“Shh shh shh—”
The bespectacled girl, realizing she had become the center of attention in the classroom, quickly lowered her body and hid her face behind the upright textbook.
But then, she furrowed her brows with a distinctly displeased expression and bared her teeth at Sylvie, launching into a scowl-filled complaint.
“That was something I spent a ton of effort on, getting that rare, top-quality item smuggled all the way from the capital through the black market! Even I usually don’t dare to finish reading it… and you, you actually lost it in just two days!”
“Uh… so I’m really sorry… I don’t know what happened… anyway, how about I compensate you? I still have some allowance left this month…”
“Compensate? You say that way too lightly!”
The girl’s face remained full of indignation.
“That book is a limited-edition Big Collection issued by Miss Abaddon 666—the undisputed leader of the Yuri Manga Four Heavenly Kings! The content from that big shot’s new work is insanely good and exciting!
“Whether it’s the first story at the beginning about the fugitive female demon queen and the noble dragon princess’s heartbreaking love, or the third to last story about the rebellious daughter bullying her weak mother, basically all of them are masterpieces among masterpieces!…”
Sylvie listened to her endless complaints, feeling guilty since it was her fault, so she could only hang her head sheepishly.
“Don’t be mad… Oh, wait, how about this—I’m going to the capital this afternoon, so I’ll bring you another copy, how’s that—”
Suddenly recalling something, Sylvie volunteered, patting her chest—though her undeveloped little frame only had a small, bun-like bump.
“Eh… what?”
The bespectacled girl looked as if she hadn’t caught the last words and froze blankly.
“You said… you’re going to the capital? Really?”
“Of course it’s true. When have I ever lied to you—”
Seeing the surprised look beneath her classmate’s glasses, Sylvie grew a little smug.
“My mom is moving with me to live in the capital. She’s currently sorting out my files with the professor.”
Sylvie explained honestly.
“Your mom? Could it be… that ‘Miss Fu’ you always talk about?”
The bespectacled girl eyed Sylvie suspiciously, scrutinizing her proud expression.
“…What, do you have something against that?”
Sylvie shot back with righteous indignation.
She often boasted about Floriane to her classmates, usually in great, bragging detail.
“How should I put it… this is the first time I’ve heard of someone calling their mom ‘teacher.’ That’s just so weird—”
Her desk mate pushed up her glasses, a detective-like glint flashing on the lenses.
“There’s only one truth—!
“If you really call her that at home… then I’m afraid I have to suspect… you’re not her biological child, huh?”
Though phrased as a question, her tone was quite certain.
“Maybe you just imagine her as your mom, but in reality, she only sees you as some adopted little servant—
“After all, didn’t you say you handle all the cooking and house chores by yourself?”
“What?! Impossible! You’re… you’re talking nonsense!”
Sylvie’s expression instantly turned anxious.
“I’m definitely her child… because I’ve lived with her since I was little, it’s not like you said… I do chores completely out of my own will!”
She bit her lip, her face flushed with anger, then suddenly seemed to recall something, folding her arms and tossing her head proudly.
“Hmph… I get it, you’re just jealous that I have such a great mom. I’m not going to listen to your wild guesses—!”
“Sigh, here we go again with the mama’s girl act.”
The bespectacled girl shrugged as if she was used to it.
“If your mom’s really as amazing as you say, then maybe she’s the one who confiscated my book?”
“Impossible!”
Sylvie hurriedly refuted.
“Is it? Just be careful not to let your mom find out. That book’s pretty spicy, plus it has mother-daughter themes. If your mom sees it, I bet…”
The bespectacled girl didn’t continue but showed a sympathetic look, making a dramatic choking and tongue-sticking-out gesture.
“Hmph… What are you talking about! My mom’s very gentle; she wouldn’t treat me like that—”
Hearing the stubborn denial, the bespectacled girl looked at Sylvie pitifully, tilting her head as if thinking, then added:
“Hmm, but maybe not. Generally speaking, moms are middle-aged women, right? That’s the age when they’re like wolves and tigers—maybe she’d even hide the book herself and secretly read it.”
“W-what wolves and tigers… I don’t get what you’re saying…”
“It’s okay, you’ll understand when you grow up—Speaking of which, you mentioned your mom’s health is poor, and she’s paralyzed from the waist down, hardly goes out for exercise, and the family can’t afford skincare products…”
The girl pushed her glasses again, her face revealing a scornful expression that made Sylvie uncomfortable.
“Lonely old ladies with physical disabilities like that definitely don’t get a second spring, right? Anyway, I personally would never be interested in such an old auntie—”
Boasting smugly with words that sounded irritating, the classmate shrank back, pretending to read again.
But Sylvie knew her too well; the reason she said all that was really just to show off her preference for pretty young sisters.
Sylvie didn’t bother to argue and took out the textbook for their first class’s spellcasting course, along with the workbook [Three-Year Magic Exam, Five-Year Simulation].
Then she obediently sat upright, resting her head on her book, lost in thought.
Although leaving this backward little town and entering the Knight Academy in the capital was a long-cherished dream, when the day finally came, she actually felt a bit reluctant to leave.
But before she could dwell on this feeling for long, just a few minutes later, the noise and reading in the classroom suddenly quieted down.
Hmm, could the professor have arrived this early today?
Sylvie was staring absentmindedly at the back of the desk in front of her when her classmate excitedly shook her shoulder, snapping her back to awareness.
“Xiaowei, Xiaowei, look! There’s a graceful and refined beauty at the classroom door!”
“Ah…”
Sylvie blinked in surprise—indeed, her desk mate was a scholarly type, her choice of words always elegant and refined.
If it were her, she’d probably only think to say something like “a very pretty older sister.”
As her mind wandered, Sylvie turned to look toward the classroom door, her eyes widening subtly.
The “graceful beauty” her classmate mentioned was none other than the crutch-supported Miss Fu.
Hadn’t she just said she was going to take care of some paperwork?
Why was she back in the classroom?
Floriane leaned against the doorframe, eyes half-closed as she glanced around the classroom.
After spotting Sylvie’s seat, her expression visibly relaxed, and she beckoned with a finger.
Sylvie blinked and immediately understood, quickly packing up and standing.
“Eh, Xiaowei, where are you going?”
Her classmate asked curiously.
“Um… she came for me.”
Sylvie nodded coolly, answering briefly.
“Wow… Xiaowei, you sure have some luck with the ladies! Who’s that older sister? How do you know her?”
“…I’ve known her since I was little.”
Sylvie’s tone held a hint of teasing as she played coy before adding lightly:
“She’s the old auntie you just despised.”
“Wha…!”
She chuckled triumphantly at her stunned classmate, then turned and headed toward Floriane by the door.
As she linked arms with her, Sylvie pulled Floriane a half-step further into the classroom so their classmates could all see them.
“Miss Fu, why are you here so soon?”
“Never underestimate the efficiency of an adult.”
Floriane’s lips curved faintly, though her smile held a trace of bitterness.
“Let’s go. Auntie Sophia is already waiting at the front door.”
“Mm… okay.”
Sylvie nodded, then couldn’t resist glancing back once at the classroom scene.
Among all the envious gazes from their classmates, the most conspicuous was that of her desk mate, the one who had just been dissing Miss Fu.
Her face was a complicated mix of surprise, jealousy, regret, and unwillingness, making it the most striking expression in the room.
“Phew~”
Supporting Floriane’s arm, Sylvie left the classroom doorway with a satisfied smile.