Chapter 98: Making breakfast for students

Ellaria had almost used up all her strength, washing with a nearly self-punishing stubbornness.

She stood at the sink, scrubbing for over half an hour.

The skin of her fingers had turned red from the friction, even stinging with a burning sensation. But she seemed not to feel it at all.

Only when there was no longer a trace of anything suspicious left on the fabric, just the wetness of clean water and the faint fragrance of soapwort, did she finally stop, slumping weakly against the edge of the sink.

Ellaria carefully placed the freshly washed clothes, especially those belonging to Teacher Sefina, onto hangers, and hung them up to air on the small balcony attached to the Student Dormitory.

The night breeze brushed past, making the clothes sway gently.

After all this was done, she finally let out a long sigh, the tension in her nerves relaxing just a bit. At least on the surface, all the “evidence of guilt” had been completely wiped away.

Teacher Sefina… she should be fast asleep by now, right?

With this thought in mind, Ellaria tiptoed to the door of her own bedroom, moving extremely slowly as she twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open a crack.

Under the soft glow of the magical night lamp, she saw that petite figure lying on her side on the bed, blue hair spread out on the pillow, one hand gently gripping the edge of the blanket, her cheek sunk into the soft pillow, tinged with a healthy blush, her breathing long and even.

Obviously, Teacher Sefina was already sound asleep.

Ellaria’s heartbeat unconsciously sped up again. Like a thief, she slipped silently into the room, slowly edging toward the bedside.

The sleeping Teacher Sefina had shed all her usual coldness and severity.

Her long lashes fluttered lightly with each breath like butterfly wings, her delicate features appearing especially gentle in sleep, even carrying an unguarded, almost childlike innocence…

She looked very, very cute.

This overwhelming contrast left Ellaria a little dazed.

Perhaps she was drawn in by this unprotected, peaceful sleeping face, or perhaps it was that restless urge in her heart stirring again.

Almost as if possessed, she leaned down, stretched out her slender fingers, and very lightly—quickly—poked Teacher Sefina’s soft-looking cheek.

The sensation at her fingertip was exactly as she had imagined: warm, delicate, with a softness and bounce.

No! No!

Ellaria abruptly jerked her hand back, straightening up as if she’d been shocked by electricity. The heat that had just faded from her cheeks rushed back all at once.

What am I doing?! How can I… how can I do this kind of thing while Teacher is asleep?!

Overwhelmed by a fierce sense of shame, she didn’t dare look any longer. Nearly tiptoeing, she fled the room at top speed, carefully closing the door behind her.

***

The next morning, sunlight poured into the room through the gaps in the curtains.

Sefina awoke naturally from a dreamless night’s sleep, feeling her spirit and strength mostly restored.

She stretched comfortably beneath the soft covers before sitting up.

Moving to the dressing mirror in the room, she used her fingers to quickly smooth out her somewhat disheveled blue hair.

The reflection in the mirror showed she looked much better, except for a barely noticeable weariness beneath her eyes—otherwise, she had mostly returned to normal.

Sefina gently opened the door and came out to the living room.

There she saw Ellaria still curled up on the sofa, covered only by a thin blanket. Her golden hair obscured half her face, breathing steady, still deep in sleep.

Seeing this, Sefina’s lips curled ever so slightly, a wave of warmth rising in her heart.

She stepped over quietly, carefully pulled the slipped blanket back up to cover Ellaria, her movements gentle so as not to wake her.

Such a gentle and thoughtful child. Sefina once again silently affirmed and thanked Ellaria in her heart.

Of course, at this moment she would never imagine that the student she saw as kind and lovable had gone through such a heart-pounding struggle last night—and secretly harbored such complicated, almost “twisted” feelings toward her.

Sefina walked to the balcony and took down the clothes that had been washed last night and quickly dried by wind magic.

They felt perfectly dry to the touch, carrying the scent of sunshine and breeze.

She returned to the bathroom to change into her own clothes.

Though she usually preferred skirts and white stockings, this clean and neat set of pants and shirt was comfortable enough, and she could always change again after returning home.

Now, she wanted to do something to repay Ellaria’s hospitality and care.

Making breakfast seemed like a good choice. The Oselenka Magic Academy Student Dormitory came equipped with a simple kitchen.

So, Sefina nimbly tied her blue hair into a high ponytail at the back of her head, exposing her smooth neck.

She found a clean, plain apron in the kitchen and put it on. Though Ellaria’s kitchen wasn’t as well equipped as Sefina’s Villa, the basic Magic Stove and cookware were all there.

Of course, a student dormitory’s pantry would never be as well stocked as her own, but when Sefina opened the cupboards, she took stock of what was left—

Eggs, bread, milk, and a few tomatoes.

Hmm… she could make some fried eggs, heat up a couple slices of bread, and pour two glasses of milk—that should be enough.

But it seemed a bit plain? Sefina thought for a moment, then decided to add a simple dish of tomato and scrambled eggs. It was filling and would enrich the flavors.

Soon, the comforting sounds of food cooking filled the kitchen.

The Magic Stove licked the bottom of the pan with its flame.

The eggs sizzled enticingly as they hit the hot oil, the sweet and sour scent of tomatoes mingling with the fragrance of fried eggs, gradually spreading throughout the living room.

These warm sounds and smells awakened the one on the sofa. Ellaria sat up drowsily, rubbing her eyes, the blanket slipping off her shoulders.

Still a little lost, she followed the sound and scent toward the kitchen.

The moment she saw that petite figure, hair in a high ponytail swaying gently with her movements and apron tied around her waist, she instantly woke up, her heart thumping as if something had gently bumped into it.

Teacher… was making her breakfast?

Apron-clad Teacher Sefina had shed the sternness of the lecture hall, taking on a more homely softness and gentleness.

That focused profile, bathed in morning light and fire from the stove, looked especially beautiful…

So beautiful.

A mix of emotion—touched, embarrassed, and something deeper—welled up in Ellaria’s heart. She opened her mouth, about to say something—

Just then, from outside the dorm, came the sound of a key slipping into the lock and turning—”click.”

Someone was unlocking the door!

The door was gently pushed open, and a familiar figure peeked in. It was Kefi!

Ellaria’s heart skipped a beat as she remembered.

To make it easier for Kefi to drop by and help clean or run errands, she had indeed given her a copy of the dorm key.

But… but right now…

Right now Teacher Sefina was in her home!!! How was she going to explain this?!