Eileen returned to her seat beside Shia, her tone light and teasing.

"I wouldn’t want to be the third wheel between you two lovebirds~."

Because of their earlier repositioning, there was no more space beside Sistine. On the other hand, the seat next to Shia still had plenty of room.

"I just wanted him to meet you today," Sistine murmured, lowering her gaze shyly.

Eileen chuckled softly.

"Speaking of which, I only heard a little from Sistine about the goblin lair incident before. Lately, the academy has been abuzz with your stories, Shia.

"Now that I finally get to meet the man behind the legend, would you mind sharing the details?"

As she spoke, her wide, curious eyes sparkled with interest. Her lively movements caused her chest to lightly press against Shia’s shoulder.

The soft, springy sensation, coupled with the faint touch of her lace-covered leg under the table, made the air in the room subtly sweet and charged with unspoken tension.

Yet her expression remained purely curious, as if entirely unaware of any underlying sensuality.

Her bright smile and innocent demeanor radiated warmth, leaving no trace of malice.

If her actions seemed provocative, it was hard to imagine she was doing it on purpose.

Eileen’s smile grew even purer, her aura like the gentle dawn, radiating a healing energy that made people lower their guard.

The radiant and pure demeanor of Eileen, combined with her warm, healing smile, was the reason she earned the title of the "Dawn Saintess."

She exuded a natural charm that was both pure and enticing, a feminine allure that was impossible to ignore.

But all of this was just a facade.

From Shia’s perspective, he saw an entirely different picture.

Attraction?

What a joke!

You thought her touches were accidental?

You believed her innocent and warm exterior was genuine?

Never trust a PUA girl!

Unlike Mary Sue, who blatantly flaunted her manipulative side, Eileen embodied the opposite extreme—a master of deceit hidden beneath layers of purity.

Lilith might treat others as beneath her, but the Dawn Saintess, with her impeccable "PUA arts," aimed to make you her loyal dog.

Sistine, ever naive, failed to notice the subtle malice hidden behind Eileen’s kind smile.

Eileen wasn’t interested in Shia romantically. She was purely driven by the thrill of breaking apart a loving couple and turning her best friend’s boyfriend into her obedient plaything.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Behind Eileen’s radiant smile lay a mischievous and wicked delight.

How interesting this would be!

Yes, very interesting indeed.

Shia’s smile gradually deepened as a thought crossed his mind.

A pure yet teasing saintess, reduced to a submissive puppy? That would certainly be a sight to behold.

The idea of the "gentle, warm boyfriend" turning the tables on a cunning PUA girl was too entertaining to pass up.

But how does one counter someone who pretends to be pure and kind?

The answer: act even more innocent, luring her into overplaying her hand.

Shia lowered his head, his face lighting up with a radiant, happy smile.

"Perhaps it was through trials and tribulations that we truly came to understand each other," Shia said, turning to Sistine.

Their eyes met, and the mutual affection in their gazes painted a picture of a perfectly harmonious couple.

Seeing their love-struck expressions, Eileen’s hands practically itched with excitement.

Breaking them apart would be so much fun!

"Tell me more," Eileen urged, propping her chin on her hands and leaning closer to Shia.

Her large, glimmering eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if she were merely indulging in a cute couple’s story.

But as she leaned in, her lace-clad leg pressed fully against Shia’s under the table.

She even gave a subtle "accidental" rub.

Shia, "accidentally" of course, caught hold of her playful little foot.

Her delicate foot, small and wrapped in silky stockings, was completely enveloped in his hand.

From above the table, nothing seemed amiss.

But Eileen knew exactly what had happened.

In the instant her foot was captured, her composed and elegant demeanor cracked.

Her smile froze.

Meanwhile, Shia’s expression remained warm and gentle, exuding an air of sophistication.

He even raised an eyebrow at Sistine.

Sistine, noticing the interaction, turned to look at Eileen with concern.

"Eileen, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"

Shia also turned to Eileen, his gaze filled with apparent worry.

Eileen felt the whole situation choking her with frustration.

Did Shia think he was holding Sistine’s foot?

The hand gripping her foot gently squeezed, sending an unusual sensation up her leg. For someone who thrived on teasing others, the rare feeling of embarrassment was a novel experience.

She couldn’t tell if Shia was doing it on purpose or if it was a genuine mistake.

All she could do was shake her head and offer a placating smile.

"It’s nothing, really. I just remembered an assignment my mentor gave me that I haven’t finished yet.

"But hosting you two is more important. I’ll deal with it later.”

Shia watched Eileen struggle to maintain her composure, her forced calm betraying her inner turmoil.

'Gotcha.'

Underneath the table, he maintained his firm grip, his calm demeanor masking the small victory he felt.

The tea party eventually concluded amidst this "harmonious" atmosphere.

Everyone appeared to be in good spirits.

Of course, only Sistine was genuinely happy. The other two harbored entirely different intentions.

As Eileen stood at the door, watching the pair walk away, her gaze lingered on Shia’s back.

The sight of the golden-haired Sistine clinging shyly to the tall, composed Shia stirred a strange excitement within her.

This meeting had only deepened her interest in Shia.

A boy who could reside in the goddesses’ sanctuary, be revered by every girl in the academy, and even win the heart of the aloof Sword Saintess...

He might just be worthy of becoming the vessel for the Holy Grail.

Hand in hand, Shia and Sistine strolled through the garden. Sensing her good mood, Shia couldn’t help but ask:

"What do you think of your best friend?"

Without hesitation, Sistine replied, "She’s a wonderful person—very popular at school and very kind to me."

She paused as a memory crossed her mind, then added, "Even though she likes teasing people, she’s a good person at heart."

"Don’t mind what she said earlier; she was just worried about me."

"I’ve always been a bit of a loner, with few friends. She’s the only one who approached me first and became my friend."

Sistine’s words were sincere, her eyes meeting Shia’s with an earnest expression.

"Do you think you could like her?"

Once Sistine trusted someone, she trusted them completely. Even when Eileen exposed her flaws in front of Shia, she still saw her as a good person.

Despite her aloof and noble exterior, Sistine’s heart was warm and pure.

It was this purity that made her excel in swordsmanship—and the very trait Shia found most endearing.

"As long as she’s kind to you, I’ll like her," Shia replied with a soft smile, reaching out to ruffle Sistine’s hair.

Sistine blushed, grabbing his hand in protest.

"I’m your senior! Isn’t this a little too casual?"

Shia chuckled, but Sistine didn’t let go. Instead, she held his hand and swayed it gently as they walked.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com