Chapter 888: A Smile Too Dangerous ( 888 )

Erisa returned the smile and offered a polite bow. "Ah, Liana. Yes, I was just about to leave."

"Judging by your face, I doubt you’re here only because Lord Garius called for him, hmm?"

Erisa let out a quiet laugh. "My, Liana... you shouldn’t be so jealous. No need to worry about him so much, you know~ He’s a grown man now. Not the little boy you used to chase around the halls."

Liana’s serene smile remained, but her eyes narrowed in playful challenge. "My my~ what a bold statement, E‑r‑i‑s‑a~"

Erisa’s lips curled in a sly smirk. "Indeed, L‑i‑a‑n‑a~ And let’s not forget, he’s a noble, after all. I’m sure he’ll choose you as his first, but that doesn’t mean his world will stay limited to only..." She glanced over, noticing Felicia, Mimi, and Delya just arriving behind Liana, "...five. Or perhaps, ah~ pardon me~ six?"

Liana’s laugh was soft, but her gaze glinted with challenge. "As long as he remembers who stood by him first, I don’t mind letting the world see how I handle rivals." She crossed her arms, shoulders back, a confident tilt to her chin, her assets and beauty on full display.

Erisa mirrored her, folding her arms with quiet poise, a faint, teasing smirk playing on her lips. The comparison between them was clear, beauty, confidence, and quiet rivalry balanced perfectly in the air.

"That," Erisa said smoothly, "I would very much like to see one day."

For a long moment, the air between them was thick with that silent, feminine battle.

Mimi glanced down at her chest, then at Liana and Erisa.

Her ears drooped slightly.

Beside her, Delya blinked, then lowered her gaze to her own chest, her expression dimming into quiet defeat.

"...Unfair..." she mumbled softly.

Both girls sighed together, shoulders slumping like two warriors who’d lost a silent battle they never wanted to fight.

Felicia, tilted her chin gracefully and straightened her posture, her composed smile never breaking as she subtly emphasized her own advantage.

A brief silence filled the air.

Every girl glanced at one another, eyes narrowing, faint smiles forming, sparks flying invisibly between them.

Until...

"Ara? What are you all doing?"

Gloria removed her glasses, tilting her head innocently. The small, natural motion made her chest bounce lightly without effort.

Every gaze turned to her at once.

Silence.

Mimi’s mouth dropped open. Delya blinked rapidly. Felicia’s refined composure cracked, her lips twitching in disbelief.

Liana and Erisa froze mid-glare.

Gloria blinked, genuinely puzzled, still holding her glasses in one hand.

"Hmm?" she asked softly, tilting her head again.

Erisa puckered her lips, cheeks turning a shade pinker as she stared at Gloria.

Liana bit her lower lip, doing her best to hide her growing frustration.

Felicia’s elegant mask began to slip as she glanced downward, composure wavering.

Mimi and Delya both puffed out their cheeks, looking for all the world like a pair of sulking children.

"Give us that! It’s unfair you have better assets than us!" Erisa protested, her voice dramatic as she pouted, only for the others to join in immediately.

"Eh? Eh? Ehhhhh!?" Gloria’s eyes widened as she stumbled back, caught completely off guard by the sudden alliance against her.

"Seriously, what have you been eating, Gloria!?!" Erisa shout, pointing accusingly at Gloria’s chest as the rest closed in, hands reaching out from every side.

"All your nutrition must’ve gone straight to your breast!!"

"Eeeeeeehhh!?" Gloria squeaked, panic rising as the group surrounded her. "Wait...wait!! It’s not like these can be detached and shared!!"

Mimi and Delya moved in from both sides, their hands reaching curiously.

"Hiiiiiii!? W-wait! Don’t touch there!"

Just then, as she tried to escape, Gloria stumbled a little, her chest bouncing naturally with the motion.

Boing~

Time stopped.

Every girl froze, eyes wide.

"This is unfair!" they all shouted at once.

Gloria flailed, cheeks bright red, trying to fend them off. "Ehhh!!!? It’s not my fault! Help me, Young Master!!"

Outside, Buddy let out a confused squawk, tilting his head curiously in the direction of the commotion.

Meanwhile, inside the workshop, Javier remained blissfully unaware of the chaos erupting just a few steps away, still absorbed in his work and his newest creation.

"Cuquawked!"

Buddy let out a loud, drawn-out squawked, turning his head sharply toward Javier.

Javier glanced up, still focused on the fine details of his new puppet knight. "Hmm? What’s wrong, Buddy?"

"Cuquawked! Cuquawked!!" Buddy insisted, stomping one heavy foot and puffing up his feathers, clearly trying to get Javier’s attention.

Javier sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Damn it, Buddy. I’m admiring my own invention here. Can’t you let your genius master have his moment?"

Buddy fixed him with a sideways look, then strutted toward the door with exaggerated, smug steps.

"Ah... right. Father’s calling." Javier straightened with a reluctant sigh. He waved his hand, and the gleaming puppet knight dissolved into his magic storage with a shimmer of light.

Outside, Buddy kept walking smugly beside him, head high like a proud escort. Javier noticed the group ahead, every girl seemed to be circling Gloria, who looked completely flustered and cornered.

"Hmm? What are you all doing?" Javier asked, slipping his hands into his pockets, expression calm.

The moment his voice reached them, all the girls instantly straightened, standing as if nothing had happened.

Liana smiled sweetly and bowed. "Young Master."

Erisa glanced at Gloria, then at Javier, her face returning to calm as she adjusted herself with perfect grace. "Young Master," she said politely, bowing. "If you’ll excuse me."

"Mm... okay," Javier replied, still a little puzzled as Erisa slipped away with practiced grace.

He turned to Gloria, brow raised. "Gloria? Where are your glasses? By the way, you look beautiful without them." He smiled, casual and sincere.

Gloria blinked, caught off guard. "Ah... thank you, Young Master," she replied, cheeks faintly pink.

Javier glanced at Liana and Gloria. "Why didn’t you both come to the workshop earlier? I was waiting."

Liana bowed gracefully. "We’re sorry, Young Master. We were... occupied for a moment."

"Oh..." Javier nodded, accepting it without complaint.

His eyes drifted to Felicia, Mimi, and Delya. "Ah, you’re all here too? Have you all eaten yet?"

Felicia curtsied with elegant grace. "Thank you for asking, my husband. I haven’t eaten anything yet, aside from the chocolate you made. It was delicious and unique."

"Ah, good to hear that," Javier replied, smiling, pure, simple, and genuine.

For a moment, everyone just stared. The sunlight caught his smile perfectly, softening his face, making his expression calm, kind.

His smile making him look even more dazzling than usual.

Their hearts skipped.

Liana and Gloria blinked, speechless for a moment.

That pure smile... was far too dangerous.

( End Of Chapter )