Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen - Chapter 23: Chapter 23
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"Aurelia!" Luigi's voice shattered the mountain silence as he dove after her.
Aurelia's body slammed into a massive pine tree, the impact hitting her torso like a freight train. She bit down hard enough to taste blood, refusing to make a sound.
She hauled herself upright just as Luigi crashed through the underbrush to reach her.
"Jesus Christ, are you hurt?" His hands shook as he aimed his flashlight at her, panic written all over his face.
Aurelia brushed pine needles and dirt off her jacket, her movements deliberately casual. "I'm fine. Let's get the wood and head back."
She pushed past him and resumed searching for dry branches, her body screaming in protest with every movement.
This was nothing new. She'd taken worse hits during training exercises. Making rookie mistakes like losing her footing was unacceptable.
Luigi stood frozen, staring at his empty hands while something twisted painfully in his chest.
It took him several long moments to shake off the shock and follow her, but after that he stayed hyperalert, scanning every shadow for threats.
When they returned to camp, everyone else had the tents up and supplies organized.
Isaac took one look at Aurelia and immediately knew something was wrong. He rushed over and took the firewood from her arms without asking.
"What the hell happened out there?" His voice was razor-sharp with concern.
"Nothing serious." Aurelia tried to downplay it, hating being the center of attention.
Luigi couldn't stay quiet: "We got ambushed by rattlesnakes. Aurelia saved my ass, but she fell down a steep slope in the process."
Isaac's face went white as the other students gathered around with worried expressions.
The concern in everyone's eyes made Aurelia's chest tighten unexpectedly. "Really, I'm okay. Just get that fire started—we're all going to freeze if we don't warm up soon."
Isaac immediately barked orders at the others to handle dinner prep while he grabbed the medical kit.
"You've got injuries around your ribs. Let me check for internal damage."
Aurelia stepped back instinctively. "I can handle my own medical care. It's just some bruising."
She'd patched herself up countless times during training. No need for everyone to make a federal case out of it.
Isaac wanted to push, but with everyone watching and Aurelia clearly uncomfortable, he backed off. "Fine. But tomorrow you're staying in camp to recover. I'll lead the specimen collection."
"Absolutely not." Aurelia's response was immediate and firm. "I spotted some promising compounds on our way up here. I'm leading this expedition."
She was their TA—sitting around like some delicate flower wasn't an option.
The next day, both of them led the team through the mountainous terrain, though what Aurelia had spotted turned out to be the wrong chemical compounds entirely.
For the next two weeks, they trekked through the Huachuca Mountains searching for the specific compounds needed for their hepatitis research.
Isaac became Aurelia's shadow—calling rest breaks when she looked tired, handing her water before she asked, having energy bars ready when her blood sugar dropped.
The other students started ribbing them mercilessly: "Dude, Isaac, are you here to supervise research or to court our TA? You're basically her personal assistant at this point."
Isaac just shrugged and kept his eyes on Aurelia, which made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Luigi was dying inside watching Isaac's constant devotion, knowing he was powerless to compete with such obvious care and affection.
Every gentle gesture felt like another nail in the coffin of any chance he might have had.
Finally, his jealousy boiled over and he cornered Aurelia during a water break.
"Aurelia, you need to be careful with Isaac. I don't think his intentions are as pure as they seem."
What he really wanted to say was that Isaac was too smooth, too perfect, and that guys like that always had ulterior motives.
Aurelia didn't even slow down as she walked past him. "My relationships are none of your fucking business."
Luigi grabbed her wrist, desperation making his voice crack. "I'm trying to look out for you! Just listen to me for once!"
"Look out for me?" Aurelia's laugh was bitter. "Or are you just pissed that someone else actually treats me well?"
Luigi's face flushed red with shame and anger. "That's not... I'm not..."
He was struggling to find words when Aurelia's satellite phone suddenly rang, cutting through the mountain air.
"Aurelia, there's been a family emergency!"
Aurelia's body slammed into a massive pine tree, the impact hitting her torso like a freight train. She bit down hard enough to taste blood, refusing to make a sound.
She hauled herself upright just as Luigi crashed through the underbrush to reach her.
"Jesus Christ, are you hurt?" His hands shook as he aimed his flashlight at her, panic written all over his face.
Aurelia brushed pine needles and dirt off her jacket, her movements deliberately casual. "I'm fine. Let's get the wood and head back."
She pushed past him and resumed searching for dry branches, her body screaming in protest with every movement.
This was nothing new. She'd taken worse hits during training exercises. Making rookie mistakes like losing her footing was unacceptable.
Luigi stood frozen, staring at his empty hands while something twisted painfully in his chest.
It took him several long moments to shake off the shock and follow her, but after that he stayed hyperalert, scanning every shadow for threats.
When they returned to camp, everyone else had the tents up and supplies organized.
Isaac took one look at Aurelia and immediately knew something was wrong. He rushed over and took the firewood from her arms without asking.
"What the hell happened out there?" His voice was razor-sharp with concern.
"Nothing serious." Aurelia tried to downplay it, hating being the center of attention.
Luigi couldn't stay quiet: "We got ambushed by rattlesnakes. Aurelia saved my ass, but she fell down a steep slope in the process."
Isaac's face went white as the other students gathered around with worried expressions.
The concern in everyone's eyes made Aurelia's chest tighten unexpectedly. "Really, I'm okay. Just get that fire started—we're all going to freeze if we don't warm up soon."
Isaac immediately barked orders at the others to handle dinner prep while he grabbed the medical kit.
"You've got injuries around your ribs. Let me check for internal damage."
Aurelia stepped back instinctively. "I can handle my own medical care. It's just some bruising."
She'd patched herself up countless times during training. No need for everyone to make a federal case out of it.
Isaac wanted to push, but with everyone watching and Aurelia clearly uncomfortable, he backed off. "Fine. But tomorrow you're staying in camp to recover. I'll lead the specimen collection."
"Absolutely not." Aurelia's response was immediate and firm. "I spotted some promising compounds on our way up here. I'm leading this expedition."
She was their TA—sitting around like some delicate flower wasn't an option.
The next day, both of them led the team through the mountainous terrain, though what Aurelia had spotted turned out to be the wrong chemical compounds entirely.
For the next two weeks, they trekked through the Huachuca Mountains searching for the specific compounds needed for their hepatitis research.
Isaac became Aurelia's shadow—calling rest breaks when she looked tired, handing her water before she asked, having energy bars ready when her blood sugar dropped.
The other students started ribbing them mercilessly: "Dude, Isaac, are you here to supervise research or to court our TA? You're basically her personal assistant at this point."
Isaac just shrugged and kept his eyes on Aurelia, which made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Luigi was dying inside watching Isaac's constant devotion, knowing he was powerless to compete with such obvious care and affection.
Every gentle gesture felt like another nail in the coffin of any chance he might have had.
Finally, his jealousy boiled over and he cornered Aurelia during a water break.
"Aurelia, you need to be careful with Isaac. I don't think his intentions are as pure as they seem."
What he really wanted to say was that Isaac was too smooth, too perfect, and that guys like that always had ulterior motives.
Aurelia didn't even slow down as she walked past him. "My relationships are none of your fucking business."
Luigi grabbed her wrist, desperation making his voice crack. "I'm trying to look out for you! Just listen to me for once!"
"Look out for me?" Aurelia's laugh was bitter. "Or are you just pissed that someone else actually treats me well?"
Luigi's face flushed red with shame and anger. "That's not... I'm not..."
He was struggling to find words when Aurelia's satellite phone suddenly rang, cutting through the mountain air.
"Aurelia, there's been a family emergency!"
End of Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen Chapter 23. Continue reading Chapter 24 or return to Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen book page.