?Micheal’s heart dropped.
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?He was in trouble.
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?Sleeping with Mitsuki—he hadn’t even considered how Knox would take it. Hell, he hadn’t thought he’d ever have to find out. Mitsuki had been with plenty of men and women, as far as he knew, but now, standing in front of her brother—the Fire Incarnate, a man who could turn him to ash in seconds—Micheal felt a new kind of fear settle in.
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?The air thickened, heat pressing down on his skin like an unrelenting weight. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was suffocating. A warning.
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?Then, Knox exhaled, slow and measured. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath it.
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?“She’s not my actual sister.”
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?Axel, completely unfazed, leaned in slightly, his smirk playful but his eyes watching Knox with quiet intensity. “She’s still your family, isn’t she?”
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?A muscle in Knox’s jaw twitched. “She’s her own person. Who she sleeps with is none of my concern.”
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?Axel let out a low hum, tilting his head. “That so? You sure about that, Saint?”
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?Knox’s eyes flicked to him, sharp as daggers. “What’s it to you?”
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?Axel’s smirk didn’t waver, but for a fraction of a second, something flashed in his eyes. Something restrained. Then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced with feigned amusement.
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?“Oh, just making sure,” Axel said smoothly. “It’d be a shame if there were any… complications.”
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?Knox inhaled sharply, visibly reigning himself in. Then he turned to Micheal, gaze raking over him like he was barely worth the effort. “Why are you here?”
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?Micheal swallowed hard, trying to shake the tension. “Uh… I was supposed to enroll in a discipline yesterday, but—”
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?“You missed the queues?” Axel cut in, grinning like this was some private joke.
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?Micheal hesitated. “Yeah, because—”
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?“You were too busy sleeping with my sister,” Knox finished flatly.
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?Micheal winced. The words weren’t loud, but the weight behind them was enough to make his skin crawl. Even behind the mask, Knox’s bitterness was palpable. It wasn’t just about Mitsuki—Micheal had a feeling this was something deeper, something he wasn’t privy to.
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?“Yeah,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. The air felt heavy again. He risked a glance at Knox, but the Fire Saint’s expression was unreadable.
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?Then, just as the silence stretched too long, Axel chuckled, stepping forward and slinging an arm over Micheal’s shoulders. The grip, though seemingly casual, was firm—a reminder that Axel was very much in control of this moment. His voice was light, almost teasing, but there was something in the way he held himself that made Micheal uneasy.
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?“Not to worry, young… what was your name again?”
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?“Micheal.”
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?“Ah, yes. Young Micheal.” Axel’s smirk turned sharper. “Lucky for you, I have just the job.”
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?Micheal stiffened. There was no way this would be simple. He could already tell.
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?Axel began leading him away, his grip still firm. Micheal resisted the urge to look back, but he could feel it—Knox’s gaze burning into his back, searing in a way fire never could.
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?As they walked through the cobbled streets, Axel’s arm around his shoulder loosened, his nonchalant smile never fading. Micheal finally cleared his throat. “Where are we going? A-and… can you actually help me with my enrollment?”
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?Axel’s gaze remained fixed ahead, his smile unwavering. “No. I can’t help you with that. The royal family doesn’t get to meddle in those issues.”
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?Micheal felt his heart drop, disappointment visible on his face. “Oh… is that so? Then where are we going?”
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?“You’ll see.” Axel’s vagueness irritated Micheal, yet he kept silent, keeping pace. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of regret and helplessness. Out of nowhere, a thought crossed his mind.
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?“How did you know I was sleeping with Mitsuki?”
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?Axel raised an eyebrow, surprised. “That’s a bit random, isn’t it, Micheal? Either way, my dear sister Lily told me all about you and your other lovely friend—what’s her name? Angela-something?”
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?“Angelica.” Micheal couldn’t help but feel a mix of betrayal and embarrassment at the thought of his existence being discussed so casually. He imagined the Queen, the King, and Axel sitting at the dinner table, laughing as Lily recounted stories of him and Angelica. He shook his head, amused at the foolishness of it. Axel noticed the faint smile curling his lips, and his own smile widened.
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?“Mom and Dad were worried at one point, y’know? Thought Lily would end up marrying an orphan.”
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?Micheal scoffed, cheeks heating up. “N-no way! I’d never date her even if she were the last person on Earth.”
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?Axel’s smile twitched. “Oh? That so? Is she really that bad?”
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?Micheal averted his gaze. “No… she’s not bad. It’s just… I don’t think of her like that. Besides, she’s too busy worshiping Knox.”
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?Axel’s expression darkened for a split second before he smoothed it over, his usual teasing smirk returning, though it felt a bit forced. “Ah, right. Lily and her little Saint obsession.”
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?Micheal frowned, sensing something off in Axel’s tone. “I didn’t mean—”
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?“Doesn’t matter.” Axel’s voice was lighter now, dismissive. “Anyway, here’s a safehouse. Go freshen up. You’ll be given fresh clothes. We’ll talk when you’re done. Right now, you reek of alcohol.”
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?There was a smile on his face, but Micheal couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just stepped on a landmine. Nodding silently, he headed into the safehouse while Axel seated himself on a couch, withdrawing a pen and paper from his pocket, writing something down. Micheal was led toward a bathroom, his mind still turning over the strange shift in Axel’s demeanor.
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