Chapter 50

A pure yet suspicious excitement bloomed in Natalianne’s mind.

It was an old dream.

The author of the book that had shaken her life and decided her path when she first entered the Magic Tower had been none other than the great Al Kidma, the Master of Nerencia.

She had searched for his whereabouts for years, and now, before her eyes, stood his daughter.

‘This is destiny.’

If this was not destiny, then the word itself was meaningless.

Natalianne nodded with conviction.

Thus began the “Melissa Kidnapping Project.”

It was a detailed plan to bring Melissa to the Magic Tower.

‘What would tempt my teacher the most?’

Money?

Fame?

Or perhaps a magnificent research lab?

Whatever it was, it had to be something better and more unique than what Demius could offer.

‘What does my teacher like?’

As she strained her mind until it nearly steamed, Melissa smiled softly in the sunlight, sipping her tea.

“The fragrance of this tea is wonderful.”

“I’ll seize every trade ship in the fleet.”

She likes tea?

Natalianne’s eyes gleamed as she shouted, but at that exact moment, the sound of a door shattering echoed through the air.

‘Damn it.’

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

That heavy footstep, that stride, that angry breathing could only belong to one person.

“There you are.”

The voice behind her growled as if ready to grab her by the collar and slam her into the ground.

But Natalianne did not even turn around. She simply gave a mocking laugh.

“Someone has come to interrupt our time, Teacher.”

Teacher?

Demius froze and looked to the side.

There sat Melissa, small and delicate like a marigold fairy basking in the sun.

Demius barely managed to stay upright, his voice trembling.

“Lady Lily, you look so beautiful, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine. The tea is delicious. Would you like some too, Mimi?”

Just as he was about to say yes, Natalianne cut in first.

“He’s busy.”

“I am not.”

“You finished your work then?”

Demius gritted his teeth, his tone low and chilling.

“You should get to work too.”

Natalianne snorted.

“Why should I?”

“As a member of House Eisenhart, you have duties to fulfill.”

“Then strip my family name.”

“Fine, but give back everything you have lived off until now.”

“Sure. Want me to add interest too?”

You insufferable fool.

Demius clenched his jaw.

Her talent was the worst part. Threats never worked.

He switched tactics.

“Then drop your title and leave the manor. You do not deserve to be around Lady Lily.”

“What do you mean I do not deserve it?”

Natalianne smiled slyly.

“We have already gone beyond a teacher and student relationship.”

“What?”

Demius froze.

His eyes filled with disbelief as Natalianne raised a hand, brushing Melissa’s soft cheek.

“Do you remember, Sister?”

Her voice brushed against Melissa’s ear like a breath, making Demius flinch.

Then came words that made his brain go blank.

“That night.”

That night?

Demius’s pupils trembled.

But Natalianne ignored him and whispered sweetly into Melissa’s ear.

“The warmth that night, the breath, and…”

She glanced at Demius out of the corner of her eye, her lips curving in a secret smile.

“The moans.”

Demius whipped his head toward Melissa in horror, but his world crumbled when he saw her expression.

Blushing softly, Melissa answered shyly.

“It was really nice that night.”

“So was I.”

Natalianne smiled seductively, her red lips curving higher.

Melissa chuckled.

The foot massage had been amazing.

‘You must have been tired, Teacher.’

The night of their girls’ night, Natalianne had suddenly pushed Melissa face down onto the bed.

She needed to recruit her teacher.

As part of her grand “Melissa Kidnapping Project,” she had started giving her a massage without explanation.

‘It really was great.’

Natalianne’s fingers had pressed firmly into her shoulders with just the right strength, melting every knot of tension.

Melissa had wondered if this was how her parents had felt when she used to jump on their backs as a child.

‘What a good daughter I was.’

Melissa gazed fondly at Natalianne.

Watching that look, Demius’s face seemed to crumble in real time as Natalianne leaned close and murmured,

“Would you like me to do it every day?”

“Oh my, that sounds too tiring for you.”

“Not at all.”

Her rolling eyes stopped on Demius, who already looked like ashes.

“Unlike someone else, I am quite strong.”

“Nati.”

Demius’s voice dropped low and dark, and a terrifying wave of energy radiated from him.

Rumble. Rattle.

The huge bookcase behind the curtains trembled violently, and Melissa gasped.

“Oh my, the shelves are about to fall.”

Demius’s fierce aura instantly vanished at her startled voice.

Natalianne took that chance and muttered,

“So violent.”

“You.”

You are dead.

Even as Demius glared daggers at her, Natalianne calmly sipped her tea.

“Ah, so delicious.”

Smiling brightly, she set the cup down and sparkled her eyes.

“Let’s go shopping, shall we? The weather’s perfect.”

“Oh, I would love that.”

“Me too.”

Demius blurted out at once,

“I want to go too.”

“Ridiculous.”

Natalianne snorted and looped her arm through Melissa’s.

“How dare you intrude on a girls’ shopping trip? We are going out, so you can stay in your gloomy office and work.”

Demius growled, his face contorted.

“I finished all my work today.”

“Really? Do you not have tomorrow’s work waiting?”

A chilling wind swept between the siblings.

Blue light flickered around Demius’s clenched fist, while Natalianne’s lips moved faintly as she murmured a spell.

The ominous sound filled the room, tension thick enough to make the entire archive shake.

“Oh, what a wonderful idea.”

A cheerful voice cut through the air.

Both turned to Melissa, who smiled brightly.

“Why do we not all go shopping together?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

They both stared, dumbfounded, and Melissa smiled sweetly.

“It is more fun with more people, is it not?”

The moment she said that, Demius was the first to react.

“Exactly.”

“Wait, no.”

Natalianne waved her hands frantically and leaned close to Melissa.

“We agreed it would be just us, did we not, Teacher?”

“If you do not like it, stay behind.”

The tables had turned. Demius smirked.

“If the temple does not like it, then the priest leaves.”

Damn it.

That smug face made Natalianne grit her teeth.

But if she pushed too far, she could lose everything.

“If that is what Teacher wants…”

She forced herself to nod.

Demius, at least in her eyes, grinned smugly like an idiot.

“If you get tired, feel free to drop out anytime.”

“You should be the last one saying that.”

Their eyes met, and a storm raged between them.

Completely unaware, Melissa gazed out the window and smiled.

The sky was bright and clear.

The people around her were kind and warm.

It was a perfect day for an outing.

* * *

“Would you like to try this, Lady Lily?”

“No, please, have mine instead, Teacher.”

Their voices rang out through the sunny street that afternoon.

As passersby turned to look, they saw a breathtakingly handsome man and a tall woman in a black veil arguing softly, their beauty so radiant it almost glowed.

Most onlookers were awestruck, but a few trembled the moment they recognized them.

Could it be? Those people are…