Eros winked at Joanie, then shifted his gaze back to the red-haired girl beside him.

  Seeing that wink, Joanie’s face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. She quickly lowered her head, focusing intently on the delicacies on her plate to hide her embarrassment.

  Eros picked up another sweet and brought it to Ayesha’s lips. Lost in her own thoughts, Ayesha mechanically opened her mouth and took a bite.

  Her mind was a chaotic mess, utterly terrified by the news she had just heard. A Cardinal Archbishop of the Reincarnation Church... a Sublime One... Every one of those titles commanded absolute power and peerless strength. Could a "sewer rat" like her truly maintain her disguise in front of such a being?

  Ayesha knew the answer: impossible. Her disguise might fool common Transcendents, but it was a joke to the perception of a Sublime One. That entity wouldn't be as easily bypassed as the academy’s Holy Artifact, which only monitored specific zones.

  Thank goodness! She had received the news early, giving her time to prepare a countermeasure. This "pervert" might be annoying, but she truly owed him for his loose lips today. He had inadvertently leaked a life-saving secret.

  Suddenly, Ayesha noticed a strange sensation in her mouth. She snapped back to reality and realized, to her horror, that she was currently sucking on Eros’s finger.

  She instinctively wanted to jerk back, spit it out, and perhaps wipe her mouth a dozen times. But just as she moved, she remembered her "persona" and froze in place.

  Earlier, seeing the girl eat so mechanically, Eros had felt a sudden impulse to extend his finger along with the dessert. Sure enough, the distracted girl had taken it right in.

  Eros blinked, a peculiar sensation washing over him. The girl had clearly realized something was wrong, yet for some reason, she hadn't spat it out. He calmly withdrew his finger as if nothing had happened and continued the feeding as usual.

  Joanie watched this exchange with a look of shock and bewilderment. She glanced at Undine, only to find the "stinky sister" looking perfectly serene, as if she hadn't noticed anything abnormal at all.

  A seed of suspicion sprouted in Joanie’s heart. Could Eros be... She knew such "preferences" were common in noble circles, but how could Eros be one of them? No, I have to fix him. I have to make him realize that women are the right choice. As for how she would help, Joanie’s cheeks burned hot.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The lunch ended with all four harboring different thoughts. Afterward, Joanie followed Undine to their private villa for a nap, while Ayesha retreated to her single dormitory.

  When afternoon classes began, Eros noticed that Ayesha was absent. He wasn't surprised; he simply smiled and found a seat.

  Shortly after, a delicate fragrance drifted into his nostrils. He turned his head and saw Miss Siphreya—the one with the pale flaxen hair—sitting right next to him. Seeing him look over, she gave a soft, demure smile.

  "May I sit here?"

  "Of course! It is my honor to sit beside a beautiful lady," Eros replied with an easy, charming smile.

  Hearing herself called a "beautiful lady," Siphreya’s light hazel eyes curved into crescents. "To be praised so by a noble Prince is my honor as well."

  Eros chuckled. "I feel like if we keep complimenting each other, we'll never stop."

  "I suppose so," Siphreya whispered.

  The atmosphere fell into a slight silence. Faced with her tender, liquid gaze, Eros briefly found himself at a loss for words. Fortunately, the professor of Occultism walked in, and Eros settled into his usual routine of slacking off while appearing attentive.

  Halfway through the lecture, a small note was slid onto his desk. Eros felt a wave of nostalgia at the familiar sight. He glanced at Siphreya, seeing the sparkling anticipation in her eyes, and picked up the paper.

  "Can I stay by your side during the Sin-Domain practical assessment in early November? I heard there are issues with the Sin-Domain in the Martigold Mountains, and this year’s assessment might move to an unknown location. I’m... a bit scared."

  Eros thought for a moment and wrote back: "Sure." Protecting her wasn't a difficult task for him.

  However, he was intrigued by the news. Issues with the Sin-Domain? Did it drift away due to spatial instability? And where will they move the assessment? It shouldn't be too dangerous, right? After all, the goal was survival and material gathering. If it were a high-risk zone, the students would basically be "Uber Eats" for the evil spirits. Still, even ordinary Sin-Domains weren't to be underestimated. His aunt Elsa had vanished in one, after all, and even the Church couldn't find her.

  He slid the note back. Siphreya’s face lit up with a look of pure joy. A moment later, another note arrived:

  "Thank you so much. I don't even know how to express my gratitude."

  "Don't mention it. For me, it’s as easy as lifting a hand," Eros wrote and returned it.

  "No, no! Having participated in an assessment before, I know the risks. It’s not a simple matter. I’m willing to offer a generous reward for this."

  "Alright," Eros replied helplessly.

  "Do you have time tonight? I’d like to invite you to visit my apartment in the academy."

  Eros stared at the line, his expression one of genuine shock. Seeing his stunned face, Siphreya lowered her head and hurriedly added another line:

  "My cat learned how to do a backflip yesterday. No one else has seen it yet, so... I wanted to invite you to come and see. Is... is that okay?"