Free Web NovelChapter 28: Only one room left
I couldn’t help but click my tongue in discomfort. I disabled the virtual screen, deciding to examine it tonight.
A few hours later, after getting used to the academy grounds and some important places, we headed to the dormitory district of the academy. Due to the fact that our father had frozen my bank, I couldn’t rent a house outside of the academy. We must accept the reality and buy a dormitory room. It was not a big problem, especially when we had earned 200 credits in total.
Credits were the main currency of this place, we could buy a good enough room for two of us.
But when we arrived at the dormitory assignment office, a commotion reached our ears.
" What the fuck are you talking about? How can a dormitory at an academy of this caliber run out of rooms?" a muscular student with a gruff-looking face yelled angrily.
The dormitory manager simply kept a cold expression, crossing his arms over his chest. Clearly, given his position, he wasn’t about to be intimidated by a few students.
"Sorry, but a few days ago, some second-year students rented every room in this dormitory."
He glanced at his register and said calmly.
"But there’s only one VIP room left. You can rent it for a week for 185 credits."
The gruff-looking student roared as he slammed his fist onto the table. Several nearby students shared the same frustration.
"I’ll report this to the principal! This is a scam targeting us! She’ll fire you."
Then, they left the office one by one until only the two of us remained.
I sighed. Clearly, I could understand his feelings. We had just enrolled, so we hadn’t earned many credits yet. Requiring 185 credits was absurd. Even Class S students had only received 100 credits each, let alone the normal students.
It was clear that those second-year students had completely cut off the only shelter available to poor first-year students at the beginning of the semester.
In the expensive city of Dawnreach, renting a house outside the academy was very difficult. Some students even ended up in debt because of it.
Now, they had only one option: sleep in the lecture halls and shower in the academy’s public restrooms. Obviously, that option wasn’t meant for us.
My wife forced herself to smile.
"We have no choice."
I nodded. Luckily for us, since we lived together, we could still handle this difficult situation.
I pushed the wheelchair toward the dormitory manager and said,
"We’ll rent that room."
The dormitory manager nodded as he looked over the two students standing before him. He frowned.
"Um... Are you sure? I mean, you’re a man, and she’s a girl."
My wife replied calmly,
"We’re already married."
The dormitory manager nodded before preparing the paperwork for us. Yet, from the far end of the room, a four-eyed young man walked in.
He said,
"I want that room too."
The dormitory manager frowned and replied,
"Sorry, but this couple booked it before you."
The four-eyed young man smirked.
"I’ll pay double that amount. I think you won’t refuse me. After all, your salary also depends on the number of credits you earn from students renting rooms."
The dormitory manager hesitated as he looked at us with a conflicted expression.
I could tell what he was about to do.
My wife merely grimaced in anger as she glared at the four-eyed young man.
"Have we ever met?"
The four-eyed young man chuckled as he adjusted his glasses.
"Don’t glare at me like you want to devour me. You’re scaring me, Princess."
He added.
"I’m also just a first-year student like you guys, nothing more, nothing less."
Then, he slowly turned his gaze toward me.
"I’ve admired your husband for a long time... so I’d like to make a deal with you, Henry. If you accept my duel, I won’t compete with you for the room. I’ll even pay the rent for you."
My pupils widened for a moment.
It surprised me.
Even the dumbest person here could tell it was a trap for me. They had forced me into a corner. I couldn’t refuse the duel.
"I accept."
The four-eyed young man chuckled as he walked over to the dormitory manager and began transferring the credits to him.
Then, he turned to me and stood right in front of me, wearing a carefree grin as if he could defeat me right now.
I didn’t know whether it was overconfidence, arrogance... or both.
"At 7 a.m. tomorrow, at the arena, we will duel with swords. If I win, you will immediately divorce the Princess, and kneel in front of everyone and shout: ’I’m the stupid one.’" he said in a confident voice.
I said in a neutral voice.
"If I win."
The four-eyed young man shrugged, chuckling.
"You’ll never win."
I nodded before taking our room key. Then, I pushed the wheelchair and headed out of the office.
The four-eyed man snorted.
"Remember my name: Thomas Edwin, the one who will defeat you."
A few minutes later, I entered our room.
I simply carried my wife and placed her on the bed as usual.
My wife asked, her voice carrying visible annoyance.
"Why aren’t you angry? I almost lost control and wanted to kill that asshole if you hadn’t left there right then."
I said calmly,
"So you don’t want to? I thought you would be satisfied with his conditions.’’
My wife’s expression quickly changed. I could see she was even angrier than before, but then she gradually regained her calmness. She lingered for a moment before replying.
"Isn’t it obvious? Even if I hate you, I’m still your wife. No wife would ever feel satisfied when her husband is humiliated in front of everyone."
I turned to my wife, staring at her with empty eyes.
Her previous voice sounded exactly like my ex-girlfriend’s. It carried a lot of affection and warmth, mixed with a lingering sense of discomfort.
It even gave me peace; my mind became calmer, but my heart was still there – completely frozen. I felt no emotional stir at all.
My heartbeat maintained its usual rhythm.
I moved closer to my wife and gently placed my hand on her cheek, which was already hot and slightly flushed with embarrassment. Yet, instead of avoiding my touch, she leaned into my hand, rubbing against it, as though a cat desired to be petted.
Her eyes avoided my gaze shyly as she bit her lower lip. Yet, it didn’t last long before she gradually regained her courage and looked into my hollow eyes.
Perfect... stunningly beautiful features that could move any man in the world.
She closed her eyes, slowly puckering her lips as if waiting for something from me.
I sighed and summoned the Spiritual Water Wine Flask from my storage ring. I hesitated for a moment before taking out a Blood Crystal Stone.
I wanted to check the effectiveness of this stone.
