Sefina’s step forward seemed to slow down infinitely in Ellaria’s eyes.
She watched the petite figure of her teacher approach, radiating a cold, commanding aura. Her emerald eyes involuntarily widened, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Teacher… she’s so close…
Ellaria could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from Sefina’s body. The proximity made her heart race uncontrollably, and her breath subconsciously grew quieter.
Yet, Sefina seemed unaware of the pressure her closeness brought—or perhaps she had long since grown accustomed to it.
She still maintained her usual calm and indifferent tone as she spoke:
“Ellaria, is now a good time to talk alone?”
That simple question made Ellaria’s heart skip a beat. Facing the suddenly close teacher, her cold composure from earlier when dealing with Kefi instantly crumbled.
She deflated completely, her presence losing all strength.
Feeling nervous, her palms slightly sweaty, she forced herself to keep her voice as steady as possible and said to Kefi, who stood by silently:
“Kefi… today, I won’t be assigning you any tasks. You can go back first.”
Kefi, watching the scene unfold—the sudden appearance of Teacher Sefina and the private conversation with Her Highness the Princess—was filled with questions.
Was there a problem with the lessons? Or was it something personal?
Though curious, she knew it wasn’t her place to interfere, so she obediently nodded:
“Understood, Your Highness, Teacher Sefina. I’ll take my leave then.”
***
After speaking, she glanced at the two with differing expressions, then left the dormitory quietly, softly closing the door behind her.
With the soft “click” of the latch, only Ellaria and Sefina remained inside the dormitory.
The air instantly thickened, filled with an indescribable, awkward silence.
Curled up on the sofa, Ellaria felt each second stretch unbearably long, her heart already churning like stormy waves.
The teacher left me alone like this… what does she want to do?
Is it another warning not to reveal her secret? Or something else?
But no matter what, just thinking about how she had once imagined the teacher’s thoughtful gift of the eye mask as some strange flirting play made her wish she could disappear into the cracks of the floor.
Who could understand! Mistaking the teacher’s concern for a flirtatious hint…
So embarrassing…
Facing Sefina’s cold and commanding presence, Ellaria unconsciously shrank further into the sofa, almost curling herself into a ball.
Sefina took in Ellaria’s “fearful” appearance, watching her lower her head slightly, her body trembling faintly. Waves of guilt and remorse surged in her heart like a tide.
She really is scared of me… I’m such a terrible teacher…
Driven by a strong sense of guilt, Sefina decided that the only way to truly express her regret was through the most direct and sincere apology.
Without hesitation, she took a step forward, reaching out both hands to gently but firmly rest on Ellaria’s slender shoulders.
!!!!
Ellaria froze instantly.
The warmth and pressure from Teacher Sefina’s hands on her shoulders blanked out her mind, her heartbeat suddenly spiraling out of control, pounding violently as if about to burst from her chest.
What is the teacher doing…?
This gesture—hands resting on the shoulders—was far too intimate and suggestive.
Ellaria couldn’t help but recall the classic scenes from the yuri novels she’d secretly read.
The dominant one often grabs the other’s shoulders like this before confessing or…
or before taking things further…
Teacher is… could it be that the next moment she’s going to…?
Ellaria’s face blushed so intensely it seemed to bleed. Her eyes flickered nervously, avoiding Sefina’s gaze. Inside, she was both anxious and harboring a faint hope she hadn’t even realized.
However, the next moment…
Instead of drawing closer for some “novel plot,” Sefina suddenly bent forward sharply, bowing deeply—almost a perfect ninety-degree angle—while still holding Ellaria’s shoulders!
At the same time, a clear, deeply apologetic voice rang out:
“I’m sorry!”
Ellaria: ?????
She was completely stunned, unable to process the situation before her.
The teacher… is apologizing to me? Why is she suddenly apologizing out of nowhere?
Maintaining the bow, Sefina didn’t dare meet Ellaria’s eyes, only continuing sincerely in a tone full of deep regret:
“I’m sorry, Ellaria! Last time… last time I shouldn’t have threatened you like that! It was my fault as a teacher!”
“At that moment… I was just too afraid you’d tell anyone about what happened. I lost control and said such harsh things, did something so terrible! I’m really a bad teacher!”
Sefina paused, adding a hint of pleading to her voice:
“But… but I still hope that you can keep that matter a secret… not tell anyone… otherwise, as a teacher, I… I really would have no dignity left…”
Hearing this, Ellaria suddenly understood!
So that’s it! The teacher was so afraid she’d reveal the “incontinence” incident that she lost control and threatened her back then. It was just an impulsive reaction, not her true nature.
Indeed…the teacher is fundamentally serious and cares deeply about her role.
It was all her own impure thoughts twisting things…
A strong wave of self-reproach surged in Ellaria’s heart. She really was awful to think so ill of her teacher!
She quickly waved her hands, no longer caring about the heat on her face, and replied eagerly:
“It’s, it’s nothing! Teacher, I’m okay, I don’t blame you at all, really! I swear I’ll never tell anyone about that incident!”
Upon hearing Ellaria’s firm response, the tight tension in Sefina’s heart finally eased a little. She slowly straightened up, exhaled deeply, and showed a look of relief.
However, before she could fully relax, Ellaria’s next words made her expression freeze, the corners of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
Ellaria, with a face full of sincerity and concern, cautiously asked:
“By the way… Teacher, how’s your… um… that thing lately? Has your illness improved? Do you still need me to prepare more diapers? Also, have you tried the remedies I mentioned before…?”
Sefina:
She looked into Ellaria’s emerald eyes, filled with pure concern, and found herself momentarily speechless.
When will this misunderstanding… finally be cleared up?!
Sefina silently wailed in her heart.