"Snow… if you are—"

"Please. Just do it… you're the only one I know who can."

Seo froze.

For the first time since Snow had met her, Seo didn't immediately respond.

The words hung between them, heavy and wrong.

Seo's fingers tightened slightly around the hilt of her sword as she stared at Snow, trying to read her expression, trying to find even a hint that this was some kind of joke.

There was none.

Snow's eyes were steady.

Calm.

Too calm.

Seo didn't like that.

"What are you saying?" Seo asked quietly. "Explain yourself."

Snow hesitated for a moment, then took a slow breath. "I'm serious, Seo. I need you to do it."

Seo's usual blank, emotionless face cracked just a little.

Her brows furrowed, irritation and something sharper flashing across her eyes.

"You think I would just agree to something like that?"

Seeing that reaction, Snow felt a strange sense of relief.

Yes… this was exactly why it had to be Seo.

"I know it sounds insane," Snow said, her voice softer now. "But there's no one else I can ask."

"That doesn't answer anything."

Snow stepped closer, lowering her voice instinctively, as if the garden itself might be listening. "Don't worry. I won't die."

Seo's eyes narrowed. "You just asked me to kill you."

"Yes. And I meant it," Snow replied honestly. "But not in the way you're thinking."

She lifted a hand and gently touched her own neck, right where the blade would land. "I want you to strike here. No hesitation. No holding back."

Seo stared at her hand, then back at her face. "You're not making this better."

"I know." Snow let out a small, almost bitter smile. "But I need to know something. I need to confirm it with my own body, my own soul."

Seo didn't respond immediately.

She could tell Snow wasn't lying.

There was no fear in her voice, no desperation either.

Just certainty.

And that frightened her far more than panic ever could.

Snow met her gaze without flinching.

"That's why it has to be you."

If it were any of the others…

if it were Riley, or any of the girls—they wouldn't even listen.

They would stop her, restrain her, lock her in a room if they had to.

They would call it concern, protection.

But…

Seo was different.

She would listen…

.....

Seo felt conflicted.

She could tell there was a reason behind Snow's sudden request—something deep and buried—but she couldn't grasp it no matter how much she tried.

Asking someone to cut her down like this, right here, without warning… it couldn't be meaningless.

Is this some kind of dark joke?

The thought crossed her mind, almost reflexively.

Seo knew she wasn't the sharpest when it came to emotions.

She was awkward with people, slow with words, and often missed things others caught easily.

But even she could tell this wasn't a joke. Not even close.

Snow meant it.

She wanted something to happen.

She wanted to see something.

But then… why her?

If Snow only wanted to test herself, she could have done it alone.

If she wanted pain, she had countless ways.

If she wanted danger, there were stronger people, crueler people.

So why ask Seo?

Seo stared at her longer, searching for cracks in her expression, for doubt, fear—anything.

But Snow simply met her gaze, steady and unwavering.

Seo sighed inwardly.

There was no point overthinking it.

She almost turned away then.

Almost decided this wasn't her problem.

But just as she shifted her weight, she felt it.

This presence…

She had noticed it earlier, faint but undeniable.

Now that she paid attention, it was impossible to ignore.

Snow was giving off something different.

It wasn't mana.

Not pressure.

Not killing intent.

It was presence.

The kind that didn't press down on you, yet made it impossible to look away.

The kind that came from someone who had stood above others for a long time.

Someone used to being obeyed, used to making decisions that carried weight.

Snow still looked the same—beautiful, composed, gentle as ever.

The Snow everyone relied on.

But her eyes…

Her blue eyes felt distant, yet sharply aware.

As if she were here, fully present, while also standing somewhere far higher.

Like someone seated on a throne, looking down not with arrogance—but with certainty.

Seo swallowed.

For the first time, it felt like she wasn't speaking to a fellow student.

She felt like she was standing before someone who ruled.

The look demanded an answer.

It wasn't anger.

It wasn't arrogance.

It was authority.

For a brief moment, Seo felt her hand twitch toward the sheath at her waist before she snapped herself out of it and shook her head.

"I think…" she said slowly, forcing her voice to stay calm, "…you still need to rest."

That was the only conclusion her simple, straightforward mind could reach.

After everything Snow had gone through—the incident, the collapse, the strange aftereffects—this had to be some kind of lingering damage.

Maybe not physical. Maybe worse.

"Seo…" Snow said softly. "Please trust me. Everything will be alright."

Seo clenched her fists.

"I know I'm being difficult right now," Snow continued, her tone gentle but firm, "but you're the only one I can trust to do this."

Seo finally looked up, confusion clear on her face.

"Why me?"

Snow didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped closer.

"Because you're the most gentle of us all."

"…?"

Seo genuinely didn't understand how that had anything to do with being asked to kill someone.

Before she could say anything else, Snow reached out.

Her fingers brushed through Seo's hair, slow and careful, before resting against her cheek.

The warmth of her touch made Seo freeze.

Snow smiled. Not playful. Not teasing.

Just sincere.

She looked straight into Seo's eyes and let out a quiet chuckle.

"Fufu… it seems I'm really forcing my selfishness on you this time. I'm sorry."

"Then—" Seo started, hope slipping into her voice.

"But…" Snow interrupted gently, "…please. Do it for me. Okay?"

Snow stepped back, creating a small distance between them. Then she turned slightly to the side, closed her eyes, and stood still.

Waiting.

The garden was quiet. Too quiet.

Seo stood there, torn apart inside.

Every instinct she had screamed that this was wrong.

That she should grab Snow, shake her, drag her to Riley, to anyone.

Yet for some reason she felt like she had to response… a certain feeling gnawed at her deep inside telling her… everything was really going to be alright…

Slowly, Seo's hand moved to the hilt at her waist.

Her fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second before closing around the sheath.

She took a step back, her body falling into a stance that had been carved into her through countless battles—quiet, precise, without wasted motion.

Her breathing steadied.

If this was a test… then she would answer it properly.

[Hidden Blade Technique]

[First Form]

[Blue Moon]

Bzzt—

A sharp hum cut through the air.

Swiiiishh!!!!

A flash of blue erupted as Seo's sword left its sheath, moving in a perfect arc aimed straight for Snow's neck.

The strike was fast—faster than most could even perceive—but gentle in its intent.

Seo had already calculated everything.

The timing.

The distance.

The exact moment she would stop.

Her enhanced senses stretched the world thin, slowing everything around her.

In this stretched moment, she counted heartbeats, measured angles, prepared to halt her blade just before it touched skin.

Even if a shockwave followed, she would control it.

She always did.

That was when she noticed it.

Cold.

No—this wasn't just cold.

Frost.

A deep, suffocating frost surged up her blade, freezing it in place mere centimeters from Snow's neck.

The lightning-charged mana wrapped around the sword stiffened and crystallized, locking into place as if time itself had been seized.

Seo's eyes widened.

That shouldn't be possible.

Mana didn't freeze like this.

And before her mind could even process what was happening—

FWOOOOSHHH!!!

An overwhelming wave of cold exploded outward.

In an instant, Seo was frozen where she stood.

Her body locked solid.

Her breath halted in her lungs.

Her mana—silent, unmoving, completely suppressed.

She couldn't react.

She didn't even feel pain.

The cold didn't creep in—it claimed her.

Everything went still.

And Snow remained standing before her, untouched.

Not a single scratch. Not a single strand of hair disturbed.

For a brief moment, silence ruled the garden.

Snow slowly opened her eyes.

A mix of relief, sadness, and quiet certainty filled her gaze as she looked down at Seo.

Whatever doubt had lingered in her heart was now gone.

Then—

Snap.

With the light sound of her fingers snapping together, the cold vanished.

The frost creeping along the ground dissolved.

The ice that had swallowed Seo's body shattered into mist and faded into the air.

Even the biting chill that had numbed the space moments ago disappeared as if it had never existed.

Seo's knees finally gave out.

She dropped down weakly, her sword slipping from her hand as she struggled to steady her breathing.

Snow exhaled softly.

It seems my theory was correct…

She stepped closer, kneeling beside Seo without hesitation.

"I'm truly sorry, Seo," Snow said gently. "I know I was being difficult… but see? I'm alright."

Seo tried to speak. Tried to respond. But before she could, tears slid down Seo's cheeks.

Snow froze.

Seo looked up at her, eyes trembling, tears falling freely now.

"You're cruel…" she whispered.

"E-Eh… w-wait—don't cry. See? I'm fine, haha…" Snow waved her hands awkwardly, forcing a weak smile.

But it didn't work.

More tears came.

Snow's smile slowly faded.

For the first time in a very long while—despite years of imperial education, countless lessons on etiquette, control, and composure—Snow didn't know what to do.

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