Inside the study, Hill and Otis exchanged glances, each suspecting their ears might be playing tricks on them, making them hear something utterly improbable.
Yet, here stood Lady Anna before them, dressed in a distinct academy style, her expression relaxed and natural—certainly not that of someone forced into anything.
After repeatedly confirming in her heart, Hill also reached a conclusion—this lady must have been provoked by something this morning, so on a sudden impulse, she wanted to study magic with her.
But the problem was, Hill herself was just a student, not even a proper mage. Teaching her classmates was one thing, but how could she possibly teach such a graceful lady?
And… right now, Hill didn’t even dare look up at the beautiful figure before her.
To be honest, since coming to this world, Lady Anna was the most elegant and beautiful woman Hill had ever seen.
If a baby is like a seed, then at thirty years old, the seed has just taken root, grown into a towering tree, and borne bright red fruit. In short: ripe.
This wasn’t a public place, and Lady Anna hadn’t done any strenuous exercise, so she wasn’t wearing perfume. Yet just by standing in this study, she seemed to fill the air around Hill’s nose with an enticing fragrance that made her mouth water.
Her lower body shamefully stirred, as both hunger and desire surged together, waging war inside her mind.
As a vampire, the few hundred milliliters of blood she just got from Otis could never truly satisfy her.
A truly ruthless vampire would drink several liters in one go, draining someone dry and counting it a good meal, so much so that she wouldn’t need to hunt again for months.
Hill had always been able to control her hunger quite well, but facing this lady, she realized she had overestimated herself—and underestimated her opponent.
She’d overestimated her own self-control and underestimated the other’s allure.
Calm down! Calm down, Otis is still here… No, even if Otis weren’t here, she could never lay a hand on such a noble lady!
After all, Otis was still young, naive, easily swayed by so-called friendship and promises, and didn’t seem to care at all that she was a vampire.
But Lady Anna was different. She was a mature adult, educated, married, a mother—not clueless like her daughter. A vampire meant something, and Lady Anna surely understood that all too well. If she dared to bite her, she’d be burning at the stake in the Holy Light Cathedral the next day!
Hold it in! Hold it in!
Hill’s expression became slightly unnatural. She was using so much of her will to suppress the wicked fire rising within her that every cell and every organ in her body seemed to scream—they wanted this woman’s blood, to replenish themselves with the nutrients within it!
Even after saying something so shocking, Lady Anna still wore a gentle smile, her words and manner beyond reproach. She asked softly, “Is something wrong, Miss Hill? Is this really such a difficult thing for you?”
How could Lady Anna not be skilled at reading people? For decades, she had pleased her husband, the Montbatten family, and managed those slippery, two-faced servants. She couldn’t have run this household so well alone without such skills.
She saw at a glance the trouble on Hill’s face, but didn’t press her. Instead, she continued, “If you feel troubled, Miss Hill, I won’t force you. After all, this was just a whim of mine. I do apologize for watching you two for so long this morning without saying anything.”
It’s undeniable that both worlds share a common view on women: like fine wine, the older a woman gets, the richer her flavor becomes.
Just listening to a few words from Lady Anna left Hill’s soul adrift.
Facing Lady Anna’s elegant composure, Hill nearly crumbled.
Heavens above!
In her previous life, she was a loser who had never even held a girl’s hand.
In this life, she had just built a relationship with the lady’s daughter, somewhere between friendship and romance. It should’ve been a good start, but who would’ve told her that right after the tutorial, she’d be facing the final boss!
In the end, feeling empty inside and her face burning, Hill cast a pleading look at Otis beside her.
“Otis~”
That coquettish tone was a skill Hill had developed since accepting her new identity in this world.
A cute, pretty girl could use this move at any age, and it almost always worked wonders.
As expected, Otis couldn’t resist at all. Faced with her mother’s request—which was both surprising and hard to accept—she was about to gently refuse, when Lady Anna spoke again.
Sadness quickly spread across her beautiful, noble face.
With a sigh, the elegant lady said with a trace of melancholy, “It’s my fault. After just one meal together, I made such an unreasonable request of you children.”
“Otis, ever since I married your father, I’ve barely touched any books about magic, nor have I recited my beloved Elven poetry anywhere but at banquets. All these years, even though your father hasn’t been home for so long, I’ve still not dared go against his will.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, her vulnerability stirring sympathy. Her clothing already seemed barely able to contain her figure, and with those gentle sobs, it seemed about to give way entirely.
Hill, as if hypnotized, took a step forward, speaking earnestly and warmly: “Leave it to me, dear Lady.”
“Eh?” Lady Anna looked genuinely surprised, like a girl receiving an unexpected birthday gift—a striking contrast with her mature appearance. “I thought this would trouble you, Miss Hill. After all, one’s energy is limited.”
Otis had been about to nod in agreement, but Hill gently took her hand, the warmth calming her down.
Yes, though her mother was the envy of every woman in town, she herself had been a victim of a political marriage, destined to endure a failed union for life.
Given all this, if Mother only wanted to share a magic tutor with her daughter, how could she possibly refuse such a small request?
What’s more, it was her mother paying Hill’s fees, so she had even less reason to refuse.
After thinking it over, Otis nodded as well and said, “Since Mother still hasn’t given up her interest in magic, it’s perfectly fine for her to study with me if there’s a chance.”
Though Lady Anna was the one making the request, she now looked worried. “But a person’s energy really is limited. No matter how capable she is, Miss Hill is still just a student…”
“On that point, you needn’t worry, my lady.” Hill stepped forward. “Even if you invited the maid standing outside the door to join us, I’m confident I could teach you all well.”
The maid, eavesdropping outside, tilted her head in confusion. Why was she being dragged into this? Magic was such a noble thing, not something a low-born servant like her could hope to touch. Just having this kind lady take her in was already fortune enough.
Hearing this, a genuine smile finally appeared on Lady Anna’s face. “With your assurance, I feel at ease. You truly are a good child. I am once again glad that Otis has a friend like you.”
“To have your approval is my own honor, beautiful lady. Besides, a thirst for knowledge is a rare virtue, and right now it is as dazzling as the finest gem in the world—no less radiant than your beauty.”
“Refinement is the best adornment for a person, and virtue the best gift to give others. How fortunate I am, as Otis’ friend, to receive such a precious gift from you, my lady!”
Lady Anna was so amused by these words that she laughed aloud, the first genuine laughter she’d shared with anyone but her daughter in a long time.
After some discussion, and at Lady Anna’s insistence, Hill’s tutoring fee rose from one gold coin to four—a considerable fortune.
The servants in the Montbatten household made only four or five coins a year; this was an income most people could only dream of.
Encouraged by this money, and having the chance to bask in Lady Anna’s beauty, Hill became even more enthusiastic. She explained the difficult theories of magic in terms so simple they seemed like elementary arithmetic, holding Lady Anna’s attention despite her decades away from study.
An entire afternoon slipped away in this joyful atmosphere.
As evening fell, Otis, coming back to her senses, glanced at her mother, who was asking questions like an apprentice and learning humbly without any airs. A strange, complicated feeling filled her heart. Especially seeing Hill’s unusually warm and patient manner when teaching her mother—far beyond what was normal—this feeling only grew.
But thinking about it, wasn’t Hill always like this with her, too?
Hill was gentle to everyone who treated her kindly.
Moreover, though she could not compare with her mother in looks, status, or wealth, there was one thing in which she was absolutely unrivaled.
“I’m the only one who knows Hill is a vampire, and I was the first to volunteer to be her food. Mother, you can never surpass me in her heart!”
Hmph! This silent, invisible contest—was it Miss Otis Montbatten’s victory?
…Or was it?
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