There was a silent tension in the air that was so thick and cold that I nearly started choking.

"I'm just about to go to sleep. What's wrong?" I tried asking as calmly as I could while doing my best to ignore the look of irritation on Florence's face.

"Is that so..." Florence murmured with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

He didn't seem to be very amused at the fact that Ace and I were alone together in my room.

To be fair though, if he just took a closer look, he would easily be able to tell that Ace and I weren't doing anything.

I was completely rolled up in my blankets and Ace was standing a meter away from me.

But from the look on his face, it didn't seem like he cared.

"Ahem. I'm pretty tired...so...uh...if you have something to say, just tell me now. If you don't, then please leave..." I said as nicely as I could.

Florence's eyes landed on Ace's and the two acknowledged each other with a short nod.

"Do you really have to kick me out like that, Lia? I just wanted to stop by and say hi," Florence said as he stepped into my room with short strides.

He stopped by the base of my bed before giving me a grin.

"You haven't come to see me for a while. I missed you," he said as he leaned over to me.

Florence's face was approaching mine slowly and was getting dangerously close before I pushed his head out of the way.

"What are you doing?" I asked, slightly flustered by the ominous look that flashed in his eyes.

"Nothing. I just thought I'd show my dear fiance some love," Florence smirked, clearly not affected by my rejection in the slightest.

I couldn't look at Florence properly, especially after my strange dream.

The entire situation was so awkward that I sat up on my bed and took a small peak at Ace, who was staring at Florence with an expressionless face.

But even though Ace wasn't really doing anything in particular, somehow, it felt as if though his eyes were reflecting a deep, dark abyss.

It was almost...kind of scary.

Maybe even a little scarier than Florence.

"What's with that look on your face?" Florence asked.

He looked to Ace with a small irritated frown on his face.

"...I don't know what you are talking about," Ace responded simply with a small cock of the head.

There was silence after that.

It was terribly quiet and awkward.

...I give up.

"Alright, that's enough. I don't know why you're here Florence, but clearly, you and Ace aren't on good terms right now and I am very tired. Please get out of here...I'm having a headache," I said with a groan as I pointed to the door.

"Me? Why? Did I do something wrong?" Florence asked with an innocent smile.

"...Yes. So, please, leave," I repeated as I pointed to the door once more.

"Is it because both Ace and I are here at the same time? I'm sorry...it must have been uncomfortable for you," Florence gave a sarcastic pout.

"Yes, I feel extremely uncomfortable right now, so for the last time...Get. Out. Of. Here," I said through gritted teeth.

"If you can't handle Ace and I being together in the same room, then it'll be fine if just one of us leaves, right? I can stay here...and Ace can go off to enjoy some fresh air...or something."

I stared at Florence blankly with a look of incredulousness on my face.

Was he kidding with me right now?

Just how persistent is this guy?

"...Like I said, I want to sleep, and I can't do that if you're around watching me. Please leave."

"...But you're okay...with Ace?" Florence murmured.

Was it just me...or was Florence's voice becoming darker and darker as this conversation continued...?

"Well, I'm used to sleeping with him anyway. So, it won't be a problem," I sighed as held my head against one of my hands.

Suddenly, a ringing headache formed in the back of my head and I felt a little nauseous.

Ugh...

I need to sleep.

"Is that so..." Florence murmured as he looked down at me with dark eyes.

"Yes...so leave-"

"If that's the case, then it would be best if you got used to sleeping with me," Florence smiled.

"...Excuse me?"

"Let's get you out of here, okay?" he smiled as he wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and picked me up in a princess-carry with a princely smile.

"Stop it!" I yelled as I pushed myself away from him.

But instead of letting go of me, Florence pulled me closer to his body and brought his head closer to my ear.

"Shh...Just be obedient, okay?" he whispered, his lips grazing over my earlobes as he spoke.

I flinched as horrible shudders rippled down my spine.

Haha...

No way...

I can't let him drag me away.

...just like how he did in my dream.

"Ace..." I whispered, my voice shaking a little as vivid scenes of my dream came back to me one by one.

It was as if bits of trauma were being nailed back into my head.

But before I could properly recover from the momentary shock, I heard a loud shattering sound come from behind me.

"Ace...?" I murmured as I turned my head slowly behind me.

On the ground, by the side of my bed, I could see countless shards of a broken vase.

...Did...that vase...explode...?

I looked to Ace who was standing still, without looking at me and Florence.

Ace was staring at the broken vase on the ground with slightly wide eyes as if even he was surprised at himself for breaking it.

He looked down at his palm with shaking pupils then gripped his hand into a fist.

It was as if he were checking to make sure he still had full control of his body.

Then, he turned to Florence with dark, grim eyes before saying, "...Let her go. She doesn't like that."

"Oh...you're finally being honest with yourself. Did you get tired of acting like the good boy?" Florence asked as he looked down at the broken vase and back to Ace with a dark smirk.

"...I said...let Cordelia go," Ace repeated, completely ignoring Florence's taunts.

"And why should I?" Florence asked as he gripped my shoulder tightly, twisting my arm painfully.

I winced a little and turned my head to Florence.

He was smiling.

...He didn't even notice the red marks appearing on my arm.

Surely, tomorrow, when I wake up, there will be plenty of bruises there.

"...You're hurting her," Ace murmured softly, his hair falling over his eyes and covering his expression.

"And? She's mine. You can't do anything about it, even if I do this..." Florence chuckled as he suddenly gripped the back of my head and smashed my lips straight onto his.

"Mmph!" I yelled in shock as Florence aggressively bit my lower lip, causing it to bleed.

What the heck...did he just do...?

I could feel a small stream of blood flow down my chin and I struggled to break free.

Normally, I would be able to easily break free from Florence's grip, but today was different.

Today was the first day I was let out of the infirmary.

Even if the doctor said I was alright, it didn't mean I was ready to wrestle with an overpowered male lead.

"Oops...I must have bit you too hard. You're bleeding," he smiled without a single hint of guilt on his face.

Then he turned to Ace with a wide grin.

"See? You can't do anything," Florence giggled happily just like a child would.

"..."

Ace stood there with his feet planted on the ground and he stared at Florence.

But it was weird.

He was neither smiling nor frowning.

But it was cold.

If the world's greatest ice sculpture carved a piece of ice into the lifeless shape of an indescribably beautiful man, it would be Ace.

An empty piece of ice that reflected nothing.

An empty piece of ice that could melt away and disappear at any moment.

An empty piece of ice that contained absolutely no warmth.

If such an ice sculpture existed, it would be exactly like Ace right now.

Before I even realized it, a tear had dripped down from one of my eyes.

I wonder why.

"Cordelia...you're crying," Ace murmured quietly as he glanced down at me in Florence's arms.

Only his right eye was visible to me—his left eye was covered with strands of his loose hair.

"..."

Ace turned his gaze back at Florence quietly and stared at him straight in the eye.

"...You've gone too far," Ace said as he walked up to Florence with a horrifying look in his eyes.

"I did?" Florence said as he stood his ground under the suffocating, relentless pressure that Ace was exuding.

"I was trying to be nice...but you've gone too far, human. You've gone too far..." Ace repeated once more.

"So you really were just pretending to be nice. I always knew you were a b-stard on the inside," Florence growled.

"Pretending...? No...I was genuine. I really wanted...for all of us to get along together," Ace replied as he stopped in front of Florence's feet.

Florence was by no means short.

He was tall.

Very tall.

But he was still only tall enough to reach the base of Ace's nose.

"You're lying. Don't tell me you actually enjoyed all of us surrounding Cordelia! Be honest. You wanted to get rid of us all. Saying that you wanted us to get along...Why the hell would you want something like that?!"

Ace stared down at Florence with a lifeless smile.

"...Because that's what would have made Cordelia the happiest."

I stared at Ace with wide eyes.

I wonder...how long Ace had been thinking like that.

"You little f-cker," Florence growled.

It was difficult to follow along with their conversation.

Very difficult.

Because...

No matter how I looked at it...it almost sounded like the two of them had feelings for me.

...Like they saw me more than just their companion.

What if...

...they really...

No.

My heart began to thump wildly against my chest.

I almost came up with a misunderstanding.

I almost started to believe something that wasn't true.

I almost considered the idea that the boys had feelings for me.

Haha...

How stupid of me.

After all, I'm not someone meant to be loved.

-----------------------------------------------------

A/N: Haha~ So, I had to make this chapter a bit shorter than normal...because...you guessed it! My finals are coming up soon in one week~ I just...totally...love my exams...haha...

Sorry for stopping this chapter right in the middle of drama~ Hehehe~ I guess you guys will just have to come back next week! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Also, last chapter, @Justguy2018 asked me whether he could make a fanfiction off of this story. I thought it was an interesting question, so my answer is...

Sure! Go ahead~ If any of you guys want to write a fanfiction of my story, feel free to do it! Just make sure to credit the fanfiction to my story though~

And also, if you do end up wanting to write a fanfiction, mention me on the story or send me a link so I can read it for myself! I'd love to see what you guys will do with my work~

Thanks, again, to my readers/voters/commenters for everything you do!

Stay safe, everyone~

Okie byeee!

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