Confrontation

Student Council Office.

Karin sat at the desk handling documents.

Most of Alice Academy’s daily affairs were managed by the student council.

She usually had plenty to deal with, and the start of a new semester made her busier than ever.

Even when she heard the door open, she didn’t stop marking papers.

Without looking up, she said coldly,

“What is it? Speak quickly.”

The person leaned lazily against the doorframe and opened their mouth with a drawl.

“Aren’t you the one who called me here?”

The golden-haired president froze slightly.

She looked up, her refined face revealing no emotion as she gazed toward the door.

Her golden hair, usually left down, was now tied up neatly.

Perched on her straight nose was a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

Her expression was blank, and her makeup was cool and professional—completely different from her usual approachable demeanor.

If Wang Ning had seen her now, she might not have immediately recognized the character hailed as the gentle and sunny upperclassman in the game.

“Don’t react like that,” said the visitor with a smile.

“I don’t believe I’ve done anything to break the agreement.”

Karin sneered.

She tossed aside her pen and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

“Is that so? And how exactly did you guarantee things before? I have a good memory—I can recite your exact words.”

The person replied,

“I really haven’t done anything. I just didn’t expect her body to be so weak.”

“To think such power is held by such a fragile human being.”

They chuckled.

“Quite amusing.”

The next second, a sharp whistle of wind shot past their neck.

A pen flew straight into the wooden door behind them with a heavy thud, followed by the sound of splintering wood.

It was a fountain pen.

Just moments ago, it had been held in the princess’s hand.

Karin said calmly,

“Sometimes, people need to learn to curb their curiosity.”

“Don’t you think—Third Young Miss of the Yorkson Family?”

The chill of the steel nib against her neck raised a patch of goosebumps.

Glass Anne tilted her head slightly, the little bun on her tied-up hair swaying with her motion.

She said ambiguously,

“Your Highness seems to care a great deal for her junior.”

“I care about more than you think.”

“Is that so?”

Glass Anne looked at Karin, tilting her head further.

Her half-lidded eyes opened slightly, and then she suddenly smiled brightly.

“Well, that makes sense.”

“After all, you’re the diligent and dutiful heir to the Ulysses Empire.”

She touched her neck and muttered,

“How can someone like you have so many admirers?”

As if recalling something, she made a small sound of realization and murmured,

“Compared to you—no, compared to anyone else, she really is much cuter.”

And much more innocent.

Karin didn’t hear what Glass Anne mumbled, nor did she respond.

After a moment of silence, she said coldly,

“Leave.”

Also—

“I don’t want to see something like that happen to her again.”

Glass Anne replied lazily,

“Can’t promise that.”

Before the next pen could be thrown at her, she pushed open the student council office door and stepped out without looking back.

She tossed a final sentence over her shoulder.

“And don’t associate me with that family’s name again.”

“Disgusting.”

After Glass Anne left, Karin sat still for a long while.

Then she picked up the phone and spoke gently,

“There’s been damage to the student council office door. Please send someone over for repairs.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After hanging up, Karin lowered her gaze to the unfinished paperwork.

She casually grabbed another pen.

…Huh?

No ink.

A few seconds passed before Karin realized the signed document had been torn by the pen’s pressure.

The nib was also badly deformed.

Karin: …

She picked up the phone again.

“…Yes. Please bring two more pens.”

The weather turned unusually overcast today.

The air was thick with damp moisture and the scent of grass and soil.

Puddles formed along the cobblestone paths, soaking the fallen leaves and withered petals.

Wang Ning lay on her dorm bed, hugging a long cat-shaped pillow.

She rolled around comfortably while scrolling the school forum.

[No military training today, yay!]

[My rain rituals paid off at last!]

[Hahahaha finally free from the red-haired devil! Even if just for a bit!]

Rain was truly wonderful!

Rain during military training was even better!

Rain during military training plus napping in the dorm?

That was bliss multiplied!