Chapter 225: That’s not love, that’s dark magic!

Timothy pushed the door open, and in the flickering candlelight, he could see everything clearly.Sylvia was sitting quietly on the bed, her gaze fixed on her delicate, beautiful feet.

Her long, slender legs were hugged close to her body, her skin smooth and pale, almost glowing like porcelain.

It was obvious she was deep in thought. Searᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

When the door suddenly opened, Sylvia's head shot up. Her face flushed a soft pink as she looked at Timothy, startled.

She quickly turned her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

But that only made it more obvious.

Timothy could tell right away—something was definitely off with her today.

And not just a little off—really off.

"Uh, hey, babe, are you feeling any better?" Timothy cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to break the tension.

"Yeah, the medicine you gave me worked really well. Even the injuries from those guys teaming up on me healed pretty fast." Sylvia nodded slightly, but she couldn't quite maintain her usual calm and composed demeanor.

"Oh, right! Weren't you going to teach me how to play the piccolo? I've been practicing all night, and I think I've got it down!" Sylvia suddenly remembered, quickly pulling the piccolo out from under her pillow.

Timothy smiled and took the piccolo from her. "Alright, let's give it a shot."

Sitting down next to her, Timothy patiently explained the techniques and methods for playing the piccolo.

He even introduced her to the five-line staff notation from another world.

He went over everything—how to control her breath, finger pressure, the angle, and the subtle differences in posture.

Sylvia listened intently, nodding as she absorbed the information.

"Okay, now that you've got the basics, why don't you give it a try?"

Timothy handed the piccolo back to her.

Theory was one thing, but practice was always a bit different.

So Timothy gently guided her hands, sitting close beside her. Experience tales at M-V-L

"Don't press too hard with this finger. Relax, relax. And your wrist—don't tense it up so much. Also, adjust the angle here…"

He carefully adjusted her fingers.

Her smooth hands were softly touched by his, and because of the angle, Timothy was almost half-hugging her.

As his warm breath brushed her ear while he gave instructions, Sylvia's small, delicate ears turned a faint shade of red.

What should have been a brief moment felt like it stretched on forever, yet it was oddly comforting.

Timothy was patient, and before long, he had explained all the essential techniques.

"I can show you the door, but you've got to walk through it yourself. The rest is up to you, babe."

He pulled out a music sheet that wasn't exactly beginner-friendly.

For any novice, playing this piece would be like trying to climb a mountain.

But then again, this was Sylvia, the goddess herself.

Besides, he had to give her a bit of a challenge.

"Challenge accepted! I'm pretty confident in my talent," Sylvia said with a small, self-assured smile.

For some reason, Timothy's calm, steady guidance had made her feel warm and secure.

The candlelight flickered, casting a cozy glow. If she could, she'd love to listen to him explain things a little longer.

But it was time to show what she could do!

Sylvia raised the piccolo, placing it gently against her lips.

Her lips, soft and glistening like dewdrops on a leaf in the early morning, were beautiful. Every word Timothy had said echoed in her mind.

Every detail of the piccolo seemed etched into her memory.

In that moment, everything clicked.

From the complex sheet music, Sylvia unhesitatingly chose the most difficult piece.

Her fingers danced gracefully, like butterflies fluttering in the air.

A melodious, enchanting tune flowed from the piccolo, clear and pure, like the sound of heaven itself.

Each note not only followed the sheet music perfectly but even elevated it, adding a touch of brilliance.

Even though it was Sylvia's first time playing the piccolo and her first time seeing this particular piece of music, her performance was flawless.

The sound of the piccolo was pure, with a cool, ethereal quality that perfectly matched the sheet music, yet somehow transcended it. It was as if the notes were echoing through a secluded valley, carrying a unique feeling that drew anyone listening into its depths.

The piece reached its climax and then gently came to an end.

As the final notes faded into silence, Sylvia slowly lowered the piccolo from her lips.

The melody she had just played was nothing short of heavenly, surpassing even those who had spent years mastering music theory and practice.

"That was amazing, babe! You played it so beautifully!" Timothy couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration.

Just as he had expected.

Aside from cooking, Sylvia was practically perfect at everything, with an extraordinary natural talent.

Even with the help of his system, Timothy could only barely surpass her level.

"Hmph, now you see how good I am, don't you?" Sylvia smiled, her lips curving into a playful smirk.

"Of course! I've always known you're unstoppable. There's nothing in this world that could ever be too hard for you," Timothy said, grinning.

"Good that you know…"

Sylvia gently placed the piccolo on the bed, her long, smooth legs coming together gracefully.

Her expression suddenly shifted, carrying a hint of something different. "Actually, there's another reason I asked you to come to my room today."

"Another reason?" Timothy blinked, momentarily confused.

He had almost forgotten the strange vibe he'd sensed from Sylvia when he first entered, distracted by her incredible piccolo performance.

"Yeah… I wanted to give you another Valentine's Day gift," Sylvia said, her voice growing softer, almost a whisper.

She reached behind the table and pulled out a small, intricately decorated box. Her voice was barely audible as she continued, "This… is a bento I made for you."

As she opened the box, a thick, dark green mist rose from it.

Inside, a bubbling green liquid swirled, filled with a mix of green, purple, black, and other unidentifiable ingredients.

Timothy suddenly remembered that before he left for the Alchemy Conference, Sylvia had mentioned she had a surprise waiting for him when he got back.

He had imagined all sorts of possibilities, but never in his wildest dreams did he think the surprise would be… a bento box filled with dark cuisine!

"This is bad! Babe, I can't eat that!" Timothy quickly stepped back.

The food Sylvia made was notorious—practically as dangerous as poison.

Even a Holy Emperor-level warrior would probably drop dead after eating too much of it!

"Just one bite…" Sylvia pleaded.

"Not even one bite!"

"Come on, I made this with love!"

"That's not love, that's dark magic!"

Timothy desperately tried to push away the bento box of doom.

But suddenly, the box was gone.

Sylvia had swiftly put it away, and with Timothy still pushing forward, he lost his balance and fell onto the bed.

His arms landed on the soft mattress, and Sylvia, who had been reclining on the bed, was now caught within his arms.

Her eyes, bright and sparkling like stars, held a different kind of emotion as they gazed up at him.

Timothy suddenly realized… he might have just walked into a trap.