Chapter 151: Aunt Ella's "Extra Lesson" and Mary Sue's Eavesdropping (3)
Her vivid imagination began to run wild.
Lilith, recalling Ella's stern and authoritative demeanor during her lectures, couldn't help but find the muffled sounds amusing.
'My poor fiancé,' she thought with barely concealed schadenfreude, 'he's probably suffering right now.'
Though Ella was usually soft-spoken and caring, the goddess of the academy and a nurturing figure to her students, she was known for her strictness in teaching. If Ella had been upset enough earlier to raise her voice, Shia must have truly tested her patience.
'She's probably giving him a good thrashing right now.'
Lilith's heart raced with excitement at the thought.
Abandoning the idea of leaving, she pressed herself against the door, her ear glued to the wooden surface as she shamelessly eavesdropped.
Were anyone to walk by, the sight of a golden-haired beauty in such a compromising position might lead them to believe they'd stumbled upon a pervert.
But with no one else around, Lilith listened intently, a delighted grin spreading across her face.
'What's the simplest form of happiness?'
For Lilith, it was reveling in others' misery.
Especially when the subject of her amusement was her disobedient "puppy" Shia.
'Hahaha! Serves you right for ignoring me before. Now you're being disciplined by the teacher!'
The only thing missing was being able to see the "thrashing" in person. Still, the sounds alone made her day.
Each sharp, resounding '"thwack"' from inside the room made her eyes light up with glee.
'Hit him harder! Don't hold back on my account!'
When the noise finally subsided, Lilith heard footsteps approaching the door. She quickly backed away, standing several paces from the entrance and pretending to admire the flowers in the garden, as if she'd been there all along.
When the door opened, she turned back slightly, her face composed.
Shia emerged, his complexion pale, his steps unsteady, and an unmistakable air of exhaustion about him.
Lilith's expression shifted to one of perfect concern as she stepped forward to steady him.
'Oh, he really got it this time,' she thought smugly, though she kept her glee well-hidden.
The possibility that something else might have occurred didn't even cross her mind.
To her, it was obvious—Ella had thoroughly disciplined him.
'Perfect. Now I can comfort him,' she mused. 'Your beloved fiancée is here for you, dear fiancé!'
Lilith planned to show her "gentle, caring" side and win points with Shia. After all, with his rising importance, even her "puppy" deserved a little affection now and then.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with feigned worry.
As she spoke, her sharp nose picked up an unusual scent.
There was something strange about him.
Lilith leaned in slightly, sniffing subtly. It wasn't a scent she recognized—it was unfamiliar and out of place.
Shia, noticing her behavior, gave a weak, bitter smile. He waved her off with a sigh, saying nothing as he staggered away.
Watching his retreating figure, Lilith frowned briefly before turning her attention back to the half-open door.
'Whatever. Comforting him can wait. My planned visit to Ella is more important.'
---
Inside, Lilith quickly found herself face-to-face with Ella.
She seated herself gracefully, smoothing her skirt as she settled in, her movements elegant and deliberate. But once she sat down, she noticed that Ella was still standing.
"Teacher, why don't you sit?" Lilith gestured to the seat across from her.
Ella hesitated, her expression somewhat strained.
"No, it's fine. I'll stand for now," she replied, her posture stiff and her hands fidgeting awkwardly.
Her voice, though soft, was slightly hoarse.
Lilith immediately drew her own conclusion.
'Ah, she must be exhausted. Poor teacher, she's probably overworked… or maybe… hemorrhoids?'
Her gaze subtly flicked over Ella's figure, her thoughts piecing together what seemed an obvious answer.
'Got it.'
She met Ella's nervous eyes with an understanding smile, as though silently communicating her sympathy.
Ella, catching the look, felt a pang of anxiety. Why was Lilith looking at her like that?
Before she could process it further, Lilith stood up and took her hands.
"Teacher, I understand. It's hard to talk about some things, but we're all women here."
Ella flushed, her unease deepening.
'What is this girl talking about?'
Lilith smirked inwardly. Her shy, blushing teacher was so endearing.
'As her thoughtful student, it's only right to help her through this.'
Without hesitation, Lilith pulled a small porcelain bottle from her bag and discreetly pressed it into Ella's hands.
"This is a special-grade restorative balm," she said, her tone serious. Her eyes briefly flicked toward Ella's lower back before meeting her gaze again.
"It's perfect for, uh, addressing… discomfort. Just apply it to the affected area."
Ella froze, her eyes widening in shock.
'What does she mean by that?! Did she figure it out?!'
Seeing Ella's stunned expression, Lilith's face radiated an "I understand everything" confidence.
"I know it's hard to talk about these things, but you should take care of yourself, teacher. Trust me, this balm works wonders."
Ella's expression turned increasingly complicated as she tightened her grip on the bottle.
"You… know?"
Lilith nodded sagely, patting Ella's hand reassuringly before ushering her toward the bathroom.
"Go on, try it. You'll see how effective it is."
Their entire exchange was a comedic miscommunication, each utterly convinced of their own narrative.
---
In the bathroom, Ella reluctantly applied the balm. To her surprise, the cooling sensation was incredibly soothing, significantly alleviating her discomfort.
When she emerged, she finally felt comfortable enough to sit.
Lilith beamed triumphantly.
"See? I told you it works, right?"
Ella nodded slowly. "It does work… very well."
Yet her gaze toward Lilith grew increasingly complex.
'Does she really understand what happened earlier?'
Lilith, oblivious to Ella's inner turmoil, remained confident in her own interpretation.
"Don't worry, teacher. I'll have a talk with Shia when I get back. He can't keep making trouble for you like this."
'Trouble?' Ella's mind replayed Lilith's words.
Shia's "troubles" were clearly far beyond what Lilith suspected.
Ella's gaze drifted to the black-and-white photo of her late husband on the mantle. Her movements stilled momentarily.
Looking at his faint smile, a wave of guilt washed over her.
'Even in front of you… I've crossed this line.'
But she quickly shook the thought away.
'This doesn't count as betrayal,' she told herself, her eyes distant as if peering beyond the photo, into the past she could no longer carry alone.