She actually dared to touch my head. Well, some girls are just born with that kind of control, aren’t they?

"Thank you for your understanding, senior sister…" Tiyi slightly pursed her lips, bowing toward Qingruo with a hint of gratitude. Being touched on the head by her own student and still having to say thanks—maybe she shouldn’t be her teacher anymore.

Besides, why had she said "forgiveness"? Shouldn’t it be "understanding"?

Qingruo shook her head slightly, but the curve of her lips hinted at forgiveness. She reached out, gently stroking Tiyi’s school uniform as if it were hers to touch freely. Of course, as a Holy Temple Knight noble honoring the contract, she did have that right.

"This is quite an exquisite Holy Academy uniform," Qingruo asked in a tolerant tone, her voice exerting invisible pressure on Tiyi’s heart. "You mentioned earlier that your transfer isn’t complete yet. So where did you get it?"

If Yedi could bring her into the academy using his Empire military prestige, could he have given her the uniform too?

"T-this…" Tiyi didn’t dare say it was from Yedi; that didn’t fit his style at all.

She hadn’t even started classes or joined a homeroom. Where had the uniform come from? How to answer? It was just a small detail, but a rash reply might shatter the fragile trust Qingruo had just built.

Her mouth had already been punished. She’d been tied up in the public garden, risking gossip. Losing Qingruo’s trust over this would be too costly.

"Borrowed." Tiyi kept it vague, hoping Qingruo wouldn’t press further.

"Oh, is that so?" Qingruo’s gaze turned unnervingly calm, making Tiyi even more uneasy.

She felt Qingruo might have already figured it out… What scared her most was the thought of her senior sister investigating later.

"Um, senior sister… about the contract, can it—" Tiyi just wanted it back now.

That way, she’d only face questioning as a junior later, not… torment. She hated admitting it, but last night’s lip print still burned in her mind. If that contract went public, she’d be expelled from Holy Academy.

"This one?"

Tiyi looked up, startled by the fresh ink on the ancient parchment—and her own beautiful lip print.

Admiring another girl’s mark might be fine, but this was hers: a symbol of shame from last night. She couldn’t appreciate it without losing herself. Yet why did it feel like a sorrowful beauty?

Tiyi reached for it.

But Qingruo pulled the contract back, holding it close.

"Senior sister?"

"I can’t name a date, but someday…"

Tiyi’s eyes widened, her hair swaying as she realized Qingruo was echoing her own words.

"Someday you’ll make me believe you, right? Until then, I’ll keep this." Qingruo’s glistening lips stayed serious. She let Tiyi linger on one last look before folding the contract neatly into her uniform’s inner pocket.

"Huh? Senior sister, but—" Tiyi’s voice held a trace of resentment, useless against Qingruo’s strict resolve.

"I won’t break our agreement. But you haven’t proven your words yet. So this contract is temporarily void in public—but not terminated. You agree, don’t you?"

"B-but—" Tiyi stared longingly at Qingruo’s uniform. It carried a faint fragrance… and her most precious thing. She wanted to confess: what did "void in public" mean? Did it imply validity when alone? How Qingruo would use it—all depended on her whim.

The initiative… was entirely in her hands.

"No ‘buts’." Qingruo’s sharp tone made Tiyi shiver. Then she softened, stroking Tiyi’s black hair with long fingers. "This is settled."

Her tone brooked no argument.

Tiyi feared pushing further might mean another binding to the stone pillar—or worse, being left tied here with the contract pasted to her chest.

No choice. She couldn’t use magic; she was no match for Qingruo’s Sacred Power.

The only comfort? The one holding her fate was someone she’d once liked.

Had she liked her? What about now?

A complex shyness stirred in Tiyi’s heart. At least today, Qingruo hadn’t extended the contract forever or dragged her to the guards. Objectively, her attitude had softened. She’d have to reclaim the contract slowly… later.

Like pursuing a girl—step by step, no rushing. When to act, how to act… the initiative was still hers.

Probably… Tiyi’s delicate face flickered with shifting emotions.

"That’s all for today. I have Student Council duties this afternoon…" Qingruo’s words implied future talks.

Worry and anticipation warred in Tiyi. It was still an opportunity.

The two tall girls stood facing each other in the shrub-ringed garden, wind lifting their skirts.

"Alandiye classmate?"

A sweet voice called from the garden’s shaded corner.

A slender girl with ink-blue bangs emerged, wearing the same academy uniform. She darted over and grabbed Tiyi’s hand without hesitation.

"Alandiye classmate." Her voice chimed like a high violin, dreamy and lingering.

Who? Tiyi frowned. A Holy Academy student, but unfamiliar—even Teacher Yedi’s memories held no strong impression. Yet she’d seen her around.

"Ah, Senior Sister Qingruo! I’m Xingyu from Class 3, Year 2. Good day!" The girl bowed deeply to Qingruo.

"Mm, good day," Qingruo smiled faintly.

"Alandiye, what are you doing here? Didn’t Teacher Yedi tell you not to wander before your transfer’s done?" Xingyu spun back, gripping Tiyi’s hand again. Her slender fingers traced Tiyi’s palm, making it itch.

Huh? What was this girl up to!? How did she know about Yedi and the transfer? She’d just appeared, touching her hand… Tiyi was bewildered, her palm tingling.

"Hm!?" Tiyi’s eyes narrowed at the petite, delicate girl.

She wasn’t just touching randomly. She… was passing a secret message!

Xingyu was drawing the Witch Mark on her palm.

Not just any mark—the very Witch Mark on the inside of Tiyi’s thigh.