Adrian sat in front of Ruby, carefully wrapping a bandage around the cut on her arm as he spoke softly.

"You're the first person I've brought here. This is where I study, train, and interact with all kinds of people."

He didn't regret bringing her. After what Ruby had done—standing up for both Ariana and him by involving her own family—it had left a strong impression on Adrian.

It was only their fourth meeting, yet he already felt a bond forming between them. A bond built on trust.

"So... time flows differently here compared to the outside world?" she asked, picking up on the odd feeling of the place.

Adrian nodded. "Yes. This space gives me peace, so I spend most of my time here."

Ruby gave a small nod in return. "Yeah, it really is peaceful." Her eyes wandered to a book lying beside her. She frowned slightly and casually flipped open the cover.

Adrian tensed for a moment, unsure of what she might find. But then she said something that surprised him.

"Blank pages? Why do they look so old and used even though there's nothing written in them?"

She looked at him curiously. "Why do you have so many blank diaries?"

Adrian let out a small breath, half confused and half relieved.

Apparently, the books couldn't be read by anyone but him. He had just learned that thanks to her reaction.

"I must've forgotten about them after bringing them here," he said with a shrug as he finished the bandaging.

Adrian bought a few essential supplies from the system—water, a potion, some bandages, and food.

"Oh, thanks," Ruby said politely as he handed her a piece of jerky.

She tore into it with her teeth, and just as she began chewing, Adrian asked,

"How close are you with Miss Annabelle?"

"Like family. She shares everything with me," Ruby replied right away. She had a feeling Annabelle would come up in the conversation, so she didn't hesitate.

"So when you go back… she'll ask you everything that happened here, right?"

"I think once she hears about the incident, she'll rush straight to Valmora."

Adrian nodded slowly. Even in the story, those two were like sisters. It wouldn't be surprising if Annabelle asked Ruby whether she was hurt or if a bomb had been placed on her. And when she did, Ruby might tell her—or not. But either way, Ruby would eventually figure things out.

That's why Adrian spoke up,

"The idiot I mentioned earlier… was her. Your friend."

"I knew it." Ruby grinned. "Anna talks like that too—always floating in her own world. I guess you're someone close to her… probably part of her circle."

Her gaze narrowed as she asked,

"Tell me, aren't you her Darling?"

Adrian sighed. "I've got no idea why she calls me that."

Ruby leaned her back against the wall.

"So… you're the person she's been searching for all this time."

Adrian looked at her, genuinely curious.

"Do you know why? I seriously don't get why she's so… obsessed with me."

"You don't know?" Ruby blinked, surprised. It was clear she had some idea.

"I really don't," Adrian admitted. "I do feel like we share a strong connection… but I can't remember anything about it."

Ruby let out a hum.

"That explains why you're so cold to her. Honestly, the way you talk would make most girls cry."

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"What can I do? Anytime I'm trying to talk to someone else, she barges in and floods the chat with messages. And half of them don't even mean anything."

"Oh, but they mean everything to her," Ruby said softly.

"I've seen her—how she searched the whole world for you. And when she finally connected with you through that bizarre chat… it was like a dam broke. She was so happy. I've never seen her smile like that before."

Adrian felt both guilty and puzzled at her words. Guilty because he had been avoiding her like some kind of pestering child and confused because she was so fixated on him while he had no idea why.

After a brief pause, he told her, "I...I don't know anything about her yet but I feel I will get to know at some point the reason behind her affection. So until then...can you not tell her that I am whom she is looking for?"

Ruby's brows elevated, "You want me to betray my friend?"

Adrian heaved a sigh, "She will get more hurt if she appears before me and doesn't find the person she is looking for. I want you to spare her from needless pain."

Ruby hummed, "Just say you don't want to get involved with her."

"For now, yes. You need to understand that she isn't some random girl. She is the strongest Warden so for her to show interest in me...will only cause me trouble."

Ruby exhaled an audible breath.

While she doesn't want to betray her friend by hiding something so important from her, she can also understand Adrian's point.

The enthusiasm Anna carries while she talks about her Darling is nowhere to be seen when Adrian mentions her.

It was apparent that her feelings were one-sided.

"Fine, I won't tell her about you...but you have to promise me something." Ruby demanded, "At least talk to her a little more gently. She is an orphan and barely talks to anyone around her. The only person to whom she exposes her emotions is you and me and you know I can never be what you can be for her."

Adrian slowly nodded in understanding, "You are right...I won't ignore her anymore."

Ruby nodded, thankful.

A brief moment of pause, before Ruby said, "By the way, Anna and I always share things we like, you know."

Adrian blinked in perplexion then...he suddenly realized and looked at her with his brows elevated.

"You..."

Ruby winked, "Who knows~"

"...." Adrian shook his head with a weary sigh escaping his lips.

Soon, they got out of the Time Chamber, and the first thing they heard was Ariana's gasp.

"We need to—"

"Aria, relax. I dealt with the explosives." Adrian calmed his girlfriend while resting his hands on her shoulders.

The silver head was stunned as she looked between Adrian and Ruby.

In the end, she just nodded and said, "Okay."

Although it was unexpected, Adrian was somehow able to overcome the crisis and saved the people he cared for.

'Haah~thankfully, there aren't any arcs for at least a month now.'

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Ah, and, Edward is dead. Let's rejoice!!