Kefi held a tangled mess of emotions, unconsciously rubbing her cheek against the warm hollow of Sefina’s neck, drawing in that reassuring scent and warmth.
This small movement carried dependence, along with a quietly growing greed.
Sefina noticed, but she didn’t think much of it—just assumed the girl was seeking comfort.
She only tightened her arms, making the embrace more steady and secure.
This silent hugging lasted for quite a while. In the room, only their intertwined breathing and the occasional low moan of the wind and snow outside could be heard.
Kefi’s heartbeat gradually steadied, but it was mixed with another restless pounding.
That vague yet burning thought was like a stone thrown into the lake of her heart, the ripples spreading ever wider.
A fierce battle seemed to be raging within her. The faint voice of reason reminded her this was crossing the line, an offense against her teacher.
But on the emotional side, it was like vines wildly entangling—the possessiveness and craving spurred by immense grief pushed her toward a bolder move.
Finally, after a brief struggle, Kefi slowly pulled away from Sefina’s embrace.
Sefina felt her movement and let out an instinctive “Hm?”—her voice slightly hoarse from just waking, tinged with confusion.
She thought Kefi might be feeling hot or wanting to change position. She was about to ask if something was wrong—
But in the next second, in the dim darkness where vision was still blurry, Kefi’s face suddenly drew close.
A softness gently pressed against her lips.
Warm breath brushed across her cheek, and then a kiss lightly landed on her lips.
That kiss was very light, very brief, like a butterfly touching water, or a fleeting snowflake melting in an instant.
Sefina could even clearly feel the soft outline of those two lips, and the rapid breathing transmitted in that moment.
There came a moist, slightly cool sensation on her lips—like a feather brushing past, yet it stirred a turbulent storm within her heart.
Sefina’s body instantly froze, her mind going blank.
Instinctively, she wanted to push Kefi away. This was wrong—she was a teacher, Kefi was a student; this had crossed the boundary between teacher and student.
But… her arms felt as if bound by an invisible force, heavy and unable to lift.
Was it reluctance? Afraid that pushing away this girl who had just suffered a severe blow would plunge her back into cold despair?
Or… in that moment of contact, did Sefina herself feel some flustered and unsettled palpitation?
Before Sefina could figure it out, even before she could make any reaction, that brief kiss was over.
Kefi, as if having exhausted all her courage, or like a startled bird, quickly retreated back under the covers, then buried her burning cheek once more into Sefina’s neck.
But Sefina’s heart could no longer remain calm.
Her heart beat irregularly in her chest, the lingering softness on her lips exceptionally clear.
In the darkness, her wine-red eyes widened slightly, filled with shock and bewilderment.
At this moment, she suddenly understood.
Perhaps…
Kefi’s feelings toward her had also quietly changed, without her realizing it.
Just like the admiration hidden deep in Ellaria’s always hesitant eyes, like Versie’s seemingly playful probing yet actually pressing entanglement.
Even… like Mia’s absurd and stubborn declaration of “responsibility” after that incident…
All of them seemed to harbor complex emotions toward her that went beyond the teacher-student bond.
And Kefi, this typically mild and easily embarrassed girl, after experiencing the disillusionment of family, had projected all her emotional dependence onto her “teacher.”
This dependence, under extreme circumstances, began to ferment and transform, mixed with an intense craving for warmth and fear of losing it again, thus giving birth to such a kiss.
As a teacher, protecting her students’ hearts was Sefina’s responsibility.
She could tolerate their fragility, soothe their pain, even allow a little dependence and closeness.
But… when faced with an emotion clearly pointing in a different direction, what should she do?
Accept it? That would undoubtedly be wrong—not only violating teaching ethics, but also potentially plunging Kefi, who was in a fragile emotional state, into deeper misunderstanding. It would also make her relationship with other students complicated and hard to manage.
Harshly reject it? To inflict another deep wound on that freshly injured spirit? Sefina couldn’t do that either.
Guide her? But how to guide? When it came to feelings, she herself was still a tangled mess.
Sefina felt an unprecedented helplessness and a slight headache.
She could only maintain the embrace stiffly, feeling the trembling body of the girl in her arms and her gradually steadying breath, while her own heart was a chaotic ocean.
That night, no more words were exchanged.
The next day, Sefina woke up a bit earlier.
She hadn’t slept well that night—her dreams were disordered. She let out a soft sigh, and with extreme care, moved Kefi’s arm away from around her waist.
The girl was sleeping deeply, her brows still slightly furrowed, but her breathing was even, seeming more peaceful than last night.
Sefina sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Kefi’s sleeping face, her feelings complex.
Reason told her she should find a suitable time, in an appropriate way, to talk with Kefi and clarify the boundaries.
But emotionally, looking at this pale, fragile face, thinking about everything she had just gone through, those prepared “principles” seemed so pale and powerless.
At least… for now, she still needed her.
Before she truly became strong, she should stay with her, giving her the support she needed.
As for the rest… let it be for now.
Sefina shook her head, temporarily suppressing these tangled thoughts.
She quietly changed clothes and walked out of the room.
The morning cabin was especially silent, only the occasional crackling of embers in the fireplace.
Outside the window, the blizzard that had raged all night had stopped. The world was covered in thick snow, a silvery expanse. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a cold, bright glow on the snow.
She should prepare breakfast for the three girls, and then… also consider leaving this place.
The investigation mission on the western continent couldn’t be delayed any longer. The Deputy might already have new information.
Sefina headed to the small kitchen, intending to use the last few ingredients left from yesterday to make a simple breakfast.
She had just picked up a potato when she heard hurried footsteps and a suppressed cry from the corridor.
“Teacher! Kefi is missing!”
It was Mia’s voice, filled with the panic of just waking up.
Clearly, she had found the bed empty when she woke up, and thinking about Kefi’s state yesterday, she was immediately terrified, assuming Kefi might have done something rash…
Sefina quickly put down her things, walked over briskly, and before Mia could rush out the door, gently pressed her shoulder, while raising the other hand’s index finger to her lips in a “shush” gesture, signaling her to be quiet—Ellaria and Kefi might still be asleep.
Mia immediately covered her mouth, her blue eyes still filled with alarm. But seeing Sefina’s calm expression, she calmed down a bit and asked in a hushed, anxious whisper:
“Teacher! Kefi she…”
“Don’t wake her.” Sefina explained in a low, steady tone. “She’s in my room. She came over last night and is sleeping soundly.”
“Huh?”
Mia blinked in surprise, then nodded as if suddenly understanding, a look of “so that’s it” on her face, her tense expression relaxing.
“Oh… so that’s how it is. You scared me… She went to sleep with you, huh.”
Mia scratched her messy gray hair and mumbled.
But still, Kefi being that bold… wasn’t she usually the shyest?
Mia’s thinking was very simple and direct.
In her view, Kefi had gone through something terrible yesterday, so she must have felt awful inside and needed someone to lean on.
And Teacher Sefina was the most reliable person. It made perfect sense for Kefi to want to rely on her more and go find her.
She never connected this to anything else.
At this moment, Mia had no idea that her best friend Kefi might have quietly developed certain “inappropriate thoughts” toward their most beloved Teacher Sefina.