Don't think just 'cause you're a girl I won't hit you!"
Maybe letting go wasn't wise.
"I heard… Miss Anya, you've been… out messing around, right?" Lucian sneered, disgust in every word.
Classic. Hated her, yet confronted her. Life is ironic. Why wasn't Luna the fiancée instead?
The crowd gathered. Whispers rose.
Although he didn't say it directly, everyone knew the rumor about Anya's supposed misbehavior.
She squinted. Silent.
"Backup plan? Not me. Marry a sloppy girl? Hell no. Engagement? Done." His voice thundered with contempt.
He'd wanted to call it off anyway. Now, excuse in hand.
Anya's face: stone. Emotion? None. Shame? Tears? Forget it.
Some students had phones ready—TikTok moment incoming.
Her reaction? Odd. Like watching someone try to juggle flaming swords. You know it shouldn't work, yet somehow it does.
Then she smiled. Slowly. Dangerous. "You wanna break the engagement?"
"Yeah… so?" he scoffed.
"Did your mom agree?"
"…?"
"Your dad?"
"…?"
The crowd: silent. Tension thick.
"And your grandfather?" Her voice sharp. Lucian flinched.
Nearby onlookers felt it too.
He hadn't run this past family. Oops.
"Since no one agreed, forget it!" Anya said coldly.
She had been a commander—her words artillery, tone orders raining down. Ingrained habit.
Shorter than him? Yes. But… presence like a storm.
Aura? Enough to scatter the crowd.
Lucian felt it—humiliation, sting like molten metal. Being yelled at by a "nobody" he intended to marry. Fun times.
Crowd shifted back. Whispers softened.
"So what if nobody agreed? You think the Lu family would marry a loser?" Lucian sneered. "Even the lowest-ranked fool bites back?"
Anya sighed internally. The original owner's life must have been cursed. One troll solved, another appeared.
If she weren't in control… probably dead already.
Flynn saw the scene, started to walk away, then paused. The road looked like… hell, I dunno, like someone tried to pave a war. He turned back.
Luna sprinted—this spectacle was too good to miss. Watching humiliation unfold gave her some twisted joy.
Class F students arrived. Chaos. Teachers panicked.
Anya glanced at Lucian, righteous yet helpless. "Big brother, it's not the loser biting. It's the dog. You, for example."
Commanders scold daily. She knew the drill. Now she was scolded.
"You!" Lucian's face red. "Anya, you're asking for it!"
He lunged, grabbing her collar, slapping her.
Flynn's face went pale, two steps forward, then… stopped.
His hand? Gripped by a giant. Pain. Arm numb.