How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?-Chapter 440 - 2 : Shura Battlefield

This... was probably just a coincidence? He was likely overthinking it, projecting his own desires onto the situation, she probably didn't mean anything by it at all.

That's what Winnie thought to himself.

Hmm, when you really think about it, even though Isatia had a strong personality, wasn't it perfectly normal for a girl to like pink things?

Right, that must be it. There was no hidden meaning or anything like that.

Winnie scooped a bite of chocolate velvet cake, taking a mouthful. The rich, sweet flavor melted instantly on his tongue, flooding his taste buds with sugary delight.

Mmm, in an instant, he was filled with a warm, happy feeling. Yep, overly sweet things were truly justice!

After all, when he was a child, he hadn't even eaten proper meals regularly, let alone desserts or sweets. Before he'd been reincarnated, before he'd awakened his past-life memories, Winnie had suffered severe malnutrition.

Honestly, he still harbors some lingering resentment about it. If only he'd eaten better during his growth years, developed properly, maybe he wouldn't be this short now, not even reaching the average male height.

But he didn't dwell on it too much. There were plenty of people in the world far more unfortunate than him. At the very least, he was alive and could eat his fill, wasn't he? Not to mention, he'd even advanced to the Warlock Realm.

"Sugar helps make brain activity more flexible and quick. Your preference is quite commendable, Winnie." Isatia gently scooped a spoonful of her pink strawberry cake, each movement flawlessly elegant.

"Ahh, right, exactly." Winnie nodded. Although truthfully, he hadn't thought that deeply about it, he just truly loved eating sweet things. That was all.

Compared to Isatia's refined and delicate way of eating, Winnie's approach was carefree and unrestrained, the epitome of "Who cares about manners? I'm just gonna eat, eat, eat."

Meanwhile, Isatia quietly ate her cake, sipping coffee, and reading a book.~

Unsurprisingly, it was another history-related book.

Winnie now understood why Isatia enjoyed reading history so much. Although her [Divine Blessing] issue had been temporarily resolved, only requiring him to sing her a song and give her a private concert, whenever her condition worsened.

"What is it?" Noticing Winnie's gaze fixed on her, Isatia asked without looking up.

"Ah, nothing. I just noticed you still really enjoy reading historical books, Miss Isatia." Winnie glanced at the thick tome before her. Just seeing the densely packed text gave him a slight headache.

He could never bring himself to read books like that.

It was the kind of book you'd place on your nightstand, perfect for pulling out when you couldn't sleep.

"I like these books not only because they relate to my [Divine Blessing]," Isatia explained softly.

"Oh, I see."

"Also, just call me Isatia."

"Ah, ah? Ah, okay." Winnie blinked in slight surprise, then nodded.

"You seem really focused while reading," Winnie said casually, grasping for conversation. It felt forced.

"Because I treasure every single second I spend with a clear mind and sharp consciousness." Isatia shifted her gaze, her amethyst-like eyes settling on Winnie's. Calm, yet carrying a deep, lingering emotion. "Because they are a gift you personally gave me."

"Ah, ahhaha, yeah. Nobody wants to live in a constant fog, right? That'd be too painful." Winnie hadn't expected such a simple comment to suddenly escalate. Caught off guard, he could only resort to awkward laughter.

"I will never forget this gift you've given me. I cherish it deeply." Isatia locked eyes with him, speaking each word with deliberate clarity.

"U-uh, it's n-nothing really. You've treated me to desserts and coffee, and gave me tutoring too, Isatia." Winnie struggled to respond, fumbling for words before finally piecing together a reply.

"Is it just tutoring?" Isatia murmured softly.

"Huh?" Winnie froze.

"What you've given me is far beyond that. You could ask for much more. Be bolder."

Was it Winnie's imagination, or had Isatia gotten closer?

He could feel it, her black stockings, hugging her soft skin, seemed to have shifted slightly toward him, making the floral faint scent of her hair noticeably stronger.

He could even feel the fragrance brushing against the tip of his nose.

"B-bolder? Well, if you say so... Then, Isatia, could you treat me to a few more meals each month? Is that okay? Haha." Winnie's eyes darted around, suddenly unable to settle on any one spot.

Against Isatia's direct, unflinching advances, he felt his defenses crumble like paper.

"Is that all?" Isatia tilted her head slightly, leaning in closer, close enough for Winnie to feel her warm breath.

"W-well, what else could there be?" Winnie STIFFENED. He hated how weak he looked in front of a beautiful girl, wanting to act confident but utterly failing, leaving him trapped in inner turmoil.

"Your cake is nearly finished. Would you like to try another flavor?" Isatia glanced at Winnie's almost-empty chocolate velvet cake.

"Ah, well…" Instinctively, he wanted more. He had a strong obsession with sweets, a trait even more evident when he was Vanessa. No matter how much he ate, he never gained weight, any excess fat absorbed somewhere else entirely.

"I could still eat more."

Before Winnie could finish, Isatia gently scooped a bite of her strawberry-vanilla cake, one hand placed beneath to prevent any spillage, and brought the spoon directly to Winnie's lips.

"Try mine?"

"?!" Winnie's pupils shrank.

W-wait, wait, wait, wait, wait...?!

Wait a second?!

What kind of situation was this?!

Winnie felt his outdated, obsolete processor on the verge of overheating and burning out, his eyes threatening to spin into cartoonish spirals.

Staring at the spoon held before his lips, Winnie's eyes widened. He glanced at Isatia's plate. Yes, the cake was clearly half-eaten.

There was no mistake, Isatia had just eaten from that very same spoon?!

No way... she's that bold?!

Winnie glanced at Isatia's expression, calm. Utterly calm. As if she were performing the most mundane, action everyday.

Her beautiful eyes held a mesmerizing allure, one glance, and you'd be helplessly drawn in, instinctively obeying her will.

Facing the spoon, Winnie swallowed hard.

N-no, no, no. His mind felt hazy.

How could he even have such thoughts? If he actually took this bite, things between them would change forever?!

Granted, he'd had indirect contact with Aesphyra before, but that was under unavoidable circumstances!

But rejecting a girl who's being this forward would surely hurt her feelings, right?

Winnie scrambled for an excuse to smoothly escape the situation, but the moment his eyes met Isatia's, he felt himself pulled in.

Only then did he realize Isatia's presence had already enveloped him, making him feel like a subject before a sovereign, overpowered by her aura. He wanted to say he needed to use the restroom, but his mouth wouldn't open. He couldn't utter a single word.

Hard-stunned!

W-what in the world was happening?!

And seeing Winnie open his mouth, Isatia naturally moved to feed him the cake.

If he didn't speak or refuse, she always took it as acceptance.

"Clatter." At that moment, a sound rang out nearby, like a pen and notebook falling to the floor, drawing both their attentions.

"??" Winnie instinctively turned his head.

Good news: Isatia was distracted by the noise, so she stopped.

Bad news: the noise came from Mirexia.

Winnie suddenly remembered one crucial fact, this cafe wasn't just a place he'd visited with Aesphyra or Isatia. Mirexia also came here often.

Sometimes, to unwind, she'd bring her work here, ordering several cups of coffee, sipping while handling official matters.

This was Mirexia's idea of relaxation.

O-oh... o-oh... oh...?!

Upon recognizing who it was, Winnie's expression twisted. A sensation akin to being caught in the act surged through him, though he couldn't explain why he felt that way. It was strange and bizarre, yet Winnie's nature was such that his mouth often moved faster than his brain. Instinctively, he blurted out:

"M-Mirexia?! W-what are you doing here?!"

"........" Mirexia stood frozen, still holding the documents and pen from moments ago. Dropped on the floor were the papers and pen she'd been holding.

At that moment, Mirexia's usual cold, proud, and beautiful face was tinged with stiffness. Her frost-blue eyes were locked onto Winnie and Isatia, unwavering, unblinking.

Her icy blue irises brimmed with emotions Winnie couldn't decipher.

She said nothing, simply staring at Winnie with a blank, unrelenting gaze, as if trying to pin him in place with her eyes alone.

"U-um…" Seeing Mirexia's strange demeanor, Winnie swallowed hard, wanting to say something, yet finding nothing appropriate, unsure how to even begin.

"...What... are you two doing?" After an indeterminable silence, Mirexia finally spoke. Her voice, dry and strained, carried a forcibly suppressed calm.

To Winnie, every passing second feels like agony.

"It's not what you think!" Winnie felt he had to explain, but the moment he spoke, he felt like a cheating husband caught in bed.

But how could he explain? Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, that was the only possible opening line!

N-no, wait, something felt off. Why was he so desperate to explain himself to Mirexia?!

Only after speaking did Winnie slowly realize.

"What is it?" The situation didn't allow for much thought. Mirexia didn't seem to find fault with his words, she not only accepted them, but stared directly at him, waiting for his next.

"Ah, ahhaha, well, you see... I'm terrible at written exams and academics. Since returning, I've forgotten so many things. I wanted to catch up before the classes officially started, so I asked Isatia to tutor me. Sorry I didn't mention it, she often helps me study. See? We even brought our textbooks and notes!" Winnie forced a smile, silently telling himself to stay calm, then held up the textbooks and notebooks towards Mirexia.

"So... what subject are you studying?" Mirexia paused, then asked again. "One that requires spoons, cake, and demonstrations right at the mouth?"

Clearly, though Mirexia was low on emotional intelligence, she wasn't someone like Shikondell, someone you could easily fool with a few casual lies.

"Balancing work and rest is important. Sugar provides the brain with sufficient energy. These are basic early education principles, Mirexia, I'm sure you're aware of them." Before Winnie could respond, Isatia spoke up, stating it simply, as if what she'd just done was no big deal, implying Mirexia was overreacting and making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Isatia... what exactly are you doing?" Mirexia paused, her sapphire eyes locking onto Isatia's amethyst ones.

"Regarding the question of 'what I'm doing,' it involves my personal actions and habits, matters of personal privacy. Mirexia, you're someone who excels at making full use of time, ensuring every second holds meaning. I'm sure you're not the type to be interested in others' private affairs, wasting time prying into their secrets. You're certainly not someone who meddles in others' business." Isatia replied indifferently.

Beside her, Winnie listened, thinking Isatia had circled around for so long just to say four words, "None of your business."

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Shura Battlefield = Love triangle showdown or Awkward exes-in-the-same-room moment or Jealous catfight