For the past four days, it had been unbearable. The silence, the avoidance, the cold glances that barely met my eyes, it was unlike her. She wasn’t the type to sulk, not like this. Usually, when we argued, it ended quickly, with one of us, mostly her, breaking the silence first. But this time, she’d completely shut me out. Not just at home, but here, in Hyakkaou’s Student Council. My own lover, the Director of Housepet Management and Training, the council member entrusted with overseeing the academy’s vast hierarchy of housepets, was treating me as though I didn’t exist. It was her duty to maintain discipline among the lowest-ranking students, those who had fallen into debt and servitude, and to ensure that every command, punishment, and redemption followed the council’s decrees. She managed ledgers of debts, supervised the pets’ training, and even presided over their evaluations. Yet now, the one who enforced obedience and order with quiet precision refused to so much as acknowledge my presence.

I’d seen her composure in meetings, the way she carried out her duties flawlessly despite ignoring me. Her reports were neat, her tone professional, her eyes never meeting mine even once. It irritated me more than I’d like to admit. I could tolerate disobedience. I could tolerate rivalry. But indifference? That was something I couldn’t stand, especially from her. Especially from someone who knew how easily she could get under my skin.

Today, after another silent meeting, I decided I’d had enough. I wasn’t going to let her keep acting as if nothing was wrong. My patience, something I prided myself on, had finally cracked. I found myself walking toward the private lounge room reserved for her, a quiet, secluded place inside the academy where she usually went after meetings to avoid everyone. The sound of my heels echoed softly down the hallway as I reached the door, exhaling once before turning the handle.

The moment I entered, the faint scent of tea and paper met me. She was there, sitting on the couch, her gaze lowered toward the papers in her hand as if she didn’t even notice me. Around her were the academy’s trained service pets, girls assigned to assist high-ranking council members. “Out,” I said calmly, not raising my voice. The girls bowed and quickly left, closing the door behind them, leaving just the two of us in the quiet room.

I stood for a moment, just watching her. The way she turned a page of her book without acknowledging me almost made me laugh. Almost. “Four days,” I said softly, walking closer, my heels clicking against the floor. “Four whole days, and you still think I’ll just sit there and wait for you to talk first?” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “You ignore me at meetings, you leave my messages unanswered, and yet you act like nothing’s wrong in front of the others.” I paused. “Tell me, is this some kind of punishment I’m supposed to understand on my own?”

Of course. Her silence pressed against me like a wall. I sighed and crossed my arms, forcing a faint smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You know, I don’t mind a little tension now and then,” I murmured. “But this? This cold shoulder routine? It’s beneath you.” My voice softened for a brief moment, just enough for the irritation to sound like concern. “If I did something, say it. If I crossed a line, tell me. But don’t keep pretending I don’t exist. You and I both know how much I hate being ignored.”