Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 31 You Smell Weird

As Alicarde and Elizalina made their way out of the building, they attracted more attention than he had anticipated.

During the short walk to his car, Elizalina tripped not once, not twice, but five times—he was counting. Each time, she ended up leaning her body against his, her head gently resting on his chest as she tried to steady herself.

The students around them couldn't help but notice the repeated incidents, and each stumble brought a fresh wave of whispers and giggles. By the time they reached his car, Elizalina's cheeks were a bright crimson, the color deepening each time she nearly fell.

Alicarde couldn't shake the suspicion that Elizalina might be doing this on purpose, but he didn't voice his thoughts. Instead, he focused on reaching his car with her still by his side. As they arrived, Elizalina stopped, casting him a sidelong glance, her embarrassment clear as she apologized, her voice low and her face burning red.

"I... I must apologize. I can be rather absentminded at times... How very mortifying," Elizalina said, her tone refined despite the stammering, clearly struggling to maintain her composure.

Alicarde looked down at the blushing girl, trying to ease her discomfort.

"It's alright... really. Everyone has off days, so there's no need to worry."

In truth, Alicarde wasn't bothered at all. Having a beautiful girl like Elizalina stumble into his arms repeatedly wasn't something he would complain about.

Some guys would consider themselves incredibly lucky in his position. However, the problem was the attention they had garnered from everyone they passed by. Every time she slipped, and he caught her, the onlookers grew louder, and some were even bold enough to voice their thoughts.

"Look at that lucky bastard!"

"Man, some people have all the luck!"

"He's gotta be doing this on purpose, right?"

"Lucky jerk, if only that was me."

"Can you believe that guy? He's acting like it's no big deal!"

Alicarde inwardly grumbled at the comments.

'What the hell is up with these people? It's just one girl,' he thought, though he knew he was partly complaining.

He remembered an old saying that beautiful women were often more trouble than they were worth.

'The last otherworldly beautiful woman I got involved with dragged me into a supernatural mess,' he mused, thinking of Carrisa.

Elizalina looked up at him then, offering a breathtaking smile that made all his petty complaints vanish. He unlocked the car, and they both got in, though he wasn't gentlemanly enough to open the door for her.

'She can handle that herself,' he thought, momentarily regretting it, then quickly convincing himself he was a true feminist.

As they drove to the faculty building, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. When they arrived, Elizalina led the way, guiding him through the building until they stood before a door. She turned to him, offering a small but encouraging thumbs-up.

"Best of luck, Alicarde. I have full confidence in you," she said, her voice calm yet supportive.

Alicarde managed a smile at her words, though a sense of unease gnawed at him.

'Why is everyone rooting for me? They're making it sound like I'm about to face the demon king or something,' he thought anxiously.

Steeling himself, he stepped forward and knocked on the door. A faint voice beckoned him to enter, and he opened it to find himself in a luxurious office.

The room was filled with polished wooden furniture, plush leather chairs, and shelves lined with books. Despite the luxury, his focus was immediately drawn to the captivating professor seated behind the desk.

"You wished to see me, Professor?" Alicarde asked, his voice low as he approached.

The professor, Malefica, gestured for him to sit, her expression unreadable.

"Please, take a seat, Alicarde," she said, her tone calm yet commanding.

Alicarde sat down, trying to avoid her gaze as he noticed she had undone a few buttons of her blouse. He didn't dare look directly at her, not wanting to cross any more lines after the awkward encounter earlier.

Malefica adjusted her glasses, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.

"Alicarde, what do you know about the recent missing persons incident that has been causing a stir in the city?" she asked, her voice measured.

He was taken aback by the question. Was she testing his knowledge of current affairs, or was this some kind of psychological trick? After all, she was a professor in the psychology department.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Ma'am, I'm not too informed on the details. I only came across an article online," Alicarde replied, recalling the brief mention he had seen and a conversation with Anne about it.

Malefica leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving him.

"And what do you believe should be done about this incident?" she inquired, her tone remaining neutral.

Alicarde hesitated, unsure of what she expected him to say.

Elizalina was a magnet, effortlessly drawing the gaze of every student they passed. Her long, flowing silver hair sparkled in the sunlight, and her elegant red dress accentuated her graceful figure, making her impossible to ignore.

Alicarde quickly realized that this girl wasn't just popular—she was practically royalty on campus. The girls flocked to her, their eyes lighting up with admiration as they called out to her.

"Elizalina, you look stunning today!" one girl shouted, her voice filled with genuine excitement.

"Hey, Elizalina! Don't forget our study group later!" another chimed in, waving eagerly.

It was overwhelming how many girls knew her by name, and each seemed eager to get even a moment of her attention.

Alicarde felt like he was walking alongside a celebrity. However, the attention wasn't all positive. The boys, in particular, were glaring at him with barely concealed resentment.

One guy leaned over to his friend, whispering harshly, "Who the hell does he think he is?"

Another muttered under his breath, "He's got to be kidding... walking around with Elizalina like that."

Alicarde could feel the intensity of their stares, a mix of jealousy and suspicion burning into him from all directions.

'What the hell is their deal?' he thought irritably.

He hadn't asked for this. He was just trying to navigate the day without causing a scene, but apparently, being seen with Elizalina made that impossible.

During the lectures, he had hoped to sit with Anne, but she was caught up in her duties as class representative, leaving him to fend for himself.

However, Elizalina—or "Elly," as he now called her—was by his side. The title of "campus belle" was clearly not just a flattering nickname, it was a statement of fact. Her presence seemed to command respect, and he found himself strangely comforted by it.

They mostly talked about school, exchanging thoughts on the latest assignments and upcoming exams. Despite the initial awkwardness, Alicarde found himself relaxing around her. They chatted easily, and he learned more about her, enough to feel comfortable with the nickname "Elly." It felt natural, almost intimate, in a way that surprised him.

He also noticed that no one else called her that, which made him wonder why she allowed him the privilege. He rationalized it as a simple exchange for him allowing her to call him "Ali." There was nothing strange about it, he assured himself.

Somewhere along the way, Anne joined them. Alicarde immediately sensed tension in the air, though he couldn't pinpoint why. Anne had never met Elizalina before, but for some reason, she didn't seem to like her. The usually friendly and composed Anne was distant and curt, and the conversation between the three of them was stilted at best.

After the day was over, Alicarde was relieved to finally say goodbye. Anne had managed to steal a few moments with him before they parted ways, her expression still shadowed by whatever had been bothering her.

"See you later, Ali," Anne said, giving him a concerned look. "And take care of yourself, okay?"

Elizalina had already left a little earlier, so it was just him and Anne now. He could tell something was on her mind, but she didn't voice it. Instead, she just gave him a tight smile and walked away, leaving him feeling more drained than he had expected.

He got into his car and drove straight home, mentally exhausted from the day's events. The journey back was a blur, his mind replaying the interactions over and over. By the time he pulled into the mansion's luxurious garage, all he wanted was to collapse in his room and forget about the confusing day.

After parking the car, he took the elevator to the fourth floor. As the doors slid open, he was met with a cold stare from Argint, her red hair cascading down her shoulders as she stood in the hallway, arms crossed.

She looked at him as if she was about to say something but then paused, her nose twitching slightly as she caught a scent in the air.

She gave him a cold glare and sniffed the air with a scowl.

"You smell weird. I don't like the smell."

Before he could respond, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around him possessively.

Alicarde's heart pounded in his chest as Argint's body pressed against his. The warmth of her skin, the subtle scent of her hair—it was all too much. His body reacted instinctively, blood rushing through his veins and heating his skin.

His mind screamed at him to push her away, but his body was frozen, every nerve ending hyper-aware of her touch.

Despite his efforts to keep a poker face, his thoughts were in turmoil.

'What the hell is she doing?' he wondered, trying to will his body to calm down. Argint, however, was completely unfazed by his discomfort. She rubbed herself all over him with a single-minded determination, as if she were trying to mark him as her own.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally let him go.

"There, all good. The stink is gone," she said, her tone satisfied as she flashed him a sweet smile.

Alicarde stared at her, utterly speechless. He couldn't comprehend the sudden and intense behavior.

"Except now I have your fragrance all over me, you crazy woman," he muttered, holding his head in exasperation.

Argint looked at him calmly, her eyes steady as she reached out to brush a few strands of hair away from his face.

"So what? My scent has been on you all this time, just not as much as now," she said matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Alicarde sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the day crash down on him.

'What the hell is happening to my life?' he thought, utterly bewildered by the series of strange and overwhelming events that had become his new normal.