A Fruit Basket and a Familiar Face

Bearing a fruit basket, Iordera once again found herself back at the academy.

Her spirits soaring, she hummed a tune as she walked.

“I’m a security guard, I love my bear cookies. Bringing gifts to the boss, they won’t kick me out, you see~”

In her previous life, before she was tragically struck down, Iordera might have been known as a prickly subordinate who often clashed with her superiors, but that was an anomaly. Under normal circumstances, she possessed a keen understanding of social niceties.

Thus, for her new supervisor, who had spoken up on her behalf, she had deliberately purchased a fruit basket, intending to present it as a token of her appreciation.

It wasn’t an extravagant gift, but the gesture itself held significant weight. Should the recipient fail to grasp her subtle intent and inquire about its meaning, she was prepared to simply state, “It’s just a small token (TL Note: ‘yisi yisi,’ a polite Chinese phrase meaning ‘just a little something’ or ‘a gesture of goodwill’), no need to make a fuss (TL Note: ‘buhaoyisi,’ meaning ‘I’m embarrassed’ or ‘it’s nothing’).”

Indeed, it was quite amusing.

The academy’s library occupied a secluded corner of the sprawling complex, nestled amidst vibrant, flourishing gardens. Upon entering, Iordera presented her credentials and stated her purpose to a staff member, who then gestured towards her destination.

“The professor’s chambers are situated on the rooftop terrace, I believe.”

“Right, thank you.”

Though this otherworldly realm possessed certain rudimentary lifting devices, the library, regrettably, lacked such amenities, leaving her with no option but to ascend the winding spiral staircase, floor by arduous floor.

‘Now, why would a professor choose to reside in such an elevated abode?’ she mused. ‘Could it be that this is what defines a truly “lofty individual” (TL Note: ‘gaoren,’ referring to a person of high achievement or profound wisdom)?’

Ascending step by laborious step, Iordera finally reached the rooftop, where she indeed found a room awaiting her.

A soft rap echoed.

“Enter.”

As the melodious female voice resonated, the door swung open of its own accord. Iordera glanced down, noting the bare wooden floor, devoid of any carpet, which meant she likely wouldn’t need to remove her shoes.

Only then did she step cautiously inside.

The room on the rooftop was sparsely furnished, appearing to be a temporary structure, with no ceiling to offer shelter from the open sky above.

A slender, delicate figure of a young woman stood with her back to the doorway, meticulously tending to a collection of potted plants arranged along the rooftop’s edge.

‘So all the important figures are so young these days,’ Iordera thought, even as she extended the fruit basket. “Ah, Professor,” she began, “I’m the security guard you hired today. I’ve come to express my gratitude for your consideration…”

“You’ve arrived,” the young woman said, turning to face her, a faint, graceful smile gracing her lips. “Do sit.”

An exquisite, captivating face, eyes that held both mystery and an unsettling strangeness, all encased in the delicate, alluring facade of a young woman.

Despite the transformation of her hairstyle into that of a demure housewife and her hair color to a soft, ethereal jade white, Iordera instantly recognized the woman before her.

“It’s… you?!”

A chilling premonition seized her, and without conscious thought, her upper body twisted a full 180 degrees.

With two soft claps of her hands, Hecate sealed the door.

Hecate clapped her hands twice, softly, and the door instantly locked itself. Even the open expanse surrounding the rooftop became enveloped in a shimmering, transparent membrane.

There was no escape.

A solitary bead of cold sweat trickled down Iordera’s brow.

“What a spectacular feat of agility,” Hecate remarked, her gaze fixed on Iordera with a glint of amusement. “Can you, perhaps, turn back around?”

‘Could I even say no? I’m hardly a performer in a circus act,’ she thought ruefully.

Despite her inner protest, Iordera’s body, obedient to some unspoken command, dutifully rotated her upper half back to its original position.

“Splendid,” Hecate applauded, the sound crisp in the confined space. “Most ordinary individuals wouldn’t be capable of such a contortion, would they?”

‘To be precise, no *human* could possibly achieve such a feat,’ Iordera silently corrected.

“Merely a family trick,” Iordera offered with a strained, bitter smile. “Nothing worth mentioning.”

“I find it rather charming,” Hecate remarked, a mysterious twinkle in her eyes. “My dear, the versatility of your body is truly astonishing.”

‘It truly is astonishing, isn’t it? Perhaps I could perform a split for you? If it amuses you, might you consider letting me go?’

Unperturbed by Iordera’s distressed expression, Hecate’s gaze drifted to the fruit basket beside them. “You’ve even brought me a gift?” she inquired.

“Yes, yes, indeed,” Iordera stammered, forcing a twitch of her lips. “I merely thought, seeing as you’ve been confined for over half a year, deprived of sunlight, you might be lacking in certain vitamins. This is to replenish them.”

Hecate’s smile deepened, a playful glint in her eyes. “My dearest, I had no idea you were so concerned for my well-being.”

‘Oh, yes, yes, quite unexpected, wasn’t it?’

‘Even I didn’t foresee this turn of events.’

Iordera’s lips twitched, and she painstakingly managed to conjure a semblance of a smile. “You see, we share no past grievances, nor any recent animosity. In fact, our interactions have been rather pleasant. Therefore, we should…”

“Therefore, we should ensure our future interactions become even more delightful,” Hecate interjected smoothly, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

‘Right? Absolutely not right at all!’ Iordera mentally screamed.

After a moment of profound hesitation, Iordera steeled herself and blurted out, “I believe our current arrangement is perfectly agreeable.”

“No, it’s still insufficient.”

The distance between them abruptly vanished. For a fleeting moment, Iordera imagined Hecate had lunged, but a quick glance around revealed the truth: she herself had been magically “pulled” directly before Hecate.

“Have you quite forgotten what I once declared?” Hecate purred, as a cool, delicate hand settled upon Iordera’s tender neck. “I intend to press your head down…”

Iordera felt as though the very throat of destiny had seized her, rendering her utterly immobile.

‘Was this truly where her story would end?’ she wondered with a pang of dread.

‘And by what gruesome means?’

A wave of profound sorrow washed over her.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The door swiftly opened, revealing Principal Louisa standing framed in the doorway.

She was a woman of somewhat old-fashioned and severe mien, her noble, permed curls impeccably styled, and a copper-framed monocle perched precisely on her nose, lending her an air of traditional scholarly rigor.

In the discerning eyes of this “traditional old academic,” the young woman and the loli appeared to have just concluded an intimate pose, now hastily adjusting their attire.

The young woman’s expression remained perfectly composed, as if she were well-accustomed to such situations, while the loli’s face was etched with a raw, wounded agony, like a fragile blossom recently ravaged.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Principal?” Hecate inquired with an air of elegant composure. “Do you have some pressing matter to discuss?”

“I was informed you proactively hired a new security guard today,” Louisa stated, her gaze meticulously assessing the loli. “I merely came by to observe.”

“Ah, I understand. I appreciate your concern, Principal,” Hecate replied. She stepped aside, and two ethereal hands materialized in the air, gracefully pouring a cup of tea onto the nearby table. “Won’t you come in and sit for a moment?”

“There’s no need, thank you. With the new term fast approaching, I find myself inundated with various responsibilities.”

With a brief nod of farewell, Louisa turned and departed.

From behind Hecate, Iordera tilted her head. “Was that truly our Principal just now?” she asked, a note of disbelief in her voice.

“Indeed. A veritable bookworm who relentlessly pursues every query to its ultimate conclusion,” Hecate replied, settling into a chair and raising her teacup. “Pay her no mind.”

Despite their agreement, Louisa remained perpetually intrigued by Hecate’s true intentions. Therefore, Hecate had deliberately presented a plausible motive, allowing Louisa to “discover” that her presence here was merely for a rendezvous with a young paramour.

Of course, this was but one facet of her reasoning; primarily, she found herself rather amenable to such an arrangement.

‘How utterly adorable this loli is,’ Hecate mused, ‘especially when I tease her. That agonizingly pitiful and helpless expression she makes is simply irresistible.’

“You really ought to reconsider,” Iordera pleaded, her voice laced with a pathetic urgency. “This is a school, and such behavior sets a poor example.”

‘What if someone were to witness this, and it corrupted the impressionable young lords and ladies of the empire’s nobility?’ she fretted internally.