“I’m sorry… I’ll have that girl expelled from the academy.”
Ophelia shot Jack a cold glance. Then her long lashes drooped, casting a faint shadow on her porcelain-white cheek.
“Since Melinlia doesn’t know who did it, then let her never find out, even till the end… Let it be a mother’s wish.”
“I understand.”
Jack lightly touched the badge on his chest, the Headmaster’s silver chain swaying with the movement.
He let out a silent sigh of relief, only now realizing that his palm had deep marks from his fingernails digging in.
Ophelia stepped over the small pit that still bore traces from before and sat back down on the sofa, pouring herself more black tea.
As she sat, the way she lifted the teapot was filled with regal grace, the amber-colored tea arcing elegantly through the air.
When the rim of the cup touched her cherry lips, a few strands of hair swept over the porcelain cup as she bowed her head, sipping the tea in small mouthfuls.
“Let’s continue discussing the safety issue. First of all, Melinlia must move into the girls’ dormitory.”
“Of course…”
Jack hurriedly pulled out his notebook, his pen scratching quickly across the pages.
“She’s an Elven Princess, you know what that means for the dormitory, right?”
“Yes, Teacher, I understand. I will arrange her dormitory in accordance with a princess’s status.”
“And about the laboratory—the security there is practically nonexistent. Move her lab next to mine, not in the student building. The security on my side is a little higher.”
“Next to you?”
Jack quickly sat down, carefully studying Ophelia’s expression.
“That’s right…”
Ophelia picked up a sugar cube from the saucer, watching it slowly sink into the swirling tea.
“Just assign me any position you like. I accept your earlier invitation. I’ll be staying here temporarily while Melinlia attends school.”
Jack had thought that after his dereliction of duty, inviting Ophelia back to the academy was impossible, but unexpectedly she volunteered herself.
Ophelia sighed, looking in the direction of Melinlia’s hospital room not far away.
“Melinlia still has so much to learn. Elven customs, history, etiquette, a girl’s awareness, a princess’s bearing. It’s practically a mountain—I have to teach her personally.”
Her fingertips tapped lightly on her knee, as if counting off invisible lessons.
“With you as her teacher, it would certainly be best.”
“Of course, it’s also to supervise you and to protect my daughter. To prevent you from mismanaging things and letting someone hurt her again.”
“Then… will you live together with your daughter?”
“That’s not necessary. Since we’re already at the same academy, there’s no need to be so close. It’s better for a mother and daughter to maintain some distance. Arrange any place for me to stay, that’s fine.”
Ophelia added,
“By the way, just put me in the Department of Magic.”
Jack watched the shifting colored light from the stained glass dance across the surface of the tea.
“I thought you would prefer the Department of Alchemy.”
“Melinlia… she’s fifteen now. She’s about to enter her rebellious phase. Though I haven’t seen signs of it yet, it’s not far off.”
Ophelia tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“The closer you stick at a time like this, the more she’ll resist when her rebellious phase comes. It’s better to keep a little distance, give her some privacy and dignity. If she pushes back too hard, my heart would break.”
She set her teacup back on the saucer with a clear clink, covering her mouth lightly with her fair hand, her eyes filled with a sweet kind of worry.
“She might even be embarrassed in front of her classmates if I teach her classes. It’s better to keep out of sight.”
Indeed, as soon as Melinlia was mentioned, Ophelia’s mood visibly brightened.
Jack finally let go of a bit of his anxiety.
Thank goodness… If she really got angry, there would be no one to hold her back for a while. Not to mention, it could have sparked a diplomatic incident.
Every elven royal is a treasure to their people. If this month’s events reached the elves’ ears, things wouldn’t be settled with just a few words.
In that sense, Ophelia had already given him enough chances and face.
So, what he should do was make up for it as much as possible.
“Then… should Princess Melinlia attend the Department of Magic?”
Jack cautiously watched Ophelia’s face, his fingers clenching and unclenching on his knee.
“As an elven princess, isn’t it better for her to be in the Department of Magic?”
Silence spread like ink dropped into clear water. Ophelia stroked the silver-embroidered vine pattern on her skirt, the threads flickering with the changing light.
Ophelia spoke.
“I just said a mother and daughter should keep their distance. Are your ears deaf?”
“……”
“Melinlia, due to many things from her childhood, can’t use magic for now. Just let her stay in the Department of Alchemy.”
It was common knowledge that elves had outstanding affinity for magic, and an elven princess even more so. Each one was a precious existence.
But Melinlia couldn’t use magic…
“I understand.”
He took off his glasses and wiped them, his vision blurring instantly.
Using this as an excuse to avoid the surging undercurrents in Ophelia’s eyes.
No matter the race, royal secrets were always like dewdrop-laden spider webs—touch them, and they shatter.
It was probably better for his own life not to know.
“That’s exactly why I must stay at the academy.”
Ophelia sighed.
“Yes… not just an elf, but an elven princess. Yet Melinlia can’t use magic. There will surely be even more unpleasant talk behind her back.”
Ophelia’s knuckles turned white as she gripped her teacup, her sigh sending ripples across the tea’s surface.
The cup rim clinked crisply against the saucer, as if continuing to warn Jack.
“I don’t want her to hate her own identity so soon. I don’t want her to worry about being shunned by her kin for not using magic. Also, try not to let others know she can’t use magic.”
“I understand. I’ll notify all faculty to avoid mentioning Melinlia’s magic. But as long as she’s here at the academy, someday…”
“Even if that day comes, at least give my child time to adjust. When that happens, it’s my turn as her mother to step in.”
“I understand.”
“And… as I mentioned in my letter before, about Melinlia and Mahina, don’t interfere in their matters anymore. The two of them… it’s complicated. Even as her mother, I don’t know what to do. Just make sure you don’t favor either of them.”
Jack wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Understood.”
Jack wouldn’t dare to cross her again, not in this lifetime.
“I’ll say it again: If you think offending a duke’s house is serious, try offending the Elven Royalty?”
“Teacher, I promise I will never make such a mistake again.”
“To handle student affairs with preconceived bias is a dereliction of duty in itself.”
“You are right.”
At last, the door slammed shut. The middle-aged man inside, the moment things ended, seemed to collapse to the floor, aged by ten years.
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