After the whispered conversation between mother and daughter, the four of them spent some time exchanging further information. Richie and Ornigo both took turns reminding Ayesha of specific details she needed to watch out for, though Ayesha seemed somewhat preoccupied.

  Her mind was entirely consumed by a single, terrifying possibility: What if Mama really accepted that guy’s confession? Was she actually going to end up with a new father? She couldn't help but recall the scene from that night when the Night Remnant had smugly referred to himself as her "Papa."

  Ayesha pouted, her mood suddenly dipping into a slump. She didn't dare ask her mother directly; she was terrified of the answer, yet simultaneously dying to know. She remained trapped in this internal tug-of-war.

  It wasn't until the meeting ended and she was preparing to return to the Academy that Ayesha finally snapped out of her funk and remembered something vital. She turned to her mother and asked:

  "He already knows I'm disguised. Do we still need to go through with the plan to kidnap him?"

  Natalia knew exactly who the "he" in question was. She mused for a moment before answering:

  "The plan remains unchanged. After all, kidnapping him is far easier than trying to steal something directly from the Academy’s containment room. Moreover, he now believes the Church is aware of your identity, and you no longer need to maintain your persona in front of him. Your chance of success is actually higher than before. Regardless, act according to the situation. I would rather you abandon the mission than take unnecessary risks."

  Ayesha felt a headache coming on after hearing her mother's response. So I still have to kidnap him? What reason could she possibly use next time to lure him out of the Academy? Should she tell him she found a giant black boar doing backflips in the woods and wanted to show him? Would he actually fall for that?

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  When Eros returned to his detached villa within the Academy grounds, he found Undine leaning against the sofa in a nightgown, flipping through a magazine. Since Indiles was situated in the south, the temperature remained mild even in late October; consequently, the nightgown Undine wore was quite thin.

  Eros walked over and draped a coat over her shoulders while casually asking, "Is the bathwater ready?"

  Undine shifted her gaze from the magazine, giving her brother a lazy glance. "The maid prepared it for you a long time ago."

  As for whether the water would have cooled down by now, such a thing was impossible for them. The maids checked the temperature constantly. If it dropped even slightly, they would prepare fresh hot water to ensure that the moment their master returned, there was always a tub of perfectly heated water waiting.

  Eros nodded. "Then I’m going to wash up." He headed toward the bathroom.

  Seeing him go, Undine’s eyes darted around. She feigned indifference while casting a stealthy glance toward the bathroom. Thinking of something, her fair face flushed with two patches of rosy red, making her look breathtakingly beautiful. Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the stone floor with her bare, porcelain-white feet and began tiptoeing cautiously toward the bathroom.

  Eros entered the bathroom and saw the steaming tub of water. He didn't hesitate, preparing to strip off his clothes for a soak. Just then, his peripheral vision caught the laundry basket used for discarded clothes.

  Inside was a set of clothes that had just been changed. Usually, a maid would take away the dirty laundry immediately after the master finished bathing. But recently, for some reason, Undine’s discarded clothes always seemed to sit there for a long time before being collected.

  Previously, the outer dresses and coats were always on top, so Eros hadn't thought much of it. But today, seeing such a deliberate arrangement, a realization hit him.

  Eros’s eye twitched slightly. What exactly is going on in that smelly sister’s little head? Then again, he couldn't entirely blame her; he carried part of the responsibility himself.

  Eros suddenly turned his head toward the bathroom door. To his surprise, the door—which had been closed—was now cracked open, and a small head was poking in, peeking.

  Seeing herself discovered, Undine let out a startled "Eek!" and immediately covered her eyes with her hands.

  "I didn't see anything! I don't know anything!"