Esdeath walked into the academy cafeteria, her steps confident as always. The place was bustling with students chatting and enjoying their meals.

She walked straight to the counter and placed her order, requesting the food to be packed for takeaway.

"I’ll eat in my room today," she said casually.

For a moment, the cafeteria workers looked puzzled. It wasn’t common for students to take food to their rooms. Most preferred to eat here with their friends.

But Esdeath was no ordinary student.

Her reputation had skyrocketed ever since she won the competition. Almost everyone in the academy knew her name. She was already considered one of the strongest first-year students, likely the second strongest.

No one dared to question her decision.

The workers quickly nodded and prepared her order without hesitation.

Once she received the food, Esdeath walked back to her room, carrying the neatly packed meal.

Inside, Selene sat on the bed, waiting. As soon as Esdeath set the food down, the little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

The two of them ate together, enjoying their meal in a peaceful atmosphere.

Esdeath, in a rare moment of affection, picked up a small portion of food with her fingers and brought it to Selene’s mouth.

"Here, eat this," she said with a warm smile.

Selene was surprised. She blinked a few times before taking the bite.

"Mother, I think you’re in a really good mood today!" she said, happily chewing.

Esdeath chuckled, "I guess I am!" she replied with a soft laugh.

After finishing the meal, Esdeath took a deep breath.

Now, it was finally time.

Her precious date.

She turned toward the pile of clothes in her room, scanning through them carefully.

"What should I wear?" she murmured to herself, picking up different outfits and holding them up in front of the mirror.

After a while, she finally decided on an outfit.

But as she removed her clothes to change—

Her eyes widened in shock.

She quickly turned toward the large mirror in her room, her heart pounding.

And then she saw it.

Her entire body… was covered in tattoos.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"What?!"

She slowly traced her fingers over her skin, disbelief washing over her.

All the scars that once covered her body—

They were gone.

Every single one of them had been replaced with intricate tattoo designs.

Esdeath felt her knees weaken, and she sank to the floor.

"No…"

Her scars… they were more than just marks.

Each one was a symbol of her devotion, her worship, her faith in Lortell.

A reminder that her body, her soul, her everything belonged to her lady.

And now… they were gone.

All the pain she had endured while making those scars… all the meaning behind them… gone in an instant.

For a moment, she wanted to scream. To demand an explanation.

But Selene was still in the room.

She couldn’t let the little girl notice anything strange.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

"Well… these tattoos aren’t bad either," she muttered, trying to accept the change.

With a resigned sigh, she pushed her thoughts aside and focused on her outfit.

She picked up a white, ribbed turtleneck top.

It was tight-fitting, with long sleeves covering her arms completely.

As she put it on, she noticed how it emphasized her figure, making her breasts look slightly bigger than they actually were.

Next, she wore a black skirt, simple yet stylish.

Underneath, she slipped on a pair of opaque black tights that covered her legs entirely, reaching up to her waist and hidden beneath the skirt.

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Finally, she picked up a small metallic hair clip.

It had the letters "UL" as its design.

She carefully clipped it onto a section of her black hair, securing it in place.

"UL" stood for "Your Love."

It was a hidden message, a secret confession.

A way to silently tell Lortell—

"I am your love"

Esdeath finally took a deep breath, calming herself. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding with excitement.

"This is it," she whispered.

She reached for the door handle and stepped outside, the cool evening air brushing against her skin.

Just as she took a few steps—

A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.

Her body tensed.

She immediately turned around, ready for anything.

But the moment she saw who it was—

Her breath caught in her throat.

A tall woman stood before her, with pale skin that almost glowed under the soft academy lights. Her crimson eyes held a deep, mysterious glow, sharp yet gentle at the same time.

She was the very image of elegance, nobility, and royalty.

Lortell.

She wore casual clothes, yet they carried a regal charm that only she could pull off.

A black coat with intricate fantasy-style gems sewn into the fabric. A neat, buttoned-up shirt inside, tucked into smooth, well-fitted pants.

She also wore a pair of long earrings, red crystal drops encased in a thin layer of silver metal.

Everything about her screamed power, refinement, and grace.

Yet, despite her noble air—

With her tall frame and natural authority, she looked less like a girl who had just turned twenty—

And more like a husband figure straight out of a romantic fantasy.

Esdeath’s face immediately turned red.

"My–My lady!" she stammered, quickly bowing her head.

Lortell sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"Just how many times do I have to tell you?" she said gently but firmly. "Stop calling me that. Call me Lortell."

Esdeath straightened up quickly.

"Y–Yes!" she responded, almost like a soldier following an order.

Lortell took a moment to look at Esdeath properly.

And then, she blushed.

Esdeath looked stunning.

Her tight-fitting white turtleneck, her black skirt, her long, smooth legs wrapped in dark tights—

She was breathtaking.

"You look beautiful as always," Lortell admitted, her voice carrying a hint of softness.

Esdeath’s eyes widened, and her face burned even hotter.

"You–You also look beautiful!" she blurted out. "Way more than me!"

Lortell smiled at her reaction.

Unable to resist, she reached out and patted Esdeath’s head, her fingers running through her silky black hair.

Esdeath froze for a second.

And then, she melted into the touch.

Lortell sighed, as if accepting something within herself.

"Let's go," she said. "You're right on time. I was about to come to your room."

Esdeath nodded, feeling satisfied.

She was the one who came out first. That meant she wasn’t late.

She took a deep breath and followed Lortell.

They walked through the academy together, side by side.

Once they stepped outside, Esdeath’s eyes flickered with excitement.

She reached out—

And gently took Lortell’s hand in hers.

Lortell turned to her, slightly surprised.

But Esdeath only smiled, moving even closer.

Their arms pressed together, and Esdeath’s body leaned into Lortell’s side like a couple taking a romantic stroll.

For the first time in a long while, Lortell felt warmth rush to her cheeks.

Esdeath was soft.

And warm.

Her scent, her presence—

And most of all—

The soft sensation pressing against Lortell’s arm—

Lortell gulped, trying to ignore it.

"I–I can feel her breasts rubbing against me," she thought, feeling flustered.

She clenched her jaw, trying to stay composed.

But Esdeath only smiled even brighter, completely comfortable in their closeness.

Lortell sighed internally.

This was going to be a long day.

But how could their luck be so perfectly refined?

Just as they stepped outside the academy, an old couple suddenly ran toward Lortell and fell to their knees in front of her.

Their clothes were rich and elegant, the kind worn by noble families or wealthy merchants. But despite their fine appearance, they acted like beggars, their desperate eyes filled with fear and sorrow.

Tears streamed down the old woman's wrinkled cheeks as she clutched the hem of Lortell's cloak. "My lady, I have been trying to meet you for weeks, but you never left the academy. Now that I finally found a chance—please, I beg of you!"

The old man beside her also bowed low, his voice trembling. "My lady, please spare my daughter, Liliana. She made a mistake out of ignorance! She didn’t know what she was doing! Please don’t kill her!"

Their cries immediately caught the attention of many people nearby. Curious onlookers slowed their steps, whispering among themselves. Some gasped, while others watched with wide, startled eyes.

Lortell stood frozen for a moment, her breath hitching in her throat. Her sharp red eyes narrowed slightly, unable to hide her confusion. "What the hell...?" she muttered under her breath.

She recognized these people.

They were none other than the parents of one of the girls who had bullied Esdeath, just like Bella had. Lortell had made sure to teach those girls a lesson, bullying them relentlessly in return—as payback for what they had done to Esdeath. And that included this couple’s daughter, Liliana.

But how had things escalated to this?

The situation had spiraled out of control ever since Bella was found dead. Everyone’s first suspicion had fallen on Lortell, though no evidence was ever found against her.

Even though she hadn’t killed Bella, many people still believed she had. And no one was more afraid than the parents of the remaining girls who had tormented Esdeath.

They feared that their daughters would be next.

Before Lortell could even process everything, another couple rushed forward, falling to their knees until their foreheads touched the ground.

"My lady, please forgive our daughter, Sima, too!" the man pleaded desperately.

Lortell felt her head spin.

A heavy, suffocating feeling settled in her chest. She clenched her fists, trying to push away the strange emotions welling up inside her.

Esdeath, who had been standing nearby, tilted her head in confusion. "What’s going on?" she asked.

The moment Lortell heard Esdeath’s voice, a chill ran down her spine.

Her heartbeat quickened, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

From Lortell’s perspective, Esdeath had done nothing wrong in her entire lifetime. She was just an innocent, cheerful girl—someone who didn’t deserve to be caught up in such messy affairs.

Lortell swallowed nervously, forcing a strained smile onto her lips. "N–Nothing! It’s nothing, really! They must have misunderstood something. I’ll take care of it! Give me two minutes, just stand over there for a second!"

Esdeath blinked at her but nodded, stepping back slightly. Her long black hair swayed gently as she moved.

The moment Esdeath was far enough, Lortell’s expression darkened. Her jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed with irritation.

"You idiots! What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she hissed in a low voice. "Can’t you see I was in the middle of something important? Making a scene like this—at such a crucial time!"

The old man trembled under her sharp gaze. "P–Please forgive us, my lady! We’ll leave right away! Just—please swear that you won’t hurt our daughter!"

Lortell felt her patience snapping. Panic clawed at her throat. She just wanted them gone.

"Fine! I swear I won’t do anything! Just go! Leave! Disappear, you insects!"

The old couple’s faces lit up with overwhelming relief. Tears of joy welled in their eyes as they bowed deeply.

"Thank you, my lady! Thank you so much! We will never forget this kindness!"

"Yes, yes, thank you very much!" the other couple chimed in, their voices filled with gratitude.

Slowly, they got up and stepped back, wiping their tears. Even as they walked away, they turned to wave at Lortell, their faces now full of relief and hope.

Lortell let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples as if trying to ease an oncoming headache.

What a mess.

Lortell had never been the type to walk around outside the academy.

She always used the official teleportation portal that the academy provided. It was a special portal, only available to teachers, high-ranking officials, and a select few students like herself.

Whenever she needed to leave, she would use the portal to teleport directly to her palace or to the royal capital, where she could access government-run teleportation facilities. Those facilities had countless portals that could instantly send her anywhere within the human territories.

The only times she ever walked anywhere were when she had to visit specific locations, like her father’s estate. In those cases, she would first teleport to the capital and then travel the rest of the way on foot.

Otherwise, she only ever walked when she was extremely bored.

But today, because she was on a date with Esdeath, she had chosen to walk outside the academy for a change. And now… she was starting to regret it.

She had barely taken a few steps before she got ambushed—by desperate people begging her for help.

But what could she do?

She could only sigh…

Lortell finally took Esdeath’s hand and started moving again, trying to shake off the strange encounter.

However, before they could get too far, an old woman suddenly came running toward her.

"My lady, I finally got a chance to meet you!" the woman cried, her voice trembling with desperation. "Do you remember me? My son was falsely accused of being part of a revolutionary group and was taken into custody by the Third Division! Please, I beg you, spare him!"

The old woman’s face was filled with sorrow, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "The last time I saw him… he had already lost one of his limbs… and his eyes…" she choked out, barely able to finish her sentence.

Lortell felt her breath hitch.

Again?

She hesitated for a moment before turning to Esdeath, checking her reaction.

Esdeath’s innocent red eyes blinked at her in curiosity.

Lortell quickly forced a smile, though it came out awkward. "I think there’s been another misunderstanding! I swear, it’s nothing!"

Then, turning back to the old woman, Lortell let out a small sigh.

"Don’t worry," she said, her voice softer this time. "Your son will be released tomorrow. I’ll personally make sure he’s healed properly."

The woman gasped, fresh tears spilling from her eyes. She dropped to her knees, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, my lady! Thank you so much!" she cried before finally leaving, still wiping her tears.

Lortell let out a deep breath, shaking her head.

Before she could even collect her thoughts, Esdeath beamed at her with a bright smile.

"You’re really kind, Lortell!" she said cheerfully.

Lortell stiffened for a moment before letting out an awkward laugh. "Hahaha… Of course, I am!" she said, scratching the back of her head.

She quickly started walking again, eager to put some distance between herself and any more problems.

But no matter where she went, someone always managed to catch up to her.

One person begged her to release their debts.

Another pleaded for their imprisoned relatives.

Everywhere she turned, there was someone begging for her help.

Lortell could feel a massive headache building up.

By the time they finally arrived at the restaurant, she had reached her limit.

She let out a tired sigh and turned to Esdeath. "Go inside first. I’ll be there in a second."

Esdeath, unaware of Lortell’s suffering, nodded happily and stepped into the restaurant.

The moment Esdeath was out of sight, Lortell couldn’t hold it in anymore.

She dropped to her knees, hugged her head with both arms, and let out a long groan.

"Urghhh… Why is this happening?! Today of all days?!"

Her head was pounding, and she felt like she was going to collapse from exhaustion.

A Real Headache!