Chapter 132: The Naughty Lady Gets Caught (2)
Nia's voice was sincere and earnest.
Her attitude couldn't have been more accommodating.
But Ella's true purpose here wasn't a home visit.
She merely wanted a chance to interact with Nia.
The home visit was just an excuse.
And as for the brat's mistakes...
Ella coughed lightly and, looking at Nia, suddenly froze.
Through this innocent girl in front of her, Ella saw a shadow of the past.
A memory of a once pure, carefree girl.
Ella couldn't help but space out for a moment.
"You trust strangers this much? Aren't you afraid of danger?"
Ella felt a twinge of guilt, her voice tinged with hoarseness.
"Aren't you Shia's teacher?"
Ella nodded. She was indeed his teacher.
"Then it's perfectly normal for a teacher to make a home visit."
Ella didn't nod this time.
Yes, home visits were normal. But her real purpose here wasn't as simple as that.
Looking at the innocent girl before her, Ella's gaze grew increasingly complicated.
Nia, however, trusted her completely.
"Would a teacher ever harm me?"
The radiant smile on Nia's pure and youthful face dazzled Ella.
Ella smiled faintly, steering the conversation elsewhere.
But her fingers clutched her skirt tightly.
"Mistakes of the past don't need to be dwelled on. What matters is recognizing the problem and finding solutions."
"A teacher can only impart knowledge in class. Outside the classroom, it's up to the people around the student to help."
One spoke earnestly; the other cooperated wholeheartedly. Their conversation flowed seamlessly.
***
Just as everything seemed to be progressing as planned, reaching the critical moment for action.
Ella clutched the Philosopher's Stone. All it would take was activating the magic circle to imprint the external mark into Nia's body.
But as she looked at the girl's pure, youthful face, Ella hesitated.
Was this really the right thing to do?
Ella wasn't inherently evil.
She was just a person whose desires had led her down the wrong path, bit by bit.
She had struggled. She had considered giving up.
But there was no turning back now.
She wanted to resurrect her deceased husband, and the Witch's Night Banquet was her only hope.
To achieve that goal, she had to do their bidding.
Yet with Shia's unexpected intervention, another option had presented itself.
The means to resurrect the dead wasn't unique.
Seven Shields Academy possessed a way. All she had to do was assist him, and he would help her obtain it.
Though Zero hadn't explained, Ella wasn't naïve. She knew this would bring no benefit to Nia.
Now she stood at a crossroads.
Her faith in the Witch's Night Banquet had already started to waver.
To act or not to act?
Looking at Nia's unreserved trust, her clear, innocent eyes, Ella...
"Sigh—"
A long, drawn-out sigh escaped her lips. In the end, Ella chose to back down.
Rather than violate her own morals to harm someone, she decided to trust Shia.
To believe that he could help her achieve her goal.
Some actions, once taken, left no room for repentance.
As for how she would handle Zero's orders?
She'd make up an excuse later and claim the plan had failed.
Honestly, was this mission supposed to be easy?
That was the elven princess they were dealing with. It wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Failure was perfectly reasonable.
At that moment, the door suddenly burst open with a bang.
Both of them turned towards the source of the noise.
Though the sound wasn't loud, the tense and silent atmosphere amplified its impact.
Shia instantly saw the two of them seated alone on the sofa.
Instinctively, he recalled a pivotal event in the storyline.
It was this very event that marked the beginning of his genuine dislike for this widow.
In an instant, Shia's heart leaped into his throat.
"Aunt Ella, why are you here?"
Shia's voice carried a sharp edge.
A vague unease churned within him.
"The teacher came for a home visit. She said you've been a bit naughty in class."
Nia's voice was innocent, her face adorned with a soft, naïve smile.
Shia glanced at Nia before stepping forward to grab Ella.
"I have something to discuss with Aunt Ella privately. You go play with Rong."
Saying he dragged her off wasn't an exaggeration—he didn't hold back in the slightest.
His grip was firm enough to make Ella wince, her brows furrowing slightly in pain.
Shia led Ella into an empty room, shoved her inside, and locked the door behind them.
Before Ella could voice her indignation, Shia cut straight to the chase.
"Has the Witch's Night Banquet taken new action?"
Ella was startled. How did he know?
"No."
Her reply was resolute.
She chose to lie.
After all, the Witch's Night Banquet's plans involved harming his friends.
Bang!
Shia suddenly stepped closer, cornering Ella against the wall.
One hand lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"You're lying."
It wasn't a question—it was a statement.
The panic in Ella's eyes was caught by Shia instantly.
Feeling guilty, Ella quickly lowered her gaze, staring at her nose, unable to meet his eyes.
She looked exactly like a child caught doing something wrong, at a loss for what to do.
Her reaction sent Shia's heart sinking further.
"Your actions are making me... very unhappy."
His voice was cold and stern.
For the first time, Ella heard him speak to her in such a tone.
The brat was always gentle, refined.
He seemed detached yet controlled everything in his grasp.
But this time, Shia was genuinely angry.
Initially, he had intended to give her a chance, thinking she wasn't inherently bad.
If he could steer her straight, perhaps things could turn out well.
But now, it seemed she wasn't worth it.
Facing this side of Shia, Ella felt a surge of panic. She opened her mouth, just about to defend herself.
But Shia had no intention of listening to her anymore.