“Astreia, she also…”
The strange expression on Dean Layana’s face made Vivian’s heart sink heavily.
Seeing Vivian’s righteous expression that seemed to say “I’ve seen through everything, don’t think you can shield a criminal,” the Dean sighed deeply.
“Alas, this is a long story, and it’s truly… difficult to speak of.”
“Actually, the reason Astreia acts so intimately with Prince Wendy is not because she is promiscuous by nature, but because… she has a very special condition.”
“Condition?”
Vivian furrowed her brow.
Wendy was also stunned, instinctively looking at Astreia clinging to him.
‘Condition? What condition? I didn’t know about this.’
Astreia, as if reading his mind, cooperatively blinked, her emerald starry eyes showing just the right amount of “fragility” and “helplessness,” and even snuggled deeper into Wendy’s arms, perfectly playing the role of weakness and resignation.
“It’s an extremely rare Mana Disorder.”
Layana ignored her little act and continued explaining in a solemn tone.
“Astreia is exceptionally gifted; the Mana Source within her is far larger than that of her peers. But precisely because of this, that power is extremely unstable, violent, and hard to control. If her emotions fluctuate intensely, or if she goes without guidance for too long, that power will go out of control. And once it does…”
At this point, the Dean’s expression became extremely solemn.
“Not to mention herself—likely half of the Central Academy would be flattened in an instant.”
Vivian’s pupils sharply contracted.
She recalled the rumor from a few days ago about Astreia turning Princess Makari and her armor into a pulp in the Duel Arena.
‘So… that wasn’t brutality, but… a loss of control?’
“So… what does this have to do with Prince Wendy?”
Vivian was still confused, but her tone no longer had its earlier aggressiveness.
“This is the crux of the matter.”
Layana’s gaze meaningfully fell on Wendy.
“The only way to suppress this disorder is through intimate contact with a specific person, using the emotional fluctuations generated during contact to soothe and stabilize the violent mana within.”
“And Prince Wendy is the unique ‘specific’ person who can soothe Astreia.”
Boom!
Vivian felt like something exploded in her mind. Her entire worldview was shattered in that moment by the Dean’s words.
‘What? A condition… that must be cured through intimate contact with a man? This… this is an unheard-of heretical doctrine! By the Sun Goddess, what an absurd, what a degenerate condition!’
She stood frozen, lips slightly parted, a look of “bewilderment” and “collapse” appearing for the first time on her ice-carved beautiful face.
‘At first, absolute disbelief. Lies! This must be a lie the Dean fabricated to protect her own student! But… but the person who said this is Dean Layana. The most renowned magic scholar on the entire continent, the highest authority at the Central Academy. How… how could she tell such a lie?’
The thought of disbelief lasted only three seconds before being crushed by the Dean’s unquestionable identity and expression.
Thus, a more violent emotional storm swept through Vivian’s heart.
‘Shock. Unprecedented shock. Then, a surge of immense sympathy and pity welled up for Wendy. So… so that’s how it is? That look of humiliation, shame, and red-rimmed eyes on Prince Wendy in the dining hall wasn’t just because he was being teased. He was… sacrificing himself! He was using his own body, his own dignity, to save a critically ill patient! How noble! How pure! He is so fragile, yet he has to endure this… such a terrible treatment method!’
At this thought, Vivian’s heart clenched with pain and a strong desire to rescue him from this sea of suffering.
She looked at Wendy again, her gaze had completely changed. It was no longer simple protection, but filled with admiration, heartache, and pity.
Yet deep within this protectiveness, a dark emotion she hadn’t even noticed was quietly sprouting.
‘Envy… Why? Why is it Astreia who gets to receive the “treatment,” who can kiss him, hug him, touch him without restraint? This vulgar, barbaric, malformed woman—why does she deserve such precious “dedication” from His Highness? If… if only… why couldn’t the person with the condition be me?’
This thought shot out like a venomous snake, startling even Vivian herself. She instantly went pale, hurriedly repenting her impure thoughts to the Goddess in her heart.
All this mental activity was fully observed by Layana. The Dean chuckled inwardly, but outwardly maintained a pained expression.
She turned to Astreia, who was still putting on an act, and scolded her sternly:
“Astreia! I know you have a special situation, but you also need to be mindful of appearances!”
“The Academy has its regulations! The excellent tradition built over a thousand years at the Central Academy cannot be destroyed by the two of you!”
“In the future, this ‘treatment’ must be mindful of the occasion!”
Layana paused, cleared her throat, and spoke in a earnest tone that said “This is all for your own good”:
“In your own dormitory, behind closed doors, you can tumble around and go deep into the treatment however you like, no one will stop you.”
“But once you step out, in public, you must restrain yourselves! At most… at most just hold hands, understand?!”
On hearing this, Wendy was as relieved as if pardoned, nodding frantically.
“Yes, yes, yes! We’ll be careful! We’ll be careful!”
‘Turning a public execution into a private one is already a blessing in disguise!’
Astreia also dropped her lazy demeanor, smiled obediently at Layana, and even cooperated with a light cough, leaning weakly against Wendy.
“I understand, Teacher.”
Vivian watched this scene of “teacher kind, student filial” and “patient being considerate,” feeling her mind turn to complete mush, losing all ability to think. She could only stand stiffly, watching Dean Layana “handle” the matter.
Just then.
“Oh, Vivian.”
Layana’s gaze suddenly turned back to her, the “pain” on her face instantly disappearing, replaced by a probing and serious look. The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted.
“Since you’ve been promoted to Temple Guard, you must have received the necklace bestowed by His Holiness the Pope, correct?”