“Merlinlia… we’re really sorry. We misunderstood your relationship with Senior Machina, and even mistook you for a bad person. We even got your gender wrong…”
At the time, Merlin simply shook her head gently, her blue-gradient hair quivering ever so slightly with the motion. She tried to make her tone sound as gentle as possible, hoping to ease their nervousness.
“The one who was in disguise was me, so how could I blame you?”
The girls lifted their heads, hope shimmering in their eyes.
“We don’t ask you to forgive us right away, but… could we at least start over as ordinary classmates?”
“Of course.”
If the boys hadn’t been so disappointing, Merlin wouldn’t have wanted things to become so awkward.
As the first-year representative of the Alchemy Department, Merlin didn’t want things to devolve into internal chaos.
“This week… would you like to go out with us?”
“I’m very sorry.”
Merlin lowered her head slightly, her eyes downcast, showing just the right hint of apology.
“Because of my identity, my mother has grounded me. I can’t leave the school for a month, sorry.”
“Ah! Please lift your head, you’re a princess after all.”
The girl standing at the very front hurriedly waved her hands, almost stumbling over her words.
“Then, as a small compensation, can we treat you to lunch tomorrow? Though it probably means nothing to you as a princess.”
Merlin’s gaze slowly swept over the girls gathered around her. There was a look of anticipation in their eyes, along with a faint trace of nervousness that wasn’t easy to spot.
She tilted her head ever so slightly, the corners of her lips curling into the same reserved, graceful arc as she had that morning.
“Alright. I’d like to get along with everyone too.”
However, after she said this, a subtle silence fell over the surroundings.
The girls glanced at each other, cheeks tinged with suspicious blushes. Their fingers unconsciously tugged at their sleeves or skirt hems, as if wanting to speak but not knowing how.
“Um… Princess Merlinlia?”
The girls still looked uncertain what to do, their faces a bit flushed.
“I’m here.”
At last, someone spoke up in a soft voice.
“This might be a little rude… but has your mother ever talked to you about manners?”
The girl’s voice grew quieter and quieter, her face reddening further.
What is it?
Did I accidentally do something impolite?
Merlin suppressed the little surge of panic in her heart, keeping up a calm front.
“Did I do something wrong?”
The girls shook their heads in a hurry.
“No, no! It’s just… your smile is a bit too lethal… Even between girls…”
The girls started vigorously fanning their blushing cheeks with their hands.
Come to think of it… her mother had mentioned something about being ‘too dazzling’ and ’embarrassing’ this morning, but Merlin hadn’t really understood what she meant, so she hadn’t given it much thought.
“I don’t think so.”
“Then…”
The girls exchanged a “just as we thought” look, then all grew serious.
“Please, don’t just smile at boys. If you can, don’t show them this soft side either! It’s best to keep up that cool, distant expression.”
Someone chimed in immediately.
“Right! The boys will definitely get the wrong idea. If you get tangled up with any boys, it’ll be troublesome. Even if you do nothing, you already stand out enough, after all, you’re a princess…”
“Understood.”
That wasn’t a big deal. This morning, when parting, Merlin had already promised her mother not to take the initiative to talk to boys for the time being, and even if any boys spoke to her, she would only answer necessary questions.
Besides, Merlin’s impression of the first-year boys in the Alchemy Department had already hit rock bottom—there was no way she’d talk to them.
After all, Merlin herself had only just started living as a girl, so for now, it was best to obediently listen to her seniors’ advice.
“So, for this week’s regular assembly, I’d like to introduce a new teacher to everyone. I’m sure some of you have already seen her around campus.”
Before he finished speaking, a clear, rhythmic clicking of high heels echoed from the side corridor.
The sound was neither hurried nor slow; each step was like a drumbeat in the quiet, drawing all eyes.
She walked to the podium and gave a slight bow to the students and teachers before her.
Jack added, “She is the first principal of Zeryon Academy—Ophelia Haillier, our honorary professor. She will be temporarily teaching in the Magic Department while she’s back at the academy for this period.”
A wave of murmuring swept across the audience like a tide.
That name was just too famous.
One of the only two Ninth-Ring elves—the great mage, Ophelia?
“Merlinlia, is she your mother?”
Most of the students had already seen Merlin and Ophelia’s affectionate interaction that morning.
The first-year Alchemy students sat in the front row on the right, and as the class representative, Merlin was seated at the very front.
The girls beside her snuck in a question.
Merlin nodded shyly.
“She seems like such a gentle mother.”
“She’s not just gentle—she’s really strong, too.”
On the podium, Ophelia’s calm gaze swept across the crowd, and the whispers died down involuntarily.
Her voice rang out clearly to every corner, carrying a poise that only came with years of experience.
“Zeryon Royal Academy has already entered a new era. An old relic like me shouldn’t interfere anymore. So this time, I’ll only be assisting with teaching and won’t get involved in school affairs.”
Ophelia glanced at Merlin, who was sitting upright.
Merlinlia lifted her hand in a reserved gesture, waving toward her mother.
“There wasn’t even a need to introduce me at this assembly—I’m only here to take care of my child. The sole heir of the elven royal family deserves some special attention, after all.”
People couldn’t help recalling the heartwarming scene from that morning, when Merlinlia had quietly rested her head on Ophelia’s shoulder.
Merlinlia Haillier.
Previously, when Merlin enrolled, it seemed that she and Lady Machina, the duke’s daughter, had known each other for a while, and there’d even been some conflict.
Now that she was revealed as a princess, everything made sense.
Suddenly entering the school in her true appearance on Monday, and her mother, Ophelia Haillier, showing up at the same time…
The students quickly pictured a little drama: a princess sneaking into school, only to be caught by her mother not long after.
In their hearts, they silently mourned for the elven princess who’d been found out, and worried over any rudeness they’d shown before.
There had never been news of an elven princess before, and to think her debut would be at Zeryon Royal Academy—and in such a dramatic fashion.
Merlin felt a little overwhelmed by the intense attention. She tried her best to sit up straight, legs pressed together, worrying whether her posture was proper, afraid of shaming her people.
If only she hadn’t acted up yesterday—if only she’d been a little more serious.
Mother was right, I’m telling you.
Ophelia swept her gaze over the students and smiled faintly.
“Please, don’t mind us too much. Just live as usual. And if you have any questions about magic, feel free to ask me.”
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