CH 307

Sapphias Screams

The talks went well. After Keithwood said a few choice words, Sion quickly agreed. Abel also put his name in, and he was very excited about it. With the two princes on board, it was officially decided that the picnic sandwiches would be made by the boys of the student council.

Hnnngh… This was also a great chance to show my marriageability. How did I let myself get talked into giving it up? I wish I could smack my past self in the head.

Now regretting her misstep, Mia made her way to the kitchen in the morning. They had reserved it and turned it into a private kitchen where the male members of the student council could make their sandwiches.

“Gosh, Mia. Wow, you’re here early!” Rafina said as she greeted her. She was already in her uniform. Citrina told them that they would be going into the forest to look for mushrooms, but that they would be staying in a less dense part of the forest. She said it would be the same as a short hike, so their school uniforms would be enough to keep them safe. Consequently, the group decided that they’d all wear their uniforms today.

“Hello, Miss Rafina. You’re no late riser yourself, it seems. Keithwood and the others haven’t even come yet.”

“Hmm, maybe I was a little too early. I just couldn’t wait to see what everyone made. After all, I didn’t get to participate last time. I felt like I didn’t fit in, you know?”

“Oh my. Then, were you excited to make sandwiches?”

“Of course, of course. I thought I’d finally get to cook with you and the other girls…”

Mia was horrified to see that Rafina’s shoulders sagged in disappointment.

“O-Oh no. I’m so very sorry,” she said, waving her hands in a panicked way to say she was sorry.

“All of this is because I listened to Sapphias and changed the plan…”

She looked at Rafina who laughed.

“Oh, I’m just joking, Mia. I was a little sad that I couldn’t come with you, but I’m not too upset about it.”

Mia put her hand on her chest and felt better. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief when…

“But, hm… Sapphias, you say… I see,” Rafina said in a voice that didn’t sound as funny as it usually did.

Mia couldn’t help but feel like she’d just pulled Sapphias into something by accident.

Before she could figure out what, a few people walked into the kitchen, so she stopped thinking about it and turned her attention to them.

“My!” she exclaimed as she looked at the boys in front of her.

Sapphias was in front, but she didn’t look at him. Instead, she looked at the three people behind him.

Keithwood was up next. A white apron was draped over his black butler outfit. The apron didn’t dull the woman-killer vibe he always gave off, but it did change it in a way that gave him a strange new appeal. If she had to choose a word for it, it would probably be “hubbiness.”

Sion, who was third in line, was also wearing an apron over his uniform. Usually, blazers don’t go with aprons, but the Sunkland prince was so charismatic that he didn’t care about things like “aesthetics” or “coordination.” He managed to pull off the apron-on-blazer look, and he looked great doing it. This showed Mia, who was amazed, that Sion could never look bad, no matter what he wore.

Ugh, he looks good in everything, and that makes me sad. Bel would scream with joy if she saw him right now.

Mia laughed at her granddaughter’s habit of sleeping in and thought, “It’s a good thing she’s such a sleepyhead.”

Finally, she turned her gaze to the last person.

“Hello, Mia. Are you also here to watch?”

Abel smiled and waved his hand at her. He was also dressed in the aproned uniform like Sion. Mia, on the other hand, froze the moment she saw him.

This upset Abel, who looked at her with a frown and asked, “Uh, what’s wrong? Do I look weird? I’ve never worn anything like this before, so if you see anything strange, please let me know.”

He scratched his cheek, which was starting to look a little pink.

Mia couldn’t say much in response to her charming sweetheart’s cute, shy move. She could only say “Can’t…handle…” and make a small, happy squeal before her voice gave out.

“M-Mia?”

Abel’s confusion turned into worry as it grew.

She quickly shook her head and tried to get her voice back.

“I-I’m fine. You, uh… That looks great on you. Oh, but…”

A piece of strand that was hanging down from behind Abel caught her eye. One of his apron’s strings had come undone.

She walked over because she thought she could fix it for him. She stopped as she was about to go behind him.

Then, instead of stepping behind him, she stepped in front of him and gave him a spontaneous hug to tie the strings behind him.

“There, that’s it. All fixed. Now you look great,” she said with a smile as she looked up at him lovingly.

What a shameless way to flirt! The Great Seductress of the Empire is exactly what her name says she is. When she was on the receiving end, it was easy for Mia to give in to unexpected displays of love.

When she was the one dishing them out though, she did so with the composure of adulthood, relishing the experience of toying with the delicate sensibilities of the young boy before her. She was not a model of a proper woman.

“Th-Thanks, Mia. I’ll…try my best to make something good for you,” said Abel.

When she saw his embarrassed smile, she realised that she liked the way things were right now.

Oh, he’s so adorable! I just can’t get enough! Mmm, good job, you got by me!

So, after deciding that her past self had made the right decision, she went on to enjoy the rest of the morning.

Sapphias, on the other hand, had an apron on over his uniform as well.

Even though Mia didn’t notice him, someone else did.

“Oh my god, Sapphias.” Rafina put her hand to her mouth and laughed in a short, unfunny way. “You also look great in an apron. Also, Mia told me that you were the one who came up with the idea to have the boys cook today. Even though it doesn’t matter. I wasn’t looking forward to cooking or anything like that. I just thought it was…interesting.”

“E-Eeeeeeek!”

Sapphias might have screamed in fear that day in the kitchen. It didn’t really matter, really.