In the secluded garden behind Eden Academy, a gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, bringing a sense of tranquility to the afternoon. High above, perched gracefully on a sturdy branch, Fena sat—lost in the sheer beauty of her surroundings.

​I looked up at her, my voice steady but carrying a hint of warmth I couldn't quite hide.

​"You’re going to fall from that height, Fena," I called out.

​At the sound of my voice, she turned her head slightly. Her long pink hair framed her face perfectly as she looked down at me with a playful, heart-melting smile.

​"Oh, Demi-Demi... you really are so cold, aren't you?" she teased softly. "You're only worried about me falling. Tell me, have you even looked up to see how stunning the sky is today?"

​I followed her gaze toward the vast blue horizon. But in that fleeting moment, I realized a truth I could never bring myself to say out loud: The endless blue of the heavens was nothing compared to her.

​Just like that day... I thought to myself. Memories from years ago flashed before my eyes. Even when we were only seven years old—back when I first saw her trembling and in need of protection—it was those luminous cyan eyes that had instantly captured my heart.

​Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed Fena leaping down from the branch with the grace of a falling petal. She landed perfectly right in front of me, tilted her head, and asked, "Is the teacher calling for us, Demi-Demi?"

​"Ah, right!" I snapped back to reality. "Have you forgotten that you're a Class President, Fena? Honestly, I got so distracted watching you that I almost forgot to tell you—we have a meeting to attend."

​"Oh, that's right!" She let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess I got so lost in the sky that it completely slipped my mind."

​"How can you be this forgetful?" I muttered, though a faint smile tugged at my lips. "You already have seven Stella Stars, you know. You're supposed to be a role model for the other students."

​Fena stepped closer, leaning in with a mischievous smirk. "Ooh, what's this? Are you jealous, Demi? Just because I have one more star than you? Hehe."

​"Not at all," I replied quickly, turning my face away to hide the slight flush creeping onto my cheeks.

​We stopped our playful bickering and walked together toward the faculty office. The hallway was quiet, the sound of our footsteps echoing against the polished floor. When we arrived, Fena bowed politely before the teacher's desk.

​"Sensei, you called for us?" she asked.

​The teacher looked up from a stack of papers and smiled at both of us. "Ah, Fena, Demetrius. Come in. As the top students of this academy, I have a very important task for both of you regarding the upcoming Fundraising Gala..."

​At the teacher’s words, Fena and I glanced at each other. Neither of us knew then what kind of events awaited us in the coming night.

"What secrets will the Fundraising Gala hold for Fena and Demetrius? Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out! ✨''

​Demetrius and Fena were assigned a task of utmost importance: verifying the VIP guest list for the upcoming Fundraising Gala. This was a high-level responsibility that no other student was permitted to access, as it involved the private data and family backgrounds of prestigious figures.

​When the teacher handed over the files, Demetrius gave a brief, stoic nod. "Understood, Sensei," he replied, his voice as calm and flat as ever.

​Fena, however, looked a bit overwhelmed by the gravity of the task. "I... I understand," she managed to say.

​The teacher adjusted his glasses, peering at them through a mountain of paperwork. "The work doesn't start today. Come back tomorrow to begin the verification. Thank you both; you may return to your rooms now."

​As they walked down the quiet hallway of the faculty wing, Fena let out a long, heavy sigh. "Huu... I wonder why Sensei gave such a massive responsibility to us."

​Demetrius continued walking, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "Because we are top students," he said matter-of-factly. "It is our duty to handle what others cannot."

​Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when a girl ran up and grabbed Demetrius’s arm. "Demetrius! Do you remember me? We were childhood friends!" she exclaimed, looking up at him expectantly.

​Demetrius didn't even flinch. He looked down at her hand with an expression of pure disdain and coldly pulled his arm away.

"I don't remember annoying things," he said, his voice dropping to a freezing temperature. "Do not disturb me."

​Despite his harsh rejection, the girl—Daisy—refused to take the hint. She began following them like a shadow, persistent and unbothered by his coldness.

​At that moment, Fena’s expression shifted entirely. The playful warmth vanished from her face. Her eyes, usually a bright, shimmering cyan, began to glow with a sharp, piercing crimson. She stood perfectly still, her gaze locked onto the girl behind them with an intensity that felt dangerous.

​"Fena!" a voice called out. It was her friend, Maria.

​Fena blinked, and in an instant, her eyes returned to their natural blue. "Oh, Maria," she said softly.

​"Have you finished meeting with the teacher?" Maria asked, then glanced curiously at the girl following Demetrius. "Who is she?"

​Fena’s voice was eerily calm. "I was just wondering the same thing. Maria, do you know her?"

​Maria shrugged. "She’s in our class. Her name is Daisy, I think. I’m not sure about her family name, though."

​"Is that so?" Fena replied with a faint, unreadable smile. "Let’s head back to class then."

​The rest of the day, Daisy continued to hover around Demetrius, ignoring every cold shoulder he gave her.

​The next day, as planned, Demetrius and Fena went to the private faculty room to begin the guest list verification. Demetrius noticed something was off—Fena was unusually quiet, radiating a chilling aura that even he couldn't ignore.

​As they flipped through the files, Fena’s finger suddenly stopped on a page. She had found it: Daisy. She scanned the girl’s family lineage and background, a slow, dark smile spreading across her lips.

"Found you," she whispered.

​After finishing the work, they stepped out into the evening air. Fena turned to Demetrius, her bright, sunny smile back in place. "You can relax now, Demi-Demi. The hard part is over."

​As the school day ended and students headed for their cars, Fena spotted Daisy near the gates. Fena walked past her, leaning in just enough to whisper into her ear.

​"See you tonight..."

​Fena offered a sweet, chilling smile before stepping gracefully into her waiting car, leaving a bewildered Daisy standing alone in the sunset.

​[ Teaser for Chapter 3 ]

​"Will we see a different side of Fena tonight? What is the dark secret behind her glowing crimson eyes? Stay tuned for Chapter 3!

​[ Part 1 - The Uninvited Guest ]

​While Daisy’s family was back home chatting in the living room... a deathly chill began to envelop the chamber. Fena stood silently at the doorway like a shadow. Though she looked breathtakingly elegant in her black attire, she held a cold, lethal Split-blade Dagger in her hand, ready for use.

​"Who are you?! How did you get into my house? Where have the guards gone?!" Daisy’s father shouted in a panic.

​Fena wore a mocking smirk on her lips and replied coolly, "Ah... I let the guards sleep for a while."

​Daisy looked closely at the girl and realized, "You... you’re Fena, aren't you?"

​"Yes, I am Fena... Fena Heartifila."

​[ Part 2 - The Power of the Name 'Heartifila' ]

​The moment he heard the name 'Heartifila,' the color drained from Daisy’s father’s face, and he collapsed heavily to his knees on the floor. "Heartifila...?! You... what is your relation to that man?"

​Fena tilted her head slightly and said sharply, "How rude... I am the daughter of Lord Damon."

​Daisy, still not grasping the situation, screamed, "What are you doing here? Get out of my house right now!" but her father grabbed her hand and pulled her down.

​"Forgive us! Please, I beg you! I didn't know you were Mr. Damon’s daughter. I apologize on behalf of my daughter!" he pleaded, trembling and desperately hitting his forehead against the floor.

​The moment Daisy locked eyes with Fena, she felt as if her whole body had been struck by ice. "Aren't you... aren't you afraid of the police? They will come and arrest you..."

​Fena let out a soft laugh. "Why should I be afraid? They are all nothing more than subordinates under our family."

​[ Part 3 - The Hidden Truth ]

​Fena sat down gracefully on a chair in front of them and said—

​"Your parents frequently knelt before our family to borrow money, claiming they would open an orphanage."

​Daisy replied rudely, "That's right! My parents take care of that orphanage. Those kids are orphans; who else is going to look after them? So, selling them off is actually more profitable!"

​Fena smiled slowly. "Oh... I hadn't even mentioned 'selling' them yet."

​Daisy’s father’s eyes widened as he tried to deny it, but Fena stood up and pointed out each of their crimes involving human trafficking and child abuse.

​"We don't abuse children!" the father denied, but Fena looked at them piercingly and said, "Ask your wife and daughter then." While they were paralyzed with fear, Fena continued.

​"Oh-ya... secret police have already arrived downstairs. Alright... let's get down to business. Before they take you away..."

​[ Part 4 - The Crimson Judgment ]

​At that moment, a trusted confidant of the Heartifila family emerged from the shadows like a ghost.

​"Young Lady Fena... which of their parts do you want taken?"

​Fena seemed to contemplate—hands, legs, eyes, tongue...

​"Ah... I won't cut the tongue. Papa is the one who enjoys cutting those. If you can't decide, I'll decide for you. Cut the uncle’s legs, and for the auntie, cut off both hands."

​Finally, Fena walked toward Daisy. When the confidant asked, "Young Lady... what about her?" Fena stopped him.

​"Leave her... I’ll do it myself."

​Fena gripped her Split-blade Dagger tightly and slowly approached Daisy, while the room echoed with Daisy’s terrifying screams and pleas for mercy. But Fena’s eyes remained unshaken, glowing with cold blood.

​"You’re lucky, Daisy... if I let you meet Papa, you wouldn't even have a tongue left. But I won't be satisfied until I personally judge these filthy hands of yours that touched Demetrius..."

​As she spoke, Fena grabbed Daisy’s hair and slammed her to the floor. That night, sounds so horrific they didn't seem human echoed from Daisy’s mansion, shocking the entire neighborhood. Under Fena’s blade, the pride, lives, and limbs of Daisy’s family were judged until they were drenched in blood.

​[ Part 5 - Aftermath and an Innocent Smile ]

​The next morning...

​When all the townspeople woke up, a shocking piece of news awaited them. On television news and social media, stories of the secret human trafficking and child abuse committed by Daisy’s family were everywhere.

​But the strange thing was, when the police entered to make arrests, Daisy’s family was still alive... but their legs, hands, and eyes were damaged beyond recovery. No witness could be found to identify who had carried out such a brutal judgment.

​At school, the whole student body whispered only about Daisy’s family. No one could believe how Daisy, considered the "Queen" of the school, had lost everything in a single night.

​At that same time... Fena sat peacefully on a bench in the school garden as if nothing had happened. She held a book in her hand, wearing an innocent smile on her lips. Looking up at the sky, she whispered softly—

​"Demetrius... I’ve cleared away all the trash that approached you."

​In Fena’s eyes, the blood-red tint had vanished, turning back into sparkling stars just as before.

Chapter 4

The fundraiser was filled with top students and their parents, including the families of Demetrius and Fena. As their parents cross paths, what kind of sparks or tensions will fly?