A trace of regret flickered in Yarvich's eyes, but he didn’t press further. He had a mission to complete and no time to help a young girl trace her ancestry.

“No need to apologize, Miss. It was impolite of me to ask.”

After saying this, Yarvich poured himself a cup of wine from the jug on the table. Raising his glass, he said, “It was rude of me to summon everyone here so abruptly.”

“I have an important task ahead and cannot stay here for long. Let this cup of wine serve as my apology and as a farewell toast. Everyone, shall we drink together?”

Yarvich displayed both the grace of a gentleman and the boldness of a knight. He held his glass high, looking at everyone around the table. In response, the others also raised their glasses to salute him.

Luo Wei picked up the glass of wine Yarvich had personally poured for her. As the liquid swirled in the cup, a sudden wave of unease washed over her.

This wine was suspicious.

But with everyone holding their glasses and all eyes on the table, she had no opportunity to switch it out.

Pour it away?

What if the wine was holy water? If it accidentally spilled on her, all her efforts would be wasted!

“Headmaster Morrison, thank you for hosting us. And to the two professors, I am deeply grateful.”

“Hahaha, Sir Knight, you are too kind.”

“Everyone, please.”

“Sir Knight, please.”

After the customary exchange of pleasantries, the hands holding the glasses slowly approached their respective lips.

Holding what she suspected to be a poisoned cup of wine, Luo Wei raised her left hand to cover half her face with her sleeve. Her right hand grasped the glass, inching it closer to her lips.

If worse came to worst, she would have to pour the wine into her sleeve and hope the fabric could absorb it without letting a drop reach her legs.

Luo Wei lowered her gaze, preparing to act swiftly and discreetly.

“Bang—”

A sudden loud noise from the doorway interrupted everyone just as they were about to drink. All heads turned toward the door, glasses momentarily lowered.

The tension in Luo Wei’s chest instantly eased, and her trembling fingers set the glass back down.

“Sorry, sorry! I don’t know how I managed to trip right here.” A short, stocky boy scrambled to his feet at the doorway, apologizing profusely to everyone in the room without daring to lift his head.

“Egbert!” Professor Pence immediately recognized the boy outside the door and barked angrily, “What are you doing here?”

Egbert looked utterly humiliated, covering his bruised, piggish face as he stammered, “I’m sorry, Professor! I don’t know how I ended up here… I-I was just passing by and suddenly slipped.”

“I’ll deal with you later. For now, close the door and leave!” Professor Pence scolded.

Egbert, thoroughly chastised, slunk away with his head hanging low, pulling the door shut behind him. His swollen face disappeared into the narrow gap of the closing door.

Professor Pence turned back, a little embarrassed. “I apologize for the disturbance, Sir Knight.”

“It’s no trouble, Professor. A lively student body is a good thing,” Yarvich replied with a smile, raising his glass once more. “Shall we continue?”

“Yes, yes, let’s continue.”

Luo Wei calmly picked up her glass again, only to find Yarvich watching her closely. “Miss, may I pour you a little more of the fruit wine?”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“No need, Sir Knight. I haven’t finished mine yet.”

Luo Wei extended her hand slightly, allowing him to see the liquid still swirling in her glass.

Yarvich smiled and clinked his glass against hers. “Perfect. Then let’s drink together.”

“Of course. Cheers.”

Luo Wei lifted her glass to her lips and tilted her head back, drinking it all in one go.

The bitter wine slid down her throat and into her stomach, where it ignited a burning sensation.

Luo Wei’s gaze snapped toward Axina, only to find Axina staring back at her.

Hatred flickered in both their eyes.

Luo Wei hadn’t expected that the wine she had switched with Axina’s during the earlier commotion would also be poisoned!

When had Axina noticed her intent to switch glasses? And when had she laced the wine with poison?

Luo Wei clenched her fist under the table. The searing pain radiating from her back obliterated her ability to think clearly. She gritted her teeth, struggling to keep the wings on her back from bursting out. Instead, she maintained a serene smile as she sat in her chair.

Just a little longer. She only needed to endure a little longer. The knight would leave soon.

After finishing his wine, Yarvich rose to his feet and bid farewell to the headmaster and the two professors.

Soon, they stood as well, escorting Yarvich out of the dining hall.

Luo Wei and the remaining guests also stood, bowing to the knight as a gesture of respect and watching him leave.

Finally, the sound of their footsteps faded, descending the staircase.

“You all carry on. I’m leaving,” said Gladys, the first to stand. She kicked her chair aside, her expression grim as she strode toward the door.

It was clear she had little patience for the luncheon and wanted nothing more to do with it.

Luo Wei also rose, gripping the back of her chair for support. Smiling at the others, she said, “Enjoy the rest of your meal. I’ll take my leave as well.”

She quickly exited the tea room, the pain in her back intensifying. She could feel the protruding wing bones pressing against her clothing, pulling uncomfortably at her neck and making it hard to breathe.

At this rate, she wouldn’t make it out of the academy’s dining hall before revealing her true form.

Her eyes scanned the corridor, searching for a place to hide. Spotting a wine storage room, she hurriedly turned the handle and slipped inside.

The dimly lit storage room was filled with wooden barrels. Near the door, spilled wine pooled on the floor, and two opened barrels stood upright.

The rich aroma of fermented grapes saturated the air, intoxicating and dizzying.

Luo Wei shook her head to clear her mind and walked over to lift the lid of one of the barrels.

Beneath the lid, strands of silver-white hair gleamed like snowflakes or flowing silk, irresistibly inviting to the touch.

Luo Wei reached out, but the next moment, the silky strands slid aside, revealing a pair of glowing green eyes.

“Snarl—”

A girl bared her sharp canine teeth, her nose wrinkling into fine lines, and let out a growl reminiscent of a wild wolf.

Under her silver hair, a pair of furry silver ears twitched in the cold, wine-scented air.

Gladys.

A werewolf.

Luo Wei’s sluggish mind took three seconds to process this revelation. Gripping the lid’s handle tightly, she croaked, “Don’t be afraid.”

She replaced the lid and turned to lean against the half-height barrel, her hands braced on her knees as she gasped for breath.

The wings on her back could no longer be suppressed. With a tearing sound, a pair of enormous white wings unfurled.

But the poison in her stomach, like a drug inducing desire, made it impossible to control her thoughts. Temptation and salvation warred within her, destruction and survival intertwined. Even the edges of her white wings began to darken.

What kind of poison had Axina used to create such an addictive effect?

“Creak—”

The door suddenly opened, letting in a sliver of light that was quickly swallowed by darkness as the door shut again.

A figure slipped inside, closing the door behind them.

Even in the dim storage room, her golden hair was unmistakable. But her sapphire-blue eyes now glowed with a hint of frenzied red.

Luo Wei lifted her dazed head, her vision blurred as though obscured by frosted glass. She vaguely saw a pair of dark red wings unfurling behind Axina. They were membranous and skeletal, like bat wings.

Above Axina’s head, a pair of crimson horns glinted, emanating an aura of seductive temptation.

Luo Wei stared at Axina in a daze, while Axina stared back, equally disoriented.

“Feathered wings… Are you… a messenger of the God of Life?” Axina staggered forward, her body suddenly collapsing to her knees.

Her dark red bat wings drooped into the spilled wine, emitting wisps of steam.

Luo Wei’s legs were also weakening, but she steadied herself against the barrel, glaring at the swaying Axina.

“And you… are a succubus?”