After about ten minutes, the door finally opened.

  Caius immediately looked up.

  As that figure gracefully stepped out, bathed in the sunlight pouring through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, Caius felt as if he were witnessing an angel descending from the heavens.

  If Belle was a fallen angel with broken wings in the mortal world, then the girl before him was a holy angel with golden wings, radiant and divine.

  She wore a dazzling smile, tinged with a shy blush that outshone any rouge or powder. The cinched waistline of her dress accentuated her slender figure, her tall frame standing elegantly poised.

  Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at him, lifting the hem of her dress ever so slightly and twirling lightly.

  The ivory gown, adorned with gold and silver thread, blossomed like a flower as she spun, revealing her fair legs—only briefly, as the skirt fluttered to just above the knees before falling back into place, leaving one breathless.

  “Well? How do I look?” Hilda asked with a hint of anticipation in her voice.

  The dress wasn’t revealing, yet it showcased her graceful neckline and perfect collarbones. Her calves, visible below the hem, were flawless and elegantly shaped. On her feet were dainty sandals adorned with floral decorations.

  At that moment, Caius maintained a neutral expression, but inside, he was screaming with all his might.

  Beautiful!

  Absolutely damn beautiful!

  He had been slightly disappointed earlier when he didn’t get to see the “White Dress Silly Mushroom” look. But now, that regret was completely wiped away, replaced with a deep sense of satisfaction.

  That 150,000 gold? Totally worth it!

  Blood well spent!

  But Caius knew—Little Swan was never short of compliments.

  If he were to praise her, it couldn’t be now.

  The kind of praise that would truly move her had to come from someone important—someone she cared about, someone she loved.

  He wasn’t quite at that level yet. So...

  “Hmm…” Caius rubbed his chin thoughtfully, putting on a contemplative expression.

  Hilda blinked and looked down at the dress.

  “Doesn’t look good?” she asked.

  Caius nodded slightly. “It looks good, but…”

  That “but” was the real kicker.

  “But it feels like something’s missing…” Caius circled around her, stroking his chin, then added, “I think if the shoulders were designed this way, the pauldrons could be open-jointed for better mobility.”

  “When the skirt flares while spinning, it might be effective to embed blades underneath, or at least sharpen the edges of the armored skirt plates. That way, it could act like a spinning blade—adds an extra offensive option.”

  As he spoke seriously about the design, Hilda’s expression fell slightly, and she puffed her cheeks, pouting like a sulky kitten. “Hey! I’m asking if I look good in this dress!”

  Caius replied absently, “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Looks good, looks good.”

  “And the waist armor plates should be layered to avoid restricting movement—”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Seeing how half-hearted his response was, Hilda’s pout deepened. She looked like a tiny, angry tiger cub.

  “Hmph! If you’re going to act like this, I’m not taking you to the party!”

  Caius paused, then instantly shifted his tone, as if just now realizing her stunning beauty. “Oh my god, is that... is that an angel standing before me?”

  “How could someone look this beautiful? My goddess, my holy Maria, praise be to this world for letting me witness such splendor!”

  Watching his exaggerated and theatrical performance, Hilda couldn’t help but burst into laughter, her earlier displeasure quickly melting away.

  “Alright, alright! No one compliments like you do—it’s so corny!”

  “Weren’t you the one who asked for a compliment?” Caius blinked innocently. “So... does that mean I get to go to the party now?”

  Hilda puffed her cheeks again, playfully huffing, “Depends on how you behave.”

  Caius immediately resumed his act. “Oh my heavens, is that an angel before me? Praise the hea—”

  Hilda cut him off with a giggle. “Okay, okay! I’ll take you already!”

  “Hehehe~”

  Seeing Caius grinning from ear to ear, Hilda couldn’t help but feel amused and exasperated at the same time.

  Then her eyes drifted back to her dress.

  Everyone else had always showered her with admiration. Why was Caius being so indifferent—so playful?

  He was even making her doubt her own looks...

  But the proud Little Swan would never truly believe that. Her beauty wasn’t the issue—it had to be Caius.

  He was doing it on purpose.

  Yes, definitely on purpose!

  Someday, she’d prove herself—make Caius praise her sincerely, willingly, without teasing.

  As Hilda’s gaze suddenly grew intense, Caius raised an eyebrow.

  What the hell’s with that look? Why does it remind me of when we were sparring?

  That fiery look... full of challenge!

  Still, Caius wasn’t bothered. He rather enjoyed teasing Little Swan.

  It was far too much fun.

  Now that the tea had been sipped and the dress gifted, Caius was getting ready to leave.

  Though he felt reluctant, he knew he couldn’t stay too long.

  He couldn’t be too enthusiastic either—he had to maintain that sense of mystery and anticipation. That way, Little Swan would gradually be lured into his trap and eventually become his “prey.”

  So now Caius was racking his brain for an excuse to slip away.

  Hilda, on the other hand, sat down beside him with ease, teasing the little kitten before turning to ask, “Do you have any missions lined up in the next few days?”

  “What makes you ask that?” Caius responded.

  “Well, if you do, maybe I could help,” Hilda offered sincerely. “After all, you helped me out again.”

  “Friends should help each other,” Caius said with a smile.

  “Then promise me you’ll let me know if you need any help,” she said earnestly.

  What a good girl~ Caius thought with a hint of fondness, then nodded. “Don’t worry. When the time comes, I won’t hold back.”

  “Alright, I’m heading out now. I’ve rested enough—time to get back to work. I probably won’t be in Hydis for a while.”

  “Ah, really? You’ll be busy?” Hilda asked with a trace of reluctance in her voice.

  She too had enjoyed the time spent with Caius—it had been relaxing and pleasant.

  “Of course. I’m a mercenary. Plenty of people are lining up to hire me.”

  “Besides, I’ve got to finish drafting your design tonight. Construction starts tomorrow.”

  “So the next time I’ll be back will probably be for the party the evening after tomorrow.”

  “I see…” Hilda nodded, then suddenly seemed to recall something. She quickly rushed over to her desk, rummaged through it, and came back with a small notebook, handing it to Caius.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “You said you couldn’t learn magic,” Hilda said with a smile. “I talked with Instructor Holan about your situation. She thinks the core issue is your magic power itself.”

  “This is a compilation of my own notes on strengthening and manipulating magic. Maybe it’ll help you.”

  “Maybe if you gain just a little more control over your magic, you’ll be able to do it.”

  Caius burst out laughing as he accepted the notebook. “I really could use this. Thank you!”

  Truthfully, he didn’t need it that badly—his magic control wasn’t any worse than Hilda’s—but this was her heartfelt gesture. Naturally, he had to accept it. And it showed she truly saw him as a friend, truly wanted to help.

  “You’re welcome! Friends should help each other, right~” Hilda mimicked Caius’ earlier tone, purposely deepening her voice.

  But her voice was naturally clear and melodious. Even with the forced deepness, it was still pleasant to hear.

  Which made it impossible for her to hold back her laughter the moment she finished the sentence.

  “I’ll also check in with Instructor Holan again later,” Hilda continued. “She specializes in magical research. If there's any project that might help you, I’ll make sure it gets approved and help coordinate academy resources for you.”

  Caius felt a warm rush in his chest and nodded. “Thank you.”

  “If you really want to thank me, then stop teasing me all the time,” Hilda said, lifting her chin.

  Caius replied, “Then I guess I won’t thank you.”

  Hilda: “…”

  The once-quiet president’s office suddenly became lively.

  The door burst open as Caius bolted out, Kiki in his hand, making a break for it. Behind him came Hilda’s voice—

  “Caius!”

  “Hahaha!” Caius laughed heartily, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

  Hilda stared at the now-empty hallway, her small mouth pouting as she muttered under her breath.

  “I wasn’t even going to hit him… why’d he run so fast…”

  She shut the door, but the corners of her mouth curled upward unconsciously.

  She held the hem of her skirt and glanced at it from the left… then the right.

  The more she looked, the more she liked it.