Chapter 51: Harsh Punishment for the Snitching Princess
The next morning, Rong was still half-asleep, lost in the haze of a dream, when she felt something pinching her cheek.
It stung slightly, tugging her out of her comfortable slumber.
She lazily swatted at the source, hoping it would go away.
But the pinch came again, firmer this time.
Opening her eyes groggily, she was met with Shia's face—so close it startled her awake.
"Do I need to make breakfast for you, *my maid*?" he teased, his tone light but laced with amusement.
Rong bolted upright, nearly headbutting Shia in the process.
Her face flushed instantly at his words.
"I-I'll do it! You—just leave the room for a moment!" she stammered, her hands waving him away.
But in her heart, she grumbled. *This human is so infuriating!*
Whatever goodwill she had felt the night before plummeted to new lows.
---
Twenty minutes later, Shia sat in the bright, spotless dining room, thoroughly enjoying his breakfast.
The crispy corn cakes, buttery toast, and occasional bites of fresh salad brought to his mouth by an increasingly flustered Rong made the meal particularly satisfying.
Although her face was sour, her cooking skills were surprisingly decent.
The sight of her serving breakfast in her maid attire stirred a thought in Shia's mind.
*What about Lilith's maid, Tia?*
The image of the voluptuous white-haired maid cooking breakfast in her apron flashed through his head.
*Hmm... sounds like something worth trying someday.*
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, Tia sneezed unexpectedly, pausing in her task of preparing breakfast for her beloved mistress.
*Did I catch a cold last night?* she wondered, a faint frown on her face as an unexplained chill ran down her spine.
---
Back in the dining room, Shia finished his meal with a satisfied sigh.
But he wasn't done for the day.
Today, he had a mission: to teach a certain snitching princess a lesson.
---
In the classroom, Violet sat alone, as usual.
Her silver hair shimmered under the light, cascading over her shoulders. Her cold, elegant beauty exuded an untouchable aura that kept others at a distance.
The rows around her were empty, even though the rest of the class was packed.
With her books and pens neatly arranged on the desk, Violet sat straight, her demeanor regal and intimidating. She was the epitome of a high-born lady—a goddess who could only be admired from afar.
Nobody dared approach her.
Until today.
The screech of a chair being pulled out broke the silence around her.
Violet's brows furrowed in irritation. Who would dare?
Turning her head sharply, she was greeted by none other than Shia.
"Who gave you permission to sit here?" she demanded, her voice cold and dripping with disdain.
A commoner, someone beneath her notice, sitting next to her? It was unthinkable.
Her piercing gaze and oppressive aura would have sent anyone else scurrying away in shame.
But Shia? He didn't even flinch.
The start-of-class bell rang, cutting the tension in the air. The instructor entered, pausing briefly upon noticing someone sitting next to Violet, but ultimately said nothing.
Shia leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed as he looked at the blackboard.
"You're quite the piece of work, running to 'tell the teacher' after you lose. Pathetic," he muttered just loud enough for Violet to hear.
Her body stiffened, her fingers curling into fists.
Her breathing quickened as she processed his words.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, her voice icy but strained.
"Come now, Your Highness. Is snitching not beneath someone of your esteemed status?" Shia continued, his tone mocking.
"I... I didn't snitch!" Violet shot back, her face reddening slightly.
"Oh? Then who went to Lilith to complain about me?"
Violet pursed her lips, struggling to defend herself. "That wasn't snitching. I was simply... stating facts."
Her voice wavered as she tried to justify herself, but Shia wasn't buying it.
"Sure. Let's call it that," he said, his grin widening. "How'd that work out for you?"
Before she could reply, Shia leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"But I didn't come here to argue with you. I came here to teach you a lesson."
Without warning, his hand slid under the desk and onto her leg.
Violet's eyes widened, and she nearly gasped aloud.
His hand brushed against the smooth fabric of her white stockings, his touch deliberate and teasing.
Then, he pinched the stocking slightly, pulling it taut before letting it snap back against her skin with a faint *pop*.
The sudden sensation made her flinch, her heart pounding in her chest.
Glancing around nervously, she saw that none of her classmates had noticed the interaction.
But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Shia's hand moved again, more boldly this time.
The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric, and the deliberate pressure of his fingers made her stomach twist.
Her gaze darted to the instructor, praying no one would notice the increasingly inappropriate actions happening under the desk.
Finally, unable to contain herself, Violet turned her head sharply and hissed, "What are you doing?!"
"Teaching you," Shia replied with a gentlemanly smile, his tone infuriatingly calm.
Violet froze, her mind racing as she tried to process his audacity.
"You're too naïve, Your Highness," Shia said, leaning back in his chair as if nothing had happened.
"In situations where you're clearly outmatched, you should stop bluffing and either apologize or back down. Otherwise..."
He gave her a pointed look, his smile widening.
"You'll end up like this."