These bold, scandalous words caused Wendy, who had just managed to catch his breath, to feel his face burn once again.
He felt as though the passing glances from those around him had taken on a subtle, suggestive hue.
Laxana was stifling her laughter to the side, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
She desperately clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound.
Her pretty face had already turned beet-red from the effort of holding it in.
Holding the heavy brass key, Wendy was practically half-dragged and half-carried away by Astreia.
Amidst Laxana’s farewell of “I’ll report to the Student Council first and find you both later,” they fled the registration desk under the “I understand young people” motherly gaze of the dormitory matron.
His steps were even a bit faltering.
It wasn’t until the two of them reached the beautiful little villa covered in ivy, completely out of the public’s sight, that Wendy finally managed to break free from that soft yet overbearing confinement.
He leaned against the cool wall, panting heavily.
The blood-red flush on his face still hadn’t faded.
He looked up, both annoyed and amused, and glared at the innocent-looking Astreia.
“My… pet?”
He mimicked the matter-of-fact tone she had used earlier, each word sounding as if it were ground out from between his back teeth.
Astreia tilted her head slightly. Her emerald eyes were crystal clear, as if she truly didn’t understand why he was angry.
“Is that word… incorrect?”
“Of course it’s incorrect!”
Wendy was nearly at his wit’s end.
He lowered his voice, feeling a mix of shame, anger, and helplessness.
“I am a person! A living, breathing human being! A Prince with independent thought and personal dignity! I am not some kitten or puppy!”
He paused, his confidence weakening as he added in a small voice, “If you must say something, I should be considered… a companion!”
“Oh.”
Astreia nodded, seemingly understanding but perhaps not.
She didn’t argue, nor did she agree.
She simply reached out, using her cool fingertips to gently stroke Wendy’s still-burning cheek.
Her thumb brushed against his lips with a faint, lingering touch, carrying a dangerous sense of provocation.
Wendy’s breath hitched.
Deep within Astreia’s emerald eyes, he saw a sliver of eerie purple light slowly swirling.
That gaze was teasing, playful, and filled with aggression.
It was like a lioness admiring the prey beneath her claws that had nowhere left to run.
“But I like saying it.”
Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke.
The words were nonchalant, yet they carried an absolute will that brooked no argument.
“…………”
In an instant, all of Wendy’s anger, shame, and logic were extinguished by that single sentence, leaving not even a wisp of smoke behind.
He looked into her eyes, which were gradually being dyed purple, and felt the warning pressure from the hand on his cheek.
Finally, he sighed helplessly, his temper completely spent.
Fine.
He couldn’t win.
He couldn’t win at all.
The two of them went up to the third floor in silence.
The hallway was covered in thick carpet, muffling their footsteps.
The only sound was the faint jingling of the key in Wendy’s hand.
Room 301 was at the very end of the corridor.
A heavy oak door stood between them and the outside world.
Wendy took a deep breath and inserted the key into the lock.
Click.
With a soft sound, the lock turned.
He pushed the door open, and a warm scent mixed with sunlight and the fragrance of wood wafted toward him.
The interior of the suite was even more luxurious than he had imagined—a spacious living room, massive floor-to-ceiling windows, soft and comfortable sofas, and even a small study with a fireplace.
However, Wendy didn’t have time to take a closer look.
Thud.
The door behind him was slammed shut by a forceful arm.
Snap.
The sound of the door being locked echoed with startling clarity in the silent room. Wendy’s heart skipped a beat.
He slowly turned around and saw Astreia leaning back against the door, her arms crossed over her chest.
The action emphasized her breathtaking curves even more prominently.
She didn’t speak. She simply stared at him with those eerie eyes that had turned completely deep purple.
That gaze was no longer playful or teasing.
It was hunger.
It was raw, blatant desire, as if she wanted to devour him whole, bone and all.
“My personal… guard?”
Astreia licked her red lips and approached the Prince step by step.
“Now, there are no outsiders here.”
“Isn’t it time… to fulfill your ‘personal’ duties?”
***
Not long after Wendy and Astreia disappeared around the corner of the hallway, a figure silently appeared behind the “dormitory matron” at the registration desk.
“Aurelia, well? Did you see anything?”
As the voice fell, the sturdy and fierce-looking “matron” began to shimmer like ripples on water. In an instant, her rough skin became delicate, her bloated figure became dignified and elegant, and she finally transformed into an elderly woman wearing sacred red robes with a kind face.
She was the Dean of the Holy Studies Branch of Central Academy, Aurelia Cathy.
“Layana Klein, you really are something…”
Aurelia turned around and looked at her grinning colleague, speaking crossly.
“You’ve brought such a massive problem into the academy without saying a word.”
The newcomer was the Dean of the Magic Division, Layana Klein.
“Hehe~ Don’t say it like that,” Layana moved closer and affectionately took Aurelia’s arm, showing no remorse for the trouble she had caused.
“I’m just giving you, the Dean of the Holy Studies Branch, some results to work toward.”
“To know one’s enemy is to be invincible. This is the only Witch in hundreds of years who can restrain her own desires and maintain a relative level of reason. If we can figure out the secret behind her from her stay here, we might find a way to deal with other Witches.”
“We might even counterattack the Vampire Continent and the Demon Continent, achieving the first unification of the Mainland in centuries! When that time comes, our names will surely go down in history!”
Layana’s face grew flush as she spoke, as if she could already see herself standing at the peak of history, receiving the adoration of ten thousand people.
“You’re dreaming,” Dean Aurelia of the Holy Studies Branch said, heartlessly throwing cold water on the idea.
Her expression turned serious as she said with lingering fear, “Just now, I arranged for a clansman and an apprentice to test her. As a result, if it weren’t for Prince Wendy’s quick reaction—using that nonsense of his to seize the initiative—Princess Astreia would have moved directly for the kill!”
Recalling that faint killing intent, a flicker of solemnity crossed Aurelia’s eyes.
“Judging by the intensity of the magic fluctuations, she truly intended to kill in that moment. If anything had gone wrong, even if I put forth my full strength, I would only have been able to seal her magic for about ten seconds… I truly don’t know how our predecessors dealt with six such powerful individuals back then.”
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