“Why’d you go quiet again?” Her voice rippled through the still air like a pebble tossed in a pond.

I had no words. Paluna shot me a puzzled look, bright as a cat tilting its head under soft lamplight.

“Uh… is cooking that hard?” The question fluttered out of me like a loose leaf on a breeze.

“Yeah. Super hard.” Paluna nodded with solemn weight, like a priestess at dawn. “Chopping, peeling, tossing in oil and salt—it's all a headache.”

Her pale little hand clenched into a fist, tight as a bud before spring. “And the worst? I once slaved over a dish, the teacher tasted it, then ran out clutching her stomach, face gray as storm clouds. Later I learned she’d gone to the infirmary. Next day she told me, ‘Paluna, start with washing vegetables.’ That’s just insulting.”

Alright. I got her level now, as murky as Littlesky’s first attempts in a rainy kitchen.

“So I ditched home ec this period!” Her grin flashed, quick as sunlight through bamboo.

“Oh, that figures.” I laughed, warm as steam off tea. For all she’s the academy’s songstress, everyone’s idol, her quirks feel cute, like a sparrow preening on a branch.

“What about you? Why’d you ditch?” She tossed her own story aside and lobbed the question at me like a smooth stone.

“Mm, nothing big. I just needed some air.” The wish rose like mist from a valley.

“Air?” Her brows arched like a crescent moon.

“Yeah. Because back in the classroom…”

So I told Paluna what had happened in there, my words tumbling like pebbles in a stream.

“…That’s it. So I came out to breathe.” I sighed, long as a wind rolling over grass. The classroom had honestly drained me.

“Ha.” Paluna chuckled and tapped my shoulder, a light spring rain. “I get it. I went through the same thing. It’s a pain at first. But give it a few days; you’ll get used to it.”

“I hope so.” The hope flickered like a lantern at dusk.

“Of course… oh!” Something lit in her eyes, bright as dawn over rooftops. “We’ve talked this long but never shared names. I’m Paluna Calentia. You?”

“I’m Yumigawa Sumeragi. Please treat me kindly.” I reached out my right hand, steady as a bamboo stalk.

“Alright, Yumigawa Sumeragi. I’ll count on you too.” Paluna offered her left hand; our fingers met, smooth as silk.

“Honestly, I’m surprised you’re from the Mizumi Clan of the Central Continent.” Her smile curved like a fan.

“Yeah? You’re not shocked?” My voice lifted, a sparrow’s hop.

Most people panic when they hear my name. Her calm felt strange, like still water under moonlight.

“I am shocked. I’m just not like others; I don’t wear it on my face.” She pointed at her gorgeous features, bright as peach blossoms, and laughed.

“But your name’s odd. ‘Emperor?’ Sounds like a boy’s name.” Her words teased like a breeze through reeds.

“Heh.” I just smiled, the way clouds drift without comment.

“Still, it’s not bad. Anyway…” She suddenly pinched my cheek, soft as dough. “Yumigawa, how do you keep your skin so smooth? It’s springy!”

She squeezed a couple more times, playful as a kitten.

“Uh, I don’t really do anything special.” I gave a dry laugh and twirled a strand of hair, a willow flick.

“Born beautiful, then? I’m jealous.” Paluna stood, dusting her skirt like snow off plum petals. “There are a few minutes before the bell. I’ll head back. See you.”

“Okay. See you.” I spoke like a gentle bell, and she nodded, turned, and drifted off like a crane.

“Then I’ll head back too.” The thought settled like a leaf.

…

By the time I returned, class had ended. The girls clustered in little groups, chattering like swallows on wires. As I stepped in, their talk broke off, and all eyes turned—like stars swiveling toward a moon.

“Emperor-sis, where did you go? You even skipped class?!” One voice rushed like a stream.

“You said you went for air… was it because we tired you out? If so, we’re really sorry! We’ll be more careful.” Her words bowed like reeds.

“Yeah, we’ll be careful!” They all stayed put, faces showing guilt, like clouds thinning after rain.

“Alright, forget it.” Their look knocked away my lingering gloom like wind scattering smoke.

“It’s fine. No big deal. Just keep calm next time.” I smiled and walked toward Xinuo, steps light as paper fans.

“Mm, truly sorry. We’ll pay attention.” Their voices softened, like tea poured slow.

“Right, we were rude.” Another apology slid in, a pebble into water.

“Sorry! It’s just our first time seeing someone from the Mizumi Clan, so we got excited.” Their cheeks reddened, faint as dawn.

“Don’t worry about it.” I glanced back, shaking my head with a smile, then slipped into my seat, a feather settling.

“Boss, Boss! Where’d you go?” As soon as I sat, Hill dove into my arms, her cute head rolling against my chest like a warm, curious fox.

“Hmm? Boss, why do you smell like a girl?” She lifted her head, eyes wide as lakes, puzzled.

“A girl’s scent on my Servant?” At Hill’s words, Xinuo lowered her book. Her beautiful face drifted close, rosy as lotus, stern as frost.

Sniff, sniff— Her breath brushed my cheek like a winter breeze.

“It’s true! Servant, where did you go? Were you with a girl?!” Xinuo’s gaze cut sharp as ice. She pinched my cheeks and tugged, stretching them long like pulled taffy.

“Wah! Xinuo, gentle!” Tears pricked like dew. My mood had just calmed, and now my skin paid the price—pure tragedy.

“Hmph! Fine. Servant, explain.” She released me with reluctance, eyes cold as a lake at night.

“Okay, okay, I’ll talk…” I rubbed my swollen face, red as crabapple, then told her about being with Paluna, words falling like soft rain.

…

“So that’s all? Hm. I’ll forgive you this time, Servant. Don’t let it happen again.” Xinuo nodded, satisfied as a cat, then sat and opened her half-read book like a window.

“Boss, you’re so pitiful.” Hill eyed my puffy cheeks with sympathy, a sigh fluttering like a moth.

“Looks like Xinuo Miss has you completely tamed, Yumigawa Sumeragi.” Eastern Moon Aixue turned around, smiling like snow under sun.

“Same here. Guess I don’t stand a chance.” Faya muttered something mysterious, her voice a drifting fog.

“Yeah, Xinuo’s strict.” I touched my cheek—miraculously smooth again, like spring water after ice. I had no clue how she does that.

“But I don’t mind.” The thought settled in my heart like a lantern on a still river. Even if I’m the one who suffers each time, I don’t dislike it. Strange, isn’t it?

…