By the time Violet finally managed to shoo Lilith away, she was utterly drained.

Clutching the doorknob tightly, her legs trembled as she barely managed to support herself with the remaining strength in her body. She looked at Shia, her gaze filled with a mix of shame and fury.

Faced with her accusatory glare, Shia remained entirely unfazed, even wearing a mocking expression.

“So, have you learned how to interact with others now?”

Lilith’s earlier shiver now made perfect sense to Violet. Finally, she understood what Shia’s cryptic words from the beginning had meant. Back then, she naively thought he was just trying to change the subject.

Her gaze showed a hint of fear, her body trembling slightly as she nodded reluctantly in submission.

Violet curled up on the bench, her eyes filled with terror. Her delicate figure trembled, all traces of her earlier arrogance gone. She now resembled a helpless prey.

Her slender, white-stocking-clad legs pressed tightly together, her dainty feet crossed over each other as if to protect against another surprise attack from Shia.

Shia glanced down at her, his towering presence suffocating. He turned to leave, opening the door without another word. But before stepping out, he gave her a parting remark.

“Violet.”

Hearing his voice, Violet’s body tensed, trembling more violently.

Shia’s lips curled into a teasing smile, his gaze lingering on her white-stockinged feet.

“Wearing boots all the time can easily lead to foot odor.”

Violet’s entire body froze, her complexion turning pale as if she’d been struck by lightning.

Foot odor… foot odor… foot odor…

Those two words spiraled endlessly in her mind, becoming a haunting echo.

She began to doubt herself, almost bending over to check for herself.

*Bang!*

The door closed again. Violet remained dazed, unable to snap out of the nightmare Shia had left her with.

“But I just changed into these stockings this morning!” she muttered to herself after what felt like an eternity. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and indignation.

Meanwhile, Shia strolled leisurely away, his hands behind his head, a smirk on his face. A virtual panel, visible only to him, displayed Violet’s name alongside a 20% submission rate. He was quite pleased with the progress.

At the same time, Violet curled up further into herself, hugging her knees tightly. Her face buried between her legs as she quietly licked her wounds.

“Bullied to tears again,” she murmured, biting her lip in frustration. “Hmph! Outsiders really can’t be trusted.”

Lilith’s earlier attempts to mediate had backfired completely, leaving Violet feeling even more humiliated and uncomfortable.

The only person Violet could rely on was her close friend, who had been away on an academy-assigned mission. That friend had always stood by her side, ensuring no one dared to bully her.

For now, all Violet could do was wait patiently for her friend’s return.

While Violet’s request for help was put on hold, Lilith’s plea for assistance was already at Shia’s doorstep.

When Shia returned to the villa, a stunning blonde girl was standing in the courtyard, gazing toward the gate as if waiting for him.

When she spotted his silhouette, her eyes lit up, and her delicate face seemed to come alive, radiating warmth and anticipation.

She looked like a devoted wife eagerly awaiting her husband’s return.

“You’re back?”

As Shia approached, Lilith took two steps forward to meet him, her demeanor exuding gentle sweetness.

“What are you doing out here waiting for me?” Shia asked, mildly surprised but not entirely so.

Especially given her charming, tea-like composure, he found her behavior a bit unsettling.

“I thought you might be tired from class, so I wanted to help you relax,” Lilith replied.

“Oh?”

As Shia changed his shoes, he casually expressed his skepticism.

Lilith had expected him to be touched by her gesture, but his indifferent reaction caught her off guard. Still, she didn’t let it dampen her spirits. Instead, her soft smile remained firmly in place.

“I made your favorite night-blooming green tea. Why don’t you try it?” Lilith offered, gesturing for him to follow her to the tea room.

Her demeanor was practiced and natural, like the mistress of the house entertaining a guest.

Shia raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with an ambiguous undertone.

“Is that so?”

“It’s been a while since you’ve had my tea, hasn’t it?” she prompted with a knowing smile.

Shia nodded.

“That’s true.”

Lilith’s smile deepened.

“Then let’s try it today, shall we?”

By this point, they had reached the tea room. Lilith knelt gracefully before the tea table, her black-stockinged legs elegantly folded, her posture accentuating her curves as she leaned forward slightly.

Shia took a seat opposite her, his voice cutting through the moment unexpectedly.

“But I prefer black tea.”

Lilith’s smile froze momentarily, her movements pausing in mild embarrassment. However, being the skilled conversationalist she was, she quickly brushed off the moment and continued gracefully.

“Try it anyway. It’s delicious,” she coaxed, pouring a cup and sliding it toward him with a playful wink.

Shia lowered his gaze to the steaming cup in front of him, a faint smile playing on his lips—though it was more mocking than cheerful.

Internally, he couldn’t help but find the situation ironic.

Lilith, however, misinterpreted his expression as approval, her earlier discomfort fading. Years of carefully nurturing this relationship had paid off, and she felt in control again.

“You really don’t have any other reason for waiting here?” Shia asked, blowing gently on the tea.

“Well, there is something I need your help with,” Lilith admitted, her smile sweet as ever. She rose, walking around the tea table to sit beside him.

Her proximity was deliberate, her tone soft and persuasive as she finally revealed her true intentions.

“You’re aware of the academy’s monthly mission policy, aren’t you? Each student is required to complete at least one task.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Shia took a sip of tea, internally lamenting how inferior it was compared to Lilith’s usual skill. He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“This month, our grade’s task is to raid the largest underground slave auction,” Lilith explained.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com