Chapter 34: Fantasy in the middle of the night

“So—how much do you want?”

Waves of golden hair tumbled down her shoulders, catching the light and momentarily stealing Sia’s gaze.

A sharp, nameless perfume lingered thick in the air, stinging her nose.

The silence between them was heavier than gravity. Izana’s eyes—vivid, gemstone green, without a speck of impurity—were fixed on her. No, they were drilling into her.

At a distance where their heartbeats could have passed for music, the room slowly shifted into something uncomfortably intimate. Sia blinked like a slow, stunned cow.

If ever there was a textbook moment for “dumbfounded,” this was it.

The words were so ridiculous, she started to doubt her own ears.

Or maybe this was some twisted European joke that made Russian humor look sane in comparison.

“I’m serious. How much do you want? One hundred million? Two hundred? What about five hundred million?”

“…You’re actually trying to buy me with money?”

“Yes. Why, is that a problem? Or—is the offer too low?”

Born rich, raised richer—people like her had brains wired on a whole different frequency.

The longer the conversation dragged on, the more Sia felt like screaming. It was beyond annoyance now. This was full-blown absurdity.

“…Are you an idiot? What kind of secret could possibly be worth five hundred million won?”

“Does it matter? Money isn’t for keeping—it’s for spending.”

“Within reason, you lunatic…”

“And besides, I’m quite sensitive by nature. I can feel things. Intuitively. And I know—your secrets are worth that much.”

Izana whispered the words like a lover sharing a confession, her smile curving into something sly. One corner of her mouth lifted, a smile dripping with a kind of allure far too heavy for someone her age. Sia stared blankly at that face, with her own expression dumb and void of any trace of sensuality.

But then her senses caught up. Her gaze sharpened.

And that crawling, filthy sense of disgust began to rise.

Money. Always money. That cursed, damnable word.

“…”

“And honestly, you’re reacting less than I expected. I heard Koreans go crazy at the mere mention of money… Ah, maybe I did aim too low. Would one billion be enough?”

“…”

“Think about it. One billion won. That’s money most people your age wouldn’t even dream of touching.”

“Students here are all pretty wealthy, sure, but… you’re different, aren’t you? I heard you’re on a scholarship.”

“Listen—”

“One billion is huge for someone from a working-class background, right? Even I know that much. And I’m terrible with peasant economics. You’ll never get an offer like this again, I promise. So if I were you—”

“Drop it.”

“…Sorry?”

For the first time, Izana’s flawless composure cracked. That polished mask she’d worn so effortlessly finally showed a fracture.

“I said drop it. I don’t want your money. I don’t want anything from you. You’re annoying as hell—just get lost already.”

“Wha—ten billion’s not enough for you?! You really are greedy. F-Fine, then. Fifteen billion! No, twenty! That’s my limit, though. I only have so much in my account, okay?!”

“I don’t care if it’s a hundred billion. Just shut your damn mouth. That’s all I’m asking.”

“…Excuse me?”

Even though the words were harsh, Izana—who had always believed the first thing to learn in any foreign language was how to curse—understood immediately. In English, that would be shut the f*ck up.

She stood there stunned, the harsh rejection ringing in her ears. It took her a second to regain her balance. Her face—usually so poised—was flushed red from cheek to cheek.

Adrenaline. That’s what this must be. Her whole body felt like it was vibrating. The strands of her carefully maintained hair stood on end like the quills of a hedgehog. It was chaos—something utterly foreign to the Izana, or rather, the Isaka Paul Leidrich she knew herself to be.

“…Fine. I’ll leave. Probably better for both of us anyway.”

“W-Wait! You just said that kind of secret wasn’t worth twenty billion?! This is a good deal for you! What the hell is so offensive about it?!”

She reached out and grabbed Sia’s wrist before she could leave.

It was instinct more than anything—like a woman desperately clinging to a man who was walking away. Even Izana herself didn’t quite know why she’d done it.

Sia slowly turned her head.

And the look in her eyes—blank, black, emotionless—hit Izana like a punch.

She immediately let go.

Because this time, that stare wasn’t a performance. The disgust and contempt in Sia’s eyes were very, very real.

“…That’s why. You’re the one who’s disgusting.”

With those short, scathing words, Sia walked away.

Even as her cold back faded into the distance, Izana found herself frozen. She couldn’t move. All she could do was chew her lip, hard, until it ached.

“That rude, filthy… what? I’m the disgusting one?!”

And the moment Sia was truly out of sight, Izana finally let her rage explode.

Her voice echoed in the empty room. Alone now, she didn’t bother pretending to be dignified. Her flushed cheeks made her look like an overripe tomato.

“…Unacceptable.”

Time passed. Her breathing slowed. And with one final stomp of her foot, Izana stormed out of the music room.

She knew exactly where that wretched girl had gone.

She didn’t care what the secret was anymore. It didn’t even matter if it was real or not. Her pride—now cracked and bleeding—was what demanded satisfaction.

This would be her final offer.

And if that didn’t work… well, then she’d make her talk. She had the power. The wealth. She could force it.

She hated being violent. Hated dirtying her own hands.

But this time, the curiosity was killing her.

She gnawed on her lip again, striding down the hall like a storm brewing at sea.

“Stop right there!”

“…Huh?”

Still fuming, she spotted Sia heading down the central stairs. She’d already stopped by her classroom, judging by the heavy bag on her back.

“Tell me the truth about Kang Seon-a! I’m giving you one last chance. If you don’t—there’ll be consequences!”

From the top of the stairs, Izana looked down at her, chin lifted high.

Gone was the fake sweetness. Gone was the gentle courtesy. In its place was pure, naked arrogance.

“Pft.”

It wasn’t a laugh. It was a snort.

Sia didn’t even bother responding with words—just that crooked, mocking half-smile.

So smug, Izana nearly wanted to smash her face in with the butt of a shotgun.

And just like that, her mind snapped.

“Y-You rude, vulgar… b*tch!!”

Her temper exploded. She stepped forward, too fast—

—and misstepped.

‘…Huh?’

The next thing she knew, the world was tipping.

The marble floor below grew closer. Far too quickly.

Izana’s eyes went wide. It was the first fall of her life.