Chapter 232: Threatening Teacher Sefina

“Kiss me.”

These two words stirred up violent ripples in Sefina’s heart.

Her wine-red eyes instantly widened, disbelief written all over her face.

Kiss?! And… she had to be the one to initiate it? Th-this, this…

How is this possible?! Hey!!!

Sefina’s mind raced with panic, and her cheeks uncontrollably began to heat up. A flash of the memory of being forcefully kissed by Versie crossed her mind—the soft touch of her lips…

And now she had to be the one to take the initiative…

This was a critical hit to Sefina’s heart.

However, just after that brief moment of panic, Sefina keenly caught a detail.

The corner of Versie’s mouth was twitching slightly.

She was… she was laughing!

Beneath that “pitifully begging for compensation” expression, she was clearly hiding barely contained cunning and the excitement of a prank about to succeed.

She wasn’t really angry at all!

She’d probably been overjoyed the moment she got the scarf, and that so-called “dissatisfaction” was completely fake!

Then Versie pretended to be angry again and deliberately made an excessive demand, just to see Sefina flustered!

This sly, dark-hearted woman!!!

Sefina gritted her teeth. That trace of guilt from a moment ago was instantly replaced by the shame and irritation of having her scheme exposed.

Versie’s ice-blue eyes blinked, and a glint of “Oh, you caught me” regret flickered within them, but it was quickly replaced by even greater interest.

“Dream on!”

She shot Versie a glare and practically squeezed out those two words through gritted teeth.

‘Well then… let’s try a more direct approach.’

Since her teacher had seen through the “play pitiful to get compensation” plan, Versie slowly rose from her seat, her movements as graceful as a cat poised to strike.

She circled behind Sefina, not sitting down, but bending over to gently rest her chin on Sefina’s slightly slender shoulder.

Versie’s ice-blue hair cascaded down, brushing against the side of Sefina’s neck, bringing a slight tickle.

Warm breath grazed her earlobe as Versie deliberately lowered her voice, her words soft and almost intimate, clearly reaching Sefina’s ears:

“Teacher, you don’t want your students to be in danger, do you? Well then ~~”

In that instant, Sefina’s pupils seemed to lose focus.

She never imagined that Versie would use this method to “threaten” her.

Not a joke, not a prank, but… an almost blatant coercion.

Using her concern and responsibility for her students to force her into doing something like that?

She turned her head in shock, looking at the face so close to hers, and a chill mixed with incredulous anger rose from the depths of her heart.

Her wine-red eyes were filled with shock and fury.

“You—!!”

But just as the words left her mouth, she saw Versie’s expression completely break.

“Pfft—hahahahahaha!!”

Versie finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

She straightened up, rubbing her eyes that were almost overflowing with tears, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

“Teacher… your expression… that was priceless! Haha… haha…”

She laughed and gasped for breath, speaking in fragments.

“Teacher, you didn’t really believe that, did you? I was just scaring you ~~ How could I possibly threaten you using the students? That would be too despicable.”

After laughing her fill, Versie turned and walked around to face Sefina, propping her hands on the edge of the table as she leaned down to look at Sefina’s face, which still held traces of shock and a hint of bewilderment.

Her ice-blue eyes were filled with the pleasure of a successful prank and a touch of softness.

She reached out and lightly flicked Sefina’s forehead with her index finger.

“I’ll handle things, don’t worry.”

Versie’s voice returned to its usual clear sweetness, mixed with a slightly petulant complaint.

“I just wanted to tease you a little, and get a bit of revenge while I’m at it. Who told you to always neglect me ~~”

She looked at Sefina’s slightly trembling wine-red eyes, curving her lips into a gentle arc.

“Can’t help it. Teacher’s original form is so small and cute, I just can’t resist the urge to bully her.”

Sefina let out a confused “Ah?”

So… that moment of “threat” just now was another prank?

Just to see the panic on her face?

Complex emotions, like a spilled palette, churned in her mind.

There was irritation at being teased multiple times by Versie, warmth that she had ultimately agreed to help, and… she had to admit, a certain guilt over the fact that she really had been neglecting her a bit.

All kinds of feelings intertwined.

Finally, Sefina lowered her eyelids and softly uttered one sentence:

“Thank you…”

Sefina’s voice was soft, but clear.

Versie’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

She pressed her advantage, reaching out again to gently stroke the top of Sefina’s head.

This time, Sefina didn’t resist.

Though a trace of dissatisfaction and helplessness at being tricked again still lingered in her wine-red eyes, she let Versie ruffle her blue hair.

***

Outside the window, the snow seemed to be falling harder, but inside the private room it was warm and quiet, broken only by the faint crackling of burning wood in the fireplace.

Sefina steadied herself, picked up the now slightly cooled coffee, and took a gentle sip, trying to calm her chaotic thoughts.

But just as she set down the cup and prepared to take her leave, to go back and check on how Flovi and the students were settled—

Her sleeve was suddenly gently tugged.

Sefina turned her head in confusion, only to see Versie looking at her with sparkling ice-blue eyes, a sly light twinkling within them.

“Teacher, actually… I just learned a massage technique.”

“Let me massage your shoulders.”

Versie paused, then added, her tone carrying a hint of tentative coaxing.

“Teacher must be really tired lately, worrying about the students and the matters of the western continent, right? Want to give it a try? I heard it’s very effective for relieving fatigue.”

Sefina gave her a suspicious look.

A massage? Just learned?

She had a feeling… that this sly woman was up to some trick again.

But then again, though Versie had teased her earlier, she had still readily agreed to help.

Besides, Sefina did feel a bit guilty toward her.

On top of that, the days of constant travel had indeed left Sefina’s shoulders and neck stiff.

Driven by a bit of gratitude and guilt, and also by the selfish desire to relax a little, Sefina hesitated for a moment before finally nodding lightly.

“Mm… I’ll trouble you then.”

She sat back down on the sofa, relaxing her body slightly.

From the angle Sefina couldn’t see, the corner of Versie’s mouth curled into a sly, triumphant arc.

‘Hmph ~~

‘Threatening teacher by using others is something I’d never stoop to—too low-class.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the chance to “bully” my teacher.

‘Watching her go from alert to resigned, then gradually let her guard down, and finally fall into my hands…

‘It’s absolutely captivating ~~

‘Now, how should I go about teasing Teacher Sefina next?’