Throughout the meal, Dekalorin dominated the conversation and served as the main source of liveliness for the entire small banquet.
Movira didn’t speak much, but she chimed in appropriately from time to time. Her gaze mostly stayed on Seraphina, quietly observing her condition.
Saint Eustacia ate in silence as usual.
As the dinner drew to a close, Dekalorin wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin and suddenly seemed to recall something. She suggested, “By the way, everyone must be tired today, especially Seraphina. I remember there’s a hot spring in the academy that’s great for relieving fatigue. Would you like to go together tonight? Consider it a little break for ourselves!”
The suggestion genuinely tempted Seraphina. Soaking in hot water would indeed help greatly with exhaustion.
But the thought of being “completely honest” with others made her hesitate. She subconsciously sought Movira’s gaze.
Movira met her eyes, but before she could speak, Saint Eustacia, sitting beside Dekalorin, set down her cup first.
“I won’t be going. You know that place… isn’t suitable for me.”
She refused cleanly and decisively. Dekalorin had clearly expected this. “Alright then, it’ll just be the three of us.”
Saint Eustacia’s refusal also eased some of the pressure in Seraphina’s heart. Since the Saintess wasn’t going… it would only be her, Movira, and Dekalorin.
Dekalorin was like an elder, so it would feel more natural.
And Movira… after spending so much time together, Seraphina had long since come to see her as a sister. The sense of rejection wasn’t nearly as strong anymore.
Seeing that Seraphina didn’t immediately object, Movira nodded to Dekalorin. “Alright.”
And so the matter was settled. Before leaving, Dekalorin added, “Let’s all go back and rest first. I’ll come find you at dusk, and we can go together.”
Saint Eustacia had already left earlier, so the three of them said their goodbyes at the restaurant entrance. Dekalorin gave Movira a meaningful look and quickly whispered something only the two of them could hear, “You two stick together later. Seize the opportunity and be smart about it!”
On the way back to the room, the atmosphere was even quieter than when they had come.
Seraphina looked at Movira’s tall, straight figure, and her heartbeat became strangely unsettled.
Once back in the room, sunlight slanted perfectly through the windows, casting a long band of light across the floor.
Thinking about what would happen that evening, Seraphina stood in the center of the room. The air was very quiet, with only the soft echo of footsteps.
Movira walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Seraphina. “Would you like some water?” Her voice broke the renewed silence in the room.
“Thank you.” Seraphina took the glass.
Time seemed to stretch out. Seraphina sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the book she had been reading earlier, but she couldn’t take in a single word.
Movira stood by the window. The sunlight outlined her cool, clear profile.
Seraphina realized she had never watched the other woman so quietly before. Stripped of—or rather, concealing—her usual dominance, Movira now carried a tranquil quality.
It felt as if another century had passed, or perhaps only the blink of an eye, when Movira turned around and looked at Seraphina. “There’s still plenty of time. If you’re tired, you can take a short nap. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
“Mm… okay.” Seraphina nodded and quickly spread out the folded blanket. “Ugh… it’s so cold.”
Movira had somehow already come to the bedside. She looked at her with gentle eyes. “Mm… do you want a hug?”
“Geez! What kind of cheesy thing are you saying!” Although Seraphina was extremely embarrassed by words that sounded completely unlike Movira, her body instinctively made space on the bed.
She suddenly realized she seemed unable to fall asleep without Movira anymore.
Still, she didn’t think this was a big problem. After all, the other woman was just her sister.
This time, Movira practically stripped down to almost nothing, leaving only the very last layer. Seraphina’s cheeks instantly flushed red. She quickly covered her eyes with her hands. “You! You! You!”
Movira saw the glimpse of violet eyes peeking through her fingers and a hint of amusement flashed in her own, though her tone remained casual.
“Didn’t you say the blanket was cold? This way it warms up much faster.”
As she spoke, she lifted a corner of the blanket and quickly slipped inside, wearing only her thin undergarments.
Seraphina felt the mattress sink beside her, accompanied by a large, warm heat source drawing near.
She hesitated for a moment before lowering her hands, but she still didn’t dare look at Movira. Turning her back to her, she muttered softly, “You didn’t have to take off so much…”
“This is more effective. It’s not like you haven’t seen it before. Besides, tonight…”
The voice came from behind, extremely close. The warmth of the other’s breath brushed against the back of her neck.
“Don’t! Don’t say it!” Even though things had gone further than this before… still…
Seraphina hurriedly covered Movira’s mouth, afraid she would say something even more embarrassing.
She really wondered who Movira had learned all this from…
(Dekalorin: Ehehe~ Ciallo～(·ω<)☆→)
Even so… if Dekalorin actually made that gesture, it somehow wouldn’t feel out of character.
She herself was basically an ice block! If she had to warm the bed by herself… she would have frozen to death long ago!
The blanket was indeed quickly “heated.” Movira’s body was like a little furnace.
A wave of exhaustion gradually rose, and her consciousness began to blur.
In a half-dream, half-awake state, she unconsciously shifted backward, seeking more warmth.
At dusk, Dekalorin knocked on the door right on time.
Seraphina woke with a start and rubbed her eyes. She saw that Movira was already fully dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, quietly watching her.
“It’s time to go.”
Being looked at so directly made Seraphina feel a bit uncomfortable. She didn’t understand why Movira was staring at her like that.
Then she remembered where they were going tonight, and a shy expression inevitably appeared on her face.
She quickly got up and tidied her slightly messy hair.
When they stepped out, Dekalorin was waiting for them at the door. Her gaze swept over the two of them. “Looks like you rested well.”
Under her lead, the three of them headed deeper into the academy. The area was much more secluded than Seraphina had imagined. Independent stone cottages were scattered amid the steam.
If not for Dekalorin’s guidance, Seraphina wouldn’t have found this wonderful spot so easily.
Dekalorin skillfully led Seraphina and Movira to a room that had already been prepared.
“Alright, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right next door. Just call me if you need anything.”
Dekalorin winked at Movira once more before leaving without lingering. She turned and entered another small door.