Chapter 325: The Unwilling Headmistress
Winona stood before Adele, looking down…well, not quite down on her. She was only slightly taller than Adele, but Victoria was truly tall, with long, light blue hair and a graceful figure, like a princess from a sea kingdom. And this woman was practically the heroine of the magical world in that era, flirting with girls and building a harem everywhere.
Her presence immediately caught Adele’s attention until the Headmistress’s disapproving gaze snapped her back to reality.
“H-Headmistress…” Adele held Xiao Ai, pretending to be obedient. If she hadn’t used that Wind Slash, and if Xiao Ai hadn’t gotten carried away and used a seventh-rank tornado, then she would indeed have been obedient. Obediently practicing magic here, even during the holidays. She could be considered a good student. But now…
“Who is she, Adele?”
“Sh-She…she’s my distant cousin!”
“She’s Adele’s little sister, meow.” This was their pre-arranged answer, regardless of whether Winona would believe it. Adele believed it herself, and First Snow chimed in.
Winona’s expression could be summed up as “Are you kidding me?” She had never seen a distant cousin who looked almost exactly like the person, as if they were carved from the same mold. This usually only happened between mothers and daughters…right? But Winona glanced at Adele and couldn’t imagine this girl being so young yet having such a big daughter. That would mean Adele was…taken advantage of when she just started menstruating…
No, wait, did Adele look like someone who had experienced physical and mental trauma in the past!? It would be more likely for her to traumatize others. So Winona guessed that the girl before her must have a questionable background. However, Adele already had enough secrets, being her student and the girl First Snow liked… Sigh, in short, even if Winona sensed something, she would choose to turn a blind eye.
So she snorted, reluctantly accepting Adele’s answer. Then Adele took the initiative, trying to divert Winona’s attention from Xiao Ai. So she asked, “This…lady beside the Headmistress, who is she? Such a beautiful big sister!”
“What a sweet-talking little sister~” Victoria’s gaze remained fixed on Adele’s face, almost never leaving. Even the somewhat thick-skinned Adele couldn’t help but blush. Being stared at by a beautiful girl was like that.
Winona glanced back at Victoria, her expression complicated. She didn’t know whether she should keep Victoria’s identity a secret. At least, she wanted to. But Winona cared more about Victoria’s opinion.
Victoria, however, had already introduced herself with a smile, “My name is Victoria. And you are, little sister?”
“Victoria?” Such a familiar name… Adele touched her chin with her finger and thought for a moment. Wasn’t that the protagonist of the novel Victoria’s Secret she had been reading recently!? The naturally sociable Adele immediately said with a smile, “That’s a nice name, the same as the protagonist in a novel I’m reading!”
“Is it Victoria’s Secret?”
“Eh, you’ve read it too!?”
“Not really, but I saw it on Winona’s bookshelf…”
The Headmistress suddenly interrupted, her voice panicked, “Ahhh! Th-That’s a book I confiscated from a student!”
“V-Victoria, please believe me, I haven’t read it!” Winona hadn’t expected to overlook this. Although she hadn’t let Victoria discover the room full of Victoria-related collectibles she had accumulated over the years, she had forgotten to check the bookshelf in her office. She didn’t know when that book had gotten mixed in there!
Victoria didn’t really care about such things. She was quite open-minded, evident from the fact that she had been pursuing lesbian relationships in the homophobic, feudal magical era. So she tacitly didn’t expose Winona’s lie. And she said to Adele with a rather proud tone, “Is there a possibility~ that I’m the Victoria described in the book?”
Adele burst out laughing, “Pfft! You? You’re Victoria!?”
“Haha, how is that possible? Victoria lived so long ago.”
“If you were her, I would…” Adele suddenly stopped. The girl was smart and quickly noticed something wrong with Winona’s expression. And Victoria asked curiously, “You would what~?”
“I-I would immediately call you Teacher Victoria!” Adele was adaptable, a true heroine. Even though she was shocked, not understanding how a character from a book like Victoria could be alive in the modern era! Or was she not alive until now, but resurrected in the modern era? Anyway, judging by Winona’s expression, it seemed to be true.
Even First Snow meowed in surprise, “Meow! Then aren’t you the one Xiao Wei likes…mmmph!”
Winona cast a silencing spell on her. First Snow felt like her mouth was glued shut, unable to open, and could only let out muffled sounds. The cat-girl looked at Headmistress Winona resentfully. And the Headmistress’s cheeks were flushed an indescribable shade of red.
Adele pulled Xiao Ai, or rather, Little Red Riding Hood Xiao Ai, behind her. Although the Headmistress didn’t seem to suspect anything about Xiao Ai, it was better to hide her for now. And Adele answered Victoria’s question, “M-My name is Adele. I’m Headmistress Winona’s student, currently in my first year.”
“I’m here today to practice magic…please excuse my poor skills.” Adele acted very humble because she knew that the little bit she had practiced was definitely child’s play in the eyes of Winona and Victoria. However, Xiao Ai was different. She could learn and even enhance the magic Adele used just by watching. Adele had planned to work hard and become a powerful mage to protect Xiao Ai in the future. But now it seemed like Xiao Ai could easily become a powerful mage and protect her instead!?
Damn it, I said I didn’t want to be a kept woman, but why is this being shoved down my throat! But when Xiao Ai truly became a powerful mage, she should still listen to her, right? She shouldn’t have a rebellious phase. She wouldn’t rely on her power to disobey Mama and do those things to her, right? Definitely not! Adele thought confidently.
Unaware that Xiao Ai, still in “mind-reading” mode, suddenly lowered her head, blushing guiltily.
“Adele is such a diligent and studious student. I heard from Winona that it’s the student holidays now.”
“Even using your holiday time to study magic.”
“Ehehe, it’s nothing~” Adele looked happy to be praised.
Winona’s lips twitched. Didn’t she know what Adele was usually like? And today, of all days, she let Teacher Victoria see her reformed side. But she was her student, and the girl First Snow liked, so Winona couldn’t expose her, could she? So she just said, “You’ve improved a little,” and didn’t say anything more.
She also lifted the silencing spell on First Snow. The cat-girl still looked at her with puffed cheeks. I haven’t settled the score with you for stealing my key, Winona thought. Adele doesn’t even come home after returning. A married cat is like spilled water.
Victoria quickly became familiar with Adele and the others. As described in the book, the woman had a strong affinity. But Winona felt a bit uncomfortable watching from the side. She had been meticulously arranging and taking care of Teacher Victoria’s daily life these past few days, but the total amount of words they exchanged was less than what Adele had just chatted about!
I’m so unwilling!
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