NOVEL NEXT Chapter 41: Steadying the Heart Amidst Temptation
Having sat next to Xanthia for so long, Dematero had grown accustomed to her previous appearance.
It wasn't that she wasn't attractive—she could be described as "delicate and charming," but nothing more.
Her dressing style was ordinary, always adhering to the school uniform code without any deviation.
Her hairstyle had been rather plain, adding no distinctiveness to her look.
Additionally, teachers didn't pay much attention to her, and she never got the chance to answer questions in class. Over time, she became practically invisible in the classroom.
It was only after Xanthia befriended Luciel La Lebrador, the class beauty, that she started gaining some presence.
What Dematero didn't know was that Xanthia had undergone significant changes since they became deskmates. At least, she was no longer the introverted, socially anxious girl she used to be.
To Dematero, Xanthia seemed like a gentle, kind-hearted, and stable girl—far better than his previous deskmates who were temperamental and prone to bullying him. She never pinched him or poked him with a pen.
Though she was somewhat playful and lacked focus on her studies—traits that Dematero didn't appreciate—he, too, had a carefree attitude, making them somewhat alike.
When you're constantly close to someone, it's hard to notice their subtle changes. It's like how people you haven't seen in a while immediately point out, "You've gained weight," because the change is obvious to them.
Dematero couldn't comprehend how, after a long break, a change in hairstyle and outfit could completely transform Xanthia from "delicate and charming" to something far more striking.
Now, she could be described as "pure and enchanting."
Her fragile and pitiful demeanor was even more pronounced, easily stirring protective instincts in men.
This kind of girl, who seemed straight out of a two-dimensional world, made one feel guilty for not appreciating her transformation.
The descriptions of "unremarkable" and "lacking presence" had been thoroughly discarded!
At this moment, Xanthia's presence was overwhelming, her distinctiveness undeniable!
The entire class had been struck silent by her transformation!
Dematero was utterly stunned by the drastic change in her appearance. He even felt that her beauty had ascended to a new level. A simple change in hairstyle had produced such immediate results.
The reason for his turmoil was simple.
This "pure and enchanting" version of Xanthia was perfectly aligned with his aesthetic preferences. Just a moment ago, he thought Elena La Loannou, the girl he secretly admired, was the most beautiful...
Yet, with Xanthia's appearance, he shamefully realized he was tempted to switch his affections, as he found Xanthia more beautiful, especially in terms of purity—she completely outshone Elena!
This... this was terrible, utterly disastrous!
Adulterous!
How could he allow himself to waver under Xanthia's beauty and jeopardize his most steadfast and pure first love?
Dematero prided himself on being someone deeply committed and pure in love, a man who would love only one person for a lifetime. He was convinced that he and Elena mutually liked each other.
But today, Xanthia, without doing anything, almost made him surrender just by her appearance. Her allure was terrifying!
What if she actually did something?
Dematero hadn't forgotten her previous "teasing sister" mode. If she used her newly transformed appearance to play that role, who could resist?
As his mind churned and his heart raced, Xanthia finally approached him. Her seat was by the window, so she smiled softly and, in her usual gentle and melodious voice, said, "Dematero, could you please let me through?"
Dematero stood frozen for a moment, then hastily got up, the forceful motion causing his chair to scrape loudly against the floor.
The noise abruptly shattered the spell of silence that had enveloped the classroom.
Several boys, upon seeing the pure and charming schoolgirl in her uniform, realized it was indeed Xanthia. They ground their teeth in envy as they noticed her deskmate was Dematero.
“Damn it! Why does Dematero get to be her deskmate?”
“This is infuriating! I’ve been in school for so many years and never had a beautiful deskmate!”
“Is Dematero some kind of stock market genius? Xanthia's stock just skyrocketed!”
“Damn it, this lucky bastard! How did he get paired with a hidden gem like her?”
“I’m so jealous I could cry. We’re in the same dorm, but look at the difference. Dematero’s living the life of a school novel protagonist.”
Xanthia saw Dematero's stunned expression and, although she maintained a calm exterior, she was laughing inside—ha, Dematero, it’s your turn now!
Previously, despite her efforts in "teasing sister" mode, he had remained aloof, making her feel bored and disinclined to continue her playful antics.
And now? She had merely donned a set of purple-tier gear, slightly boosting her charm and allure, and he was already overwhelmed, drenched in sweat?
It seemed the "White Moonlight Battle" task wasn’t as difficult as she had thought.
Indeed, after her grand entrance and the significant impact she made in Class 1-3 today, Xanthia noticed the progress bar for this task had finally increased.
This meant that some boys in the class had switched their allegiances to her.
Who’s Elena again? Never heard of her. Just afraid Xanthia might misunderstand!
Xanthia believed that from now on, even if she couldn’t completely replace Elena as the "white moonlight" in everyone’s hearts, she could at least usurp a third of her standing. Slowly but surely, she would complete her mission. She was very patient.
Having thoroughly enjoyed herself, Xanthia sat down at her desk, content. Seeing Dematero's embarrassment, she refrained from further teasing him.
Now, she needed to maintain a sense of distance.
After all, Dematero's goddess was Elena La Loannou. Given Dematero’s steadfast nature, she didn't think he would easily change his affections.
For someone as devoted as Dematero, even a playful person like her had to respect the sanctity of genuine affection. It was best not to test human nature too much.
She was right. After Dematero’s initial panic, he conducted an internal interrogation, bolstered by his strong sense of morality, and finally steadied his heart!
He could confirm that his goddess was still Elena!
Don’t ask why. Just know it’s because she had excellent grades, a great temperament, and they already liked each other. No matter how beautiful Xanthia was, he could restrain himself and stay true to his feelings!
Dematero suddenly sniffed the air. As Xanthia had passed by his seat, she seemed to have left a faint trace of her scent.
Though it was a very light fragrance, he found it utterly enchanting...
No matter what, having such a gentle and quiet beauty as a deskmate was indeed a source of joy.
Nooo!!!
