After the two of them finished organizing the luggage, Astreya also brought the message that dinner was ready.
The dishes mainly consisted of fresh vegetables, fruits, and minced meat soups. Although the flavors were a bit light for human tastes, they were fresh, delicious, and carried the pure taste of nature.
During the meal, Astreya briefly introduced the customs and culture of this country, as well as several interesting places in the royal capital.
After the meal, Astreya brewed a pot of floral tea and poured a cup for each of them.
The warm teacups dispelled the deep winter chill and made the atmosphere more relaxed. However… Movira was the exception.
She had been maintaining full vigilance toward Astreya the entire time, as if the other were some unpardonable criminal.
Yet Astreya… did not care.
“Um… Astreya, do you usually feel very bored staying here alone?”
Seraphina asked. After all, in this human city, with Astreya being the only elf, it surely could not be very interesting.
Upon hearing this, the other shook her head. “It’s not that I’m alone. Moreover, our understanding of ‘boredom’ may differ from that of humans. It might sound quite magical, but I can converse with every plant. The flowers I see are also living beings I can communicate with. Although it seems like I’m alone, in reality, the grass and trees in the courtyard and the flowers in the greenhouse are all keeping me company.”
“Converse?!” Seraphina’s eyes lit up instantly. “That really is an amazing ability!”
“Mm.” Movira, sitting beside her, let out a soft snort. The hand holding the teacup exerted a little more force.
Astreya’s perception of emotions remained very sharp. Just like back at the academy, she had been the first to guess their relationship without any prior contact.
Movira’s little action this time was no exception. It only made her feel slightly surprised. Does Movira have such strong possessiveness…?
“It really is amazing.” Astreya paused and quickly changed the topic. “Besides, when news of my arrival here spreads, the royal family is always the first to know. It won’t be long before several little princesses come running over impatiently to learn natural magic from me.”
Her eyes seemed to reflect the figures of those children, filled with gentle meaning and a trace of helplessness. “They have a natural curiosity about forests, animals, plants, and even… me. Although sometimes their energy is a bit too abundant.”
“On New Year’s Eve, the royal family will also invite me to the palace for banquets and such. So my schedule won’t be very idle.”
However, she changed the subject. “It’s just that this year the situation is special. You know that as well. It will probably be quite quiet. But fortunately, you two came.”
After speaking, Astreya had no intention of staying any longer. Movira’s meaning was becoming increasingly obvious. So she left on the pretext of organizing her notes.
“Rest early.”
After Astreya left, Movira wordlessly grabbed Seraphina and headed straight back to the room. Her face looked somewhat gloomy.
“Hey, what are you doing?!”
Movira did not answer. She simply pulled Seraphina by the wrist and strode into the bedroom. The door slammed shut behind them.
Seraphina was left somewhat dazed and dissatisfied by this sudden force. She looked up at Movira. “What are you doing? Why did you suddenly drag me up here?”
Her voice weakened the moment it met Movira’s slightly dark expression. She felt that Movira seemed… not very happy?
There was no obvious anger on the other woman’s face, but those eyes were locked very intently on Seraphina’s face, making her feel a wave of guilt, as if she had done something wrong.
“You seem quite interested in her?” Movira spoke in a lower and more serious tone than usual.
“Huh? Astreya?” This sudden question caught Seraphina off guard. She responded instinctively. “Actually, I’m not that interested. I just think her ability is really amazing, being able to talk to plants and all…”
It was precisely this habit of being completely unguarded toward others that made Movira’s brows knit tightly.
She did not answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward and closed in. Seraphina was forced to retreat, her steps a little messy, until she bumped into the edge of the bed and fell onto it.
Seraphina felt that Movira’s state was very wrong, but at the moment she could only quickly take off her shoes, retreating in fear.
“Sister… what’s wrong with you?”
In the end, the shadow completely enveloped her, trapping her between Movira and the corner of the bed.
Seraphina’s vision was filled with shadow. She could not help but swallow nervously.
“You… don’t scare me… What’s wrong with you?”
“Amazing?” Movira repeated the word but did not answer Seraphina’s question. She continued leaning down, placing both hands on the wall on either side of Seraphina’s body, completely enclosing her within her presence.
Movira’s voice was pressed very low, almost carrying a warning tone. “Seraphina, from now on you must not be so unguarded toward strangers. You need to keep your distance from people you are not familiar with. This is to protect yourself. Do you understand?”
This had already gone beyond normal warning. It was an overly strong sense of pressure that Seraphina could not understand.
Her back was pressed tightly against the wooden wall with nowhere to escape. Her hands gripped the bedsheet beneath her. Her eyes were full of confusion. “I… of course I know! But Astreya is a professor at the academy after all. She can’t be a bad person. Those conversations were just normal chatting. Why are you reacting so strongly, sister… Can you let me go?”
She tried to push Movira’s hand away, but it was easily caught and pressed down beside her.
Movira stared at the other woman’s cheeks that had turned red from grievance. She knew her actions had been too intense and had crossed the line. However, the emotions deep in her heart — extreme vigilance toward outsiders because she had not yet occupied the “main bedroom” — made it impossible for her to stay calm.
She had to eliminate all possibilities! Before she could enter!
“Normal chatting?” Movira’s voice grew even heavier. She was no longer satisfied with this simple verbal exchange. Some more direct impulse took over her and completely broke through the final “dam.”
Under Seraphina’s panicked gaze, Movira lowered her head with an irresistible decisiveness and kissed her lips…
This action was no longer gentle. It was even very forceful. Although brief, it was imprinted very clearly on both of their senses.
It completely deprived Seraphina of her ability to breathe and think, instantly sweeping through all her senses.
Seraphina’s pupils contracted sharply. Her mind went blank and froze. All that remained was that burning yet soft touch, along with Movira’s eyes that were no more than five centimeters away.
Maintaining the posture that trapped Seraphina in the corner, Movira only retreated after two or three seconds. She did not move far away.