* Adrian's pov:*
As I watched her smile so radiant and carefree with another man, a surge of possessiveness washed over me. I felt an overwhelming urge to stride over and pull her away, but Federick's words echoed in my mind, making me hesitate. I turned and walked away, pretending I hadn't seen her, but deep down, I knew I couldn't shake off the feeling - I didn't want her smiling with anyone else asides me..
Stella's pov:
As I chatted with Shawn, he asked me what had happened earlier, but I brushed it off, relieved he didn't press the issue. Walking back to the hall for the announcement, a shiver ran down my spine. I looked up to meet Master Adrian's intense gaze. Memories of our encounter in the private parking lot flooded my mind. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of remorse in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with a cold, detached stare. I felt a surge of anger; did he think he could treat me like that and then act indifferent?
Shawn noticed the change in my expression and asked if I was okay. I forced a smile and nodded. He patted my head reassuringly, saying, "I'll protect you." His words made me feel safe and protected.
The beep of our phones brought us back to reality. I was thrilled to discover I'd made it to the next round. With renewed excitement, Shawn and I headed back into the hall. Only twenty contestants remained, and we'd be broadcast live. The one-hour break after the competition had been cancelled, which somehow didn't surprise me – Master Adrian's doing, no doubt.
As I scanned the room, I realized I hadn't seen Gration anywhere, not even in the last competition. Some people just weren't cut out for this. My eyes continued to search for Master Adrian, but he was nowhere to be found. He probably didn't want to be seen on camera.
The next challenge was to design an ethereal necklace that embodied the qualities of a brave, calm, and prudent queen. The question seemed simple, but it was actually quite complex. Some contestants rushed to start, but I took my time, rethinking the question carefully.
A prudent queen would wear something sharp, a calm queen would prefer something simple, and a brave queen would choose something light yet striking. Designing a necklace was one of the most intricate tasks in design. I picked up my brushes and recalled a design my mom had taught me, which I thought fit the requirements perfectly.
I lost track of time, completely absorbed in my design. I finished five minutes before the deadline, and as I looked up, I caught Master Adrian staring at me intently. Our eyes met, and I felt my emotions stir. The bell rang, signaling the end of the competition, and I was jolted back to reality, I immediately gazed away and face my design cross-check with my eyes and submitted, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of being looked intently by Master Adrian..