Chapter 282: Your genuine efforts......
"Pffft--"
"---"
A peculiar sound interrupted the corridor's tension, prompting Pearl to redirect her attention to Eli. To her surprise, he now stood alone.
Before a few seconds, When Lilith and Scylla read the 'Love Letter'.... they almost burst into laughter.
Sensing the imminent eruption of laughter, Lilith immediately teleported herself along with Scylla. Both women struggled to contain their amusement, and Lilith, older than everyone didn't want to hurt the innocent, so hastened her departure when her lips began to tremble with suppressed laughter and they appeared inside their villa and
"HAHAHAHAHA..."
"HAHAHAHAHA...."
Maniacal laughter echoed through the corridor as Kitty Anna jolted from her dreams, cowered in fear,
"S-Scaryyyaa.... M-Master, H-Help m-me!!!"
She pleaded, her voice trembling with terror, as Lilith and Scylla continued their emotionless laughter.
Coming to Eli's side.
Eli didn't laugh, his penetrating gaze remained focused on the document in his hand, uncertainty etched on his face as he sought confirmation.
"It's a Love Letter or... a Love Resume?" Eli inquired, maintaining a composed demeanour that masked the curiosity and bewilderment beneath the surface.
"L-Love Resume" Pearl's smirk betrayed a sense of triumph, interpreting Eli's hesitation as a victory for her unconventional approach. 'Thank you, novels!!... I was a little worried whether Eli would consider that as a Love Letter since what I gave him was truly a Love Resume'.
Because of what she understood from reading novels, where female protagonists mostly always reject the man by simply claiming they didn't know his existence until now... So, Pearl decided to give love words filled with some details about her, but not too much, as she didn't want to maintain their relationship for a long time.
'He couldn't possibly reject me now.... Hehe.... I am a genius.... Hahahaha' Pearl laughed like a maniac inwardly and pleased herself with coming up with a genius idea.
Soon Every Elite student arrived, of course, today also no male came except Eli. As the unfolding drama captured the attention of peeping toms, the approaching commencement of class was entirely disregarded. The Peeping toms fixated on the unfolding spectacle, eager to witness the resolution of this peculiar love letter scenario.
"Hmm" Eli continued to scrutinize the resume, his contemplative expression revealing a desire to understand the underlying message, "So, you are saying you love me through 'this', right?"
"...Y-Yes" Pearl's response was hesitant, her confirmation laced with anticipation. Internally, she was grinning that her efforts were paid off.
Eli then looked at Pearl's eyes.... those clearly had some dark circles as if she didn't sleep well.
"I see.... You put your sincere efforts" Closing his eyes momentarily, he contemplated the situation at hand.
"...." Pearl was waiting for her answer even though she didn't care about it but still... she didn't know why but she felt her heart racing for some reason.
~Ding~Dong~
The class bell chimed, signalling the imminent start of lessons, but the gathered peeping toms remained rooted in place. The allure of witnessing this unique spectacle outweighed the urgency of their academic pursuits.
Even the teacher, Aayda.... She also tagged into the peeping toms category as she hid herself while watching everything.
As minutes passed without Eli providing an answer, tension gripped the atmosphere. The spectators felt a shared nervousness, empathizing with Pearl's uncertain anticipation.
Eli then opened his eyes and looked at Pearl who had a somewhat embarrassed face and.... this was not acting because she really was embarrassed in this situation.
Carefully placing the document in his storage crystal, Eli turned his attention back to Pearl, addressing her with utmost seriousness.
"Pearl Harper" he called, prompting her to respond anxiously.
"Y-Yes?" Pearl stammered, awaiting the verdict that would determine the course of events... just like others.
They never anticipated that the much-anticipated 'Live P**n' scenario would unexpectedly transform into a 'Live Confession'.
"I really appreciate your honesty and courage in expressing your feelings. I can see the sincerity in those letters that you tried to put..." As Eli walked towards her, holding her chin and lifting her head, Pearl gulped audibly....
'Gulp'
....Not because she was mesmerized by his handsomeness... maybe a little – but more so out of genuine fear. She pondered what would unfold if he were to kiss her.... What would she do if he kissed her? Would she reject it, even though she didn't truly love him, or would she reluctantly accept it to achieve what she wanted?
Eli's slow approach to her face intensified the palpable tension in the air.
"Ba-Damp, Ba-Damp"
Heartbeats echoed not only in Pearl's chest but also among the peeping toms who were inadvertently caught in the suspense.
Pearl's breath hardened as Eli's face drew just inches away from hers.... causing her entire body to tremble.
Eli, sensing her trembling form, locked eyes with her, attempting to decipher the true emotions lingering in her gaze.
'N-No, No--' She mumbled inwardly as their lips hovered on the brink of a potentially consequential touch.
Subconsciously, Her hands, flickering with blue particles, poised to summon her spear..... were abruptly halted by a sharp 'Flick'.
"Ouch"
Rubbing her forehead in discomfort, Pearl ceased her summoning as she felt the jarring pain.
"I appreciate your genuine efforts..." Eli's demeanour shifted from serious to a gentle warmth. "But there were no genuine emotions in those genuine efforts.....
I am sorry, Pearl Harper but I cannot reciprocate your 'Feelings' " He conveyed with a small, sympathetic smile. This was the extent of his response to her ardent efforts.
Had Pearl silently accepted his impending kiss, Eli was prepared to distance himself from her, recognizing the potential for manipulation. As much as he loved to flirt with women, he also knew there were some who would only use him and throw him away without a single worry.
So, when he sensed the pure killing intent from Pearl, Eli concluded that she wasn't one of those individuals.
Pearl stood frozen, akin to a statue, her emotions a chaotic whirlwind.
As for the peeping toms, they too were frozen, collectively sharing a single, bewildering thought,
'Did he seriously reject the Crown Princess and sole heir of Atlantis?'
.....
...
..
The first period concluded, leaving a lingering silence and an air thick with awkwardness in the classroom.
Eli's carefree gaze shifted to Scylla, who returned after a while, her eyes fixed on his lap. However, there was nothing visibly happening.....
Yet, his hands moved gracefully in mid-air, engaging with something hidden.
Eli's eyes then turned to Zera, who blushed lightly while stealing glances at him..... Despite the fucked up situation, he knew offering his blood to stabilize her was a necessary act.
Next, he noticed Mia, the figure beside Zera, adorned with a yellow-red feather hairpin in her ponytail. When he smiled at her, Mia responded with a wink and a blushing smile, creating a subtle atmosphere.
Chuckling at her, Eli was about to wink at her when,
"Hey!"
A sudden interruption broke the tranquillity and the source was.... Elf with long silver hair and silver eyes, stood before him.
"Hmm, what is it, Alysia~?" Eli greeted her with a gentle smile, a hint of seduction evident, causing a subtle pinch on his lap.
Eli briefly scanned the surroundings, half-expecting interference from the HeadMaster. However, he didn't show up, 'Come to think of it, he didn't show up during confession.... Hmm?' he thought as his eyes landed on his lap.....leaving him amused 'Seems like My wife is really scary' he chuckled inwardly.
Alysia wasn't a jealous woman, and she never cared much about others.... as her only wish was to kill her father.
So, when she witnessed Pearl Harper, the Crown Princess of Atlantis, openly confessing her love for Eli, one would expect her to remain indifferent, right? However, to her surprise, unexplainable emotions stirred within her. Yet, as Eli rejected Pearl, those tumultuous emotions dissipated as if they had never existed.
Despite her usual disinterest in others, Alysia couldn't help but be intrigued. So Far her observations led her to believe that Eli was a selfish individual, indifferent to the needs of others.... much like herself. He seemed to exploit the weaknesses of others for personal gain, mirroring her own approach to life.
If Alysia were in Eli's shoes, she would undoubtedly have accepted Pearl Harper's advances, regardless of whether Pearl harboured genuine love. Her perspective was grounded in the pragmatism of gaining not only Pearl's sexy body but also her possessions.
'Why didn't he accept her?' She thought as those words only filled her mind.
Following Aadya's departure, leaving the class in an awkward ambience, Alysia approached Eli. Despite the potential consequences of losing house points from the Headmaster, Alysia didn't care about the old bastard.
Upon hearing Eli's affectionate call, Alysia's ears twitched, and her composure wavered. "Ahem, I... I..." She stumbled over her words, momentarily forgetting her initial inquiry.
Eli, observing her stuttering, smiled and gestured for her to come closer. Alysia crouched down, anticipating a hushed conversation, confident that Eli wouldn't dare to kiss her in front of everyone... even so her heart beating like crazy.
Just like she thought, Eli didn't kiss.... she somehow had a disappointed look, however,
'Sniff, Sniff'
He inhaled her womanly scent and remarked, "You smell different"
Hearing this, Alysia's face turned crimson as her eyes widened..... She had never been particularly concerned about her makeup. However, for some reason, since yesterday, she felt a subtle need to enhance her appearance, opting for a glamorous scent. Just as she was about to move back, Eli's next move caught her off guard.
"~Hmm~"
No, Eli didn't kiss; instead, he gently rubbed her long, pointed ear adorned with jewels. Alysia couldn't help but let out a soft moan; her ears were particularly sensitive. However, she didn't pull away. Eli's touch created a strange sense of comfort, reminiscent of the way her mother used to rub her ears.
Eli observed Alysia's unresisting expression as she indulged in his touch.
Everyone had a dumbfounded face.
However, her blissful expression turned sour upon hearing a bell ring.
Just as Eli was about to halt, he frowned,
"Alysia seems cute today and... tired? Tell me what's bothering you" Eli said, pinching her cheeks with a teasing smile. The abrupt shift in attention caught Alysia off guard, and her momentary joy was replaced with a shocking expression.
Which made everyone in the class turn stone, 'They are practically flirting!!'.
"Alysia?" Eli's nonchalant tone resonated in the room.
"H-Huh? W-Well..." Alysia snapped back to reality and was about to retort for pinching her cheeks without permission when she noticed Eli's genuine concern.
Her heart quickened as someone showed genuine worry for her.
'It feels good!' she thought, experiencing a fleeting moment of vulnerability. Her eyes lost a hint of their usual glossiness before returning to normal, and she composed herself.
"I was searching for Tiana. She has been missing for a few days. She's not even answering my calls" Alysia revealed, her voice tinged with genuine worry.
'Gulp'
Eli gulped, and Scylla averted her gaze, while someone on his lap couldn't help but giggle inwardly.
"Ahem... Don't worry; she will return soon... Probably?" Eli reassured her, though doubt lingered in his words.
Alysia frowned, eager to inquire about his certainty, but before she could, Eli's demeanour shifted.
"Oh, Shit! I need to go!!" Eli exclaimed, startling Alysia and someone else.
"~Chu~"
"See ya~"
In a swift move, Eli kissed Alysia's cheeks and left the classroom in a hurry. The class remained in a state of bewilderment.... they glanced at Pearl who already turned into ash upon witnessing this.