"They’ve been together since they were fourteen," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "And they’re still a couple. I wonder why Miki hasn’t noticed that their relationship isn’t as perfect as it appears."

The words hung in the air, and Harabi and Rumiya exchanged an uncomfortable glance. Rumiya’s face tightened, a barely noticeable flash of irritation crossing her features. Harabi, too, seemed taken aback, though her expression remained more composed. Both instinctively took a few steps back, bowing to the prince with respect, though their hesitation lingered in the air like an unspoken question.

Aden, twin brother of the cold and regal Adena, seemed to disregard the formality. He laughed softly, his eyes softening as he waved his hand dismissively.

"There’s no need for all that," he said with a gentle smile, his tone casual, even lighthearted. "Unlike my sister, I don’t care for the attention that comes with being a prince." His voice carried a note of almost playful defiance, as though he’d long grown accustomed to the expectations others placed upon him because of his title.

With a more genuine smile, he regarded them. "You’re Miki’s friends, which means you’re mine too." His voice grew warmer, his earlier jest melting away. "It’s a pleasure to meet you both. You can call me Aden."

The air between them seemed to soften with his words, and for a brief moment, the tension of the situation lifted. Aden’s casual demeanor, so different from his royal sister, made him seem more approachable, almost out of place within the stony walls of the academy that were built for formality and power. He seemed to appreciate genuine connections over titles.

Harabi couldn’t help but glance at Aden, her curiosity piqued by the sight of the prince so casually mingling with Miki’s friends. Her voice was soft, a mix of curiosity and surprise. "This is the first time I’ve seen the prince in person. I’ve seen Adena so many times when I was younger, but you..." She trailed off, unsure how to finish the thought.

Aden raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I was always focused more on my education than on politics when I was younger," he replied, his voice casual, yet there was an undeniable weight to his words, as though he had learned to navigate his position without letting it define him. "But that’s not what I wanted to talk about."

Before Harabi could respond, Miki suddenly appeared, her energy as bright as ever. She pushed Aden playfully, her laughter filling the air. "Hey," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "These are my friends. Trying to flirt with them?"

Aden, knowing the playful jab was coming, sighed, rolling his eyes as he spoke. "I wasn’t flirting, Miki." He knew she was joking, but his response was as calm as ever. He then placed his hand gently on her head, his smile softening. "I’m just tired of holding my hand up."

Miki grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Finally came, huh? You’re so dramatic."

Aden gave her a look of mock exasperation. "You’re short enough to let my hands rest," he teased, his tone light but affectionate.

Harabi and Rumiya exchanged surprised glances, their eyes wide at the sight of the two. They had both assumed Aden was the more reserved and serious of the pair, but seeing him so at ease with Miki was a revelation. Harabi, the first to recover from her shock, spoke up, her voice laced with quiet amazement. "You two seem really close."

Aden nodded, a warmth in his eyes that softened his otherwise stoic face. "We’re childhood friends," he said simply, as if that alone was enough to explain everything. His tone was open, but there was a depth of connection between him and Miki that was impossible to miss. Their bond was evident in the way they interacted—comfortable, playful, yet underpinned by a deep trust.

Miki, with her usual mischievous grin, rolled her eyes playfully. "I spent all my childhood with Aden and Adena. If only you knew how tired I am of them." She leaned back, crossing her arms with a dramatic sigh.

Aden chuckled at her words, clearly unbothered. "It’s true. We’ve been together for a long time. People even joke that Miki is our third sister."

Rumiya, observing the exchange quietly, leaned toward Harabi and whispered softly, "Miki told me she knows the royal family, but I didn’t know it was this close."

Harabi, still processing the conversation, couldn’t hide her surprise. "I’m shocked right now. Just look at Aden... he looks so much like Adena, but he’s nothing like her."

Aden, with his usual calm demeanor, laughed lightly at their observations. "Sorry, I have really good ears. And yes, I know I’m not like my twin sister."

Miki, ever the tease, added with a wink, "Adena, Aden, and I are definitely not birds of a feather flocking together."

Harabi, unable to shake her curiosity, furrowed her brow. "You two seem like siblings, but Adena... she seems to be out of your circle."

Before anyone could respond, a voice interrupted, sharp and confident. "There can only be two twins. And even though I don't want to admit it, Aden is my twin."

Adena stood behind Harabi and Rumiya, having appeared without either of them noticing. Her presence was commanding, and she smirked as she observed the group. Her words had been loud enough to startle both Harabi and Rumiya, who turned in surprise.

Adena’s smirk widened as she took in the group’s reactions. She gave a brief, almost dismissive glance at her brother, Aden, and then shifted her gaze to Miki, who had a knowing look on her face. "I don’t know what you’re all discussing, but let me make this clear. There’s no denying Aden is my twin, even if we don’t always see eye to eye."

Aden, unphased, met his sister’s gaze with an easy smile. "I’m not offended, Ada. You can admit it when you’re ready," he teased lightly, though there was a hint of affection in his voice. Miki, always ready for a bit of banter, joined in. "It’s fine, Adena. We all know the truth," she added, grinning at her friend.

Adena’s gaze swept across the group, her piercing eyes scanning each of them with an intensity that made the air around them shift. The usual playful energy seemed to evaporate as everyone felt the weight of her presence. A cold, sharp aura emanated from her, one that left no room for lightheartedness. It was clear she wasn’t here to joke.

She took a few deliberate steps forward, closing the space between her and Miki. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked down at her with a mix of frustration and something darker. "All of you seem to be careless enough to make fun right now. Didn’t you hear the rumors?" Adena’s voice was colder than usual, and her words struck with the force of a warning.

Harabi, sensing where this was headed, felt a knot form in her stomach. She instinctively shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering toward Rumiya, who seemed to be trying to disappear into the ground, avoiding eye contact. Miki, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Adena’s demeanor, stepped back slightly, her playful teasing from earlier replaced by an unease she couldn’t quite shake.

Adena’s gaze hardened as she continued, her words cutting through the silence. "You are one of the suspects, too, by the way," she said, her voice a mixture of scorn and resignation. The accusation hung in the air like a heavy weight, the truth of it sinking into the hearts of those present.

Miki, unable to hide the sudden tension in her chest, opened her mouth to respond, but Aden stepped forward again, the edge of her tone not allowing for rebuttal. The room seemed to hold its breath, each word echoing louder than the last.

Harabi couldn’t stay silent anymore. "Being suspects... it isn’t cool. Or good," she said softly, her voice edged with concern. She could feel the unease tightening around them, and it made her anxious. Adena’s words had struck too close to something real. Everyone had heard the rumors, the whispers of what was happening at the academy, but to be implicated was another matter entirely.

Miki, her expression serious now, nodded slightly in agreement. "We’re all in this situation," she said, her voice steady despite the tension. "None of us are immune to what's going on." Adena just looked at Miki with a sharp red eyes. Then she slowly turned to the girl with black hair and smirked: " You know, I was speaking to YOU, right? "

"I know there are rumors about me and Rumiya again. And about our sisters… But," Harabi paused, glancing at the others, "I think, right now, we need to come together. We need to find the truth about this arson."

Adena raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mocking smirk. "Hmm, is that what you say?"

Rumiya’s face tightened in frustration. "Harabi, what are you—"

Harabi cut her off, her voice calm but firm. "I know you told me to be careful, but here we are, already getting more attention than we need. And we have to deal with it."

Adena scoffed, stepping closer to Harabi. 

"Hey, Ada... Don’t say—" Aden tried to stop his sister. 

"I am speaking now," Adena snapped, her tone icy. "Just close your mouth and take your little friend Miki away. I’m speaking to Harabi."

The words stung, but Harabi stood her ground, unflinching under Adena’s anger. Adena’s eyes flickered to her, and for a moment, the tension in the air was palpable. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she turned her gaze away, as if dismissing everyone else.

Adena began walking slowly around Harabi, her eyes never leaving her, studying her as though she were an interesting puzzle to be solved. "You know, I’m just so interested in you," she said, her voice dripping with something between amusement and disdain.

She laughed, a sharp, bitter sound that cut through the air, and continued her slow circle. "About the new rumors… they don’t have a huge difference from the old ones. Two mysterious daughters, from two absolutely different families, with a rather interesting common past…" Adena paused, her eyes narrowing as she sized up Harabi, her words a deliberate taunt. "They suddenly appear at the academy this year. And the next day, people saw them together, and then the fire started."

Adena stopped walking abruptly, turning on her heel to face Rumiya. She pointed at her, her smirk growing wider. "Some people say it was you. You and your ‘new’ friend."

Harabi felt her chest tighten. She wanted to say something—anything—but the intensity in Adena’s gaze made her pause. The aura surrounding Adena was suffocating, and Harabi felt the weight of her words settle heavily on her shoulders.

She glanced at Rumiya, standing at the corner of the room, her head lowered. Rumiya was quiet, distant, perhaps trying to hide the anxiety she surely felt. Harabi wanted to step toward her, comfort her, but her eyes lingered on Adena. In that moment, it seemed as though Adena was playing a game, one where Harabi couldn’t win.

Adena’s voice broke the silence again, low and dangerous. "Don’t think I haven’t noticed. People are already talking… about you, about your sister. And I’m just curious—do you really think you can hide what’s really happening here?"

Harabi's gaze locked with Adena's, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken words. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost imperceptible, Adena leaned in, her lips curling into a cold, knowing smile. She whispered only to Harabi, her words hanging in the space between them like a threat.

"By the way, I know who set the fire. But," Adena’s eyes gleamed darkly, her voice taking on a playful tone, "you know, I like playing with fire."

Harabi’s breath caught in her throat. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back, her mind racing. 

Adena’s voice rang out, louder now, laced with venom. "Have fun, Harabi. And Rumiya…" She turned her eyes toward the girl in the corner, her gaze sharp and dismissive. "Please, change already. I really feel sick looking at you."

With those final, biting words, Adena pivoted sharply and began to walk away. Her footsteps were deliberate, echoing in the silence she left behind. As she moved, she cast one last glance over her shoulder, her smirk still in place, a reminder that she held all the cards, for now.

Harabi’s hand clenched into a fist, her knuckles whitening. What did Adena mean by knowing who set the fire? And why was she taunting her, playing this dangerous game? There were so many questions, but for now, Harabi could only stand in the wake of Adena’s departure, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Rumiya took a small, hesitant step toward her, but before she could speak, Harabi held up a hand, signaling for silence. She needed a moment. She needed to think.

"Harabi, Rumiya," Miki began, her voice calm but laced with concern, "don’t let Adena get to you. She’s always like that—intimidating, manipulative, but don’t let her control your emotions." She gave a reassuring squeeze. "You both are new here. You don’t have to handle everything alone."

Aden, who had been watching from a short distance, finally walked over to them, his usual easygoing demeanor masking the tension that still lingered in the air. He flashed a half-smile, trying to ease the atmosphere. He stood next to Harabi and smiled.

"Yeah, Adena’s a lot to deal with," he said, chuckling softly to break the tension. "But we’ve known her for years. Trust me, she likes to stir things up just to see how people react. It’s part of the game with her."

Harabi nodded, still visibly shaken, but she appreciated their attempts to calm her down. Rumiya, too, seemed to breathe a little easier after hearing Miki’s words, though she remained quiet, her gaze distant.

Miki looked at Harabi for a moment, then back at Rumiya "Listen," she said, her voice brightening slightly, "how about a walk? The academy’s huge, and we could use some fresh air. Plus, I can show you guys around, introduce you to some of our friends. It’ll help take your mind off of everything, I promise."

Aden nodded in agreement. "We’ll even make it a small tour of sorts. You’ll get to meet some people who aren’t wrapped up in all the drama," he added with a teasing grin. "And you can see the parts of the academy no one else bothers to check out."

Harabi hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering back to the distant path Adena had taken. The weight of the conversation still lingered, but she knew Miki and Aden were right. She needed a distraction, and Rumiya did, too. Besides, they were new at the academy—meeting new people, making friends, and getting familiar with the place was the right thing to focus on.

"Alright. A walk sounds good. I guess we could use a break from all this drama," she said, managing a small smile.