Chapter 12: My Melo won’t be tricked and stolen away by some scoundrel from the outside!

The art of playing the straight man was a subtle one.

Ensuring her master’s spirits never faltered was also among a maid’s many duties.

Melina, a wide grin plastered across her face, surveyed the tall, graceful, and spirited maid before her.

She nodded approvingly as she took in the sight, then burst into another fit of uncontrollable laughter.

“So, Melo,” Melina began, her eyes twinkling mischievously, “how does it feel to have a man confess his feelings to you?”

She blinked, her face alight with unbridled curiosity.

“Ugh…” Melo’s expression immediately stiffened, a flicker of distress crossing her features.

“Please, Young Lady, don’t tease me about this,” she pleaded, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

You are well aware of my identity, so how could I possibly harbor any feelings toward a man’s confession?

Even if I did, it would be…

“It would be what?”

“It’s… inexplicable, truly.

In essence, a most peculiar sensation.”

Melo struggled for a long moment, ultimately failing to articulate the precise nature of her recent emotions.

Her outward composure and impeccable politeness were the direct result of ten days of rigorous special training as a maid.

Yet, that did not signify a complete absence of internal turmoil.

Precisely what she felt, however, remained stubbornly beyond her ability to verbalize.

“Did your heart flutter, even a little?”

The ever-curious Melina pressed on.

“Impossible!” Melo retorted instantly, her denial firm.

“Then… what about revulsion, aversion, a general unease, or even goosebumps?”

As she spoke, Melina reached out, taking Melo’s hand and meticulously examining her exposed, fair arm.

She noted the absence of goosebumps; the skin remained perfectly smooth and pristine.

“Well… it wasn’t quite that extreme,” Melo conceded thoughtfully.

Melo carefully replayed the moment in her mind, confirming that her feelings had indeed not escalated to outright revulsion.

“If I were forced to describe it, I suppose it was merely surprise.”

However, such a mundane answer clearly failed to sate Melina’s insatiable curiosity.

Undeterred, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper.

“Now… imagine a scenario,” Melina cajoled.

“What kind of scenario?” Melo inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Close your eyes, and picture this,” Melina began, her voice a silken thread.

“Imagine that ‘Nameless Passerby’ classmate from earlier, holding you close in his arms.”

“One hand encircles your waist, while the other gently lifts your chin, tilting your head upwards.”

“Then… he slowly lowers his head, drawing ever closer to you…”

Melina’s voice was a devilish whisper, weaving its spell.

Melo dutifully closed her eyes, visualizing the scene Melina so vividly painted.

In short order, Melina noticed with a triumphant gleam in her eye that this time, a fine layer of goosebumps had indeed erupted across Melo’s arms.

Her mischievous spirit now fully ignited, Melina had no intention of stopping.

A sly grin played on Melina’s lips as she continued her tantalizing narrative.

“Your lips finally meet,” she whispered conspiratorially.

“Mmmph…”

Melo’s expression contorted into a knot of discomfort.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her brow deeply furrowed, her body trembling faintly as if striving to endure some unbearable sensation.

Melina offered a timely reminder.

“Don’t open your eyes, now!”

Thus, Melo had no choice but to keep her eyes closed, continuing to visualize the scene Melina meticulously described.

“Next,” Melina’s voice dropped, laced with theatrical suspense, “that ‘Nameless Passerby’ classmate slides his hand beneath your collar, pushing aside your clothing, and grazes your…”

“Stop it!”

Melo suddenly shrieked, her forehead beaded with sweat, gasping for breath.

She instinctively clutched her arms, a shiver running through her entire body despite the bright sunshine overhead.

A look of profound resentment settled upon her face as she turned to Melina.

“Young Lady… please… please don’t tease me in such a manner.”

Seeing Melo’s distressed reaction, Melina nodded in satisfaction.

Then, as if a great weight had been lifted, she impulsively stepped forward, embracing Melo’s arm tightly.

“Alright, it’s settled,” she declared with a beaming smile, “my Melo won’t be snatched away by any wild men out there!”

“Young Lady…!”

Melo issued a soft, chiding protest, yet refrained from saying anything further.

After all, she was the Young Lady, and Melo merely a maid; she held neither the position nor the authority to reprimand her mistress.

Besides, while the scenario Melina had just described was indeed rather dreadful, it had only compelled her to imagine it, not actually force her into such an intimate situation with another man.

It was merely… a harmless little prank, after all.

In stark contrast to Melo’s internal struggle, Melina was clearly in an exceptionally buoyant mood!

Clutching Melo’s hand, she swiftly made her way to the Dean’s office, knocking briskly on the door.

From within, a gentle female voice responded.

“Come in, please.”

“Aunt Tang, I’m back! I’ve come to report in,” Melina announced, pushing open the door with an enthusiastic greeting.

Upon seeing Melina, the beautiful woman inside, whose face had previously been devoid of expression, allowed a gentle smile to bloom.

“Ah, little Na,” she said warmly, “you’re a grown woman now, yet still so impetuous.”

Aunt Tang, whose full name was Sophia Tang, maintained a close relationship with the Esbel family.

She had once been Aida’s rival in love, but after her romantic endeavors proved unsuccessful, she had gracefully let go.

Later, upon learning of the Esbel family’s plight, she had covertly offered significant assistance to Aida, her former competitor.

Sophia Tang was also a key supporter of Aida’s revenge plan, and she harbored a particular fondness for Melina, the young scion of the Esbel line.

“In front of Aunt Tang, I’ll always be your little child!” Melina exclaimed, playfully burrowing her head into Sophia’s embrace, showering her with affection.

Sophia’s face softened with a hint of exasperation, yet she indulged Melina’s antics, affectionately stroking her head.

She then turned her gaze to Melo.

“So, this is little Na’s contracted spirit, isn’t it?” she mused aloud.

“The recent incident involving them certainly caused quite a stir throughout the academy.”

Melo offered a polite bow.

“It was remiss of me to cause Lady Sophia any trouble,” she stated respectfully.

Sophia waved a dismissive hand.

“There’s no need to be so formal,” she said kindly.

“This isn’t the Esbel household, and there are no outsiders here; you can afford to relax a little.”

“I appreciate Lady Sophia’s concern,” Melo replied, though her demeanor remained one of polite reserve.

Despite Sophia’s words, Melo steadfastly maintained her composed demeanor.

Sophia did not press the matter, instead turning to inquire about Melina’s recent activities, particularly regarding her resonance with Melo.

Upon learning that Melina and Melo had astonishingly achieved a resonance rate exceeding 20%, a genuine look of shock finally registered on Sophia’s face.

She turned to Melo, her voice laced with disbelief.

“Is what little Na says truly accurate?!”

Melo nodded in confirmation.

“Yes, Young Lady has been exceptionally diligent these past days,” she affirmed.

“She has also… endured considerable suffering that most would find unbearable.

This remarkable pace of progress is entirely a testament to her efforts.”

Yet, Melo’s affirmation did not bring joy to Sophia.

Instead, a shadow of concern and a grave seriousness settled upon the beautiful woman’s features.

Having a deep personal friendship with Aida and being a staunch supporter of her revenge, Sophia had been privy to many crucial details from Aida herself.

Among these revelations was the true identity of Melo.

Rising from her seat, Sophia approached Melo, taking her hand and gently removing the lace wrist guard that adorned her wrist.

Beneath it, a stark black thorn pattern, previously concealed, was revealed.

“The Thorn’s Kiss,” Sophia murmured, her voice laced with grim understanding, “the most brutal form of spirit-sealing punishment.”

Her gaze, filled with anguish, fell upon Melina, who had now grown quiet and compliant.

“How could that wretched woman bear to let her own daughter endure such a cruel torment?” Sophia cried out, her voice raw with emotion.

“Why doesn’t she suffer it herself?”

Confronted by Sophia’s unvarnished reprimand, Melina could only manage a wry, bitter smile.

She then embraced Sophia tightly.

“Aunt Tang,” she murmured, her voice soft, “this was all my own choice.”

“How old are you, child? What could you possibly understand?” Sophia’s eyes welled up with tears, and she held Melina close, overwhelmed with sorrow.

“I understand, Aunt Tang, truly.

After all… he was my father too.”

“Those people, that deep-seated hatred—how could I possibly allow Mother to bear such a burden alone?”

“I am grown now.”