Chapter 233: Morning Visit..??

Chapter 233: Morning Visit..??



"The young master is busy right now."

"Busy?"

"Yes... he is extremely busy at the moment,"

Snow initially didn't think much of Yui's response, chalking it up to Riley's usual eccentric obsession with training.

Knowing him, he was likely working on some new technique or pushing his limits in another early-morning routine.

But something about Yui's presence here-her vigilant stance by the door, the faint hint of worry hidden behind her perfectly controlled expression-seemed odd.

Snow sensed there was more going on.

She knew all too well how to read people, and beneath Yui's poker face, she could detect something unusual, something that Yui was clearly trying to conceal.

"Is he doing something dangerous, perhaps?" Snow probed, her voice calm but laced with suspicion.

Yui's response was quick. "No... the young master is just... occupied with important matters at the moment."

"Hmm," Snow murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Yui's face, which had grown more resolute, as if determined to keep the details shrouded.

Yui's gaze shifted to meet Snow's directly, scrutinizing her in a way that felt almost confrontational. "If it's not too forward of me, may I ask... are you truly the young master's friend?"

"Yes," Snow replied without hesitation.

Snow could sense Yui's lingering doubts, despite her guarded expression.

As a maid of Killian Hall, Yui held a certain duty to protect Riley and maintain a level of discretion about his affairs, but her position only allowed her to go so far.

She couldn't openly question or confront the students-particularly not a supposed friend of Riley's—without crossing a line that could put her position at risk.

False suspicions could jeopardize her standing, and Riley's unpredictable behavior only added to the difficulty of discerning the truth.

It wasn't beyond Riley to associate with people as enigmatic as he was; after all, he had always been an enigma to her, even as his maid.

'Is he from another hall...?'

However, it wasn't just the young man's connection to Riley that had Yui on edge-it was her inability to recognize him.

She prided herself on knowing the faces of nearly all the students in Killian Hall, even if only in passing.

Yet, the young man before her was unfamiliar, and that discrepancy alone raised silent alarms.

The only students she hadn't fully memorized yet were some of the newly arrived first-years, still fresh on their time here, though this person didn't strike her as a first-year.

Yui found herself wanting to press further, to ask this "friend" more pointed questions, but her responsibilities and limits were clear.

Right now, her priority was ensuring Riley's privacy.

The timing was delicate; whatever he was doing, Riley's current situation left strict instructions in her mind to prevent interruptions.

'No one must find out what the young master is doing right now....'

So, for now, even if her suspicions remained unsettled, Yui decided not to complicate matters by pressing the young man further.

Snow, unsatisfied with the situation, was ready to let things be.

She knew she couldn't just force her way into Riley's room without revealing her true identity - a revelation that would only trouble Riley further if he genuinely was occupied.

With a resigned sigh, she reasoned there would always be another chance, especially since she possessed the [Swift Shift] item.

She could always return tomorrow or later, without ruffling feathers or drawing suspicion. But then...n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A powerful surge of mana radiated from Riley's room, slipping through the barriers set up within the dorm.

It was only a fleeting crack in the barrier's defense-a subtle disturbance that most people wouldn't have noticed.

Yet, for someone like Snow, whose mana sense was attuned to even the smallest fluctuations a level upon which only the highest-ranking mages could achieve, it was enough.

She sensed Riley's mana inside, but the spike wasn't his.

This surge was potent, almost overwhelming, and felt hauntingly familiar-a mana often encountered within the ranks of the mage department.

'..... Don't tell me?'

Cold spread from her grip like a vice made f ice itself, making every breath tight.

Her gaze bore into me, relentless, cutting off every possible escape route as she leaned in

close.

"Riley Hell," she said in a low, seething tone. "I need you to explain everything, in full detail,

before I kill you and myself later...."

'This girlfriend of mine was way too extreme....'

...

"So... her familiar played a prank on her...?"

"That's right..."

"It's definition of pranks is quite extreme then,"

"Well, Cheshire is... very whimsical,"

"Hmm~"

With that, she sank onto my lap on the sofa, wrapping her arms around me and resting her

head on my shoulder.

I gently ran my hand through her soft white hair, feeling her warmth settle against the back of

my neck.

It had taken a lot of careful explanations to calm her down, but finally, she seemed satisfied-

enough to curl up against me like a satisfied cat.

"So~ in what way did she hug you?"

"Like... well, just like you're doing right now,"

"I see."

There was a slight possessiveness in her tone, but she stayed close, letting her fingers idly

trace patterns along my arm and chest.

It seemed Snow had this unusual fixation on mimicking everything Alice had done while I was

asleep, as if she could overwrite the experience somehow.

I considered questioning it, but seeing her so calm and satisfied, I decided to let her do whatever brought her peace.

Honestly, it has been a while since Snow and I had a quiet, private moment like this.

Ever since we'd admitted our feelings to each other, we had this quiet, hidden connection.

But time to indulge it was rare, squeezed thin by conflicting schedules and the constant need to keep things discreet.

So here we were, in an unexpected but cherished reprieve, enjoying the simplicity of each

other's presence.

I found myself smiling, taking in the warmth and closeness that had grown between us-an

enjoyable moment, despite the unusual circumstances.

"Riley...."

"Hm?"

"C-Can we kiss....?"

I found my self chuckling at her cute request, not letting the moment get ruined my face

naturally moved closer.

"Hmn~"

Her lips were as intoxicating as ever...