Time rewinds to an hour and a half ago.
"As expected of Lady Adeline."
Linda's voice echoed through the student council office at Lanchester Academy.
"To think you could finish communicating with the merchant guild so many days ahead of schedule—I never imagined it would go so smoothly."
"It's all thanks to everyone in the student council. Without everyone's hard work, I couldn't have accomplished this alone."
Adeline's goddess-like gentle smile once again illuminated the faces of everyone in the student council office.
With Lady Adeline here, any difficulty can be overcome.
This thought surfaced in everyone's minds.
The joint school celebration between the two academies was already an enormously demanding undertaking.
Not to mention that Adeline's master plan was such an extraordinary proposal that no one would surpass it for at least the next hundred years.
This plan not only invited numerous celebrities like Princess Dorothy, Lady Serafina, and Zervanie, but also sought the full support of the Royal Capital Merchant Guild.
The difficulty was immense, with countless details requiring coordination.
Every member of the student council had thought this plan was too ambitious to be possible.
But this was Lady Adeline, after all, so everyone chose to believe in her.
Sure enough, under Adeline's multi-faceted communications, progress had been exceptionally smooth.
"Adeline, do you have any plans for what's next?" Linda asked, leaning against the back of Adeline's chair.
"Well, I still need to submit materials to the board of directors this afternoon, but that can be postponed. Do you have something in mind, Linda?"
"It's still early, so let's go out and do some shopping! I'll treat you to our school's most delicious Lingficana limited edition ice cream cake—it's made by Princess Dorothy's exclusive pastry chef!"
"But isn't it still school hours?"
"Come with me, Adeline. We finished all our work ahead of schedule, so we should enjoy the time we worked so hard to earn."
Faced with Linda's persuasive attack, Adeline was clearly softening.
Besides, she might get a chance to see Felyn.
"I'll go with you then."
"Yay! The world's most wonderful Lady Adeline!"
And so the two beautiful girls left the school.
Today, Adeline wore Lanchester Academy's white student uniform, her rose-tea colored long hair curling in beautiful arcs behind her.
Unlike Saint Andros, Lanchester Academy's uniform had light blue as its secondary color.
The blue and white uniform seemed to come alive on her body, perfectly showcasing the elegant temperament of a noble young lady.
The commercial district near the school, while not as prosperous as Homhot, was equally lively due to the many schools in the area.
Even during the day, the streets were filled with young men and women in various school uniforms walking together in pairs.
This place had long become a dating paradise in the hearts of nearby students.
Adeline's gaze inadvertently fell on a couple holding hands ahead of them. Their fingers were intertwined as they openly enjoyed their love in the sunlight.
This scene reminded her of that night at the Wishing Lake at Saint Andros Academy, when she had also held hands with Felyn like this.
How wonderful it would be if she could hold hands with Felyn naturally in public, like an ordinary couple.
How wonderful it would be if she weren't a noble.
Then Felyn wouldn't have to work so hard, and he could hold her hand right now.
"Adeline, what's wrong?"
Linda noticed that Adeline was actually sighing beside her.
Adeline could actually sigh?
"I'm fine, maybe I've been a bit tired lately."
But Linda's keen romantic radar was starting to activate.
There are people like this in the world, and there are definitely quite a few of them.
Though they themselves are complete romantic fools, though they're quite dense when it comes to love, they're unusually sensitive to other people's romantic situations.
Linda was clearly one of these people.
She noticed that Adeline had been staring at the couple's hands for a long time and unconsciously sighing.
Could it be that Adeline had fallen in love!
When Teacher Sofia had acted mysteriously before, as if she knew Adeline's inner secrets, Linda hadn't paid much attention.
But now it seemed that Adeline had definitely fallen into the river of love.
"Adeline, do you have someone you like lately?"
When her good friend was going through something like this, of course she had to get all the juicy details for her own enjoyment... no, she meant to help her friend plan and strategize properly.
"Someone I like?" Adeline suddenly panicked, hurriedly waving her hands.
"No, I don't have anyone I like, I haven't yet."
"Come on! That expression definitely means you do. Before, when we talked about romance topics, you always looked completely indifferent, but now you're so nervous. Tell me about it!"
"No, really, I don't."
Adeline took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
"Really not?"
It was still very suspicious. Linda stared at Adeline, scrutinizing her with her eyes.
But by now, Adeline had steadied herself, not giving Linda any openings.
"Fine, but Adeline, if you do have someone you like, you must tell me! I'm your best friend!"
Adeline forced out a smile.
"Why are you smiling so halfheartedly?" Linda wailed. "What part don't you like—is it that you don't want to tell me who you like, or that I'm not actually your best friend at all!"
The two continued shopping in the commercial district like this until noon arrived.
"Adeline, please come with me to look at that place one more time!" Linda pulled on Adeline's arm, pointing to a gift shop.
"Are you buying something for someone?"
"I'd like to, but I don't have anyone to give gifts to right now. This gift shop has really cute protective charms that are very effective—many couples come here to buy them."
"Protective charms? You actually believe in those things?" Adeline raised an eyebrow slightly.
"This is exactly why you don't understand love, Adeline." Linda put on an experienced expression.
"At least I've never been scammed by an old woman disguised as a man."
Though Adeline said this, she still followed Linda into the shop.
The shop was indeed packed with people, mostly couples together.
"So many people?"
"Of course, these are protective charms blessed by the Water Goddess Eris. They're very effective for lovers."
Linda went to ask the clerk if there were any charms suitable for her, leaving Adeline standing alone in the shop.
"It's really a bit crowded..."
The romantic atmosphere flowed through the cramped space, making Adeline unconsciously feel her cheeks heating up.
Naturally, Adeline didn't believe in protective charms.
The gods wouldn't act like merchants, mass-producing these things that could be bought and sold.
"Miss, would you like to buy something?"
The clerk saw Adeline standing alone in the shop browsing and mistook her for a young lady picking out a protective charm for her boyfriend.
"No thank you. I'm just accompanying a friend. I don't really believe protective charms can help anyone."
Adeline waved her hand, declining with a smile.
"That's a shame, but protective charms aren't just for giving to yourself—having someone precious to you protected by you is also a happy thing."
To be able to protect someone yourself?
Adeline's gaze fell on a pair of crystal pendant charms in front of her.
[Tidal Heart]
Adeline picked them up curiously. Inside the two crystals, tiny streams of water seemed to flow continuously, and when they were brought close together, the internal water streams would flow toward each other, as if drawn by an invisible gravitational pull.
"Miss has excellent taste, choosing these [Tidal Hearts]. Legend says that the Water Goddess Eris created the miracle of tides, making the ocean and moon attract each other, never to be separated." The clerk began explaining.
"These crystals have been infused with the essence of tides by the Water Goddess Eris, so they will always attract each other. No matter how far apart they are, the two Tidal Hearts will sense each other like the sea and the bright moon."
The clerk took down the crystal pendants and placed them in Adeline's palm.
"And when two people's emotions resonate, this pair of crystal pendants will emit a brilliant blue light, and legend says they can even intertwine their souls together."
Adeline's hand gently caressed the [Tidal Heart], as if she could already feel Felyn's emotions.
Like how the tides forever chase the moon, would she be Felyn's moon?
After all, he works so hard, I should reward him with something.
Adeline clutched the crystals tightly in her palm and turned toward the counter.
Perhaps in this world, protective charms really do work.
......
"Adeline, did you really not buy anything?"
"No, but why did you buy so many protective charms?"
Adeline looked at the bag in Linda's hands and shook her head helplessly. Linda had bought at least a dozen.
"Buying more will be more effective, right? This way the gods will notice me more."
"These aren't offerings—no matter how many you buy, the gods won't notice you."
"That's fine too. I can give them to my boyfriend in the future."
Adeline didn't say "I feel like you'll never manage to give away most of them" since that would be too hurtful.
Adeline's hand secretly reached into her pocket, feeling the two [Tidal Hearts].
It would be great if she could run into Felyn at school later—then she could give it to him early.
"Oh no, look at the time! Adeline, let's hurry back to school! If we're late, there won't be any left!"
(End of Chapter)