Chapter 94: A Rare Guest at the Dinner Gathering

The evening of the second day after Rowland and Victoria returned to Porter Academy, the four members of Dorm 2015 and Karina sat huddled together around a table in the dining hall, even though it wasn’t their usual night for a group meal. The table was laden with sumptuous dishes—a welcome feast for Rowland, just back from his ordeal.

Karina scrutinized Rowland up and down, then giggled. “Rowland, you’ve gotten tanned and thinner on your journey, but I think you’re much tougher than before!”

“Oh, you really noticed, huh? Fourth, you have no idea. Ever since you left, Karina kept bringing you up at every meal,” Bill teased.

“Yeah, exactly! ‘It’s been over a month, why isn’t Rowland back yet?’ ‘Is Rowland starving in the Maya Mountains?’ ‘Is Rowland in danger?’” Gebaz mimicked Karina’s tone, making everyone burst into laughter. Karina’s cheeks blushed like ripe apples, and she was too embarrassed to speak.

Seeing Karina so mortified, Mahler stepped in to smooth things over. “Hey, Fourth, Bill said his sister Victoria returned last night too. Did you two actually meet in the Maya Mountains?”

At that, all eyes turned to Rowland, making him uneasy. He remembered the cave incident with Victoria and her insistence that he keep it secret, especially from her brother Bill. Now, as Bill’s suspicious gaze bore into him, Rowland’s heart raced.

He took a deep breath and recited the explanation he and Victoria had agreed upon. “We only met on the road back to Porter Academy, just before arriving. It was a surprise to find we’d returned from the Maya Mountains on the same day and crossed paths.”

“Is that really true?” Bill’s voice stretched as he stared at Rowland.

That question made Rowland flush. If nothing had happened, it’d be easy to answer. But recalling the awkward moment in the cave, facing his friend and Victoria’s brother now, he felt uneasy, though outwardly he feigned confidence. “Of course. Hasn’t your sister told you?”

Bill was mostly joking, and hearing Rowland’s answer match his sister’s, he grinned.

“Bill, honestly, your sister just got back from the Maya Mountains. Why didn’t you invite her to join us tonight?” Mahler complained.

Bill spread his hands. “I wanted to, but as soon as she returned, she threw herself into training and completely ignored my invitation. What could I do?”

But as he spoke, the others suddenly looked past him in surprise. Bill quickly turned around and saw, to his astonishment, his sister Victoria standing behind him, smiling.

“Sorry, everyone, I’m late. May I join you for dinner?” Victoria apologized.

“Of course, Victoria, please sit!” Mahler and Gebaz eagerly welcomed the guest they’d failed to invite for over two years.

Mahler and Gebaz then glared at Bill, “Really, Third, you just said Victoria was busy training and couldn’t come. Hmph!”

Bill was thoroughly confused and looked at Victoria. “Sister, why—”

Before he could finish, Victoria shot him a glare. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me so we could come together? Why were you in such a hurry?”

Her words nearly made Bill cough up blood. He distinctly remembered her rejecting his invitation as usual, but now, in front of everyone, she said this. When he glanced at her again, he saw her make a discreet expression only the siblings understood—a silent apology.

Victoria’s comments immediately turned the group’s criticism toward Bill, leaving him to bear their complaints in silence.

Victoria had intended to train, but found herself unable to concentrate. Her brother’s invitation lingered in her mind, and after spending a month with Rowland in the Maya Mountains, she’d grown accustomed to eating and fighting alongside him. Alone now, hearing that Rowland and the others were dining together, she felt unable to focus on her training. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to attend. Having arrived, she couldn’t admit the truth before everyone, so poor Bill became her scapegoat.

At the table, only Karina, with her sensitive intuition, noticed the peculiar exchange of expressions between Victoria and Bill. The others paid no mind and continued their playful attacks on Bill.

“Rowland, after returning from the Maya Mountains last night, how was your rest?” Victoria changed the topic, trying to rescue her brother.

“Oh, I slept well. What about you, Victoria?” Rowland replied without thinking.

His words brought sudden silence to the table. Rowland realized everyone except Victoria was giving him odd looks. He understood: out of habit from the Maya Mountains, he’d called her by name, not as “Miss Victoria” like Mahler and the others.

Fortunately, Victoria reacted quickly. “Oh, we’re all so familiar now. You can just call me by my name from now on.”

“Uh… alright, Victoria. Actually, I’ve wanted to call you that for a long time,” Mahler and Gebaz grinned broadly.

Seeing that no one seemed suspicious anymore, Victoria finally relaxed. She shot Rowland a glare, who grinned foolishly across from her.

Victoria’s explanation was plausible, but Karina’s sharp feminine intuition sensed a hint of danger, emanating from Victoria sitting beside her.