From Silent Princess to S-Rank Luna Chapter 07

From Silent Princess to S-Rank Luna Chapter 07

My heart jumped. After confirming they weren’t there to cause trouble, I let out a breath.

It was a public event. I had no right to kick them out.

The lights dimmed.

I stepped onto the stage and opened my first slide.

“Solmere sits right on the coast. During the full moon, the high tide and wolf-scent fluctuations happen at the same time.”

“Ordinary human evacuation routes don’t work for werewolves.”

Three color-coded corridors appeared on the screen.

“Adult wolves with reliable shifting take the sea-wall route.

“Juveniles who can’t fully shift use the underground safety passage.”

“Injured wolves evacuate through the botanical filter zone.”

I didn’t pause. Confident. Smooth.

This proposal had gone through seventeen revisions.

Before the presentation, I’d been sleeping only four hours a night for two weeks straight.

When my old wrist injury flared up, I wrapped it in a brace and kept drawing.

This was my first chance to prove myself. I had to nail it.

An hour later, the Tidecross Pack representative announced on the spot-the proposal was approved.

Applause filled the hall.

Rafe was the first one to stand and give me a big hug.

“Great job.”

After the presentation, the academy arranged a brief interview.

A reporter stepped up with a microphone.

“Maren, we heard you were the only S-ranked incoming territorial architecture student this year, and now you’ve just led a major Tidecross project independently.”

“Some people say you’re naturally gifted-that success comes easier for you than for other students. How would you respond?”

“Easier?”

I looked straight into the camera.

“My first design assignment got a D.”

“My second one was completely scrapped because I didn’t account for a werewolf’s shifted body

size.”

“After that, I walked through the entire city on a full moon night, tracking the movement speeds of wolves at every rank. I got injured by a rampaging adult wolf-my right hand was injured.”

“When my model broke, I rebuilt it. When money was tight, I ate less so I could afford materials and

field research.”

“I’m not someone who never gets tired or never hurts. I just figured out very early that crying

doesn’t help.”

The reporter’s voice softened. “Didn’t anyone help you?”

I shook my head.

“When I was little, I used to wish someone would notice me too.”

“But there was always another kid in the family who needed more attention. She cried. She got

scared. She said she couldn’t do things.”

“And the most I ever got was-‘You’re strong. You can handle it yourself.””

I smiled a little.

“It’s like-only kids who cry get candy.”

“But that’s okay. Once you grow up, you can buy your own candy.”

When the interview ended, I packed up my blueprints and headed back to the studio.

“Maren.”

My mother called from the end of the hallway. My father and Cillian stood behind her.

“We’re leaving Solmere right away. But before we go-we wanted to say one last thing.”

“We’re sorry. We’re the ones who turned you into a kid who was afraid to cry.”

“Take care of yourself. And if you ever have the time–come see us.”

Then, without waiting for me to answer, they turned and walked away.

Cillian looked back at me once. He didn’t say anything.

I carried my blueprints back to the studio.

On my desk was a bag of seasalt caramels from Rafe.

[Congrats on the project approval. Today’s candy’s on me.]

I unwrapped one and put it in my mouth.

So sweet.

Iris gave a gentle wag of her tail in my chest.

From now on, I had people who’d buy me candy too.