"Mei, Mei, quick, look at me!"
In the kitchen, eggs sizzled in the frying pan as Raiden Mei, clad in a pink apron, turned her head toward the excited voice by the door.
When Raiden Mei turned around, she found Kiana standing there, dressed in a short red qipao and pure white stockings. Seeing Raiden Mei's gaze, Kiana grinned brightly and spun around.
Ting-a-ling!
With each twirl, the golden bells on her leg bands chimed melodiously.
"How do I look, Mei? Pretty good, right?" Kiana beamed at Raiden Mei.
Raiden Mei studied her closely. The color of the qipao was vividly pure—a bright, festive red—with intricate embroidery adorning its fabric. Judging by the fit, it perfectly hugged Kiana's figure, accentuating her breathtaking curves to their fullest extent.
Combined with sheer white stockings, high heels, a short cape, and the elegant yet modern style of the qipao's hemline, it complemented Kiana's charming vivacity flawlessly.
This outfit was clearly the result of meticulous planning, showcasing both thoughtful intent and exceptional craftsmanship.
Initially awestruck, then impressed, Raiden Mei ultimately felt...a hint of envy creeping in.
As expected from Zeke-san!
"It's absolutely adorable, perfect for you, Kiana." Raiden Mei smiled warmly, exuding a gentle aura reminiscent of a devoted wife and caring mother.
Raiden Mei smiled gently, her warm aura reminiscent of a devoted wife and loving mother.
"Zzzt!"
An ominous sound came from the frying pan nearby. Raiden Mei's expression shifted instantly, and she hastily turned to flip it with her spatula.
"Agh! Almost burnt! Kiana, why don't you go outside for now? I'm cooking; we can chat later, okay?"
"Aww... fine!" Kiana pouted, feeling slightly unsatisfied despite receiving compliments—it just wasn't enough yet.
However, Mei's cooking was crucial; otherwise, what would they eat later? With a determined nod, Kiana slapped her cheeks, gathered herself, and left the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Raiden Mei lifted out a sunny-side-up egg, wiped her forehead, and let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew! Just managed to avoid burning it... That silly Kiana, always losing track of time!" She muttered under her breath, her eyes smiling warmly even as she held onto the spatula.
Regardless of anything else, Kiana rushing to show off her new outfit immediately demonstrated how important their bond was—this thought warmed Raiden Mei's heart, giving her a sense of fulfillment that all those years of caring for Kiana had not been in vain.
In the living room, everyone had gathered around the sofa area.
Since they'd agreed earlier that Raiden Mei would handle breakfast by herself, the others were all here now, chatting casually as they awaited "Mommy Mei"... Ahem, Raiden Mei's meal.
Kiana approached them, spun once on her heel, held out both arms, and grinned proudly. "What do you think? Zeke gave me these new clothes—aren't they super cute?"
"Rushing into the kitchen first thing this morning, Bronya thought you were going for some sneaky snacks. Turns out you just changed your outfit."
"Hmph! I don't get to dress up this adorably often, so of course I wanted Mei to see it first! Just tell me if it looks good or not!"
"Bronya won't comment; otherwise, Kiana will surely let it go to her head." With a straight face, Bronya crossed her arms in an X gesture.
Kiana puffed out her cheeks in disappointment.
Quickly stepping in, Seele said, "It's very cute! So pretty and lovely, really—that's what Seele thinks, Big Sister Kiana!"
Kiana beamed, eyes curving like crescent moons. "Ah! Our Seele is always the most honest and well-behaved! Come give Sis a hug!"
Kiana strode over and wrapped her arms tightly around Seele, who was still seated on the couch. With glee, she started petting Seele's hair and face like a fluffy little animal.
"Ki-Kiana..."
"Don't be shy. My dear Seele is just too adorable! Nothing like that heartless brat over there!" Kiana stuck out her tongue at Bronya nearby, making a silly face.
Bronya remained unfazed.
Considering what this troublemaker had endured last night—partially thanks to shielding Bronya from some of the backlash—it wasn't unreasonable for Bronya to overlook her antics today.
As Bronya predicted, once the excitement of showing off her new clothes wore off, Kiana slumped back onto the sofa with a boneless sprawl, her eyes glazed over.
"Ahh, I'm so tired!"
The physical strain aside, even mentally, she felt utterly drained and lethargic, completely lacking any motivation.
"Heh!" Bronya let out a stoic chuckle.
A hand gently rested on her shoulder and gave it a tender caress.
Bronya turned to meet a pair of eyes as clear blue as the sky above.
"...Good morning," Bronya greeted, somewhat hesitantly, sensing something from Zeke's gesture and gaze.
Zeke nodded, his expression unchanging. "Morning. Do you have plans for tonight?"
"...No."
"Great."
As Zeke patted Bronya's shoulder, she shivered slightly.
It was a brief exchange, but its implications were profound.
Bronya glanced sidelong at Kia, whose hollow eyes were rimmed with dark circles, and quietly swallowed hard. Suddenly, she realized that helping Seele might also benefit herself—after all, this girl was still a Herrscher, albeit not quite on par with Kiana. Surely she could share some of the burden, right?
Bronya's apprehensive reaction didn't go unnoticed by most of the girls present.
Even Kiana, despite her lethargic demeanor, rolled her eyes with a gleeful smirk.
Fu Hua remained unfazed, unperturbed by the subtle glances from the Book of Fuxi and Elysia.
Wendy put on a serious expression but failed to notice her cheeks subtly flushing red.
Even Seele, who usually had Bronya enthusiastically leading the way, couldn't help but make certain associations after last night's revelation—her face turned crimson as well.
In this peculiar silence, only Senti suddenly appeared before Zeke, glaring at him with resentment.
"No candy? Then buzz off."
"I don't want candy."
"Or any other snacks?"
"You've really messed things up for me, you jerk!!!" In response to Zeke treating her dismissively like a child, Shi clenched her fist, veins bulging on her forehead.
She didn't want to attend classes, solve problems, and especially hated those chaotic etiquette lessons! It was all thanks to that annoying Zeke!
Zeke pondered briefly, then reached into his pocket, pulling out some sweets he typically kept for Kiana—a piece of dark chocolate today—and placed it in Senti's hand.
Senti stared, bewildered.
The little girl stood frozen, her face full of confusion.
Meanwhile, Zeke walked past Fu Hua, placing the Book of Fuxi on his palm before taking a seat next to Kiana. He said, "Education cannot solely rely on the stick; carrots are needed too. Implementing a reward system is crucial, as high-pressure methods don't foster long-term motivation."
"Hmm, that makes sense. Continue, Zeke."
"The type of carrot should be tailored to each individual's needs. For instance, with Kiana being straightforward, food often serves as an effective incentive. Your child here seems more active and combative, so rewarding her with free playtime or opportunities to spar with Fu Hua could work well."
"Aha..." The Book of Fuxi rubbed its chin, appearing enlightened.
Holding her chocolate, Senti listened with growing frustration as they openly discussed strategies against her. However, she dared not provoke Zeke and the Book of Fuxi, this ultimate intimidating duo.
In the end, she could only throw herself onto Fu Hua's shoulders, feeling slightly comforted by embracing the old antique, while munching on her chocolate with audible crunches.
"Hmph!" Senti glared resentfully at them, primarily directed at Zeke; she couldn't bring herself to hate the Book of Fuxi.
As for the desired effect... well, as long as it made her happy.