According to the novel, Diana had joined Claire in the Student Council, which, honestly, wasn't surprising at all. With her cunning, commanding personality, it was almost inevitable. But the thought of Diana holding a position of power was... concerning, to say the least.
Actually, it was terrifying.
I could already imagine her reigning over the academy with an iron fist, implementing her rules and playing her cryptic little games on everyone. Thankfully, she wasn't the president—yet—but the vice president instead. Claire, you mustn't let Diana influence you! Hold strong, Student Council President! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᗜ - ˵ ) ✧
And now, to make matters worse, I found myself on a mission—courtesy of Lillian, of course. How could anyone say no to her? I certainly couldn't. With her angelic smile and gentle words, she had me agreeing to just about anything before I even realized it.
My task? To visit the Student Council Office and have the Gardening Club officially approved by the Council President.
Now, on the surface, this seemed simple enough, but considering that the president, Claire, was already in our club, this whole thing felt redundant. Couldn't Claire just fill out the paperwork during one of our meetings and call it a day? Why did I have to trek all the way to their office for this?
But alas, orders were orders, and so here I was, standing in front of the Student Council Office. With a resigned sigh, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
It was eerily quiet.
"Hello...?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
The room was pristine, almost unnaturally so, with rows of neatly organized desks and a faint scent of parchment and ink lingering in the air. Yet, despite the immaculate setting, there was no sign of Claire—or anyone, for that matter.
I glanced around, wondering if I'd somehow gotten the time wrong or walked into the wrong office. Just as I was about to turn and leave, a familiar voice called out.
"Sera?"
I froze. My stomach sank. No. No, no, no, no.
"God, please," I whispered under my breath, closing my eyes as though that might make the voice disappear. "No way it's her."
But when I opened my eyes, my worst fears were confirmed.
Diana.
She stepped out from behind one of the tall bookshelves, her golden hair shimmering in the soft light streaming through the windows, and her green eyes alight with amusement. Of course, she looked as composed and regal as ever, a stark contrast to the internal panic I was currently experiencing.
"Lovely to see you," Diana said, her voice smooth and dripping with that familiar tone of playful condescension.
I resisted the urge to groan. Of course, she'd be here. Why wouldn't she be here? Claire couldn't just make this easy for me, could she?
"Diana," I muttered, my tone flat.
She smiled, tilting her head slightly as she regarded me. "What brings you to our humble office, Sera? Surely you're not here just to see me?"
"Not in a million years," I shot back, crossing my arms. "I'm here on behalf of the Gardening Club. Lillian sent me to get the paperwork approved."
"Ah, Lillian," Diana mused, stepping closer. Her every movement was graceful and deliberate, like a predator circling its prey. "How very like her to send you on such an errand. She does know Claire is in the club, doesn't she?"
"That's what I said," I grumbled. "But apparently, I'm the lucky one who gets to run around today."
Diana chuckled, a soft, almost musical sound that only added to my growing irritation. "Well, Claire's not here at the moment, but..." She stepped even closer, her eyes locking onto mine with a mischievous glint. "Since I'm the vice president, I could always take care of it for you. That is, if you're willing to... ask nicely."
I took a step back, narrowing my eyes at her. "No thanks. I'll wait for Claire."
Her smile widened, and she leaned in slightly, just enough to make me feel like she was invading my personal space. "Suit yourself, but don't say I didn't offer. Though, I must admit, it's always entertaining to watch you squirm."
I gritted my teeth, trying to maintain what little composure I had left.
"Alright, fine. Here's the paperwork," I said, handing it over to Diana.
Her smile deepened, a dangerous curve that instantly put me on edge. She took the paper delicately, as though it were some rare treasure, and began skimming over it.
"Tessa, Lillian, Claire, and you," she murmured, her tone thoughtful but tinged with amusement. "What an interesting group of people for a club. I must say, I'm surprised Camille didn't join—though I suppose she's busy with her own little club. She always did like to lead her own charge, didn't she?"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered impatiently, waving her off. "Just finish the paperwork already so I can go back."
Anything to escape the velvet trap that was Diana Hayes. I was not mentally—or emotionally—prepared for whatever game she was about to play.
Her emerald eyes glimmered with mischief as she looked up from the document, tilting her head slightly. "Aww, but I'd hate to see you leave so soon, Sera," she said, her voice silky smooth, like honey dripped in poison. She placed a hand lightly on her cheek, her expression feigning innocence yet utterly calculated. "How about this... If you do something for me, I'll approve it right now."
"What?!" My eyes widened, and I felt my pulse quicken. There was no way she was serious. Right? "You know what? Never mind. I'll just wait for Claire."
Diana's laugh was soft and melodious, yet it sent shivers down my spine. She stepped closer, holding the paper aloft as though dangling it just out of reach. "Oh, relax. I'm just teasing," she purred. "Don't be so tense, darling. Sit down. Let me make you a cup of tea."
"No thanks," I shot back, crossing my arms in defiance.
Her lips curled into an amused smirk, her gaze unwavering as she studied me like a cat playing with its prey. "Well, that's too bad," she said, tapping a manicured finger against the paper. "Because whether you like it or not, you'll have to spend a little time here if you want this signed. After all, bureaucracy is a delicate process."
I glared at her, clenching my fists at my sides. "Can't you just sign it and save us both the trouble?"
"But where's the fun in that?" Diana leaned casually against the desk, her presence commanding despite the ease in her posture. "Tell me, Sera, why the rush? Surely you can spare a moment for little old me."
Her voice was hypnotic, her words a carefully woven trap, and I could feel myself being ensnared even as I fought against it. She had a way of making every interaction feel like a game she was always five steps ahead in.
"I have things to do," I said firmly, though my voice wavered slightly under her intense gaze.
"Things to do," she repeated, her tone mockingly thoughtful. "Such a busy little bee. And yet here you are, in my office, asking for my help. Surely, a few minutes of your precious time isn't too much to ask in return?"
I bit the inside of my cheek, knowing full well that arguing with her was a losing battle. Diana thrived on control, and the more I resisted, the more she seemed to enjoy it.
"Fine," I muttered, slumping into the chair she gestured to. "But no tea."
Her laugh was light and airy as she moved to pour herself a cup. "As you wish, darling," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "But do try to relax. You look like you're ready to bolt at any second."
That's because I was.
She returned with her tea, taking a delicate sip as she sat across from me. Her every movement was calculated, deliberate, as if she were putting on a show just for me.
"So," Diana began, setting her cup down and folding her hands elegantly in front of her. "Tell me, Sera... How is it that you always end up in the most interesting situations? First Lillian, now the Gardening Club. What's your secret?"
"There's no secret," I replied stiffly. "It just... happens."
"Mm," she hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Well, whatever it is, you've certainly caught the attention of quite a few notable figures lately. Myself included."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication, and I felt my face heat up despite myself.
"Don't flatter yourself," I shot back, though my voice lacked its usual bite.
Diana's smirk widened, and she leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes gleaming. "Oh, darling, I don't need to. You're already doing it for me."
I opened my mouth to retort, but no words came out. Diana Hayes was impossible—infuriatingly, undeniably impossible—and yet, there was something about her that made it so hard to look away.
"God, you're impossible," I managed to mutter, my voice barely above a whisper.
Diana's smirk widened, her emerald eyes gleaming with amusement as she rose gracefully from her seat. She moved with the fluid confidence of someone who knew the effect they had on others, each step deliberate as she approached me. Instead of handing me the paper, she perched herself on the edge of the desk, crossing her legs elegantly.
"You say 'impossible' like it's a bad thing," she said, her voice low and teasing. Before I could react, she leaned forward, gently lifting my chin with her fingers, forcing me to meet her gaze. Her touch was soft, her proximity overwhelming.
"Impossible like what?" she continued, her tone silken and playful. "Impossible to resist? Impossible to ignore? Or perhaps…" Her thumb brushed lightly against my jawline, sending a shiver down my spine. "Impossible to forget?"
My heart pounded in my chest, and I jerked back, breaking the spell she seemed to weave so effortlessly. "If you're done with the paperwork, just give it to me," I said, my voice sharper than I intended as I tried to mask the way my cheeks were heating up.
Diana laughed softly, the sound low and rich, like a melody designed to unravel nerves. "So eager to leave me, are you?" she said, tilting her head as if studying me. "You wound me, Sera."
"I'm not trying to wound anyone. I just… have things to do." The excuse sounded flimsy even to my own ears, and the amused glint in Diana's eyes told me she wasn't buying it for a second.
"Of course," she said smoothly, drawing out the words as though savoring them. "Always so busy, aren't you? Yet you somehow find time to charm half the academy without even realizing it."
I stiffened. "I'm not—"
She placed a finger against my lips, silencing me with a mischievous smile. "Shh, darling. There's no need to deny it. I find it quite… endearing."
Her finger lingered for a moment before she finally pulled back, retrieving the signed paperwork from the desk. She held it out, but just as I reached for it, she withdrew it slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"One last thing," she said, her tone soft but insistent. "Humor me, Sera. Just a little smile before you go. Surely that's not too much to ask?"
I stared at her, my lips pressed into a thin line as I tried to decide whether she was teasing me or genuinely enjoying this power play. Probably both.
"I'm not a puppet for your amusement," I muttered, though the corners of my mouth twitched despite myself.
Diana grinned, satisfied, and handed over the paper at last. "There it is," she said, her voice almost a purr. "Now was that so hard?"
I snatched the paper from her hand and stood up, desperate to put some distance between us before she managed to fluster me any further.
"Thank you," I said curtly, turning on my heel.
"Anytime, darling," Diana called after me, her voice dripping with amusement. "Don't be a stranger now."
I didn't look back, but I could feel her gaze on me as I left the room, my cheeks burning and my heart racing. Diana Hayes was impossible, all right—impossible to resist, impossible to ignore, and, much to my frustration, impossible to forget.
God, what's with me and manipulative women. It's almost similar to my past life where I basically spent all my money on a gacha game for this one character with red hair and she was a 'Stellaron Hunter' or something.
Please, for the second time, can I get struck by lightning? Or anything?