‘Am I finally the one on the offensive?’ Erika smiled bitterly in her heart.
How long had passed? 10 seconds? Erika herself was feeling lightheaded. It was just a press of the lips, so why was she acting like a little girl who hadn’t had her first kiss? Wait…
A sudden warmth spread across her waist. It turned out that Vivian, her eyes hazy with emotion, had gently wrapped her arms around Erika. This threw the girl’s heart into even greater disarray. Her crimson eyes were like the surface of a lake after a stone had been tossed in, ripples spreading in every direction.
‘No, don’t panic! It’s probably just a subconscious reaction to a first kiss. I… I’m still the one in control.’
Erika refused to be outdone. She wrapped her own arms around the other girl’s waist. Even though her face was as red as a freshly baked apple pie, she refused to pull back or create any distance between them.
*Mwah, mwah.*
*Mmph…*
Vivian, suddenly coming to her senses, widened her eyes. However, looking at her own reflection in Erika’s clear eyes while nestled in her arms, she found herself unable to refuse, yet unable to fully accept. She could only meet Erika’s gaze with trembling eyes.
*Ah… Mmph…*
A long time passed before their lips finally parted. The kiss had likely lasted for 15 seconds.
Perhaps having missed the chance to catch her breath, Vivian’s breathing was uneven and unstable. Only then did Erika remember that this was the girl’s first kiss. Strangely, even though she considered herself a veteran, her own breath was also slightly hurried.
‘How embarrassing. Luckily, Vivian doesn’t know.’
Thinking of this, Erika looked up at Vivian, whose face was crimson and overflowing with shyness, and asked, “…How was it? Was it clumsy?”
“Um, huh?” Vivian didn’t answer immediately. Her naturally bright and charming face was currently as hazy as if she were drunk, and her reddened eyes were moist as if tears might fall at any moment.
‘Mm-hmm.’
She must be in a daze. After all, a first kiss always made one’s head spin.
That soft, warm feeling—as if all sensory nerves were concentrated on the lips and the tip of the tongue—was truly a wonderful and indescribable experience. In any case, Erika found it difficult to calmly reflect on it and find the right adjectives…
She had always been bullied by the Big Guy. Although she was mostly the one who endured it in silence, she considered herself a seasoned kisser. Yet, a person like her had taken Vivian’s first kiss… With Vivian’s innocent and simple personality, she probably wouldn’t recover for quite a while.
**[You are the first person to step onto the peak of this snow-capped Silver Mountain]**
**[Job Experience Points for ‘Alluring Enchantress’ +50]**
“How was my kiss? Was it a bit too clumsy?”
“Um, well, uh, about that… it seems there was a little bit…” When Erika pressed her again, Vivian finally spoke and cleared her throat.
Although her face was flushed red, looking as though it might explode like a packet of tomato sauce in an oven, her attempt to act calm was incredibly cute precisely because it was so transparent.
“…It did feel a bit unpracticed.”
“Then what should I do?” Erika asked, her heart filled with equal parts expectation and curiosity.
The girl was indeed curious. What kind of answer would she get? What was Vivian’s fantasy of romance like?
But Vivian Drake replied with a surprisingly calm voice, “It needs a more romantic atmosphere. There should be candles… red wine would be nice too! Or a rainy day, under the eaves where we happened to take shelter from the rain, or something like that…”
“Oh—”
Atmosphere, huh? Indeed, as Vivian said, atmosphere was extremely important.
However, did a secret date on the moonlit steps of the deserted Temple Balcony not count as having a unique atmosphere of its own?
Vivian coughed lightly. “Well… it seems this isn’t something that can be fixed overnight. Erika, you need to take some lessons.”
“Eh, lessons?”
“That’s right! Every Wednesday at this time, right here, you will listen to Professor Vivian’s Romance Lecture! Also, can you… can you stop holding me?”
Only then did Erika realize that her hands were still on the other girl’s waist. Because she had been the last one to reach out, her arms were pinned around Vivian’s, meaning they were still in their kissing embrace.
“Ah, sorry…” Feeling the scorching heat radiating from where her hands had been resting, Erika hurriedly pulled them away.
“Then, I’ll be going now!”
After saying that, Vivian Drake quickly walked down the stairs and disappeared.
Leaving as soon as she finished saying what she wanted to say—in that regard, she was quite similar to her sister. They were siblings, after all.
“Also, behave yourself, Mr. Tail!”
Erika patted the small tail that was propping up the hem of her short skirt. After it obediently retreated back into her safety shorts, she slowly walked back to the dormitory.
The next day, the girl slept until late. With sleepy eyes and unkempt hair, she first checked today’s schedule.
1:00 PM — Tea Ceremony Course.
Recalling the fierce battle she had fought against F-junior to snatch this class, the girl puffed out her small chest proudly on the bed. “Not bad, not bad!”
She sat up lazily, threw on a thin jacket, and prepared to go wash up. Even though the hem of her nightgown only reached the tops of her thighs, she didn’t feel cold in the unheated spring morning. Were girls’ legs naturally more resistant to the cold?
At that moment, she saw Axis and Lisette acting strange and shouting at the door. She couldn’t help but yell, “What are you two doing?”
“Erika! Look! You received an invitation!”
‘Huh? An invitation?’
Hearing Lisette’s words, Erika opened the dormitory door and saw that someone had hung something resembling a wax-sealed envelope on the doorknob. This exquisitely designed envelope was sealed with silver wax. On the outside of the envelope, a single line was written:
**[Erika Angelina: The Mithril League sincerely invites you to join]**
The purpose was concise and clear, so she didn’t intend to open it.
Well, in the end, she still opened the envelope and unfolded the contents. It was filled with various benefits and privileges one could obtain by joining the so-called ‘Mithril League.’
A collection of past exam questions left by seniors; priority access to the school cafeteria, library facilities, and the Training Ground; and a private reading room and group study room exclusive to Silver Wing members…
It seemed there were various tempting and convenient benefits. At first glance, it was indeed difficult to refuse.
“Whoa! So many benefits? No wonder everyone wants to improve their ranking. Axis, come look at this!” While Lisette and Axis were pointing at the contents of the letter in excitement, what Erika cared about most was the line at the bottom.
**[Mithril League Opening Assembly: All Silver Wings must attend. Time: Friday at 7:00 PM.]**
‘Even a speech assembly? How troublesome.’
She tucked the letter into her coat. Once she was dressed and ready, she walked toward the Platinum Dormitory—a modern, hotel-like building that stood in stark contrast to the ancient and historical Truth Hall.
“Your Majesty, I’ve come to fetch you.”
“Mm.”
Naturally, for the first time, Erika had to lead Evelyn to the tea ceremony classroom to prevent her from being late, getting lost, or simply not showing up. However, if Erika picked her up this time and then didn’t come later, she would surely be scolded. It seemed that picking up Evelyn was now another item on her schedule every Thursday at lunch.
“That should be our classroom over there.”
“How is that a classroom? It’s clearly just an empty field.”
“It seems… that’s true.”
The so-called tea ceremony classroom was actually a thin lawn covered in green grass and scattered flowers. White tables and various lavish tea snacks had already been set out.
Furthermore, under the warm yet cool shade of the trees, some familiar faces were already seated.
“Miss Emil, good afternoon. And…”
As soon as they met, an exquisite young girl with a furrowed brow and a waterfall of silver hair was sitting at the same table as the Big Guy. She was likely the elder sister.
“Miss Miona, what a beautiful afternoon with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze.”
“Skip the greetings, Commoner.”
As rude as ever.
However, as Miona looked at her, her face seemed to gradually turn red, which made Erika feel a bit strange. “Are you feeling unwell? Your face doesn’t look very good, Miss Miona.”
“How does my face look?”
“Your face is red. Very, very red.”
Miona touched her cheek with her fair palm and was startled to find that it was indeed quite hot. She took out a hand mirror to look closely, staring in surprise at her own reddened face. “Why did my face suddenly become like this?”
Miona quickly unfolded her black fan and began to fan her cheeks. Emil, who was lying bored on the table, saw this and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“This is what happens when a Great Lady stays in the corners of dark rooms all the time like a mole and doesn’t get any sun.”
“Be quiet!”
“Everyone is so full of energy. That’s wonderful… *Yawn—*” Evelyn sat down at the table with the noisy Big Guy and Miona, letting out a lazy yawn.
“So sleepy. A tea party on such a lazy and leisurely afternoon is the perfect time for a nap.”
“Your Majesty just woke up.”
“So it seems.”
Evelyn kept yawning until her pitch-black eyes turned misty. Miona, seemingly unable to stand it, said to the yawning Evelyn, “This is truly improper behavior…”
But Evelyn didn’t seem to care. Her lazy gaze lingered on the sun-drenched table, as if she were contemplating her own bed.
*Rustle.*
At that moment, Erika felt the short skirt on her knees being lifted. Before she could be terrified that some pervert was hiding under the table, she suddenly noticed something wasn’t right… A soft and warm sensation came over her. It felt as if five small gummy candies of varying sizes were playing tricks on her thigh.
She narrowed her eyes and looked down. The Big Guy sitting opposite her had taken off her shoes under the table and was gently touching Erika’s knee with her bare foot.
“…”
This was probably her unique way of saying hello. Since she was greeting her, how could Erika not respond?
Erika secretly took off her round-toed Mary Jane shoes. Her small foot, clad in a white stocking, first dodged abruptly to make the foot on her knee miss its mark, then lunged forward to kick—
Oh no. Her legs weren’t as long as the Big Guy’s.
As a result, her maximum reach only allowed her to scratch the Big Guy’s calf with her toes, looking like she was acting spoiled…
‘This… this is basically like a girlfriend acting spoiled, isn’t it?’ Even Erika felt a bit embarrassed. She retracted her foot as if nothing had happened, while the Big Guy opposite her was secretly snickering as she extended her leg once more.
Erika went completely stiff. Emil, like a startled snail retreating into its shell, suddenly jerked her leg back. Then, she pretended as if nothing had happened, ignoring the blood-red face of Erika, who was glaring at her fiercely.
Fortunately, it seemed no one noticed. It was also a good thing she was wearing safety shorts; that reckless Big Guy had just touched the inside of her thigh!
After composing herself, Erika looked around at the three people at the table. Thinking about it now, it seemed that everyone sitting at this table had a deep connection with her…
Evelyn had once made her lick and bite the back of her neck and her navel to swear her loyalty. She and Emil had even shared physical intimacy, crossing that forbidden line. As for the Miss from the Drake Family… though it was the younger sister, they had just embraced and kissed under the moon yesterday.
‘Have I unknowingly raised countless flags…?’
With that thought, this table suddenly seemed exceptionally dangerous. It was practically an End Land covered in flags… If any of them found out about her relationship with another, she would likely be locked in the Cellar for the rest of her life.
Could she balance all of them and successfully take control of the Four Great Families to restore Noelle?
At that moment, Evelyn spoke:
“So, what exactly are we supposed to do in this tea ceremony lecture?”