Lilith continued to stare at Tia’s face, suspicion flickering in her eyes.

Tia worked hard to keep herself composed, trying to appear as normal as possible. Yet, her heart pounded in her chest like a drum.

Lilith nodded thoughtfully, seeming to accept Tia’s explanation.

Even with her trusted maid’s assurance, an unease lingered in her chest.

She decided to visit Shia herself.

After all, she cared about him.

A tool as useful as Shia wasn’t something she could afford to lose so easily.

But when Lilith arrived, she found an empty house.

Looking around at the vacant space, she realized something unsettling—she barely knew anything about her tool.

If he wasn’t at home, where else could she find him?

Lilith scanned the room’s furnishings to confirm that it was indeed empty.

She turned to leave, her hand on the doorknob, when something made her pause.

Lilith’s nose twitched slightly as she caught a faint, lingering fragrance in the air.

It was familiar—too familiar.

A composed and elegant face appeared in her mind.

With the sharp instincts of a bloodhound, Lilith’s eyes widened.

Why does it smell like *her* here!?

A sense of foreboding and anxiety welled up in her chest.

She recalled the call she had made to her mentor. Her mentor had promised not to let Shia enroll so easily, yet there had been no resistance at all.

Now, paired with this scent, an unsettling possibility formed in Lilith’s mind.

Had her mentor been poached?

No.

Lilith instinctively dismissed the idea.

She ran through Shia’s attributes in her mind: a talentless nobody, decent looks, and a somewhat good family background. Hardly worth stealing.

Except… if it was for something more scandalous.

A composed widow and a vibrant, virile young man.

Lilith’s mind filled with colorful, tantalizing images that were as vivid as they were explicit.

Her imagination, running rampant, quickly filled in every detail of her mentor’s supposed escapades with her so-called fiancé.

Her gaze shifted to the neatly made bed.

Although it was perfectly tidy, Lilith could almost see the aftermath of their struggle.

She shivered, jolting herself back to reality.

Dammit. She had overexcited herself.

The illusions faded, leaving her in the same quiet, tidy room, filled with that faint, lingering fragrance.

---

Meanwhile, what was Shia up to?

He stood with a calm, faint smile on his face, studying the elegant figure before him.

The woman in front of him had soft, wavy purple hair tied into a half-up bun, with a few gentle strands framing her face. Her refined smile and composed demeanor exuded sophistication.

She wore a pale yellow dress that hugged her full curves, turning even a modest outfit into something that looked like a skintight piece.

Her ample chest seemed ready to burst the decorative buttons, while her slender waist appeared even more delicate in comparison. The skirt, cut just above mid-thigh, revealed long legs encased in sheer gray stockings, hinting at an enticing peachy fragrance.

The classic “neighbor’s wife” look: dignified and elegant, yet undeniably alluring.

Ella had clearly recovered her composure after a day’s break.

She acted as if Shia were just an ordinary new student, keeping her demeanor calm and professional.

Or so it seemed.

Ella was currently giving Shia a tour of Seven Shields Academy.

The academy featured blue spires and pristine white buildings, all constructed in the style of grand castles.

With separate zones for sports, academics, living quarters, and leisure, the academy offered breathtaking sights and comprehensive facilities.

Its scale rivaled that of a small country—a world of its own.

Shia looked up at the blue sky, the clouds tinged with golden hues.

This coloration came from the distortion caused by the academy’s protective barrier.

Suddenly, the cheerful chatter of girls reached his ears. Shia lowered his gaze just in time to see a group of students exiting their classroom.

The lively girls were full of energy, their tailored uniforms making them stand out even more.

The uniforms were white with blue accents, featuring deep-blue pleated skirts that drew attention to their long, slender legs.

Shia’s gaze lingered on those legs.

Short skirts and stockings—the perfect combo.

Looking around, he realized the academy was overwhelmingly filled with girls, most of them beautiful.

Why was the gender ratio at Seven Shields so skewed?

Don’t ask. It’s just how these fantasy worlds work.

As much as the story annoyed him, Shia had to admit the setting was a visual treat.

“This area is for second-year classes. You freshmen will be studying over here,” Ella’s gentle, magnetic voice broke his thoughts.

She turned her head slightly, gesturing toward another part of the campus.

Her tone was professional and meticulous as she guided him through the tour.

Shia followed her gaze and matched her pace.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Ella.”

“You look stunning today, Ms. Ella.”

Everywhere they went, students greeted Ella with admiration.

Two girls with faces full of reverence stood in front of them, bowing respectfully.

Shia wasn’t surprised. These weren’t the first students to greet Ella warmly.

Ella responded with a slight nod, her composed smile exuding elegance and restraint, commanding even greater respect.

It was clear from their reactions just how much the students admired her.

Ella’s popularity wasn’t just due to her exceptional teaching skills, though. Her own strength and innovative teaching methods had earned unanimous praise from the students.

Sure, she was greedy and undeniably a schemer.

But to become a first-tier lecturer at Seven Shields Academy, Ella had to have real talent.

Besides her capabilities, Ella’s classical beauty also contributed to her fame.

As a paragon of grace and intellect, Ella was one of the academy’s most admired figures.

Shia’s gaze gradually shifted from the surroundings to Ella herself.

For such an outstanding beauty of a mentor… how satisfying would it be to make her cry more?

Once the idea took hold, he didn’t hesitate.

Action followed thought as Shia reached out and clasped her soft, delicate hand.

Ella instinctively turned her head, looking at him in surprise.

“Aunt Ella, getting familiar with the academy isn’t the most important thing. Could you give me a unique lesson instead?”

The handsome young man held the elegant mentor’s wrist gently. The sunlight framed his dark hair in a warm glow.

His sunny smile and clean, radiant aura were brighter than the sunlight itself.

Ella stared at the eager boy, her throat tightening as she swallowed nervously. Her entire body tensed instinctively.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was dangerous.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com