By the time the competition ended, night had completely fallen.

The announcement of competition results, as well as rewards and merit recognition, would all be arranged for the following days.

Under the academy's organization, the participating students returned to the academy in an orderly fashion and went back to their dormitories to rest.

"Shanie, Benita!"

Standing in front of the dormitory building, Sophia grabbed the two who were about to head back.

"Come to our place. I'll have someone buy some food and bring it back. Let's celebrate properly tonight!"

Although her body was somewhat tired, Sophia's spirits were quite high.

Forget about going back to rest—if conditions allowed, she would have thrown a grand victory banquet right now.

Shanie was even more energetic than Sophia. Hearing her say this, she immediately agreed: "Great! That's exactly what I was thinking!!"

The two hit it off immediately and without continuing to ask for opinions, one on each side, they sandwiched Celitia and Benita and headed toward the small villa.

Having been busy all afternoon, Celitia actually wanted to rest properly for a while.

But seeing Sophia and Shanie so excited, she couldn't bring herself to say anything disappointing.

Benita obviously felt the same way.

The two exchanged helpless glances and unanimously chose to indulge them.

Her Royal Highness was full of initiative, quickly finding people and ordering them to go out and buy things, rushing them back at full speed.

As soon as Shanie and Benita arrived at the villa, they excitedly went up to the third floor to make black tea and rest.

Celitia took a bath, then collapsed on the sofa and refused to move anymore.

Although she hadn't lifted a finger throughout, thinking was also tiring, not to mention repeatedly running back and forth during the journey.

The fact that her body hadn't gone on strike on the spot was already quite considerate of her.

Her calves were sore, so Celitia lifted her skirt and slowly massaged her leg muscles.

Back in the day, thousand-li raids were nothing to her—who could have predicted she would fall to such a state today.

Heroes really shouldn't boast about their past glory...

If her teacher knew about this, he'd probably laugh so hard he'd lose a few teeth.

Celitia was silently complaining when she suddenly felt someone sit down beside her.

She looked up and saw Sophia.

"Are your legs very sore?" Sophia's voice was gentle. "Let me massage them for you."

"Ah? No, that's not necessary..."

Celitia was startled and instinctively pulled her legs back.

But Sophia had already reached out to grasp the girl's ankle, forcibly placing her legs across her own knees.

"You're today's biggest contributor. Consider this massage a reward from this young lady."

While saying this, Sophia looked at the pair of legs resting on her body and couldn't help but let her mind wander.

The girl's ankles were very slender, just fitting in one grip, her skin so white it was slightly translucent, showing blue blood vessels like patterns.

Her instep was slightly arched, creating a beautiful curve, her nails showing a light pink color, five toes curled inward as if somewhat nervous.

Sophia swallowed, not knowing how much self-control it took to resist the urge to touch her feet.

This was massaging Celitia, not taking advantage of her.

Having forcibly convinced herself, Sophia finally released her grip on the ankle and with gentle force from her ten fingers, slowly massaged Celitia's calves.

The skin her fingertips touched was still slightly cooler than Sophia's, cool and smooth like the most expensive brocade in the palace.

In an instant, Sophia suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase "warm fragrant soft jade."

Massaging the girl's calves back and forth, Sophia's fingers finally stopped at the bend of her leg, hesitating whether to continue massaging upward.

"Um... do your thighs hurt?"

Sophia finally asked.

Celitia could feel her calves warming slightly under Sophia's massage, and her face seemed to be heating up as well.

It was just having her legs massaged, but Celitia didn't know why she was blushing.

The heart in her chest beat one beat after another, slightly faster than usual, making her very uncomfortable.

No, this couldn't continue.

Whether thoughts or reactions, they all had to be under her control—only then could Celitia feel at ease.

She hurriedly covered herself with her skirt, quickly curled up her legs, and lowered her head slightly, letting her hair hide her faintly burning ear tips.

"That's enough."

"I-I see."

Sophia reluctantly released her hands.

She watched the girl lower her eyelids, her dark brown lashes distinct, casting fine shadows on her slightly flushed cheeks.

Her neck was slender, gracefully curved like a swan stretching its neck, her skin not as pale as usual but showing some post-bath rosiness. Just seeing that small area made one imagine the scenery below the neckline.

In her chest, some indescribable emotion was breaking through the soil.

Sophia suddenly had an impulse to say something to her.

"Lily."

Celitia looked up upon hearing this: "What is it?"

Those misty purple eyes quietly gazed at her, reflecting some shallow moisture, like the hazy rain of a winter morning.

Pattering continuously.

For a moment, Sophia couldn't tell whether she was hearing the sound of rain or her own heartbeat.

"I—I—"

Her brain went blank, and Sophia couldn't organize her words.

What exactly did she want to say?

Right...

"I think I... toward you—"

Sophia's carefully organized words couldn't be finished as urgent knocking suddenly came from the door.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, are you there? We've brought everything you requested!"

Suddenly interrupted, Sophia immediately forgot all her remaining words and couldn't say anything.

Celitia instinctively turned her head toward the door and waited for a while, but didn't get any reaction from Sophia.

"What's wrong, Sophia?" Celitia asked in confusion. "Should I go open the door?"

Only then did Sophia come back to her senses, standing up like a sleepwalker.

"Ah... you sit and rest properly. I'll go open the door."

Walking to the door, Sophia opened it and looked at the two guards with arms full of items and faces full of smiles, still somewhat dazed.

What exactly had she wanted to say just now?

"Wah! Finally here? I'm already so hungry!"

Shanie's cheering voice came from upstairs as she clattered down the stairs, staring at the food the guards were placing on the coffee table, her warm brown eyes full of stars.

Benita followed downstairs and shrugged at Sophia:

"Shanie drank an entire pot of black tea. If she doesn't eat something soon, I suspect she'll starve to death and reincarnate on the spot."

The two guards finished arranging everything and bowed to Sophia.

"Your Highness, we'll be guarding nearby. If you have any other orders, please don't hesitate to call us."

Sophia nodded.

Looking at the respectful figures of the two guards, even if Sophia wanted to blame them, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Shanie pulled out two large bottles of red wine from the food on the table, her eyes lighting up:

"Wow, there's even wine to drink! Worthy of Your Highness's handiwork—this wine looks so precious! If Teacher were here, he'd definitely be overjoyed!!"

The corner of Celitia's mouth twitched slightly.

Hey, it's fine for the old man to love drinking, but don't corrupt Shanie too!