The Elite Class 1-A classroom was arranged with long rows of wooden tables and chairs, separated by a short flight of wide stairs.
Following the System’s advice, l and Lila settled into the front row where fewer students gathered with fewer questions about their relationships. Or so the System claid.
l shifted comfortably in her seat, fully aware that her Partner’s "suggestions" always ca with hidden intentions.
As the minutes went by, l counted eleven students filling the classroom, so greeting them kindly, while others dodged her gaze like scaredy cats.
Eventually, her eyes brightened when the two familiar twins entering.
"..."
"..."
As Seraphine puffed out a ’hmph’ and walked up the stairs, l stopped her with an outstretched hand.
"What?"
l smiled as the sister raised an annoyed brow. "The ring. You forgot to return it to !"
Seraphine blinked in confusion, then sighed and reached into her pocket.
But l pulled her hand back. "Actually, never mind. Let’s return it when you’re feeling better!"
"You... ugh..."
Seraphine rolled her eyes but turned away, heading up the staircase. l chuckled to herself. Seraphine’s voice barely hinted at malice, making her feel it was all the more amusing.
l waited a mont longer. No System notification for Lila’s jealousy? That is rare.
She glanced beside her. Lila was still seated, gazing dazedly at the blackboard as if lost in a daydream.
The Witch of Lust humd as she rested her cheek against her palm, elbow propped on the desk as she admired her daydreaming Lila. A Favorability score of 103 wasn’t just for show, after all.
More ti passed, yet neither Calina nor Rosana appeared. Just as the bell rang, l’s eyes widened at the sight of an unexpected figure.
Samantha stepped into the classroom, this ti dressed in a proper blazer and suit, her posture poised yet relaxed.
Her sharp eyes scanned the room briefly, pausing on the amused l and the dazed Lila, before she approached the podium.
She settled her docunts at the desk before resting her hands on the edge. "Listen up. Due to an unexpected leaked audio incident, I’ll be your horoom teacher instead of Colin, the original Teacher Head."
Though her voice retained its usual lazy drawl, the discipline and sternness instilled by her military training shone through.
l leaned back, her golden eye flickering to the System Panel.
[ Wow. How convenient for your Seduction Plan! ]
l’s lips curled up before facing Samantha again, the teacher’s gaze remaining sharp and steady.
"As a teacher, I have my expectations. The Academy has its own rules and standards that everyone must follow."
She held up the docunts like a trophy. "These are the written rules from the Academy. Specifically for you, the Elite Class."
Her eyes swept over l and Lila, squinting.
Then, Crunch! l shuddered as the docunts in Samantha’s hand suddenly twisted themselves.
"Yet for you, the students, our expectations should always co second."
The papers vanished ’into’ Samantha’s palm, as if swallowed by a miniature black hole.
The Ho Teacher’s gaze returned to the stunned students. "I’d rather offer advice than orders. You’re all nearing adulthood, and another adult’s warning would likely be more annoyance than sincere guidance."
As if concluding her statent, she plopped into her seat and crossed her arms.
"So here’s my advice: As the Elites of this year, show your true capabilities. Prove why you deserve to be at the very top. Live proudly. And don’t shrink away into a dull, aningless life."
She closed her eyes, breathing out. "That’s all. Now behave like proper Elites as well, you brats."
l caught the muffled sounds of gentle snoring, before chuckling to herself.
Seems soone had a bit too much to drink last night, again.
She glanced at the exhausted, asleep Samantha, carrying a standard that she herself was unwilling to follow.
Yet, even with the teacher’s lax supervision, no one in the classroom voiced a single complaint.
For the first ti, they all recognized the pressure. Not from others, but from themselves, for what they were ant to accomplish.
A tinge of admiration swelled in l’s chest. Samantha’s little "advice" had been more effective than even she had expected.
Well, it worked on everyone, except one.
She sighed, glancing back at Lila, whose lips, for so reason, curved into a strange smile.
[ Envy seed to imagine you splashing water playfully on her face. Rember it, Host! ]
[ Envy favourability: 103 -> 107 ]
l’s brows twitched. For the first ti, Lila’s favourability rose on its own.
Just as she was about to rouse Lila from her daydream, a ’click’ shattered the quietness in the classroom.
Samantha’s eyes fluttered open, locking onto the daring student standing by the classroom door.
She frowned. "You’re late."
From her vision stood Rosana, still clad in her crimson dress, standing out like a sore thumb among the others in uniform.
The Heiress flashed a slight grin before bowing gracefully, lifting her skirt in a refined gesture. "I apologize. I was too imrsed in my fixed routine."
Samantha waved it off. "Choose a seat. Don’t bother the others, as always."
As promised, the teacher didn’t scold Rosana. Instead, she dozed off again, partly out of exhaustion, partly irresponsibility, and partly respect for a student’s independency.
Rosana let out an amused hum before glancing over at the students.
Oh, here we go...
l sighed as Rosana stepped toward the seats. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure if Rosana would play hard to get. It was also a possible strategy of seduction, after all.
The Witch of Greed, true to her title, preferred hunting down treasures rather than waiting for them to co to her.
So when Rosana naturally slid into the seat beside her, l couldn’t say she was surprised, but only intrigued by her daring approach.
"Miss much?"
At Greed’s possessive tone, l could only chortle.
She shook her head, settling into a relaxed smile. "I don’t recall ever greeting you properly before."
"Really? Because I distinctly recall soone openly provoking from earlier."
Her elbow propped on the desk like l’s, she rested her cheek on her palm and t l’s gaze.
Those golden eyes looked divine. Perhaps, even more captivating than her own.
The Witch of Greed held back the wild surge stirring in her chest as she spoke. "Rosana Winterscourge."
l blinked confusedly before chuckling. "l Sakura. Should I flatter you for your speech earlier, milady?"
"Oh. So formal now, aren’t we?" Rosana’s eyes slanted in amusent. "Keeping your distance after I deliberately close it... What a bad manner you have."
l touched her lips, as if holding back a gasp. "I never knew you cared for such things, milady."
"They’re practiced traditions. But pay them no mind." Rosana’s eyes curved with amusent. "What interests more is how, during our battle, you seed a bit too... familiar with my bad habits, per se."
l’s thoughts raced. Rosana was always stubborn in how she cherished her defeats as much as her victories, especially the hard-earned ones like her loss in the Third Exam.
She resisted the urge to tease and replied, "I know all your best and worst, Miss Rosana."
Rosana raised a brow. The first ti her na was directly called.
[ Greed was drawn in by your blatant flirt, Host! Keep it up! (And don’t look behind your shoulder) ]
[ Greed Favourability: 12 -> 20 ]
"Hm..." She leaned in, clearly pleased. "I see. How rebellious of you to study without my permission."
l bit her lip, the rose-scented breath brushing against her face. "Of course. Your reputation reaches far and wide. Too wide even, Miss Rosana."
The Heiress pulled back. "re hearsay and complints belonged to those with too much ti on their hands. Feel free to ignore them."
She reminisced about the North. All people were too caught up in politics and gossip until she crushed them with sheer effort.
How utterly boring. She couldn’t understand what her Mother found so aningful in their territory.
Seeing through Rosana’s thoughts, l tried to reel her back in before she felt a tug on her sleeve.
"What’re you doing, l?"
She froze as a cold voice, laced with bloodlust, echoed.
Against the System’s warning, the Witch of Lust gulped and glanced behind her—
Only to et two erald eyes so shadowed she barely recognized them as Lila’s. The grip on her sleeve tightened, more like a strangling hold than a gentle tug.
Lila smiled innocently, yet the eerie calmness in her expression felt twisted, as if tainted by an obsession l had never seen before.
l’s thoughts spun. It was only natural that her lover would feel betrayed, especially after they acted so lovingly in the corridor.
[ Envy felt she should drown you tonight, along with herself! ]
[ Envy favourability: 107 -> 53 ]
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