From Silent Princess to S-Rank Luna Chapter 02

From Silent Princess to S-Rank Luna Chapter 02

Three days later, the door swung open.

Nessa’s laughter floated in first.

“Northreach is so beautiful. There’s a whole moonpetal greenhouse behind the academy. After school starts, I can grow silverleaf there.”

Mom and Dad laughed along. “Our Nessa is perfect for the botany track. So gentle. So patient.”

Cillian lugged several large boxes into the living room. “Maren, come help.”

No explanation. No questions. No celebration.

Like that day had never mattered.

I closed the book in my hands and carried their boxes inside.

Nessa had brought back a ton of stuff—academy souvenir jackets, limited-edition silver wolf figurines, new clothes Mom and Dad had bought her in Northreach.

I made four trips.

The last box barely hit the floor when my mother held out her hand.

“The scholarship money?”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb.” She frowned. “Didn’t Cillian tell you to transfer it? Nessa’s apartment is already booked. The deposit’s due today.”

“I’m not giving it.”

The living room went quiet for a beat.

“Maren, you’re the older sister,” my father said sternly. “You have more ability—you should be helping out the family. Nessa needs this more than you do.”

“Dad, forget it.” Nessa’s eyes reddened as she cut in. “If Maren doesn’t want to, I won’t take it. I can live in the dorms. But Maren…”

“Your room gets such good light. Botany students have to grow moonpetals later. My room’s too dark—I probably couldn’t keep them alive…”

“Then switch.” My mother said it instantly, like she was deciding to move a chair.

Then she turned to me. “Maren, you’re leaving for Northreach soon anyway. No point letting the room sit empty. Let your sister use it as her grow room, alright?”

I looked at Nessa and caught the flicker of triumph in her eyes.

Honestly? I didn’t feel a thing. The moment I decided on Solmere Moonshore Academy of Territorial Architecture, I’d never planned on coming back.

“Fine.” My voice was flat.

My books, my blueprints, my models—all moved to the storage closet.

My bed went into the storage room—no windows, no light, no desk.

Cillian carried a silver incubator into my room.

The box was too wide. It scraped against my drafting table and knocked over the refuge center model I’d left there.

No!

I lunged for it—

But I was too late.

The model shattered at my feet.

I looked up, glaring at Cillian.

But he only checked the incubator to make sure Nessa’s things were fine. Then he finally spoke.

“It’s just a model. You already got your S-rank. Make another one.”

A model?

This was something I’d revised over twenty times!

I’d walked every street in Stonehaven Pack, logged every detail, calculated the running speeds of wolves at every rank—all to build that perfect refuge center.

It had earned me both of my S-ranks.

It was my work. My proof.

“I’m so sorry, Maren.” Nessa came over and crouched beside me. “It’s all my fault—my incubator was too big. Maybe I should give the room back to you after all…”

“It’s not your fault. Maren shouldn’t have left her model there.” My mother frowned at me. “You’re not going to blame her for something this small, are you?”

They’d all seen how much effort I’d poured into that model.

But for Nessa’s sake, everything I had was disposable.

I didn’t say anything. I just picked up the pieces, one by one, and put them in a cardboard box.

[Maren, don’t be sad. We’re leaving soon, aren’t we?] Iris’s voice came from my chest.

Yeah. I’d take this as a sign to go.

Just then, Cillian pulled out an elegant silver gift box from his luggage.

It had the logo of the latest tablet on it.

I paused.

Cillian had promised me—if I got into Northreach—he’d buy me a new tablet as a graduation gift.

So this… was it for me?

A tiny sliver of hope flickered in my chest.

What if—just what if—he still remembered? What if he wanted to make it up to me?

I watched him walk—step by step—and stop right in front of Nessa.

“Nessa, the latest model. Graduation gift from your big brother.”

Nessa squealed and threw her arms around Cillian’s neck.

“Thank you, Cillian! You’re the best!”

Cillian ruffled her hair, then glanced at me like he’d just remembered I was there.

“Maren, your old tablet still works. I’m giving this one to Nessa first.”

“You’ve got the talent. A slightly worse device won’t hold you back.”

The last thread of hope snapped.

I gave a small, indifferent nod.

“Okay. Got it.”

Cillian blinked. Like he’d braced for claws and fangs—only to find I hadn’t even lifted a finger.

I picked up the cardboard box and turned toward the bedroom.

As the door clicked shut, I heard Cillian’s cold laugh from outside.

“About time she got it.”

I leaned against the door, looking at the packed suitcase I’d already prepared.

Inside: a few old clothes and the cracked-screen tablet I’d been using.

It didn’t matter.

Solmere had good sunlight. I didn’t need this fake warmth.