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After being called out by Vaan, Astoria was both embarrassed and angry at the same time. Unlike him, she had been quite discreet with her masturbation. And yet, she was still found out.

Evidently, he had quite the sharp sense.

However, it wasn’t something he should say even if he found out; he had to avoid shaming witches. Otherwise, it would land him in hot water one day—if done to the wrong witch.

‘There’s no way that Teacher Raphna doesn’t know this… He’s teasing me because he knows he can get away with it,’ Astoria thought.

Shortly after, she furrowed her brows and coolly said with a bit of admonishment, “Please respect my privacy and refrain from making personal remarks, Teacher Raphna.”

“Oh?” Vaan’s eyes flickered thoughtfully despite realizing his teasing had backfired. He replied shortly after, “I see… You’re not very fond of this kind of talk. I’ll keep that in mind in the future, Headmaster Astoria.”

Considering the length Astoria went to protect him, even at the risk of costing her own life, he was confident that she was very fond of him.

However, Astoria herself doesn’t seem to realize her own feelings for him—that, or she had yet to confirm them. Thus, she was still keeping him at arm’s length.

He also had to consider that she was a reserved woman._.

On top of that, Astoria had lived over three hundred years and remained single and pure, untouched by any man. Therefore, there must be a reason why she was still single reason despite having lived for over three hundred years.

‘It seems normal flirting won’t work on Astoria, so I have to change my tactic. Haste will only make waste,’ Vaan mused.

“Let us go and see Lord Helia together. She should be waiting for us.”

“Alright.”

After receiving Astoria’s agreement, they went to find Helia together—only to be redirected to the Great Hall by one of the maidservants.

Inside the Great Hall, Helia waited for them by the long table with dinner already prepared and arranged on it.

“Lord Aeliana isn’t coming?” Helia asked after she saw Vaan and Helia.

“Lord Aeliana left for Sunpeak Town to reunite with her mother. Unfortunately, she won’t be back for another three days,” Vaan informed her.

Helia immediately revealed her disappointment as she uttered, “I see… That is indeed unfortunate…”

Vaan could guess what she was thinking; she wanted Aeliana to treat her hands.

However, it was unlikely for Aeliana to agree to Helia’s request of her own accord, not when she has a grudge against the whole Ashenborn Household and not just Fallen Witch Elvira.

At the same time, Helia’s eyes subtly flickered as she faintly guessed why Vaan sent Aeliana away at this particular time.

Nevertheless, she eventually shook her head and gestured to the long dining table in front of her.

“Please take a seat and join me for dinner, Headmaster Astoria and Sir Vaan. There are quite a few things I would like to discuss with the both of you.”

“Likewise, Lord Helia.”

Shortly after Vaan and Astoria took their seats opposite of each other and adjacent to Helia, he quickly cut straight to the chase.

“What did you write in your report, Lord Helia?” Vaan inquired, knowing she had already written her report and sent it on its way to the ruler in Blackthorn City.

“Just a general report on the situation in the Red Goblin Mountains and the number of survivors from the punitive expedition,” Helia calmly replied.

“I didn’t mention anything about you, Sir Vaan, so you don’t have to worry about that. I’m not so foolish that I would risk exposing your existence to the den of witch supremacists over there,” she assured him shortly after.

“I would also be inconvenienced by it,” she added.

After all, Vaan was the author of the Book of Solomon Raphna, not to mention Aeliana called him Lord. Falling out with Vaan didn’t benefit her in any way.

On the other hand, there was much to gain from maintaining her good relationship with him. He was also her best chance at getting Aeliana to treat her hand.

“What do you plan to do from now, Sir Vaan?” Helia inquired.

Vaan glanced at Astoria before he openly replied to her, “I will settle all my unfinished business in Redpine City in the next three days. Afterward, I will head to the Thousand Fog Mountains to look for Wise Scholar Eniwse with Headmaster Astoria.”

Thousand Fog Mountains!

After she heard Vaan talk about going to such a dangerous place, she wanted to persuade him against going there.

However, she refrained from doing so when she saw his firm look. He had already made his decision.

“Then, about Lord Aeliana… Is it possible for you—”

“I will put in a good word for you before we leave, Lord Helia. However, it’s ultimately up to Aeliana whether she decides to treat you or not—not to mention, there’s no guarantee that she can treat you.”

“What’s wrong with Lord Helia?” Astoria asked, glancing at Vaan, to which he reacted by turning to Helia.

Shortly after, Helia revealed her hands and explained the issue to Astoria, allowing her to get a general understanding of her situation.

“I see… To think the Curse of the Purple Umbala could advance to such a stage… That’s rather tricky,” Astoria uttered with surprise, feeling some pity for Helia.

However, some questions also rose in her mind.

“If Lord Helia let me borrow Lady Hester for my trip to Thousand Fog Mountains, I’ll do everything I can to convince Lord Aeliana to treat your hands.”

“You want Hester?” Helia was slightly surprised by Vaan’s condition before she wondered, “Can you tell me why you specifically asked for her?”

“Well, let’s just say I’m quite fond of Lady Hester after our last dual practice. Our bodies are rather compatible,” Vaan replied with a slight smile.

“I see…” Helia thoughtfully uttered before she said, “I will inform her, but it will still be up to her to decide whether she will go with you, Sir Vaan. After all, the Thousand Fog Mountains is quite dangerous.”

“That’s fine with me,” Vaan calmly acknowledged.

Even if Hester didn’t want to follow him to Thousand Fog Mountains, he still had three days to change her mind…in bed.