Kefi thoughtfully sized up Ellaria.
The imperial princess in front of her was still wearing the standard student uniform of Oselenka. She hadn’t changed into the loungewear she usually wore in the dormitory.
If there was one thing that was different… Kefi’s gaze shifted downward, landing on Ellaria’s legs.
Originally, Princess Ellaria seemed to prefer dark-colored socks.
She usually wore black pantyhose or over-the-knee socks, which looked elegant and steady. But today, she was wearing a pair of white pantyhose.
‘White… This is the first time I’ve seen her in those.’
‘Maybe… she suddenly wanted to change her style? To try a different combination?’
Kefi blinked, guessing as much in her heart.
With her simple and direct way of thinking, she would probably never guess that the true origin of these seemingly ordinary white pantyhose was connected to her beloved Teacher Sefina.
At this moment, Ellaria saw that Kefi didn’t continue to press her. She breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and quickly forced herself to stay calm, shifting the topic in as flat a tone as possible.
“Go ahead and clean. Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay, Princess,” Kefi nodded obediently. Without thinking much more about it, she turned to pick up the broom in the corner and began to clean quietly and seriously, just like she always did.
Ellaria pretended to act as usual. She walked over to the sofa and sat down, picking up the book she couldn’t focus on earlier, attempting to concentrate on the pages.
However, her heart was already in a state of turmoil.
‘How embarrassing… Why did it have to happen now? She didn’t notice any flaws, did she? Is my expression natural enough? Are my socks… Are they on straight?’
All sorts of chaotic thoughts swirled in her mind, making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. Although her gaze fell on the pages, she couldn’t read a single word.
Fortunately, Kefi didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. She continued to clean quietly as always.
The only sound in the room was the soft rustle of the broom against the floor, and time passed bit by bit in this peaceful atmosphere.
Ellaria’s tense nerves also slowly relaxed as time went by.
Just when Ellaria thought the crisis had passed and her mood was gradually calming down, Kefi, who was wiping the coffee table, suddenly seemed to remember something.
She straightened up, holding the cloth, turned toward Ellaria, and walked straight toward her…
Ellaria’s heart skipped a beat. The tension that had just subsided swept over her once again, and her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the book.
‘Could it be… that Kefi noticed something was wrong? Did I fail to straighten my collar in my panic? Or did she catch the lingering embarrassment in my eyes?’
However, a second later, Kefi’s clear voice rang out with pure expectation, dispelling the frantic guesses in Ellaria’s mind.
“Princess, Teacher Sefina’s birthday is coming up. Mia and I are planning to go buy a gift for her this weekend. Do you want to come with us?”
“Huh? A gift…?”
Ellaria was momentarily stunned. Her brain stalled for a second before she completely broke free from her secret thoughts.
So they were just buying a gift… She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders slumping.
But still… Was Teacher Sefina’s birthday really coming up? She had only just found out.
Buying a gift for Teacher Sefina…
As soon as the thought appeared, it was like a pebble thrown into a lake, stirring up layers of ripples. ‘That… actually sounds quite nice!’
After all, Ellaria, who held a great deal of affection for Teacher Sefina, was full of anticipation and excitement at the prospect of being able to openly show her feelings.
Without a moment of hesitation, a gentle and affirmative smile appeared on Ellaria’s face, and she nodded.
“Sure, I’ll go with you.”
And so, Ellaria, who had just been uneasy and self-condemning because she had secretly done something “bad,” was instantly occupied by a new anticipation. Her mind was racing.
‘What would be a good gift for Teacher Sefina? What would she like? Would it be a delicate and practical magical tool, an elegant and unique piece of jewelry, or something else…’
The girl unconsciously sat cross-legged on the soft sofa, her elbows resting on her knees and her chin in her palms as she fell into a state of happy worry and wild imagination.
Her emerald eyes were bright, as if they were filled with starlight.
***
Time quietly slipped to the weekend.
The commercial district of the Oselenka Royal Capital was as busy and prosperous as ever. The sun was just right, and the breeze was gentle. The three girls, dressed in casual clothes, joined the bustling crowd.
Mia wore a short-sleeved T-shirt she had bought before, paired with a light blue skirt and a pair of white canvas shoes that were easy to move in.
Kefi chose a light purple knee-length dress decorated with small white flowers. Over it, she wore a cream-colored knit cardigan, and on her feet were black leather shoes.
Ellaria’s attire still revealed an air of elegance. She wore a well-tailored light green chiffon shirt with a delicate ribbon tied at the collar. Below that was a white high-waisted pleated long skirt that swayed slightly with every step.
“So, what should we actually give Teacher Sefina?” Mia was the first to break the silence as she looked around, her tone clearly conflicted.
“Magic materials? It doesn’t seem like she lacks those. A beautiful quill?” Kefi frowned slightly, looking equally troubled.
“Yeah, Teacher Sefina seems to be indifferent toward many things. It’s hard to guess what she truly likes.”
Ellaria also nodded slightly in agreement. “True… The most important thing about a gift is that it suits the recipient’s heart, but we seem to have a limited understanding of Teacher Sefina’s preferences.”
Flashy and exquisite options flashed through her mind, but she felt that none of them quite matched Teacher Sefina’s cold and clear temperament.
The three girls walked slowly along the street, passing by shops filled with all sorts of items.
From specialty shops selling various Magical Crystals, to bookstores displaying fine stationery, to boutiques hanging all kinds of elegant accessories…
They went in to look, then hesitated and came back out, never finding a gift that made all three of them light up.
“Aw, picking a gift is so hard!” Mia ruffled her hair in frustration. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had thought of something.
“Right! We haven’t decided on a gift yet, but we can also make a birthday cake for Teacher Sefina! Wouldn’t it be more meaningful if it was handmade?”
She looked at the other two excitedly. “How about we go buy the ingredients for the cake right now? I know a shop in the market that sells very fresh flour and cream!”
The proposal was met with an immediate response.
“Making a cake by hand? That sounds great!” Kefi’s eyes lit up as well.
Ellaria also nodded slightly, a hint of interest flashing in her emerald eyes.
Although she had never made a pastry herself, she was willing to try for the sake of Teacher Sefina.
“Yes, I think that works. The sentiment is the most important thing.”