Until Sharin left the flower shop, Elisa still couldn’t figure out what exactly was going on between her and Manager Lena.

Angry over unanswered messages?

It didn’t feel like anger to her. More like a lingering resentment—the kind a neglected lover might harbor.

If Sharin truly despised Lena, she wouldn’t act this way.

So… did the aloof Guild President Sharin actually *like* Manager Lena?

At the very least, they were friends.

Realizing this, Elisa felt her worldview shatter. Lena’s image in her mind grew taller, shrouded in newfound mystery.

Back in her carriage, Sharin arrived at Lena’s residence.

Unlike her trip to the flower shop, she’d brought small gifts this time—not just for Lena, but for the three Aspirant Heroes living here too.

They’d finished training and should be back by now.

With the grace of a noblewoman, Sharin glided to the door and pressed the bell.

*Ding-dong—*

The crisp chime echoed through the courtyard. Soon, a sweet-faced girl opened the door.

“Aurora.”

“President?”

Aurora blinked in surprise. After a brief pause, she stepped aside to let Sharin in.

“What brings you here, President?”

“I’m here to see Lena. Is she back?”

“She hasn’t returned yet.”

Celia had told Sharin about Lena. She’d been shocked—Lena seemed like an ordinary landlady to her. How could she possibly know the Guild President?

Heroes and commoners lived in separate worlds. Crossing paths was rare.

Inside, Sharin hung her coat neatly in the entryway and slipped into a pair of understated slippers before entering the living room.

Her gaze landed immediately on the golden-haired girl slumped on the sofa.

Her casual dress was rumpled, long hair spilling over one shoulder to half-conceal her profile. Though her face was obscured, those usually vibrant emerald eyes now looked hollow.

Even from across the room, Sharin could feel the aura of dejection clinging to her.

“What happened to her?” Sharin frowned.

Aurora sighed. “She’s been like this since learning the instructor’s true identity…”

After discovering their instructor was Elder Silverflower, Celia had transformed completely.

Once a slightly tsundere noble heiress, she now trembled like a scolded child around Silverbloom.

All traces of aristocratic poise had vanished.

She tiptoed around every word, terrified of leaving a bad impression—yet the harder she tried, the more mistakes she made. She’d fumbled several answers during theory class.

“Maybe she’s ashamed of disappointing her idol,” Aurora murmured.

Celia had always been fiercely proud, desperate to appear mature and flawless—especially before her hero.

Today’s humiliation had shattered that carefully crafted image. No wonder she looked so broken.

Sharin sat beside Celia, ready to comfort her—only to meet a grief-stricken stare.

“President… you knew the instructor was Elder Silverflower all along, didn’t you?”

“…She asked me to keep it secret.”

Sharin shifted the blame to Dorothy and patted Celia’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Celia. You’re still a child. To Silverbloom, your mistakes would only make you more endearing.”

For a split second, Sharin thought Celia’s eyes grew even more desolate.

*Did I just twist the knife?*

A muscle jumped near Sharin’s eye. She replayed her words but couldn’t spot the error.

Beside them, Aurora covered her face with a sigh.

…

Meanwhile, after theory class, Dorothy had sent Celia and the others home while she transformed back into Lena. She bought groceries in town.

As she approached her villa, a luxurious carriage caught her eye—parked right at her gate.

The Guild President’s personal carriage: obsidian body, silver wind chimes, powerful stallions. Every detail screamed prestige.

Lena hesitated for only a few seconds before calmly walking around it and opening her door.

“I’m home.”

She shed her coat in the entryway and slid into slippers. In the living room, Sharin lounged on the sofa.

Noticing Lena’s gaze, Sharin hummed softly and crossed her legs with deliberate grace, revealing flawless legs sheathed in black stockings.

“Problem, Miss Lena? Unhappy to see me?”

She adjusted her glasses slowly. The delicate gold chain swayed. Behind the lenses, her gaze turned sharp—eerily reminiscent of the bespectacled, black-stockinged teachers Lena had known.

“Of course not,” Lena murmured, looking away.

“Good. After all these years as best friends, I’d hate to be hurt.”

“Hungry? I’ll cook dinner.”

Holding up her grocery bag, Lena headed to the kitchen under Aurora and Isa’s eager stares.

She’d noticed Celia’s state but, as the cause of it, had no idea how to fix things.

As she washed vegetables, she pondered how to restore Celia’s spirit.

The kitchen door clicked open. A slender leg clad in black stockings stepped inside.

“I’ve missed your cooking for so long, Lena. I’m truly looking forward to tonight.” Sharin leaned against a cabinet, arms crossed, smiling.

“Why are you in here?” Lena didn’t turn, focused on chopping.

Sharin closed the door firmly. “Lena. You know Elder Silverflower. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lena had anticipated this.

“Sharin, I never hid it. I told you *because* you’re my closest friend.”

“Otherwise, how would you have known I recognized her when Silverbloom visited the Guild alone?”

She’d never intended to deceive Sharin. But since Sharin assumed she was merely friends with the Silver Blossom Sword Maiden, Lena let the misunderstanding stand.

Fewer people knowing her secret meant fewer risks of exposure.