Alicia sat poised at the very center of the classroom.
At this moment, she resembled the perfect ice sculpture—her back straight, hands elegantly folded atop the open grimoire before her, slender fingers as pale and flawless as jade, not a hint of tremble.
Her gaze had already withdrawn; unlike before, she no longer stared directly at the highest “focal point,” but instead fell upon the tome lying on the desk.
Her delicate profile was flawless, framed by bird-wing-like eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes. Her pink lips were gently pressed together, expression utterly serene.
It was as if the raucous chaos at the top of the tiered classroom—the farce created by her nominal fiancé and closest friend—simply did not exist.
But Anna knew better.
A colossal illusion!
Anna’s usually straight back now bent slightly and uncontrollably, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her teeth chattering.
A chilling cold seeped endlessly from the “unshakably calm” princess beside her.
It was not elemental frost conjured by magic, but a bone-deep cold born from the very depths of the soul.
Anna felt as if she stood at the eye of a silent storm.
She carefully summoned every ounce of strength just to stop herself from rubbing her arms for warmth.
And she furtively stole a glance at Alicia from the corner of her eye, then quickly and fearfully lifted her gaze toward the upper tier—
There, Lilith watched “obediently” practicing, her face alight with the smug satisfaction of a petty villain, completely unaware she had unknowingly provoked Lord Loye—an iceberg of terrifying magnitude.
In Anna’s mind, the scene crystallized as if Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream had taken shape:
(;´д)_Lord Loye!
What are you doing? Hey!
Please, stop “playing” with her!
……
Meanwhile, at the top of the tiered classroom.
“I-I won’t dare anymore… I… I swear I won’t fool around again…”
Lilith nervously tapped her index fingers together.
Lord Loye sneered coldly, thinking to himself that this time he had finally put the drama queen in her place.
“Then, Lilith, look me in the eyes. What should you do now?”
“What I should do…”
As if to prove her ‘genuine repentance,’ Lilith took a deep breath, her expression resolute as if ready to face death.
She lifted her hand and summoned her magic—not with the reckless, performative flair from before, but with care.
A small, stable orange flame carefully took shape in her palm.
It formed a standard, well-sized fireball that radiated intense but controlled heat.
Holding her breath, Lilith’s eyes locked onto the miniature “Frost Shield” Lord Loye had just conjured—about a meter and a half from the chandelier debris, just a little safer this time.
Aiming at the center, she exhaled sharply and pushed the fireball forward with nearly trembling precision, embodying her current “heart of repentance.”
Boom!
This time, the fireball hit dead center, sending small ripples and steam dancing across the ice.
Though its power was modest, the stability marked it as exemplary work worthy of a top student.
Bravo!
Lord Loye nodded with satisfaction. “Hmm, promising.”
He dragged out his tone in that infuriatingly authoritative “instructor” manner, deliberately leaning close to Lilith’s ear to tease her.
Lilith stiffened, her back to him.
No one saw the flicker of fire that reignited in her golden eyes beneath residual tears—two fierce flames burning with the vow of “This grudge won’t go unanswered, lady or not.”
Quickly, she pulled from the small side pocket of her skirt a lavish notebook embedded with pearls.
It was probably for jotting down important notes or doodles.
She flipped to a fresh page, produced a pink fountain pen, and scrawled two twisted characters in bold: LOYE!
After the name, she drew three large, furious red crosses!
╰(◣д◢)╯
The class bell rang.
Professor Elmerro II cleared his throat and surveyed the chaotic classroom.
“All right, you little rascals.”
His voice carried a hint of exhaustion but remained commanding. “Class is over. Before you leave, clean up the magical residue you left in your practice areas.”
His gaze then fixed sharply on the very top of the tiered classroom, on the pale green figure quietly shrinking back, trying to hide behind the mess.
“Especially the student who caused significant ‘property damage.’ Clean up, restore everything before tomorrow’s class. Understand?”
“Eep!”
Lilith, caught like a British shorthair cat by the scruff of its neck, let out a short, plaintive whimper. Her face puffed out as her shoulders sagged.
“Pfft—”
A seat away, Lord Loye immediately buried his face in his open textbook, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Lilith, lost in despair, caught a glimpse of the annoying figure beside her.
That bastard! He’s clearly trying to hold back laughter!
He’s laughing at me!!!
How detestable!
Lilith bared her small tiger teeth, and just as Lord Loye’s body jerked again from stifled laughter—
Thud!
A muffled, crisp sound, tinged with the rustle of fabric, echoed from the cramped space beneath their desks.
Lilith’s small foot, clad in delicate white princess socks and polished leather shoes, shot out like a tiny cannonball—precise, swift, and fueled by personal vendetta—landing squarely on the side of Lord Loye’s black leather shoe!
“Ugh—!!”
Lord Loye instantly flinched, wanting to cry out in pain!
But he couldn’t! There were others in the classroom!
He was the “top of the grade”!
He couldn’t lose face!
“Hmph!”
Lilith, having scored her blow, quickly withdrew her leg and sat up properly again, hands resting neatly on her lap, as if the fierce kick had nothing to do with her.
Yet her slightly raised chin, trembling shoulders, and the sly sideways glance flashing with triumphant, mischievous glee fully betrayed her.
Serves you right!
You dared laugh at me!
Lord Loye shot his head up sharply, eyes blazing as if about to breathe fire, glaring fiercely and unyieldingly back at her.
(╬◣д◢)
You’re finished!
Lilith’s golden eyes returned the glare without backing down.
(╬◣д◢)
Come on! Who’s afraid of who!
However, both were so engrossed in their deadly staredown that they completely missed the fact that the other students—who had been slowly packing or tidying their practice spots—had silently vanished.
Or rather, the next class required changing classrooms, and being late would only mean tardiness.
In the spacious, brightly lit tiered classroom, only the two remained—locked in a “passionate” mutual gaze.
Just as this tense, gunpowder-thick atmosphere reached its peak!
Click.
A faint, abrupt sound echoed from below the silent tiered classroom, where even a pin drop could be heard.
Almost simultaneously!
An indescribable deep cold suddenly descended upon the highest point of the classroom!
Lord Loye and Lilith both shivered involuntarily.
Almost instinctively, the two—who moments ago had been squabbling like roosters—ceased their glare in perfect unison.
Then, stiffly turning their necks, they slowly looked toward the classroom entrance.
……
Alicia had silently appeared by the door at some point.
The afternoon sunlight slanted through the high windows but seemed unable to warm her in the slightest.
Instead, it accentuated the invisible chill radiating from her, as if even light itself could freeze in her presence.
She stood quietly, her posture still flawlessly straight and elegant.
A faint smile graced her perfect face.
A smile so “gentle.”
Lord Loye: “……”
Lilith: “……”
The two, who had just been at swords’ points, now had only one thought flashing wildly in their minds:
We’re so dead!!!