Chapter 378: Chapter 377- Memories
"What?" Adrian’s eyes widened at what Ariana had just told him about Aries’s stepmother.
Ariana nodded, her tone dry. "I thought she was joking, to be honest—but no, she wasn’t." The silver-haired woman let out a short snicker. "She actually tried to bribe me into failing the girl."
Adrian leaned back in his seat, eyebrows raised. "How did she even approach that? Just showed up and offered you money?"
Ariana chuckled softly. "Not directly. She said her husband wants to see his daughter live a happy, peaceful life. You know—get married, settle down. But if Aries graduates from the academy, she’ll aim to become a Warden."
"And that’s a problem because...?" Adrian asked, trying to piece together the politics of the Antromel family.
Ariana sighed, shrugging. "If she becomes a Warden, her father would have no choice but to see her as a potential heir to the throne."
Adrian frowned. "From what Aries told me, it doesn’t sound like her father even wants her around. So why would it matter if she succeeds or fails?"
Ariana lowered her gaze. "I’m not sure what’s going on behind the scenes, but one thing’s clear—she’s in the same position you once were. The difference is, your father stood by you. Hers... seems to despise her."
Adrian nodded quietly. "Yeah..."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Ariana asked softly, "What do you think? Should Aries be punished?"
Adrian sank deeper into his seat, looking at her curiously. "Why ask me? You already know the rules."
Ariana gave a light shrug. "I do. But I want to hear what *you* think."
He hummed thoughtfully. Was she testing him? Probably not.
So he answered honestly. "I think she deserves another chance—and regular counseling. She’s one of the best combatants Runebound has seen in years. Before today, she’s never broken a rule serious enough for punishment. She still has a lot of potential."
Looking back at her, he added, "So yeah... I think she should be allowed to take the exams."
Ariana smiled faintly. "Nothing you said surprised me."
Adrian smirked. "Sorry for being predictable."
She chuckled under her breath, then stood up and walked to the window. Pulling out a slim white stick from her pocket, she asked, "Do you mind?"
Adrian blinked, surprised. She had almost quit smoking lately.
"No, go ahead," he said, watching her closely. He could tell—something was weighing on her mind.
He didn’t need to ask—she spoke before he could.
"Something like that happened to me back when I was a student here," Ariana said, her voice quiet.
"You tried to steal papers?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ariana shook her head. "No. I tried to obtain something I was told *not* to." She flicked the cigarette, letting dark ashes fall onto the windowsill.
Taking another drag, she continued, "I was... curious. Always wanting to know more, learn more. But there were certain places in the academy where students weren’t allowed. Like the lower level of the library—no student was ever permitted to enter."
Adrian had heard of it. That area had always been sealed off for some reason. But by the time he joined, the lower level had become accessible to students.
"I always suspected there was some secret technique hidden there, or an artifact the teachers didn’t want anyone to know about," Ariana added.
"So... you infiltrated the place?" Adrian asked.
She nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah, I did... but there was no secret technique or artifact like I expected," Ariana said softly. "What I found were... memories. Memories of the man who considered this academy his home, his temple. He had kept every memory of his family locked away in the archive—that’s why no one was allowed to enter."
Adrian’s eyes widened. He finally understood the gravity of her mistake. No one wanted others to witness their deepest, most personal memories.
"The man you’re talking about... the late Headmaster?" he asked carefully. "Were you caught?"
Ariana nodded. "Yes. He was there, in the archive, holding his daughter’s slippers to his chest, looking like a man completely defeated by life."
She shook her head, a shadow crossing her features. "I’ve never regretted any other decision as much as that one. I shouldn’t have gone there."
Adrian nodded slowly, understanding. Everyone wanted to be left alone in their vulnerable moments.
"So... were you punished?" he asked, curiosity mingling with concern.
Ariana smiled faintly. "No. He didn’t punish me. He didn’t even scold me. He said it was his mistake to use the academy’s area as his personal vault."
Adrian hummed, leaning back. "But still... you were forbidden to go there from the beginning."
Ariana’s eyes met his, calm but resolute. "Of course. Some places are meant to remain untouched, no matter how curious you are."
The silver-haired woman leaned back against the window, crossing her arms.
"You know what he told me back then?" she asked, her voice quiet with emotions and memories.
Adrian nodded, waiting.
"A single mistake doesn’t erase your past," she continued, "but it leaves a mark so glaring that no one can ignore it when they look at you."
Adrian raised his brows, feeling the weight of her words. It was a lesson that ran deeper than mere discipline.
The Headmistress glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "I can’t say that Aries’s actions should go unpunished. But to expel her... would be like letting a gem slip through our fingers."
Adrian asked, "So...we allow her to take the examination and keep this incident a secret?"
Ariana nodded, "Let’s do that for now. However, I will punish her during the final examination."
Adrian’s brows rose, "And...how do you plan to do that?"
Ariana grinned, "You will find it soon."
Adrian didn’t push her to answer and got up from the seat.
Ariana then suddenly asked, "Hey, you haven’t forgotten about our plan during winter vacations right?"
"The celebration, right? I remember it."
Ariana then suggested, "How about we invite the Vermillion family as well?"
Adrian paused, and then wryly smiled, "...you want the two families to meet?"
Ariana’s brows elevated, "Are you not up for the challenge?"
Adrian coughed before nodding, "Alright, let everyone gather up. I can handle that much."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.