Click.

The faint sound of a doorknob turning broke the tense silence.

The room’s door opened slightly, and the dim light outside illuminated a slender silhouette standing at the entrance.

The door opened wider, revealing long, shapely legs stepping gracefully into the room.

Aph entered, her emerald-green hair cascading down her back as her sharp, hawk-like gaze swept across the room.

Shia sat at the head of the bed, the thin blanket covering his lower half. His reclined posture gave the impression of someone who had just been woken up.

Aph’s sharp eyes scanned every corner of the room, taking in the setup despite the dim lighting.

Aside from Shia, the room appeared empty.

Finally, her gaze landed on Shia.

He met her eyes, quiet and composed.

The room fell into an almost oppressive silence, so still you could hear a pin drop.

Under the bed, the cowardly princess lay flat on her stomach, hands tightly covering her mouth to stifle any sound.

Her petite frame was tense, and her silk-clad feet inched further under the bed.

From her vantage point, she could only see the delicate feet standing at the doorway. She didn’t dare breathe too loudly, her heart pounding in her chest.

Despite her earlier bravado in front of Shia, pretending she wasn’t afraid at all, her body’s honest reaction betrayed her.

Inside the room, Aph, having determined there was no one else present, shifted her focus back to Shia and stepped further inside.

With a casual motion, she locked the door behind her.

Tonight, Aph wore a satin slip dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, showcasing her flawless, curvaceous body.

Every step she took caused her ample chest to sway slightly, the smooth fabric accentuating each movement.

Her soft, slightly rounded belly gave her an air of sensuality and warmth.

Her long green hair swayed as she moved, catching the faint breeze and brushing against her perfect face.

Her sharp eyes stayed locked on Shia, her steps slow and deliberate, exuding an air of seductive elegance.

Her face, however, remained stern, her expression sharp and probing—like a hunter searching for prey.

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She looked as though she was here to interrogate someone.

Shia’s gaze briefly dropped to her legs, noting how her toned thighs were perfectly outlined by her black stockings. The silk clung to her skin, emphasizing her curves with each step.

Her hips swayed ever so slightly, the smooth fabric of her slip dress accentuating every movement with breathtaking clarity.

When his gaze returned to her face, Shia couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

What was with this dramatic "catching someone in the act" vibe? Tonight’s visitors were full of surprises.

Aph stopped directly in front of him.

As Shia tilted his head to look up at her face, she leaned in, her body pressing closer.

One knee bent as she placed it on the edge of the bed, her torso leaning down toward him. Her arm rested firmly on the headboard for support.

With a single motion, she executed a flawless 'kabedon'.

The scent of her perfume enveloped him, her presence dominating as her full chest loomed inches away.

Shia reached out, casually twirling a lock of her green hair around his finger, playing with it like a toy.

“You’re getting jealous more often these days, aren’t you?”

Aph’s lips pressed into a thin line, a flicker of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

“Am I jealous?”

Aph frowned, her expression serious.

Was this even about jealousy? She was being completely professional right now!

“Isn’t it?”

“Of course not!” Aph snapped back without hesitation.

“Did Her Highness come to find you?”

When Nia invited them to stay the night, Aph had deliberately chosen to stay as well, just to keep an eye on Violet.

The princess, while proud and seemingly aloof, was far too naive in certain ways.

Aph had hoped Violet might gain a more balanced view of Shia, but this was definitely not the kind of balance she had in mind!

As it turned out, her concerns weren’t unfounded.

When she’d checked on Violet earlier, she found only Nia in the room, with no sign of the princess.

Worried, she came to Shia’s room—not out of jealousy, of course, but out of concern for the princess.

After all, she couldn’t allow a certain someone to take advantage of Violet’s naivety.

“Did she? Didn’t you see for yourself?”

Shia chuckled softly, his tone evasive.

“Look at you, still saying you’re not jealous.”

He shook his head slightly, a trace of exasperation in his voice.

“This is about my duty as a knight,” Aph retorted firmly. “It’s my responsibility to protect Her Highness.”

Worrying about the princess couldn’t possibly count as jealousy. That was entirely different!

Although… deep in her heart, another voice whispered otherwise.

But Aph immediately dismissed it.

Shia, watching her expression, couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Such a classic case of denial.

In this way, Aph and Violet were surprisingly alike.

Aph told herself she wasn’t jealous.

After all, she knew there were other women around Shia.

She’d never made a fuss about it—she could even get along with them. Her earlier interactions with Nia were proof of that; she didn’t mind a bit of closeness.

But when it came to the princess, that was a different story altogether.

She could accept sharing a man with other women—but not with her best friend.

That 'was' jealousy.

But Aph refused to acknowledge it. Or maybe, deep down, she knew but wouldn’t admit it.

By framing it as her knightly duty, she turned her jealousy into a form of protection.

Shia saw right through her.

“If you’re not jealous, then why, upon not finding her here, did you stay to argue with me instead of going to look for her?”

He released the strand of green hair he’d been toying with, looking up to meet her eyes. His gaze held an amused glint.

Aph froze.

This was the safest place in the prestigious Seven Shields Academy, located in the Arlinge villa district.

This was Shia’s domain, secure and well-guarded.

She’d instinctively assumed Violet wouldn’t be in any real danger here.

Since there was no danger, it was perfectly reasonable for her to stay and give Shia a piece of her mind, wasn’t it?

Aph tried to convince herself of this logic, though a tiny voice inside her whispered otherwise.

Shia noticed her hesitation and smiled mischievously.

“A deceitful knight who won’t admit the truth deserves a proper punishment…”

His voice grew softer and softer, trailing off into nothingness.

Aph’s body gave a faint shiver.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com