Even as she cleaned the classroom, her heart remained light and joyful.

Suddenly, Shia's words and actions from earlier flashed in her mind.

It wasn't just the distillation technique—there was also a special wine made exclusively for the Silver Moon Kingdom.

She clearly understood its immense value.

And then, there was the unspoken sincerity Shia revealed while speaking.

A shiver ran down Violet's back.

Her body still carried a trace of the earlier excitement.

She couldn't help but press her slender legs tightly together, her cheeks flushing once again. Her heart raced as if a deer were running wild inside her chest.

'Is he trying to flatter me?'

'Does he actually care about me?'

Her heart swelled with delight, sweetness, and excitement.

She wanted to run three laps around the campus but also felt like burying her head in the sand like an ostrich.

The conflicting feelings of shyness and joy left her flustered yet content.

This was the first time Violet had ever experienced the stirrings of young love.

The haughty princess didn't understand what this feeling meant.

She only felt as though a certain lock deep within her was breaking apart.

She could almost hear the crackling sound of something shattering.

But soon, irritation welled up inside her.

Her royal status wasn't just an acknowledgment of her identity—it also demanded she uphold certain behaviors.

She felt vexed.

'How could I do something so shameless!?'

Her emotions oscillated wildly in a short span of time.

One moment, she felt like soaring into the sky; the next, she plunged into the depths.

The rollercoaster of emotions was confusing but also strangely novel.

While Violet was caught in her turmoil, Shia was washing his hands.

The sound of running water echoed as Shia bent over the sink, unaware of the quiet footsteps behind him.

It wasn't until he looked up and saw the reflection in the mirror that he noticed something.

Turning around, he found his path blocked by a tall, athletic woman.

Her healthy, sun-kissed skin and her strong yet beautiful face bore no expression. Her sharp eyes locked onto his.

Her imposing figure, accentuated by a full, well-endowed chest, exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.

She stepped closer with each step, the oppressive atmosphere intensifying.

The knightess was on the move!

Shia raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Senior, you know you can't just barge into the men's restroom, right?"

His tone was teasing, as if it were a playful jab between friends.

But her intentions were far from friendly.

Aph's expression at that moment was anything but amicable.

Her piercing gaze fixed on Shia, as though a storm brewed in her eyes.

Just as Shia was about to speak again, the next second, he was shoved into a stall by the tall woman.

The stall door slammed shut. From the restroom entrance to being inside the stall, everything happened so quickly that it only took a few seconds.

The sound of the door locking was drowned out by a loud 'thud'—a noise Shia didn't even register.

Before he could react, he felt a soft yet calloused hand grab his wrist, and the light around him dimmed.

His back pressed against the stall wall, while the voluptuous body of the older woman before him filled the confined space.

Looking up, he met her stormy gaze.

Today, the knightess was unexpectedly dominant.

Aph's demeanor had taken a complete 180, no longer the gentle, composed woman she used to be.

Instead, she exuded a sharp and intimidating aura that sent chills down one's spine.

She didn't care about the location or timing.

Her eyes locked onto Shia, ready to unleash a tempest at any moment.

She was like a hunter on the prowl.

Her hands pressed against the wall, trapping Shia in the narrow space.

Her sharp gaze burned into his, unyielding.

Her emotions surged uncontrollably.

As a seasoned knight, Aph usually noticed everything, even if it wasn't immediately apparent.

At the very least, Violet's clumsy attempts to hide her unusual behavior didn't escape her keen observation.

Aph had been by Violet's side since she was a little girl, protecting her.

From an adorable, innocent child to a graceful and noble princess, Aph had watched her grow.

Her joys and sorrows had always been within Aph's watchful gaze.

She even entered the academy a year early just to stay close and safeguard her.

To Aph, Violet was like a little sister—a precious charge she was sworn to protect.

She couldn't allow anything to harm her, not even the slightest mistake.

Protecting her princess was both a duty and a heartfelt commitment.

She wanted Violet to always be happy and safe.

If not for the immense responsibility Violet carried for the entire kingdom, Aph would never let her endure even a hint of grievance.

The earlier contract with Shia was already the maximum extent of what she could tolerate.

From the beginning, they had agreed Shia wasn't allowed to push Violet too far.

But now, someone had dared to hurt the princess she had vowed to protect.

The moment Aph realized what had happened, a fiery anger ignited within her.

'How dare he!'

'How dare he touch the princess without my permission!?'

In front of Violet, Aph had barely managed to maintain her composure and not expose the fragile facade Violet clung to.

The pretense of calm wasn't out of leniency for Shia.

She simply didn't want Violet to feel humiliated.

She tried so hard to maintain her composure because she didn’t want to acknowledge her true feelings.

Aph suppressed her anger. Even if she wanted to settle accounts with Shia, she would wait until they were in private.

Like now.

All her emotions burst forth at once.

The usually gentle and composed knightess now showed signs of losing control.

“Shia, I’m warning you—don’t lay a hand on the princess. She’s still just a child!”

The sudden warning caught him completely off guard.

Aph’s face twisted into a disturbingly sweet smile.

Her hand shifted on the wall, brushing against Shia’s neck.

This was no ordinary gesture—it was a threat, a warning.

If he dared cross the line, she wouldn’t hesitate to act.

But in the next second, her hand changed course, moving to wrap around Shia’s neck instead.

Her tone softened.

Even her eyes turned gentle, like those of a tender wife gazing at her husband.

Her words became a whisper, as if they were lovers exchanging secrets.

“As long as you promise not to touch the princess, I’m willing to sacrifice myself to give you everything you desire.”

Aph’s voice was so soft, it was almost dripping honey. She seemed to revert to her usual graceful self, but the unsettling smile on her face was something new.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com