Chapter 126: White Eyes in the Dark

Inside Aretuza Academy at Gors Velen, Margarita slowly lowered the conical crystal in her hand.

This was the rector’s office. The blonde beauty who now held the title lounged half-reclined across an extravagant long sofa.

The fabric draped over her body with heavy elegance, gravity tracing every curve sharply enough to set any man’s blood simmering.

Meanwhile, at the desk nearby, Tissaia, recently retired into the honorary position of former rector, sat with her head lowered, processing stack after stack of documents.

Just as Tissaia herself had said, the day-to-day operation of Aretuza still depended on her.

Margarita was not a woman suited for burying herself in administration. She possessed more patience for cosmetics than for reviewing paperwork.

Her appointment as rector had been intended less as a managerial decision and more as a declaration to the increasingly chaotic world beyond Aretuza’s walls.

Even Philippa Eilhart, the true power behind Redania, understood perfectly well that two of her combined still would not match Margarita in magical prowess.

On the very day Margarita took office, Philippa had personally arrived through a portal to offer congratulations.

And now, this sorceress counted among the continent’s finest sat there after ending her communication with Lannor, her expression dark and unsettled.

“Triss Merigold.”

Only after a long while did Margarita grind out the name through clenched teeth.

“That sneaky little thief. Damn cat stealing ahead of everyone else.”

Tissaia’s hand paused very slightly above the documents before resuming its neat movements.

“You’re both long past the age of squabbling like academy girls, Rita. Don’t gossip about your sisters like a jealous school clique.”

The impeccably dressed sorceress lifted her eyes toward her student. Her robes remained elegant and severe, though the neckline still revealed enough pale skin to remind people exactly what sort of women sorceresses were.