The adorable Villainess is mine - Chapter 14- The trip

The students gathered at the school’s front grounds, lined in loose groups, their training gear snug against their frames and weapons slung at their sides.

Each carried a supply bag for the day’s exercise—an outing to the eastern forest meant to drill self-reliance and survival skills.

Thirty students in all.

Carter stood apart from the chatter, hands in his pockets, scanning the crowd as he waited for Grace.

He already had a plan for this arc.

He knew what was coming in the forest—and he intended to stay close to her, no matter how capable she was on her own.

As long as she was safe, everything else would be fine.

“Hey.”

The voice tugged him out of his thoughts. He glanced sideways at the familiar face and gave Lia a curt nod.

Lia found him harder to talk to lately, but she pressed on before the silence grew awkward.
“Bruce’s recovered. He… wants to see you.”

Bruce wouldn’t be joining today’s outing—he still needed rest. But the moment he regained consciousness, he’d asked for Carter.

Carter exhaled. “Well, I don’t want to fight him again—”

“No.” Lia cut in quickly. “I don’t think he wants another duel. You know him—he respects strength, and he doesn’t shy away from apologizing when he’s in the wrong.”

Carter made a thoughtful hum. “Alright. I’ll meet him after we’re back.”

She studied him, as if trying to read more than his words. This trip mattered to her… for reasons she couldn’t voice.

Her gaze flicked toward Beth—just as she thought, he was already watching.
‘This is going to be difficult…& she murmured to herself.

She turned back, ready to speak again—only to see Carter already moving.

Students’ attention shifted as he crossed the space to a certain redhead, deftly taking the bags from her shoulders.

Grace blinked, startled. His sudden presence and the warm, dazzling smile made her forget to breathe.

“The outfit suits you,” he said, his voice low but sincere. “And so does that hairstyle. You look gorgeous, Grace.”

She has worn the dress quite many times in the past…but still, somehow hearing those words from him made her heart flutter. As if she was actually looking better than the others.

“Thank you…”

Carter shook the bags slightly before asking, “What’s in there?”

Grace’s cheeks warmed. “I—uh… might’ve made a bit too much food…” She glanced around, noticing that everyone else carried just one bag, while she had two stuffed to the brim.

Carter didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. “I’ll finish it all,” he said casually.

That only made Grace suddenly second-guess herself. Did I put in the right spices…?

“Alright, students. Gather around.”

The loud, firm voice drew everyone’s attention to a green-haired man with a monocle fixed over his right eye.

Carter recognized him immediately—the second-year instructor, Abel.

“As you’ve already been told,” Abel began, his voice calm but carrying easily, “we’ll be heading out on a two-day field trip. My hope is that during this time, you’ll learn something worthwhile out in the wild… and when you return, you’ll find someone different—a better person—staring back at you in the mirror.”

He adjusted his monocle slightly before continuing. “There are no rules… aside from keeping yourself alive. If you get lost, head west. If you’re in danger, use the flare. And if you’re craving adventure, take off your academy insignia before risking your life. Am I clear?”

He said it all with a faint smile—yet there was nothing soft about the blunt, almost ruthless tone.

No one dared to ask questions.

Abel gave a single approving nod. “Good. Then, shall we begin our trek?”
….

The academy sat deep in a sprawling valley, far from the nearest town—two days’ travel at best.

It hadn’t always been a place of learning. Long ago, it served as a military camp during the great war against the other side. When peace came, the commander who had played a key role in the conflict converted it into an academy… and named it after himself.

Eden’s Brilliance.

In Carter’s opinion, the name reeked of self-importance.

Their trek began on the eastern side of the academy grounds. The hill they were climbing wasn’t particularly tall, but without a defined trail, the ascent promised to be slow and tiring.

Ropes had been strung from the top to help anyone struggling along the way.

The slope itself wasn’t steep, but keeping a steady foothold was a challenge—both because of the uneven, rocky ground and the slick moisture clinging to the earth.

“Are you…fine?” Grace suddenly asked, in a hesitant voice.

She was aware that he didn’t like humidity and his skin was very sensitive to sweating.

She was hesitant since in the past, whenever she tried to take care of him…or asked anything concerning his health, she heard the very same thing.

‘I don’t need your pity.’

Was it because he recently showed a kind side to her that she gathered the courage?

And his smiling response said that she didn’t make a mistake.

“I am fine. Thank you for asking.” Carter assured her as he comfortably climbed the hill.

He would be lying to say he has experience in trekking. But his stamina was good and there was no burden of the bags since he was lifting them using telekinesis.

That was the reason why Grace didn’t feel much guilt handing one of her bags to him.

What neither of them noticed was Lia and Beth’s gaze on Carter.

For someone who could barely use telekinesis to move small things, and struggled in this kind of an atmosphere…was completely fine trekking with those extra weights on him?

Lia bit her lip …is Beth really right about Carter?

*****

A/N:- I made a mistake starting this story considering it is going to be long…well, I hope readers won’t abandon it.