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Chapter 6: The Rose

Every night, the Wizard’s House would gather a bunch of teachers from the academy for ongoing booze-fests.

The so-called life of a corporate slave was nothing more than endless work and unending wine parties.

Teachers held their beers, huddled together in threes and twos, slurring complaints about unruly students or meager salaries, peppering in some gripes about the academy’s rigid system—

As mentors, they always had their guards up in the academy, setting a good example, but behind closed doors, they were just people needing to unwind.

However, two figures stood out like sore thumbs in the noisy party.

One was the great mage Malfoy.

With deep roots, outstanding achievements, and recently celebrated as a hero against cults, he naturally became the center of attention.

But he was a workaholic, just nibbling on his wine and talking shop, leaving everyone chuckling and unsure of how to jump in.

And the other, well, she didn’t even give them the chance to say a word.

At the bar sat a silver-haired girl in a blue dress, serene, resembling a rare rose thriving in a snow-capped mountain.

Only to be admired from afar, never touched.

Apart from the silver ice wolf at her feet – an intermediate extraordinary creature – very few dared to approach Xue Nuo.

Describing her as aloof would be an understatement.

Yet many were eager to test the waters and pluck that rose.

The beauties of the Northern Empire had frosty skin like ice, and among them, Xue Nuo was a standout. Even with her eternally unchanged expression, she was stunning enough to take your breath away.

With her extraordinary talent and noble status, she was the dream girl of many single teachers.

“Ha, a bunch of cowards, watch me!”

“Xue Nuo Andervith is just a girl who’s never had a love life; I can handle her in a minute!”

Of course, this was only whispered behind closed doors.

Amidst the crowd’s encouragement, a fairly handsome, energetic middle-aged guy lifted two beers and approached Xue Nuo with a broad grin.

“Miss Xue Nuo, sitting alone is boring; why not join us for a drink?”

Xue Nuo glanced back with icy blue eyes, utterly unfazed: “Nope. Not interested.”

“Come on, as a teacher, you shouldn’t let yourself go.”

Enwei’s smile widened: “Don’t say that; everyone needs to relax. You just haven’t tried it!”

“How about I teach you…”

Enwei set down his beer and reached out, trying to drape his arm over her shoulder.

But a deep growl erupted like thunder.

The fierce silver wolf sprang in front of him, baring its teeth and growling low.

The sudden appearance of a wolf head startled Enwei, causing him to stumble and fall, spilling his drink all over himself.

Laughter erupted from the onlookers nearby.

They knew Xue Nuo’s temper well, which was why they encouraged this clueless guy to make a fool of himself.

As they said, if you’ve been soaked in the rain, you should rip someone else’s umbrella.

If only this could elicit a smile from her, but Xue Nuo shot him a cold stare, utterly devoid of amusement, like she was looking at a pathetic clown.

“Etiquette, Mr. Enwei; perhaps I should teach you some manners.”

“Also, I recall you’re leading the practical training tomorrow; it’s no small task. Instead of indulging here, you ought to prepare, or you’ll let down the teaching baton in your hands.”

Cold, sarcastic remarks fell like ice rain, piercing right through Enwei.

This was enough for him, as Xue Nuo had already lost interest.

Yet Enwei, unable to take defeat, stubbornly retorted: “That training has nothing to do with you, right?!”

Xue Nuo immediately frowned.

The Empire emphasized strictness, rules, and responsibilities.

And Xue Nuo was the epitome of an Imperial citizen.

“Wrong. That’s not true. As the head of first-year studies, I’m responsible for supervising your actions as a first-year teacher.”

“In fact, if you let yourself go and something goes wrong tomorrow, it means I’ve failed in my oversight. So understand, your work impacts me significantly. If anything bad happens tomorrow, I swear you’ll regret today’s foolishness and indulgence…”

Enwei, a teacher himself, was used to lecturing others.

But being publicly chastised by a girl younger than him was beyond humiliating.

“You think you’re someone important…”

Enwei got up, ready to yell, when a sharp clap interrupted him.

“Enough, Xue Nuo; Mr. Enwei meant no harm.”

A handsome young man with silver hair and silver brows, resembling Xue Nuo, stood between them with narrowed eyes.

Winter Rose.

Another teacher from the academy.

But also the second prince of the Winter Empire.

Unlike most nobles, Winter was friendly, and with his handsome looks, he had already charmed many teachers and students alike.

Not just the girls, even Enwei found himself liking him. In that sense, he was the complete opposite of Xue Nuo.

Xue Nuo turned away and resumed sipping her ice water.

Winter pulled Enwei up, apologizing: “Sorry, my cousin is shy, a bit uptight, and not very charming; I hope she didn’t scare you.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Thanks to Winter’s deft handling, the conflict was smoothed over.

Once Enwei left, Winter affectionately sat next to Xue Nuo, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes: “I remember, ever since you were little, you hated gatherings like this, right?”

“Showing my face every now and then is enough. If you want to leave, I could take you back…”

Saying that, he reached out for her pale wrist.

Unfortunately, this time, the silver wolf lifted its head again.

Instead of showing its teeth like before, it now posed like a real threat, tensed, claws raised, fangs bared, radiating genuine killer instinct.

Xue Nuo’s tone no longer resembled her earlier “gentle” self.

Instead, it carried the weight of an impending blizzard, harboring hostility beneath the icy facade.

“Question, Winter, are we close?”

“If you think I’d welcome you with a smile after what your family did, you’re rather naive.”

Winter maintained his smile: “Why not?”

“You’re the naive one, my cousin… no, my fiancée.”

Xue Nuo sneered coldly: “How laughable. Your unilaterally declared engagement means nothing.”

With that, Xue Nuo stood up with her silver wolf and walked away.

Watching the silver-haired girl resolve to leave, Winter’s smile slowly curled into a strangely eerie arc.

“Poor cousin, do you really think you have a choice?”

 

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