"Yifia, look up. Look at me."

Amelia wouldn’t let Yifia linger in sorrow any longer. As she spoke, she gave a subtle blink. The moment Yifia lifted her gaze, Amelia’s eyes instantly shifted from crimson back to violet—like ripples fading across a breeze-stirred pond. Back to normal in a heartbeat.

Suppressing that cruel, frenzied emotion was tiring, yet no true burden for Amelia—just a faint hint of annoyance. But holding Yifia close made it worth enduring.

She’d seen all kinds of people: the greedily insatiable, the quietly honest, those who smiled with hidden daggers, the bluntly sincere… Their fates diverged—fortunate or unfortunate. She fed on misfortune to grow stronger and once took pleasure in watching faces twist in agony. In their final moments, wretches would wail, curse, kowtow, beg, or surrender to despair. She’d never cared. Until now. Feeling Yifia’s genuine worry stirred something new inside her. A flicker of joy, perhaps. After all, traces of humanity still lingered within her.

A soft smile touched Amelia’s lips. She reached out, gently tapping Yifia’s nose with her index finger—like soothing a wounded house cat. Her violet eyes held her with tenderness, as if cradling scattered starlight.

"When Nisen moved to strike, other servants happened to intervene. So I wasn’t hurt."

No witnesses remained. Amelia lied without so much as a blink.

After a brief moment to compose herself, Yifia’s trembling had stilled, though her eyes stayed red-rimmed. Then—she flushed crimson with shame. *What had she just done?!*

Yes, worry for Amelia and deep guilt had nearly broken her. But buried beneath was her own quiet hurt. She *seemed* to accept her new life, yet the fall from pampered heiress to penniless student wasn’t easy for anyone. Amelia was the first kind soul in this world to offer her a hand—that’s why the news of danger shattered her calm.

Simply put, Amelia was Yifia’s anchor. Her reason to keep moving forward. A companion so she wouldn’t wander this strange world alone.

Yifia knew she wasn’t sharp or quick-witted. Sometimes painfully slow. *Even the system must’ve felt unlucky binding me,* she thought. But even ants cling to life—why couldn’t she? Maybe luck would smile on her.

"Amelia… I’m just glad you’re safe. I—I was worried. Sorry. I won’t…"

Amelia raised a hand to stop her. "Hush, my little songbird. Your worry only makes me happy."

She’d once assumed even the most intriguing toy would bore her quickly. Now? She’d been presumptuous. A child as endearing as Yifia wouldn’t fade so fast.

To steer Yifia from overthinking, Amelia shifted gently: "Yifia… did something happen?"

Though phrased softly, the question was clear: *Why did you come back?*

Yifia scratched her head sheepishly. She didn’t hide anything about Eileen, Fina, or the others—she recounted it all.

(Except the short noble. His lewd advances, her slipping him something, then… kicking him where it hurts. No. Too crude for Amelia’s ears.)

"Someone else’s bet dragged you in? Loser drops out? And now they want to borrow money?"

Amelia’s brow furrowed. She met Yifia’s eyes, voice earnest: "Yifia, if I can—I’ll handle these troublesome people."

*Anyone threatening her new toy deserved to vanish.*

[Warning! Host…]

?

Yifia blinked. The system vanished after two words. *Crashed? Virus?*

But Amelia’s sincere gaze held her. She longed to say: *Expel the female leads. Kick Prince Caroy out of Pris Academy.* Yet… this was a story world. Removing main characters would unravel everything. Without the plot’s safety net, chaos might follow. *Better play it safe. Keep a low profile.*

Anyway—clinging to Amelia’s protection meant no male lead, female lead, or anyone else could touch her.

Misunderstanding "handle" as mere expulsion, Yifia shook her head with a mischievous chuckle, round eyes twinkling. "It’s fine! They add spice—saves me from boredom. That bet? I’ll teach them a lesson during the exam!"

"But Yifia… you just enrolled. No time to review?"

"…Actually, I’m academically gifted. Top grades? No review needed."

The bald-faced lie made her cheeks flush. Her eyes darted away guiltily.

Amelia rested her chin in her palm, smiling fondly at the flustered little cat. *Alright. Let her try.* She’d step in only when truly needed.

"Um… since I need to lie low for now… could I stay over?"

After boldly claiming exam victory, Yifia now fidgeted, embarrassed. Doubts cleared, choice made—she wouldn’t return to the dorm. (If refused? She’d confront them. They couldn’t *openly* rob her!)

"Yifia, don’t be formal. Of course you can stay…" Amelia’s voice softened. "Share my room tonight?"