Chapter 114 ~ Still Stuck in Character

“Uuuu…” Astrid whimpered softly, hands nervously clasped over her navel like a startled woodland creature. With Teresa’s curiously bright eyes staring at her nonstop, she couldn’t even lift her head.

“If Lady Astrid doesn’t say clearly what you mean, I really won’t know what exactly you’re referring to,” Teresa said, feigning cluelessness.

“It’s just… that… you know… that…” Astrid’s voice grew softer and softer until it became no more than the hesitant squeak of a flustered squirrel.

Teresa had never seen Astrid in such a bunny-like state before. She used to think Astrid’s icy demeanor was because she was inexpressive or socially awkward, but now… she was beginning to see another side of the Silvermoon Princess.

Teresa knew she shouldn’t keep teasing her. But seeing Astrid act this adorably, an unexpected delight welled up in her heart.

Even Teresa herself didn’t know when she had developed such a wicked sense of humor.

“So, Lady Astrid, are you saying it wasn’t just about the fact that we shared a bed?” Teresa tilted her head. If it weren’t for Astrid’s utterly bewildered expression, she would’ve suspected the other girl had caught on to her Little act.

“It’s… nothing…” Astrid averted her face. How could she possibly ask something like that?!

Seeing Teresa look so innocent and oblivious made Astrid feel even more ashamed.

She’s pure as white paper, Astrid thought. And here I am, with all these dirty thoughts in my head. I’ve even…

She stopped herself. Just thinking about it made her feel like she had disgraced the entire Elf Tribe. As the Silvermoon Princess of the Elven Forest, how had she come to know so many forbidden, unseemly things?

But still…

She couldn’t understand it. Teresa didn’t seem like a clueless, careless Elf, and Dylin didn’t strike her as some lecherous playboy either. So how had the two of them ended up sharing a bed after less than a month of knowing each other?!

“Apologies, Lady Astrid.” Teresa decided to end the joke and returned to her usual gentle smile.

“Eh? Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?”

“I just told a Little lie earlier. About sleeping in the same bed with Mr. Dylin—that was a joke.”

“…Oh. I see.” Even though she’d been teased, Astrid felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

“Yes, I’m truly sorry. But I am still quite curious about what you were referring to.”

“…Nothing.” Astrid turned away again.

There was just no way she could say it out loud…

“Hey hey~ Lady Astrid! And Lady Teresa! You’re both out!” A lively voice cut through the air, bouncing into the rest area.

“Litt?”

“Ah, so you were eliminated too, Your Highness?” Litt bounced over with an overly casual tone, as if nothing unusual had happened.

“Yes… Litt, when exactly were you eliminated?” Astrid remembered that Litt had only been restrained by Teresa, not actually knocked out.

But it was possible. The fight between her and Teresa had been so intense that she might’ve missed Litt’s elimination announcement entirely.

“Well… I guess before you.” Litt glanced away, clearly a Little guilty.

If Her Highness finds out I forfeited on purpose, will she be mad…?

“Miss Litt.”

“Y-Yes! I’m here!” At Teresa’s soft call, Litt snapped to attention. Her twin ponytails, as sleek and reddish-brown as flowing water, swayed with her sudden movement.

“Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for…” Litt squirmed under Teresa’s smiling gaze, feeling like all her secrets were about to spill.

Does she know…? No way—she fainted back then… right?

“Regardless, thank you both.” Teresa’s voice was warm and serene.

“Really… it’s nothing…” Teresa’s voice had a strange kind of magic. Just hearing her speak made Litt’s ears tingle, and a wave of inexplicable joy swelled in her chest. Somehow, being thanked by Teresa felt like an immense honor.

“But I do need to ask one more favor from you both. Please don’t refuse.”

“Whatever you need!” Litt immediately stood tall, while Astrid showed a knowing look—she had already guessed what Teresa was about to ask.

“You want us to help conceal your identity, don’t you?”

“Exactly.”

“It’s no trouble. We already agreed to it back in the secret realm.”

“Many thanks. In that case…” Teresa pulled out her still-steaming earmuff device and fiddled with it.

Clearly, the cooldown wasn’t over yet—it couldn’t activate the disguise.

She could just walk out with something over her head or ears, but that would draw even more suspicion. The only option was to transform before leaving—so the ones she needed to “get rid of” were Astrid and Litt themselves…

***

The moment people saw figures exiting the rest area, the crowd outside erupted.

To their disappointment, they didn’t spot that dazzling golden silhouette. So naturally, they chose to keep waiting.

“The awards ceremony isn’t today. Her Highness is exhausted. Please, show some courtesy and let her return to her dorm to rest.” The Divine Child who had come to fetch Astrid spoke in a voice that wasn’t loud, but firm enough to quiet the crowd.

Under the guards’ guidance, some of the fans and fan club members finally settled down.

A few left. But the majority stayed, clearly hoping to catch sight of someone other than Astrid.

“There’s no need to keep waiting. Miss Teresa left right after the match ended.” Astrid had returned to her usual icy calm, her poLitte tone keeping others at a respectful distance.

“Lady Astrid! Can you tell us what happened during the match?”

“Yes! The projection crystal went out—we have no idea what went on!”

Astrid ignored their desperate pleas, treating them like reporters clamoring for an interview.

“Ugh, these humans are so noisy,” Litt muttered beside her. “Like flies—wherever Your Highness goes, they follow.”

“Come to think of it, Lady Teresa’s Divine Child is also human, right? Someone named Dylin… Wait, wasn’t he your Divine Child before, Your Highness?” Litt had always held a mild bias against humans. Back when she first learned Astrid had chosen one as her Divine Child, she hadn’t been pleased. And now that she realized Teresa’s Divine Child was the same guy, her irritation peaked.

“What kind of qualifications does that human even have? He didn’t lift a finger, yet he ended up first…” Litt puffed out her cheeks and muttered where Astrid couldn’t hear.

First Astrid, then Teresa… What kind of charm did that guy have to attract both of them?

…Unless he wasn’t charming at all, just some scumbag who tricked innocent Elven girls with slick words.

Yes. The more she thought about it, the more Litt believed it.

Humans were always obsessed with dumb things like fan clubs and idol groups. Male ones were the worst—none of them were decent!

Lady Teresa and Lady Astrid were both pure in matters of the heart. They had probably been deceived by that human male into becoming his Divine Princesses.

That guy… had nothing to do with the Freshman Crown Tournament yet still rode Teresa’s coattails to the top. The more Litt thought about it, the angrier she got.

She had to expose his true face. But despite racking her brains, she couldn’t think of a workable plan.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Seeing the Divine Child and Hanyuan looking worriedly at her, Astrid realized they were concerned that her loss had crushed her.

She shook her head, signaling she was fine. But her silence only made them more worried—they didn’t know she was simply lost in thought.

“Say… why would Lady Teresa, being a Gold—”

Before Litt could finish, Astrid suddenly stopped walking.

“Hm? Lil Litt, what were you going to say? Gold what?” Hanyuan asked, puzzled.

“And why do you keep calling her Lady Teresa?” the Divine Child added, confused.

“A-ahaha, no reason! It just slipped out. Now that you mention it, I guess it’s not a very appropriate title, huh?” Litt scratched her head, trying to laugh it off. Her twin tails swayed like butterfly wings.

The other two didn’t press the issue. Litt had always said weird things—nothing new there.

On the other side, Astrid’s words carried weight. Once she confirmed Teresa had already left, the crowd at the rest area gradually dispersed.

Just then, a black-haired youth casually strolled out of the rest area, hands in pockets. A strangely-shaped doll hung from his waist.

It was Dylin, of course. After sending Astrid and Litt away, Teresa had taken off the Golden Butterfly Hairpin and reverted to her Dylin form. During the brief window when the rest area was empty, he snuck in and retrieved the substitute doll left behind in Room 30, then walked out as if nothing had happened.

“It’s finally over.” Dylin raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. There had been a sun in the secret realm too, but it had never felt quite as real—not as warm, not as radiant.

Soaking in the familiar Kaleburn sunshine, Dylin yawned and stretched.

So tired. His eyelids were heavy. He just wanted to get back and crash.

He planned to quietly slip away—after all, he usually had near-zero presence on campus, so he wasn’t worried about drawing attention.

But fate had other plans.

He didn’t realize his pouch wasn’t properly closed. After taking just a few steps, something fell to the ground.

“Hey, you dropped something.” As he reached for it, someone beat him to it—picking up the object and handing it to him.

“Oh, thanks.” Dylin took the card and glanced at it. It was his Academy ID.

Good thing he caught it in time. Losing it would’ve been a pain to replace.

Turning to thank the person, he found the face oddly familiar.

“You’re welcome~” A pair of feline ears twitched, and a fluffy tail swished behind her. The girl smiled with her hands behind her back. “It was nothing—just a small favor, don’t you think, Mr. Dylin, Divine Child of Lady Teresa?”

“Wen…” Dylin nearly said her name out loud—then caught himself. Wait, Dylin isn’t supposed to know Wenfu!

He stopped just in time.

“Hm? What did you say?” Wenfu tilted her head.

“Ah—just that you’re a very gentle lady. Thank you again for the help,” Dylin said quickly, thinking on his feet.

“Nyah~? Gentle?” Wenfu blushed and fidgeted, folding her hands shyly. “Thank you for the compliment~”

Dylin wiped some sweat from his brow. Whew, that was close.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Wenfu’s comment—though probably offhand—had been overheard by quite a few people nearby.

“What did she just say??” Whispers spread. Dozens of curious gazes turned toward Dylin.

A chill ran down his spine. He could feel eyes piercing into him from every direction—like silver needles.

“Uh, thanks again. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.” Feeling terribly uncomfortable, Dylin clutched his ID and turned to leave.

He was utterly exhausted—he just wanted to sleep.

But fate struck again.

“Hey, you there—wait a minute.” A tall upperclassman blocked his path.

“It’s pretty rude and ungentlemanly to block a lady’s way, you know.” Dylin raised an eyebrow and shot back instinctively—then immediately realized what he’d said.

Wait, what am I doing? Did I just… act like Teresa again?

“Lady? What lady?” The guy looked around in confusion, frowning like Dylin had lost his mind.

“Cough… Nothing, nothing. So, uh, what do you want?” Dylin cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I’m asking you—are you Lady Teresa’s Divine Child?” the tall student squinted down at him.

“…I guess I am. Why?”

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