Drea, who stayed up all night with swollen eyes, came out when it was time for Kalia to wake up.

Just before sunrise.

By this time, Kalia Mama would have woken up, and perhaps Simon Papa would have opened his eyes, following Mama with a hint of sleepiness.

Since they were both hot-tempered, there were times when they wouldn’t come out of their room all day, so Drea had to choose the right day.

Anyway, it was Drea’s birthday today, so hopefully nothing unfortunate would happen.

‘…If Allen Papa and Derek Papa find out, it’ll be chaos. Maybe… the whole Mage Tower might hear about it. Derek Papa will interrogate and investigate who did this.’

How embarrassing…

Drea clenched her lips and let out a short sigh.

As she stood in front of the closed door, it opened first.

Startled, Drea took a step back and looked up, seeing Kalia’s face with a delighted expression upon discovering Drea.

“From this early in the morning… Dre… A?”

“…Kalia Mama.”

“Why is your face like this?”

Kalia’s face stiffened as she examined Drea’s colorful face.

“It’s nothing. I got a little hurt, but… I couldn’t use magic, so…”

Drea spoke hesitantly, twisting her body and sounding unsure.

‘Was it the reason she didn’t come to dinner last night?’

Kalia narrowed her eyes.

There was a bluish bruise around her nose and cheekbones, and a faint bruise could be seen under her chin.

If her face looked like this, there were probably bruises and wounds in places that weren’t visible.

She’s not the type to fight recklessly, so what happened?

“What happened, Kalia?”

Simon, who followed Kalia out of the door, also widened his eyes.

“Oh, my… Drea, what happened to your face?”

“…Drea, come over here for now. Simon, can you take a look at Drea’s injuries?”

Kalia asked quietly, but Drea couldn’t answer.

If she were to say, ‘I got into a fight with someone who insulted Shaik!’ then it would reveal that someone is bad-mouthing Shaik behind his back.

And then it would hurt Kalia Mama and Simon Papa’s feelings…

She couldn’t do that.

Drea tightly sealed her lips and raised her head firmly.

Whether it was Rex or Rox, she had already caused enough trouble herself. There was no need for someone else to intervene.

If this gets any bigger, Shaik will find out too…

And if Shaik gets upset…

‘No, why am I worried about that jerk?’

In that moment, Drea snapped out of her thoughts and blurted out her thoughts about Shaik.

Drea spoke confidently towards Kalia and Simon, who were looking at her with concern.

“Thank you for treating me, Papa. I’m really okay. And it was nothing serious. Since it’s my birthday today, I hope we can just enjoy a meal and move on happily.”

When Drea said that, no one could force the child to do otherwise.

In the end, Simon and Kalia quietly followed, saying they understood, and went down to the dining hall.

The entire castle had already been decorated for the lovely white dragon’s birthday.

It wasn’t as lively as a birthday when she was younger, but everyone smiled and presented Drea with congratulatory gifts.

Except for one person, Shaik.

* * *

“You bastard.”

With the morning lesson on magical fusion over, the day’s classes had finally come to an end.

In the end, Drea’s schedule was completely empty.

Drea climbed up the tallest tree in the academy and flopped down.

Thinking about Shaik, whom she had encountered in the morning, she pursed her lips.

During the time when everyone was eating together, Shaik sat far away from Drea and never once looked at her.

As always, Shaik finished his meal neatly and promptly got up and left.Drea followed Shaik’s retreating figure with her gaze, then turned her head away.

Her heart hurt.

They had never fought like this before…

‘…But still, I thought he would at least say ‘happy birthday.’ Even if it was awkward, I thought our eyes would meet.’

He always did.

Even if there was some bickering, they would see each other again without any problems the next day.

Come to think of it, after those incidents, it was mostly Drea who approached him first.

‘Shaik.’

No matter who was at fault, it was always Drea who reached out first, called his name, extended her hand, and showed a smile.

But now that Drea wasn’t doing that, she realized that their relationship was just cold.

How could a lifetime spent like a family feel so empty?

Drea felt extremely melancholic.

The premonition that it would be the worst birthday seemed to be coming true without fail.

No matter how much time she spent under the warm sunlight, her depressed mood didn’t improve.

“I feel so down.”

The plan to hold Shaik’s hand and watch the fireworks had already fallen apart.

No, she even felt foolish for having such thoughts in the midst of all this.

But how could a lifetime of love be resolved in a day?

Loving Shaik was like breathing for Drea, just like the breakfast she had diligently eaten for 16 years.

If someone suddenly told her not to breathe, it meant they were telling her to die.

If someone suddenly told her, who never skipped breakfast, not to eat, her hands would tremble and her head would spin.

She would keep thinking about breakfast.

Yes, that’s exactly what it was.

“Yes, Shaik, you’re just like breakfast to me…!”

Drea stood up abruptly, feeling determined.

But upon further reflection, breakfast was very precious.

Precious breakfast…

And Shaik, who was just as precious…

“…I must be going crazy.”

Drea slapped her forehead in despair as she sat there blankly.

Why was Shaik the only thing she thought about?

While Drea was feeling dejected, someone familiar approached from below the tree.

It was the girl who was called Ena, with her friend.

“Let’s eat here. The shade of the tree is nice, and I heard this place is really famous.”

Of all places, why did she have to forget her lunchbox here…

Due to missing the timing to change seats, Drea had no choice but to stay there.

Thanks to that, she unintentionally overheard the conversation between the two girls as they chatted while eating.

“But it must be nice to receive the prince’s attention!”

“Attention… It just happened by chance. It’s not like that.”

“No, the prince keeps looking at you! Well, it’s hard not to, you’re so beautiful.”

“No, don’t say that. It’s embarrassing. Besides, there are so many beautiful people around the prince. I can’t possibly be considered as beautiful… You’re so beautiful yourself.”

“Oh! That’s true. How did the prince end up looking so handsome?”

“And, that friend from the Ministry of Magic with the white hair… She’s so beautiful, it’s incomparable to me.”

“Ah, Drea? That Senior? Well, she’s pretty too… but she looks more mature. It’s different from you. She looks too dazzling… Anyway, it must be nice. I mean, the prince’s attention. Has the prince ever said he likes you?”

“It’s not like that…”

…What the hell.

Drea felt awkward as she ended up hearing unwanted conversations, and of all things, it was about her and Shaik.

‘Well, too dazzling? There’s no dragon as pure-looking as me…!’

Even if she simmered with frustration internally, it was something she couldn’t express.

Just don’t listen and quietly disappear.While pondering if there was a way to discreetly spread her wings, Ena uttered something shocking.

“…Actually, I resemble someone that person knows.”

“Who?”

“First love. He talked about it yesterday when he gave me a ride to the infirmary. He said he was concerned because I resembled the person he loved so much…”

“Oh my! Really? First love? Someone he loved so much?”

“Yeah.”

Drea’s mind went blank.

Shaik’s… first love?

Drea had been by Shaik’s side all her life, but it was the first time she heard about Shaik’s first love.

When did it happen?

After that, Drea couldn’t hear anything else, even when the girls had gone.

Someone Shaik loved so much?

And it was someone Drea didn’t know…

Moreover, hearing the past tense ‘loved’, it was certain that Shaik had loved and parted ways during a time when Drea didn’t know.

When did Shaik fall in love and break up, when Shaik seemed completely uninterested in love?

It was a shock. A tremendous shock.

What was the time when she loved Shaik?

A feeling of emptiness overwhelmed her.

“What… What have I been doing all this time?”

She felt like cold water was splashed on her dazed mind.

So, this is unrequited love.

Unrequited love.

Love done alone.

One-sided feelings for someone…

…No matter how passionate it is, it’s a feeling filled with loneliness.

Tears welled up once again.

After lunchtime ended, Drea was finally able to come down under the tree.

Leaning against the large tree trunk, she remained blank-minded for a while, unable to think of anything.

There was a gaping hole in her chest.

“I don’t know what to do now… “

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no answer.

The size of her heart was too overwhelming to sort out.

And… this sudden revelation was something she herself didn’t want.

“I haven’t had the chance to do anything to my heart yet… “

Suddenly, the thought of meeting Shaik crossed her mind.

Drea quickly got up from her spot.

First, let’s meet Shaik again.

‘What do I want to talk about when we meet?’

It was too confusing to organize her thoughts, but she felt the need to see Shaik for now.

She should ask him a question.

Did you really like someone else? Did you do that to me without saying anything?

‘…Does Shaik have an obligation to tell me that?’

Yes, he does! Why doesn’t he!

Knowing how much she like him! Without even telling her not to like him!

That was indifference towards her feelings.

At least, if Shaik had even a slight care for her, then it shouldn’t have happened.

‘So, I have the right to ask and find out.’

Drea hurriedly ran.

And there, in the passageway leading to the fencing arena, she unexpectedly encountered Ena again.

The two girls, meeting awkwardly in the narrow corridor, looked at each other.

Drea chewed on her lip, attempting to pass by Ena.

“Elder sister…!”

It was Ena who grabbed onto Drea in that moment.