Triumvir is the one who initially proposed the
Challenge, he’d be humiliated if no one from his own nation entered
the final game. It would make the whole country look weak, and he
can’t allow that. You’re lucky Vilk’s not ranked higher. I have no
doubt that what you did saved Connor’s life, but it may have cost
you your own.”
Now the gravity of her actions sank in,
making her sick with nervousness. All she’d wanted was to keep her
friend from facing a monster that could kill him. She hadn’t even
thought about the fact that by forcing him to forfeit, she’d be
breaking the law.
But if it came down to her
life or Connor’s, well, she would accept whatever consequences she
had to face. Because before meeting him, she’d never known what it
was like to have someone she cared about. She’d seen and heard
plenty, but she’d never actually felt the glow of companionship until
he’d come into her life. No matter what happened next, she wouldn’t
change what she’d done.
So she met Williams’ gaze and nodded.
“Okay.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That’s all you have
to say?”
Firming her expression, she said, “If I have
to go to jail for Connor to live, then yeah, I’m okay with
that.”
He looked at her as if he had something to
say, but she couldn’t interpret what other thoughts might lay
behind the strange expression on his lined face. Whatever it was,
she was glad he was helping her, which was far more than she could
have expected from a teacher. Maybe he was impressed that she was
willing to sacrifice herself to save her friend. Or maybe he just
thought she was crazy. He wouldn’t be wrong, if that were the case.
But if there was anyone in the world worth doing something crazy
for, it was Connor. Even if it meant sacrificing her mission. She
wouldn’t give that up to save her own life, but to save his … yes.
The world was bigger than she was, but he was more important to her
than every Norm on earth. Maybe it wasn’t a particularly logical
way to think, but it was what she believed.
Meanwhile, the panel of judges had finished
their discussion.
The blond woman turned her severe eyes
toward Aurelia. “Aurelia Sun.”
Aurelia widened her eyes. “Yeah?”
“ We have decided that your
statement about Connor Salvator’s injury being an accident is
indeed true. While unfortunate, it is clear to us that your actions
were not intentional, and consequently, you cannot be held
accountable for the consequences. Therefore, you will be allowed to
proceed with the Challenge.”
A wave of relief flooded
through Aurelia. Though she’d been willing to go to jail for her
actions, she was really, really glad she didn’t have to. In fact, she didn’t even
have to give up her chance at beating the Triumvirate’s game.
She’d actually gotten away with what she’d done.
The judge sternly reprimanded her for her
actions, but Aurelia barely heard her words. She just kept her eyes
wide, putting on the most innocent expression she could muster, and
nodded regularly. She’d gotten what she wanted – Connor was out of
the competition, and it had cost her nothing.
Nothing but his
friendship. The relief left her as quickly
as it had come, and a new kind of distress overwhelmed her. He’d
never speak to her again; she was sure of it. He’d accuse her of
seeing him as weak, and be furious that she’d cost him the
competition. That was what she would do in his place.
She clenched her jaw, refusing to let out
the tears that stung the corners of her eyes. She might have lost
her only friend, but at least she wouldn’t have to watch him die.
And she’d be damned if she’d let anyone see her cry.
When the judge finished her lecture, she
dismissed Aurelia. Sighing in relief, she started to leave the
room, but was stopped by Williams’ hand on her shoulder.
“ Aurelia,” he whispered
urgently. “Do not try to win this competition. Half the reason the
Triumvirate’s willing to let you go is
Challenge, he’d be humiliated if no one from his own nation entered
the final game. It would make the whole country look weak, and he
can’t allow that. You’re lucky Vilk’s not ranked higher. I have no
doubt that what you did saved Connor’s life, but it may have cost
you your own.”
Now the gravity of her actions sank in,
making her sick with nervousness. All she’d wanted was to keep her
friend from facing a monster that could kill him. She hadn’t even
thought about the fact that by forcing him to forfeit, she’d be
breaking the law.
But if it came down to her
life or Connor’s, well, she would accept whatever consequences she
had to face. Because before meeting him, she’d never known what it
was like to have someone she cared about. She’d seen and heard
plenty, but she’d never actually felt the glow of companionship until
he’d come into her life. No matter what happened next, she wouldn’t
change what she’d done.
So she met Williams’ gaze and nodded.
“Okay.”
He raised his eyebrows. “That’s all you have
to say?”
Firming her expression, she said, “If I have
to go to jail for Connor to live, then yeah, I’m okay with
that.”
He looked at her as if he had something to
say, but she couldn’t interpret what other thoughts might lay
behind the strange expression on his lined face. Whatever it was,
she was glad he was helping her, which was far more than she could
have expected from a teacher. Maybe he was impressed that she was
willing to sacrifice herself to save her friend. Or maybe he just
thought she was crazy. He wouldn’t be wrong, if that were the case.
But if there was anyone in the world worth doing something crazy
for, it was Connor. Even if it meant sacrificing her mission. She
wouldn’t give that up to save her own life, but to save his … yes.
The world was bigger than she was, but he was more important to her
than every Norm on earth. Maybe it wasn’t a particularly logical
way to think, but it was what she believed.
Meanwhile, the panel of judges had finished
their discussion.
The blond woman turned her severe eyes
toward Aurelia. “Aurelia Sun.”
Aurelia widened her eyes. “Yeah?”
“ We have decided that your
statement about Connor Salvator’s injury being an accident is
indeed true. While unfortunate, it is clear to us that your actions
were not intentional, and consequently, you cannot be held
accountable for the consequences. Therefore, you will be allowed to
proceed with the Challenge.”
A wave of relief flooded
through Aurelia. Though she’d been willing to go to jail for her
actions, she was really, really glad she didn’t have to. In fact, she didn’t even
have to give up her chance at beating the Triumvirate’s game.
She’d actually gotten away with what she’d done.
The judge sternly reprimanded her for her
actions, but Aurelia barely heard her words. She just kept her eyes
wide, putting on the most innocent expression she could muster, and
nodded regularly. She’d gotten what she wanted – Connor was out of
the competition, and it had cost her nothing.
Nothing but his
friendship. The relief left her as quickly
as it had come, and a new kind of distress overwhelmed her. He’d
never speak to her again; she was sure of it. He’d accuse her of
seeing him as weak, and be furious that she’d cost him the
competition. That was what she would do in his place.
She clenched her jaw, refusing to let out
the tears that stung the corners of her eyes. She might have lost
her only friend, but at least she wouldn’t have to watch him die.
And she’d be damned if she’d let anyone see her cry.
When the judge finished her lecture, she
dismissed Aurelia. Sighing in relief, she started to leave the
room, but was stopped by Williams’ hand on her shoulder.
“ Aurelia,” he whispered
urgently. “Do not try to win this competition. Half the reason the
Triumvirate’s willing to let you go is
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