Kujou Yukihime narrowed her eyes slightly, her imposing aura intensifying until even Kujou Kana felt a trace of discomfort.

She lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

Her slender fingers twirled a lock of silky hair—a mesmerizing blend of executive sharpness and feminine allure that sent an unexpected flutter through the air.

She lifted her feet gracefully, revealing glossy black stockings beneath her long skirt.

With soft footsteps, Kujou Yukihime settled into her chair and let out a contented hum.

Even Kana, a woman herself, found the charm almost overwhelming. She bowed her head lower.

Swiveling her chair to face Kana, Yukihime’s voice turned icy: "Forget it then. Leave him be. Have you completed the task I assigned?"

"Yes!"

Kana straightened up and pulled a document from beneath her skirt, handing it over.

Yukihime opened it immediately. It was a draft announcement for the university.

After reading it thoroughly, a faint smile curved her lips. She nodded.

"Excellent, Kana. Your efficiency never disappoints. I’ll reward you properly back at the estate."

Kana dropped to her knees instantly. "No reward is needed. I exist only to serve your will, Yukihime-sama. However…" Her expression remained perfectly neutral, professional. "You haven’t yet specified the prize for the light novel contest you arranged with the dean."

Yukihime closed her eyes.

"Hmm… True. Let me consider."

*What does he like?*

*Would showing up unannounced after tracking his IP scare him off?*

*What if he dislikes me? What if he refuses my patronage?*

*I’m so eager to see his reaction…*

*Will he think I’m too old? Twenty-six… they still call me ‘old maid’ behind my back.*

*Youngest female PhD in the nation—but is that still too much?*

Time trickled by. Kana stood motionless as a statue, her hidden gaze filled with admiration.

*This woman single-handedly lifted the Kujou Clan to the top of Japan’s Five Great Families.*

*Earned multiple doctorates by twenty. Published world-shaking papers.*

*Her masterstroke: partnering with this ancient nation’s rising power. That flawless strategy made even elders leap from their seats.*

*Every meticulous move planned three years ahead. Even becoming a professor here—to understand a culture, you must immerse in its stories.*

*Hence the contest. Student voices embody a nation’s vitality. Romantic tales? They’d reveal cultural depths. Why else do we flood the world with school-themed anime?*

*Genius.*

*She’s surely plotting the Kujou Clan’s next expansion.*

Kana’s resolve hardened. *I’ll protect Yukihime-sama.*

Then—a face surfaced in her mind.

*"You and your sister are Yukihime-sama’s right and left hands, aren’t you?"*

That gentle voice, so close just moments ago.

She’d dumped the heavy boxes on her sister Nana while running errands for Yukihime-sama… and met *him*.

Warm words. A handsome face. Phrases that pierced her ironclad heart.

Even Kana felt a flicker of softness.

Unbeknownst to each other, both women drifted into thoughts of the same man.

Silence stretched until Yukihime shifted in her chair, the scrape of legs against floor breaking the spell.

*Right. We were discussing business.*

Her mind snapped back to him.

"Kana," Yukihime declared, "set the contest prizes as follows: one premium Japanese figure of their choice, plus limited skins from popular local games—Arknights’ Mudrock Swimsuit, Azur Lane’s Rafflesia in swimwear."

Kana’s doll-like face flickered with shock. She regained composure instantly.

*Yukihime-sama’s choices always have deeper meaning.*

Then—illumination.

*Figures and otaku culture—Japan’s signature exports. If the winner picks anime merch, they’re culturally aligned. Perfect for deeper connections.*

*Game skins? A probe for hidden economic potential. Mudrock’s swimsuit is deliberately random—limited edition, highest market value. That armored warrior revealed as a white-haired, red-eyed beauty? Tailored for their… preferences.*

*Whether chasing XP or profit, they’ll pour their soul into writing.*

*Even the "random" pick was calculated.*

*No wonder she leads the Kujou Clan. Every move layered with strategy.*

Kana bowed deeply. "I’ll handle it immediately, Yukihime-sama!"

She exited swiftly, leaving Yukihime alone in the faculty office.

Yukihime’s delicate ears twitched. Her supernatural hearing mapped every sound within range.

"Gone?"

Her aura plummeted. With a languid stretch that arched her slender waist, the icy executive vanished—replaced by a breathtakingly ordinary beauty.

"Fooled her perfectly. My Kana’s imagination truly is world-class," she murmured, amusement warming her usually cool tone.

Truth was, she’d simply listed *his* favorite things and added decoys. Let Kana’s overactive mind weave the "strategy."

Bringing him here? All part of the scheme.

Kana—the perfect pawn. Nana—the perfect punching bag.

*Who else would I bring?*

Yukihime rubbed her temples, eyes closed. "Just a little longer… Once I’m close to him, I’ll investigate every woman near him. Heh."