Ethelrina tilted her head, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder, and looked at the group’s odd expressions. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
“N-No!” Lillian shook her head, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I just thought your way of taking off your shoes was very elegant.”
Flora’s face reddened too. She coughed lightly, swiftly changed into the slippers Lillian handed her, and, leaning on her cane, headed toward the living room. “I’ll check the kitchen for ingredients.”
Sophia followed her into the villa. “Let me accompany you.”
Ian, watching the two try to escape the awkward moment, rubbed his forehead. “Wait, do you two even know where the kitchen is?”
Flora and Sophia froze. They genuinely didn’t know where Lillian’s kitchen was.
Ian sighed, resigned to playing guide. “I’ll show you.”
He, too, wanted to flee the awkward scene.
Veronica watched Ian lead Flora and Sophia to the kitchen, a strange discomfort stirring in her chest.
How did Ian know the layout of Lillian’s villa? Even she, Lillian’s sister, didn’t know.
Have Lillian and Ian been in contact privately? The thought made her feel worse, but she quickly brushed it off.
She’d personally fired Ian as her steward, so his actions were no longer her concern. They could just be friends now.
That morning, after hearing Ian’s words, Veronica had spent the entire day searching for Ethelrina’s lost pearl, to no avail.
When she returned to her villa, exhausted, she spotted Lillian and Ethelrina together. Curiosity led her to approach, and she learned from Ethelrina that Lillian had been with Ian, searching for the pearl.
Seeing Ian’s familiarity with Lillian’s villa now only confirmed her suspicions.
Still, Veronica didn’t dwell on it. Her goal was to win Ethelrina’s heart.
Even if Ian was helping Lillian pursue Ethelrina, Veronica was confident she wouldn’t lose to her sister.
Her real rivals were Flora and Sophia. This cooking competition was a golden opportunity to earn Ethelrina’s favor, and she couldn’t afford to lose.
With that, Veronica tossed her peach-pink hair and elegantly followed the path Ian had taken.
Lillian’s kitchen was spacious enough for four people to cook without interfering with each other.
After leading Flora and Sophia there, Ian doubled back.
He had no intention of pursuing Ethelrina, so he wasn’t about to cook just to win her favor.
Why not relax on the sofa? After a long day, he deserved a break.
On his way back, he passed Veronica.
Her pink eyes flickered with complex emotions, but she only pursed her lips, exchanging a silent glance with Ian before continuing on.
Ian returned her slight nod as a greeting and headed to the living room.
Did Veronica notice something? he wondered. Whatever. Helping Lillian win Ethelrina’s favor is the priority.
Soon, Ian reached the living room, where Ethelrina and Lillian still stood.
Seeing Lillian’s flushed, flustered face and Ethelrina’s puzzled expression, Ian thought Lillian was too inexperienced.
She should’ve followed Flora and the others to the kitchen to start cooking.
“Lillian, aren’t you going to make those pre-dinner desserts? The others have already started,” Ian prompted.
“Oh!” Lillian, as if saved, covered her red face with her hands and scurried to the kitchen.
Ethelrina, seeing the other girls begin cooking, started toward the kitchen to help.
But Ian, left alone, plopped onto Lillian’s sofa, ready to wait for the meal.
Before he could settle, Veronica’s voice echoed from the kitchen. “The kitchen’s a bit crowded, Ethelrina. Why don’t you come in later?”
“Let us prepare some appetizers first, okay?”
Ian’s heart sank. Is Ethelrina coming back out?
If she did, she’d likely sit on the sofa, leaving them alone together in the living room.
Wait, isn’t it the heroines who are supposed to pursue Ethelrina? Why does it feel like I orchestrated this to get alone time with her?
As Ian fretted, Ethelrina, in her slippers, emerged from the kitchen and sat on the sofa, not far from him.
Her silver hair fell like a waterfall as she turned to him. “Some desserts first, is that okay?”
Ian coughed lightly, subtly scooting away. “Sure, I’m fine with anything.”
Ethelrina noticed his retreat and found it odd. Leaning slightly closer, her silver hair slipping off her shoulder, she fixed her ice-blue eyes on him. “Is there something strange about me? Why are you avoiding me, Ian?”
Ian froze. He couldn’t exactly say, I’m afraid the heroines in the kitchen will misunderstand.
“No, I’m not avoiding you. It’s just a bit warm over here,” he said, scratching his head awkwardly.
Ethelrina clearly didn’t buy it. She unconsciously leaned closer, sensing something familiar in Ian’s aura but unable to place it.
Was it at yesterday’s matchmaking event? She’d memorized Ian’s scent there.
Ethelrina had attended the event because of a prophecy book from the Silver Dragon Clan, which foretold meeting her dearest friend there.
She’d stood on the final stage, but her friend never appeared.
As a child, she’d witnessed that friend being taken by demons for a sacrifice, likely dead. Yet she clung to hope that they might still be alive.
That hope drove her to trust the prophecy book. After the event, she’d searched the academy all night, returning to her dorm only at dawn.
There, she’d sensed demonic aura in her room and discovered her pearl stolen.
She didn’t know why a demon had targeted her room, but the theft infuriated her. She vowed to make the culprit pay.
Ian, noticing Ethelrina inching closer, felt a chill, as if something had locked onto him.