Bab 180: Cute? (2)

Valeria's mind stuttered for a moment. She had never—ever—been called "cute." In her world, she was a knight, a warrior, the heir to a noble house, and every interaction she had was framed by those expectations. She had always been judged by her skill, by her abilities as an Awakened, by her dedication to her family's legacy.

But "cute"? That was new. That was… unfamiliar.

For a split second, she didn't know how to react. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, a strange, unfamiliar feeling creeping into her chest. Her face grew hot, though she quickly suppressed it, clenching her jaw to maintain her composure.

"W-what?" Valeria managed to stammer, the word slipping out before she could stop it. Her heart thudded in her chest, and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly off-balance.