"I just wanted to return the book you lent me yesterday. Thank you, it was really interesting." Lilian placed the book on his desk and sat in the seat next to him.Across the room, Valerie watched the scene with a cold gaze. She bit her bottom lip, trying to distract herself by writing in her notebook, but her fingers paused halfway."Why is she always around him?" Valerie muttered quietly to herself.Valerie had long harbored feelings for Arkanza. Though she never expressed it directly, she always made sure to be by his side, both as a friend and a support in various things. But since Lilian had come into the picture, Arkanza's attention had become divided, and that made Valerie feel sidelined.Every time she saw Lilian talking to Arkanza, Valerie felt a tightness in her chest. She tried to ignore those feelings, convincing herself that Lilian had no ill intentions. But the more she saw their closeness, the harder it was to suppress her jealousy."Valerie, are you okay?" one of her f