Next day, the academy felt calm as usual. The lectures were running smoothly, but one thing was different—Esdeath was not in her seat. Instead, Kailith was sitting there, looking much more relaxed than before. She even had a faint, satisfied smile, as if last night had left her completely at ease. Unlike her usual self, she wasn't making advances on Maruti. For the first time in a while, Maruti could actually breathe peacefully during class.
It almost felt unreal to her. Maruti tapped her quill lightly against her notebook, humming softly under her breath. A faint smile curved her lips as she remembered the old, troublesome Kailith who never missed a chance to tease her. Strangely, that memory brought her a sense of warmth.
But the moment of peace didn't last. Her smile slowly faded, her brows knitting together as she sighed. Without looking, she reached down and grabbed something sneaky—a long black tail curling around her chair, ending with a heart-shaped tip.
Maruti's lips twitched as she yanked it and shoved it back toward its owner.
"Did you really think I'd let my guard down just because you're sitting quietly?" she muttered in irritation.
Kailith didn't even turn her head, still staring at the lecturer in front with a calm face. "I can't help it. It's an instinct," she said, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. "You don't understand how hard it is to hold back."
Maruti narrowed her eyes. "Then I'll cut it off next time."
Kailith finally sighed. "I tried. It grows back."
"...Fuck," Maruti muttered under her breath, completely giving up.
For a few seconds kailith stayed quiet, her lips moving as if she were debating something inside. Finally, she spoke softly.
"Maruti."
Maruti turned her head, only to find Kailith looking at her with a strangely shy expression. Slowly, Kailith tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear with her finger, stealing a sideways glance at Maruti.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?" she asked gently.
In that instant, her natural charm exploded like a wave. Her beauty magnified a hundred times over, radiating an irresistible allure. If anyone else had been sitting nearby, they would have instantly believed Kailith to be far more breathtaking than Lortell, Princess Ravenna, or even Maruti herself.
Maruti's heart skipped a beat, and her face flushed bright red. For three long seconds, she stared at Kailith in stunned silence. Then, realization struck her—this was no ordinary beauty. This was charm magic.
She quickly forced herself to cough, snapping herself out of it. "Cough… cough…" The anger bubbling in her chest helped her resist the effect. Her cheeks still burned, but she glared sharply at Kailith.
"You're using your charms again! Forget it, I'm leaving!" she snapped and pushed her seat back.
Before she could stand up, Kailith's arm swiftly wrapped around her waist, pulling her back down.
"Okay, okay, sorry! I won't do it again today. Promise!" she pleaded quickly, her voice almost desperate.
Maruti narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "So you'll just do it again tomorrow?"
Kailith rolled her eyes, clearly not planning to answer.
Maruti clicked her tongue but stayed put. "At least she won't do it today," she muttered inside her head, letting out a long sigh before focusing back on her notes.
There was a big smug smile on Kailith's lips, the kind someone wears after winning a silent game only she understood.
"Three and a half seconds… I'm improving fast," she muttered under her breath, clearly proud of herself. "Honestly, I don't even need charm or seduction. Maruti has this habit of saying yes if you keep asking her again and again. But… that's also her weakness. If another girl tries the same thing, she won't refuse either…" Kailith sighed heavily in her mind.
"Alice is already enough trouble. At this rate, Maruti might just show up one day saying she's got two more girls chasing after her," Kailith rubbed her temples in frustration, shaking her head. "Think positive. Think positive…"
———
Later, the theory classes finally ended. Students began packing up, some preparing to go hunt monsters or train in swordsmanship, while others discussed heading to practice halls.
But suddenly, at the front benches, Princess Ravenna raised her hand.
"Um… Teach, I think someone glued my desk. My clothes will rip if I stand…"
At once, all eyes in the class turned toward her.
"What?!" the teacher's voice grew sharp as her expression hardened. "Which shameless person would dare do such a thing?" Her glare swept across the students. "Stand up and apologize right now. I won't tolerate such nonsense. If I find out who did this, the punishment will be worse than you can imagine!"
The classroom fell into silence. No one spoke.
Just as the teacher was about to step in, Ravenna stood up on her own. The moment she did—
*RIP!*
The sound of tearing cloth echoed. Her uniform ripped at the back, and even her stockings tore along the side of her legs.
"Pfft—" some students failed to hold back their laughter.
Ravenna's cheeks turned crimson. She quickly tried to cover her back with her hands as she rushed for the door.
"I'll go change in the washroom!" she muttered in embarrassment.
But the moment she opened the door—
*Splash!*
A bucket of water tipped over her, soaking her completely.
This time, laughter exploded in the classroom. The whole place filled with chuckles and snickers until the teacher's furious voice silenced them again.
Ravenna's entire face burned red, her hair dripping as she clenched her teeth. She tried to run out quickly, but—
BAM!
She slipped and fell face-first against the ground. The water wasn't ordinary—it was soap water, slippery enough to make the floor like ice.
Another wave of laughter broke out, echoing louder than before.
"Wait, my lady! Let me help you!" the teacher said in a panic, rushing forward.
But Ravenna raised her hand, shaking her head quickly.
"No need… I'll go myself!" she said firmly. Her voice trembled, but she forced herself up and stumbled away, drenched and humiliated.
Watching everything unfold, Maruti sat in the second-to-last row, letting out a heavy sigh.
"What times have come? I'm actually using tricks fit for sixth graders… just to bully a masochist," she muttered under her breath.
Yes, all of this had been Maruti's doing. The glued desk, the torn clothes, the water bucket—each little scheme was hers. She hadn't wanted to do it, but Ravenna's strange desires forced her hand. Every little act of humiliation seemed to be exactly what the princess wanted.
Still, Maruti couldn't go too far. Ravenna was a princess, royalty. If Maruti publicly disgraced her in a truly brutal way, it would mean her own downfall. So she settled for these small, petty tricks—just enough to give Ravenna a taste of what she craved.
Meanwhile, inside the washroom, Ravenna had changed into a fresh uniform. She fixed her hair, retouched her makeup, and admired her reflection in the mirror.
A faint smile curved on her lips.
"Not bad, not bad… but this much isn't enough. I want more. Something harsher, more brutal… more thrilling."
-----------
Later that day, Maruti used the golden ring to teleport again and trained with Xing Liang for a few hours before returning.
Training was refreshing for her since neither Kailith nor Alice could find where she went. She could teleport away whenever she wanted and repeat it as many times as she liked.
After the training, she returned home, but as always, she didn't get any free time there either.
Ethan's mother, Brenna, came with some food in her hand. Of course, it was just an excuse to meet her.
She wore a charcoal gray, off-shoulder, tight-fitting midi dress that hugged her curves and showed off her neckline and shoulders beautifully. The dress had long sleeves with a smooth, sleek finish, giving her a stylish and elegant look.
Brenna never really cared about her appearance before, but ever since her time with Maruti, she had started doing makeup and wearing dresses that suited her natural beauty—clothes that revealed her mature charm. She deliberately dressed to seduce Maruti.
Maruti didn't say anything and simply let Brenna in.
"Did you tell your son about our relationship?" Maruti asked.
Brenna's face immediately reddened. "How could I? It's too awkward to say… I mean, what should I tell him? That I'm friends with benefits with a girl almost half my age? Or that this old woman has fallen in love?" she said, sitting beside Maruti and placing the food on the table.
"You're only thirty-one. You're still very young," Maruti replied with a sigh.
"I'm young? Right, I'm young!" Brenna took it as praise. Unlike before, she had now started deliberately mentioning that she was old and middle-aged just so Maruti would deny it and call her young and beautiful. For her, that was the same as being praised by Maruti, and it deeply satisfied her, filling her with confidence and happiness.
"But I wonder what will happen if he finds out that I'm fucking his mother?" Maruti thought silently.
She had actually told Brenna to confess to Ethan about their relationship because she wanted to see Ethan's reaction. It was better than letting him find out on his own and explode in anger later.
"Do you want me to feed you?" Brenna asked softly.
"What am I, a child?" Maruti scoffed and took the food herself. She ate without offering Brenna a share.
"Yes! Sharing is a form of love!" Brenna said with a playful smile as she picked up some food to eat on her own.
Maruti glanced at her and sighed. "Why is it that everyone around me ends up with their personalities turning upside down? I only told her to let go of the past… not to become like Kailith and Alice…" She sighed again at her luck and life, but her hands didn't stop as she continued eating.
After Maruti was done eating, Brenna still didn't leave. She just kept staring at her with those ocean-blue eyes that seemed deep enough to drown in.
Maruti deliberately avoided her gaze, pretending to be busy with the empty plate in front of her.
"Ethan went to train somewhere with his friends. He will be late," Brenna added shyly, her voice soft but heavy with meaning.
"Why are you telling me this?" Maruti replied quickly, her tone sharper than she intended.
Brenna didn't answer right away. Instead, she moved closer. She pulled her legs up on the sofa and leaned toward Maruti, her arms slipping around her shoulders as she pulled her back against the cushions. "Don't try to avoid what I'm trying to say," she whispered.
"No, don't…" Maruti muttered, her eyes darting toward the door. "Kailith or Alice might be on their way here."
"So what?" Brenna smirked, brushing away Maruti's words. "We're all friends with benefits, right? It'll be more fun instead. We should continue. They'll join in when they arrive."
Her tone was teasing, but her heart wasn't. She had no problem with Kailith or Alice. She had already accepted that she had no claim over Maruti, no right to call her only hers. Maruti wasn't an object that belonged to her, and Brenna knew maruti's young heart would always drift toward other girls. But still, Brenna wanted something—some warmth, some tenderness. She wanted the same love and care Maruti gave to Kailith and Alice.
"I don't know about fun," Maruti thought anxiously, her pulse racing, "but if they both find out… I don't know what will happen to me."
Before she could move, she found herself lying flat against the sofa while Brenna sat lightly on her belly, her hands tugging at the hem of Maruti's clothes.
"I'll show you the charms of a mature woman," Brenna said with a bold grin, though her voice trembled ever so slightly.
But before she could continue, a voice came from the door.
"What's the charm of a mature woman?"
Brenna froze, her whole body stiff. Her face turned pale as she instinctively jumped off Maruti like she had touched fire.
Maruti quickly sat up, her heart skipping a beat, and turned toward the door. Selene was standing there, her calm eyes fixed on them. From a wrong angle, anyone could mistake her for a younger version of Esdeath.
"When did you come? Wait—Esdeath is there, then what are you doing here?" Maruti asked, her brows furrowed.
"The door's lock was open, so I just came in. Mother left me here to live with you while she's away," Selene replied in her usual expressionless tone.
Meanwhile, Brenna buried her face in the nearby pillow, her cheeks burning red. "Why does this always happen to me?" she cursed under her breath. She took a deep breath, adjusted her clothes, and finally lifted her head, pretending as if nothing had happened.
"Who is she?" Brenna asked stiffly.
"Esdeath's daughter," Maruti replied.
"Esdeath's… daughter?" Brenna thought in confusion. She wanted to ask who Esdeath even was, but instead she stood up abruptly. "I'm going, then!" she said quickly, and rushed out of the room.
Selene walked in casually and sat down beside Maruti, her presence calm but heavy.
"Esdeath left yesterday. Where were you all this time?" Maruti asked, her brows still knitted tightly.
"In my home," Selene answered softly. "Then, I played with the kids outside. But… I don't think they're the same as they used to be. I'm rapidly changing. They've started calling me 'elder sister' now, Yet they are the same height and weight, Just like before." She sighed, her eyes looking distant, as if searching for something she had lost.