Kefi naturally took off her shoes as she entered, saying as she walked in:
“Your Highness, I’ve come to help you return your books to the library. But I think I heard the sound of cooking—are you…”
Kefi’s words were cut off abruptly.
Because at that moment, Sefina happened to have a spatula in her right hand, poking her head out from the kitchen, about to say something to Ellaria in the living room:
“Ellaria, you’re awa—”
In an instant, Sefina’s calm, wine-red eyes met the stunned faces of the two at the door.
Kefi stared at Teacher Sefina—the high blue ponytail, the obviously ill-fitting apron tied around her, and that spatula so at odds with her usual image…
Her mind almost stopped working. Why… why would Teacher Sefina show up at Her Highness the Princess’s dorm so early in the morning?! And in such… in such a “housewife” outfit?!
“T-teacher… you two are…?” Kefi covered her mouth, eyes wide, her face full of disbelief and wild speculation.
Could it be… is this… are they living together?! That’s exactly how it goes in all those light novels she’s read!
Besides, just now Teacher called Her Highness by her name, so naturally and intimately… and even cooked breakfast herself…
“N-no, it’s not what you think!”
Ellaria, seeing Kefi’s shifting expressions, instantly guessed what she was imagining.
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she hurriedly waved her hands in denial, but her tongue got all tied up, and for a moment she had no idea how to explain this chaotic situation.
In contrast, Sefina, though surprised by Kefi’s sudden arrival, maintained her usual calm and unruffled expression.
To her, she had only stayed over at a student’s place due to certain circumstances, and was making breakfast this morning to thank her—everything was reasonable, nothing to be ashamed of.
So, in a tone as flat and vague as possible, she explained:
“There were some things last night, so I stayed over at Ellaria’s place. This morning, I’m just making breakfast to show my thanks.”
She skillfully avoided any details—after all, last night’s events were truly hard to put into words.
“Ah? So that’s how it is…” The shock faded from Kefi’s face, replaced by a bit of embarrassment.
Maybe… maybe she really was overthinking it? Teacher Sefina looked so calm, not at all like someone caught hiding a secret. She always seemed to let her imagination run away with her…
But still, Teacher Sefina in that apron really had a “gentle wife” feeling—so different from her stern and aloof image in class, it was an adorable contrast.
“Kefi, have you had breakfast?” Sefina changed the subject at just the right time.
“N-not yet.” Kefi answered honestly.
“I’ll make a bit more. Let’s eat together.” Sefina invited her naturally.
“Okay! Thank you, Teacher!” Kefi agreed happily, a bright smile on her face.
Seeing this, Ellaria finally breathed a silent sigh of relief and patted her chest. Thankfully, Kefi hadn’t dug any deeper, nor had she jumped to even crazier conclusions.
Sefina soon finished preparing breakfast: simple fried eggs, toast, milk, and a plate of appetizing tomato scrambled eggs.
She took off her apron and, loosening the high ponytail, let her smooth blue hair fall freely, restoring her usual appearance.
Only then did Kefi notice that Teacher Sefina was wearing practical pants and a shirt today, not her usual dress.
Although this version of her looked neat and cute in its own way, Kefi still preferred Teacher Sefina in a pretty skirt and white over-the-knee socks—that, to her, was the perfect teacher image.
Thinking of this, Kefi’s cheeks turned faintly pink again. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus on her food.
Sefina didn’t notice Kefi’s inner thoughts at all. Quietly eating her breakfast, her mind had already drifted far away.
Scenes from last night’s investigation in the magic artifact storage room replayed in her mind.
After confirming with her own eyes, the “square, glowing with a purple aura” ancient magic artifact the adjutant had described was indeed not in the storage room.
Combining this result with the adjutant’s later mention of a “planned transfer,” Sefina had already formed a rough guess in her heart.
She’d need to contact Lisika later to have her check the relevant clues through other channels. If the information was true, then her suspicions… were likely correct.
Time slipped by quietly, and soon it was the very night the adjutant had mentioned—the Academy’s plan to escort the magic artifact to be stored in the royal capital.
The night sky, with its moonlight veiled by thin clouds, cast a faint silvery glow that just barely illuminated the winding forest path on the outskirts of Oselenka Academy.
Night winds rustled through the woods, raising a chorus of whispering leaves that covered up smaller sounds and made the atmosphere feel especially silent and mysterious.
A squad of fully armed Academy patrolmen were marching warily down the path.
Their footsteps moved in unison, armor glinting coldly in the dim light, sharp eyes sweeping over every shadow where danger might lurk.
Their formation was clearly well-designed: the outer members carried shields and longswords, while the inner circle included several magicians holding staves, ready to chant spells at any moment.
At the very center, under heavy guard, was the patrol captain—a burly, stern-faced man named Duncan.
He wore not heavy plate, but leather armor suited for mobility. What drew the most attention, though, was the metal sealed box he held solemnly in both hands.
The box’s surface was engraved with complex sealing runes, and a powerful, suppressed energy could be faintly felt within.
There was no doubt: the ancient magic artifact the adjutant had mentioned was inside.
The other members formed a circle around Duncan, perfectly spaced to support each other without getting in the way.
They kept their breathing deliberately light; only the soft crunch of boots on fallen leaves and the occasional faint clink of armor could be heard in the quiet night.
There was an invisible tension in the air—everyone understood the weight of the responsibility on their shoulders.
Yet, none of them noticed that, lurking deep within the darker shadows, several pairs of beast-like, sharp eyes were watching them intently, especially the metal box in Captain Duncan’s hands.
A group of figures in wide black robes, faces hidden deep within their hoods, crouched like coiled serpents, utterly silent and motionless.
No one knew how many there were—their presence was so faint that they seemed to blend into the darkness itself.
The night wind swirled a few dead leaves down the forest path.
The patrol squad continued their steady advance, while the black-robed figures in the distance tensed like leopards, ready to strike.
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