This external magic power acted like a guide, clearly outlining a path for the magic to flow.
Seraphina couldn’t help but let out a soft whimper.
The sensation was utterly wondrous—tingly and numb.
It felt as if every nerve in her arm had been awakened, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Instead, it brought a sense of being carefully cherished and secure.
“Don’t get distracted.” Movira reminded in a low voice. “Remember this feeling. Remember this path.”
Seraphina quickly focused her mind.
Under Movira’s guidance, she felt the faint magic power within her body finally find direction.
It began to move clumsily, tremblingly following that warm current.
Gradually, an extremely faint white speck of light appeared at her fingertip.
It flickered once, then quickly vanished.
“Ah!”
Seraphina cried out in delight.
Though it lasted only an instant, she had truly seen it!
“I think I succeeded a little.”
“I saw it.” Movira’s lips curved into a smile laced with praise.
She released Seraphina’s wrist.
“Very good. Producing a glow on your first try.”
This straightforward compliment made Seraphina feel a little lightheaded.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
She curled her fingers, as if the warmth from Movira’s fingertip still lingered there.
This feeling of being seriously taught, affirmed, and even… cared for was quite wonderful.
“Then… shall we try once more?” Movira tilted her head, looking at her with encouragement in her eyes—like a teacher eagerly awaiting a student’s progress.
“Okay!”
Seraphina nodded vigorously.
Under Movira’s repeated encouragement, she seemed to momentarily forget Movira’s true nature.
This time, she actively closed her eyes.
“Alright, that’s enough for today.”
Seraphina was already exhausted, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Yet her spirits were unusually high.
She had long fantasized about unleashing powerful magic, doing something especially cool…
So even this tiny progress filled her with joy.
Still, Movira timely stopped her practice.
She gently wiped the sweat from Seraphina’s forehead with a handkerchief.
This natural, considerate gesture, in the pure atmosphere of joy brought by the magic lesson, no longer felt as repulsive to Seraphina.
She even tilted her head slightly along with Movira’s hand to make it easier, muttering softly, “…Thank you.”
Movira’s smile deepened.
She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Seraphina’s fair forehead.
“You’re welcome.”
“Uh… uh? Uh!”
Movira’s unexpected action jolted Seraphina out of the joyful mood.
You just…
When she tried to recall what Movira had just done, the image that emerged was her own obedient appearance…
“No, no! Something’s wrong! I think my brain might be broken. Are you really Movira?”
Seraphina abruptly took a small step back, as if scalded.
Her previously slightly smug cheeks were now thoroughly red.
Her violet gem-like eyes widened, staring incredulously at the smiling Movira.
Her mind felt like it had been stirred into a chaotic mess by that sudden act.
“You… you just!”
She opened her mouth, her voice stuttering from shock and embarrassment.
Though there had been many similar actions before, she had always fiercely resisted them.
Only this time…
At some point, Movira’s actions had shifted from forceful to the current…
“Why did you… suddenly kiss me!”
Movira watched her delayed outburst with amusement, the curve of her lips growing more pronounced.
She deliberately countered with a teasing tone.
“Hmm? What’s wrong? Isn’t it perfectly normal for a big sister to reward her clever and hardworking little sister?”
“No, who—who’s your little sister! Don’t call me that randomly!”
Seraphina instantly bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She loudly refuted, trying to mask the panic in her heart and a strange, fluttering sensation she dared not acknowledge or face.
“And what kind of reward is that! This is clearly…!”
“And pervert! Shameless…”
The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt.
Her face grew redder.
She had actually… enjoyed a little the feeling of being taught by Movira, being affirmed and encouraged by her?!
She hadn’t even pushed away immediately when the kiss came.
Heavens!
Her brain must have been damaged by that flow of Movira’s magic!
To actually feel… even the tiniest bit of… dependence on Movira—this demon! This bastard!
This great devil whose head was filled only with those kinds of thoughts!
Watching Seraphina’s reaction, Movira quickly understood.
So she was the type who responded to gentleness, not force.
Thinking back to all those previous forceful approaches that had yielded no progress, Movira wanted to scold herself.
She had thought Seraphina was tough, but it turned out the method was wrong.
Using this approach felt like eating tofu so easily.
“Y-you, did you use some strange magic on me!”
Seraphina pointed at Movira’s face, desperately seeking a reasonable, face-saving explanation for her abnormal reaction.
She glared at Movira puffily, her eyes a little evasive. “Right?”
Movira couldn’t hold back and let out a pfft of laughter.
She stepped forward, gazing with interest at Seraphina’s flushed face and adorably pretended composure.
Where had that calm Princess Regent gone—the one who commanded soldiers at outposts and strategized during the new policies?
Just one tease, and her true form was revealed?
“Oh? Strange magic? I was only seriously teaching you, my dear little sister. Or perhaps… you don’t actually hate this feeling?”
“Nonsense! I hate it, I really hate it! Super hate it! And I super hate you calling me… little sister or whatever! I’m not your little sister!”
She practically shouted these words, thinking she sounded very imposing.
But in Movira’s eyes, it looked more like empty bluster and coquettish anger.
“Alright, I heard you. Since Seraphina says she doesn’t like it, I won’t do it next time.”
Yet Movira’s eyes clearly said: Got it. I’ll do it again next time.
Seraphina saw that look and knew she hadn’t taken it to heart at all.
She stomped her foot in frustration, yet could do nothing about it.
She could only huff, turn around, and face her with her back.
“I’m going to rest! Don’t follow me! Absolutely not!”
With that, she quickly walked toward the bedroom, resolutely refusing to look back even once at that bad guy.
Movira chuckled softly behind her.
Had she finally found the correct way to handle Seraphina?
Though this might easily steer Seraphina toward thinking of them as real sisters, raising affection was what mattered.
Whatever direction she interpreted it in was fine.