After Shia left, the office gradually returned to its usual quiet, with only two teachers chatting softly in the background.

Ella remained seated, her long, soft legs weak beneath her desk as she tried to process the events that had just unfolded.

Despite her lingering frustration, her face was lit with an unmistakable joy—a stark contrast to her earlier gloom and defeat.

It was unclear whether her happiness stemmed from her successful bait-and-switch strategy or the reassurance that her charm still held sway.

Either way, she was undeniably pleased.

---

Ella’s thoughts swirled in a complicated storm of emotions.

"Ping!"

Her phone vibrated twice on her desk, the screen lighting up with a notification.

In a good mood, she picked it up to check the message. However, as her eyes scanned the text, her face slowly turned serious, her expression growing heavy.

The sender was a number she knew all too well—one she hadn’t saved, but one that had exchanged countless messages with her in the past.

Zero.

Her direct superior.

The message was a directive, outlining the next phase of her mission.

Ella stared at the words, seemingly lost in thought or perhaps deliberating over the implications.

After a long moment, she expertly deleted the message as though it had never existed.

But the contents had already burned themselves into her memory.

Pressing her lips together, she clenched her phone tightly, the knuckles of her fingers whitening.

'What could the Witch’s Midnight Banquet, silent for so long, be planning now?'

---

In the classroom, Violet was working on her own scheme, gradually acclimating to Shia’s presence. Her plan was straightforward: lower his guard and then seize the perfect moment for a lethal strike.

However, the reality was more mundane.

Violet glanced at the person sitting next to her and turned to Shia with a faint smile.

"What did Ella want with you earlier?"

"Nothing much, just a little scolding for skipping classes."

Their casual exchange was calm and unremarkable.

Violet twitched slightly at his response but ultimately lowered her head, letting a small smile play on her lips.

Once a lofty, untouchable figure, Violet now seemed much more approachable.

Not only had she grown accustomed to Shia sitting near her as a desk mate, but she had also softened her demeanor toward others. The once intimidating aura around her seat had dissipated, and classmates now felt comfortable sitting nearby.

A crisp 'clang' broke the calm as a ruler fell to the floor, landing near Violet’s feet.

The girl behind Violet covered her face in embarrassment. Oh no, her ruler had fallen at the feet of the princess. Now she’d have to wait until the break to pick it up.

She froze when she heard a faint sound.

When she opened her eyes, she found the ruler back on her desk.

Violet had bent down and returned it to her.

The silver-haired princess turned back around as if it were nothing.

The girl was stunned.

Was this the same ice-cold goddess?

She actually picked up something for her.

Though she had heard rumors of Violet’s newfound gentleness, experiencing it firsthand was shocking.

"Thank you," the girl said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.

Her eyes, however, couldn’t help but drift toward Shia.

It wasn’t just this girl who had experienced Violet’s softened attitude. Many classmates had noticed, and after their initial surprise, they all attributed it to Shia.

There was no way they believed they had earned the favor of the Silver Moon Princess.

It had to be because of Shia.

Only he could get close to this untouchable flower.

A wave of admiration swept through the class as everyone held Shia in high regard.

Not only was he immensely talented, but he had also managed to bring about a transformation in Violet.

In their eyes, Shia was clearly Violet’s rightful boyfriend.

Violet had heard these rumors as well.

Her response? A snort of disdain.

There was no way she would ever fall for someone like him.

She wasn’t an idiot!

Yet, even as she thought this, she turned to Shia with a warm smile.

The smile was serene and beautiful.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, they looked like a harmonious couple, completely in sync.

Shia smiled back, noting how the once prickly Violet now seemed much more tolerable.

Her soft, fluffy hair looked particularly tempting to touch.

So, he reached out.

As expected, it was soft and fluffy, just as he had imagined.

Violet’s lips pressed together slightly, her face still wearing a sweet smile.

It was all a facade, built on patience and restraint.

Everything was worth enduring for the sake of eventual victory.

---

Compared to the once arrogant and ostentatious princess, Violet’s growth was undeniable.

When class ended, Shia approached her directly with a request for help.

"Why me?" Violet asked, her tone lofty.

She crossed her silk-clad legs, the supple fabric pressing lightly against her thighs. The creamy, snow-like texture seemed ready to melt at any moment.

Her response was neither a direct agreement nor a refusal, leaving plenty of room for maneuvering.

Whether or not she would help? That depended on the situation.

Violet felt a small sense of triumph, her expression haughty, as if demanding to be begged.

How arrogant.

Shia, however, was blunt and straightforward.

"Please, you’re the only one who can help me."

His words were earnest, his actions even more so.

Shia stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her slim waist.

"Truly, I’m asking you sincerely."

The ticklish sensation at her waist made Violet instinctively want to pull away. Her eyes darted around, frantic.

If anyone saw this, what would they think?

The rumors were already bad enough—this would be disastrous.

"I’ll help, okay? But only because you asked so earnestly," she relented.

Of course, she’d never admit that his sincerity had made her happy.

Though she tried to maintain her royal elegance, deep down, she was still just a young girl.

Shia noticed the subtle satisfaction in Violet’s expression and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

She’s surprisingly easy to fool, he thought.

"Alright, I agreed—so let go!" Violet’s voice dropped to a low, exasperated whisper.

"If you’re willing to help me, I need to thank you properly," Shia said sincerely.

"Ah—"

Her words were swallowed by silence, the air between them thick with tension.

---

Later that day, after school.

Violet followed Shia to the basement of his villa.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the massive machinery filling the room. Intricate devices and incomprehensible mechanisms dominated the space, leaving her in awe.

"What is this…?" she muttered unconsciously.

Even with her vast knowledge, she had never seen anything like these machines.

Her mind buzzed with curiosity and doubt.

What was Shia planning?

Footsteps echoed, drawing her attention. She turned to see others descending the stairs.

Among them were Rong, a seemingly ordinary but cute girl; the golden-haired elven princess; and even…

Violet’s eyes widened slightly.

"Aph? What are you doing here?"

The others also looked at Shia and Aph with curiosity.

Aph, clearly caught off guard, broke into a nervous sweat.

"I-I’m here to see you, Your Highness!" Aph stammered, quickly searching for an excuse.

"I heard you were helping him, so I came to assist too."

Her words tumbled out in a rush as she tried to maintain her composure.

"If you’re helping, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, so I decided to join in as well."

Aph turned to Shia, her eyes pleading.

"Right, Shia?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com