"The young master is busy right now."
"Busy?"
"Yes... he is extrely busy at the mont,"
Snow initially didn't think much of Yui's response, chalking it up to Riley's usual eccentric obsession with training.
Knowing him, he was likely working on so new technique or pushing his limits in another early-morning routine.
But sothing about Yui's presence here-her vigilant stance by the door, the faint hint of worry hidden behind her perfectly controlled expression-seed odd.
Snow sensed there was more going on.
She knew all too well how to read people, and beneath Yui's poker face, she could detect sothing unusual, sothing that Yui was clearly trying to conceal.
"Is he doing sothing dangerous, perhaps?" Snow probed, her voice calm but laced with suspicion.
Yui's response was quick. "No... the young master is just... occupied with important matters at the mont."
"Hmm," Snow murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Yui's face, which had grown more resolute, as if determined to keep the details shrouded.
Yui's gaze shifted to et Snow's directly, scrutinizing her in a way that felt almost confrontational. "If it's not too forward of , may I ask... are you truly the young master's friend?"
"Yes," Snow replied without hesitation.
Snow could sense Yui's lingering doubts, despite her guarded expression.
As a maid of Killian Hall, Yui held a certain duty to protect Riley and maintain a level of discretion about his affairs, but her position only allowed her to go so far.
She couldn't openly question or confront the students-particularly not a supposed friend of Riley's—without crossing a line that could put her position at risk.
False suspicions could jeopardize her standing, and Riley's unpredictable behavior only added to the difficulty of discerning the truth.
It wasn't beyond Riley to associate with people as enigmatic as he was; after all, he had always been an enigma to her, even as his maid.
'Is he from another hall...?'
However, it wasn't just the young man's connection to Riley that had Yui on edge-it was her inability to recognize him.
She prided herself on knowing the faces of nearly all the students in Killian Hall, even if only in passing.
Yet, the young man before her was unfamiliar, and that discrepancy alone raised silent alarms.
The only students she hadn't fully morized yet were so of the newly arrived first-years, still fresh on their ti here, though this person didn't strike her as a first-year.
Yui found herself wanting to press further, to ask this "friend" more pointed questions, but her responsibilities and limits were clear.
Right now, her priority was ensuring Riley's privacy.
The timing was delicate; whatever he was doing, Riley's current situation left strict instructions in her mind to prevent interruptions.
'No one must find out what the young master is doing right now....'
So, for now, even if her suspicions remained unsettled, Yui decided not to complicate matters by pressing the young man further.
Snow, unsatisfied with the situation, was ready to let things be.
She knew she couldn't just force her way into Riley's room without revealing her true identity - a revelation that would only trouble Riley further if he genuinely was occupied.
With a resigned sigh, she reasoned there would always be another chance, especially since she possessed the [Swift Shift] item.
She could always return tomorrow or later, without ruffling feathers or drawing suspicion. But then...
A powerful surge of mana radiated from Riley's room, slipping through the barriers set up within the dorm.
It was only a fleeting crack in the barrier's defense-a subtle disturbance that most people wouldn't have noticed.
Yet, for soone like Snow, whose mana sense was attuned to even the smallest fluctuations a level upon which only the highest-ranking mages could achieve, it was enough.
She sensed Riley's mana inside, but the spike wasn't his.
This surge was potent, almost overwhelming, and felt hauntingly familiar-a mana often encountered within the ranks of the mage departnt.
'..... Don't tell ?'
"Move..."
The single word slipped from Snow's mouth, carrying a weight that froze Yui in her tracks.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you- "Yui began to protest, but as Snow's form flickered-shifting back and forth between the young man she had arrived as and the unmistakable image of the young woman Yui recognized-her resolve wavered.
This transformation was all Yui needed to step aside, stunned and bewildered.
"Y-You are her highness... why are you-" Yui stamred, struggling to find the words.
"Killian Hall maid, Yui. Open the door," Snow commanded, her voice carrying a cold finality that left little room for negotiation. "I need to have a word with your young master." Though reluctance weighed on her, Yui couldn't resist the unyielding authority Snow projected.
She moved aside and opened the door, casting an uncertain glance at Snow before bowing her
head.
The mont Snow entered Riley's room, her eyes began a thorough scan, tracking the remnants of red mana still lingering in the air like faint trails.
As her gaze swept across the room, she quickly absorbed the details: Riley's disheveled appearance, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, with a noticeable damp spot clinging to his chest.
A pink strand on his shoulder stood out in stark contrast against the dim light. The sheets on his bed were noticeably wrinkled, and the impression of soone having sat on the sofa was evident, as if a second person had only recently left.
Snow's mind pieced together the scene.
She didn't know precisely what had transpired between Riley and whoever else had been here, but the presence of his maid guarding the door was reason enough to deepen her suspicions.
She was greatly aware that Riley had relationships with other girls she couldn't exactly ignore and was willing to let them enter his harem in the future but....
'The title of first wife is mine...'
All his firsts are supposed to be hers.
The warmth in her eyes hardened into sothing colder, and her expression froze, veiling her
usual deanor in an icy resolve.
"Snow...?"
"That's right, so... who was here with you? Care to explain, Riley?"
....
Cold...
The chill settled over , freezing in place like a plunge into winter's harshest storm, and
I felt every degree of Snow's icy glare as if it were a weight pressing down on .
She wasn't even using her magic, but the look she gave felt colder than any spell. My thoughts spun with a single word that perfectly captured my predicant.
Fuck.
I couldn't move, and there was no escape from her gaze, which practically scread, "Were you cheating on ?" The tension settled like frost on my skin.
Even the slightest motion felt like it would shatter .
Gulping inwardly, I tried to steady myself.
The stakes of my answer felt high, and yet I knew that either lying or telling the truth could
lead to the sa conclusion.
So, I opted for a asured response, keeping my tone as calm as possible.
"A friend of mine just ca over..." I managed, eting her probing eyes.
"And who exactly is this friend of yours?" Her voice was dangerously soft. "Senior Alice," I said, trying to sound casual, though I knew I probably sounded anything but.
"Senior Alice, hm-? I knew you two were close, but... is it really so close that you can secretly
invite her to your room this early in the morning?" Her eyes narrowed with an unsettling
glint.
"I didn't invite her-she just... accidentally slept-"
"SLEPT?"
Snow's voice rose sharply, and I barely had ti to react before she took a quick, icy step forward, her frost-laden hand reaching for my neck.
Cold spread from her grip like a vice made f ice itself, making every breath tight.
Her gaze bore into , relentless, cutting off every possible escape route as she leaned in
close.
"Riley Hell," she said in a low, seething tone. "I need you to explain everything, in full detail,
before I kill you and myself later...."
'This girlfriend of mine was way too extre....'
...
"So... her familiar played a prank on her...?"
"That's right..."
"It's definition of pranks is quite extre then,"
"Well, Cheshire is... very whimsical,"
"Hmm~"
With that, she sank onto my lap on the sofa, wrapping her arms around and resting her
head on my shoulder.
I gently ran my hand through her soft white hair, feeling her warmth settle against the back of
my neck.
It had taken a lot of careful explanations to calm her down, but finally, she seed satisfied-
enough to curl up against like a satisfied cat.
"So~ in what way did she hug you?"
"Like... well, just like you're doing right now,"
"I see."
There was a slight possessiveness in her tone, but she stayed close, letting her fingers idly
trace patterns along my arm and chest.
It seed Snow had this unusual fixation on mimicking everything Alice had done while I was
asleep, as if she could overwrite the experience sohow.
I considered questioning it, but seeing her so calm and satisfied, I decided to let her do whatever brought her peace.
Honestly, it has been a while since Snow and I had a quiet, private mont like this.
Ever since we'd admitted our feelings to each other, we had this quiet, hidden connection.
But ti to indulge it was rare, squeezed thin by conflicting schedules and the constant need to keep things discreet.
So here we were, in an unexpected but cherished reprieve, enjoying the simplicity of each
other's presence.
I found myself smiling, taking in the warmth and closeness that had grown between us-an
enjoyable mont, despite the unusual circumstances.
"Riley...."
"Hm?"
"C-Can we kiss....?"
I found my self chuckling at her cute request, not letting the mont get ruined my face
naturally moved closer.
"Hmn~"
Her lips were as intoxicating as ever...
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