The boys blinked, caught off guard by her suggestion, but they didn't need to be told twice.
Grabbing their things, they quickly rose from their seats, avoiding eye contact as they hurried toward the door.
Being university students, they were naturally aware that there was a difference between fiction and science, and science always proved that it was impossible for someone to get a nosebleed just by seeing someone attractive.
But here they were, living examples of such an exception, finally understanding that those foolish scientists who said it was impossible to get a nosebleed must have just tested it themselves through some ugly pigs, not this goddess.
"Run... fuck..." A few of them stumbled over each other in their rush, looking both embarrassed and relieved to be escaping the room.
The hall was rapidly emptying, the chatter now nothing more than whispers as the students made their way out.
But Aecilia's gaze drifted toward the dozen or so girls still seated, most of them scratching their foreheads awkwardly, fidgeting with their pens, or staring at the floor as if they could disappear into it.
They were already going through a dilemma; not only the boys, even they were getting nosebleeds at that moment.
One of the girls, clearly overwhelmed by the silence and the professor's intense stare, finally stood up, her voice meek. "Um... Professor, we, uh... we'll also head for medical treatment if that's okay with you."
'Kill me, kill me, kill me!' she inwardly cried, knowing well that she had embarrassed herself, even being the top student in the class, in front of the new professor after getting a nosebleed like the idiot boys.
The other girls quickly nodded in agreement, clearly eager to leave before they also got caught red-handed.
Their faces flushed with a mix of embarrassment and discomfort; they stood one by one, gathering their belongings in hurried movements.
---
'Should I consider increasing the doses?' Aecilia pondered as she exited the classroom, ruffling her hair, classroom was already devoid of any students. She began to contemplate the idea of administering drugs to these students on a regular basis.
Of course, the thought crossed her mind that they might suffer severe consequences, like blood loss, but she couldn't shake the sense that, if she enforced this regimen consistently, some of the students could take a break from college for a few weeks.
Wouldn't that be convenient for her?
She wouldn't have to bother teaching anyone. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e'-novelhall.net
'What a clever strategy,' Aecilia mused, appearing perfectly composed outwardly, yet unable to stifle her amusement at how effective such an approach could be.
She wanted to be prepared, especially since they hadn't yet learned the girl's name.
She decided to take a picture and send it to the Sertsul family for further details.
Her intention was simple: to have all necessary information ready for when he inevitably asked.
As she lifted her phone to capture the image, a sudden silence enveloped her.
'.....'
The only sounds were the soft breeze caressing her face and the click of her camera shutter. Aecilia remained fixated, her mind momentarily blank, as she registered the sight of the Marquess kissing that girl.
'Are you kidding me?' she exclaimed inwardly, with her finger still poised on the shutter button. The phone she had been issued upon her arrival had a burst shutter feature, meaning it was snapping multiple photos while she was still frozen in disbelief.
She stood there, grappling to make sense of what she was witnessing. Just yesterday, after the Aphrodisiac event, she had observed the Marquess acting flirtatious, but given that most attendees were of noble lineage, she hadn't thought much of it—his playful demeanor hadn't crossed any lines.
But this?
This was entirely different.
The sight of him kissing an unknown woman was shocking, especially since Aecilia had kept a watchful eye on the Marquess for years.
She prided herself on being aware of those around him, yet this girl was a stranger. It was perplexing to consider that he might have feelings for someone she had never even heard of before.
What startled her even more was the way the woman had pushed him away, suggesting they were arguing about something.
The Marquess, in that moment, acted unusually, which only added to the chaos swirling in Aecilia's mind.
Everything happening around her felt disjointed and hard to process.
Either he was not the Marquess, or he was acting.
But even if it was acting, what might he gain by doing it in front of that woman?
Who was she exactly?