Chapter 133: First Act 4
Shining blue hair cascaded in waves, framing her face with a vibrant hue, while untamed bangs seemed to play a game of hide-and-seek with one of her eyes.
The morning sun gradually rose, casting its warm rays through the windows and gently coaxing the slumbering beauty awake.
With a cute yawn, she stretched languidly, her lithe form adjusting to the new day.
As her eyes fluttered open, the deep azure orbs sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and mild irritation.
Taking a moment to acclimate to her surroundings, her gaze roamed leisurely around the room before settling on the digital display of her alarm clock.
A quiet click of her tongue conveyed her annoyance – it seemed she had roused herself earlier than anticipated.
'Ever since meeting that guy, my sleep schedule has been ruined'
Bella Raisenler found herself roused from slumber earlier than what she would typically consider normal.
However, the very concept of normalcy had undergone a significant transformation in her life since encountering Adrian.
In the past, waking up just ten minutes before class might have been acceptable, if not expected.
After all, sleep had always been a cherished companion, demanding about 18 hours of Bella's daily routine.
Yet, everything changed with the arrival of Adrian.
Her once blissful hours of repose were now disrupted, reduced to a mere six hours a night.
Bella, who had never envisioned herself staying awake past midnight, found her body adapting to this newfound pattern.
It was as if her very being acknowledged the importance of those midnight hours, fueled by the memory of the disappointed gaze Adrian had cast upon her.
The adjustment in her sleep schedule became an unwitting testament to the impact he had on her life.
The thought of disappointing him again seemed to wield an inexplicable power over her, compelling her body to recalibrate its internal clock.
Bella Raisenler reluctantly stirred from her unusually abbreviated slumber and groggily turned her gaze towards the mirror.
To her own discerning eyes, she found that her standard of beauty remained impeccably intact.
Yet, the tranquility of her private morning ritual was abruptly shattered as her bedroom door swung wide open, revealing the wide-eyed countenances of her maids.
Their expressions were a curious blend of astonishment and delight.
"Oh, Miss Bella, you truly are undergoing a positive transformation, fufu" one maid exclaimed with a beaming smile.
"Indeed, it seems the goddess has heeded our prayers" chimed in another, their laughter echoing through the room.
Annoyed and slightly embarrassed by the maids' theatrics, Bella, with a dramatic flourish, opened her arms wide in a mockingly regal gesture.
The maids took this as their cue and skillfully approached their somewhat recalcitrant princess.
In a coordinated dance of efficiency, they adorned her with her uniform, their magical touch effortlessly cleaning her in the process.
Bella surveyed herself in the mirror, and the reflection that met her eyes left her once again in awe.
The maids, with their adept hands and enchanting skills, had transformed her into a vision of elegance and grace.
Despite her initial grumbling, Bella couldn't help but appreciate the magical touch that her devoted attendants bestowed upon her every time they undertook the task of dressing her.
The maids exchanged knowing glances, their mischievous smiles widening as they continued their teasing interrogation of Miss Bella. One maid, with a sly grin, couldn't resist delving into the sensitive topic.
"By the way, Miss Bella," she began, feigning innocence, "has there been any progress yet?"
Bella's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely unaware of the speculative conversation that had already circulated among the household staff.
"You don't have to be so shy, practically everybody here already knows, young miss," another maid chimed in casually, her hands diligently working on tidying up Bella's bed.
Bella's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. "Again, what are you talking about?"
With an almost rehearsed precision, the maids simultaneously wore conspiratorial grins.
"It's a boy, right, young miss?" one of them teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"That's right, that's right, Miss Bella. So, how was it? Did our meticulous effort help you in any way? Please tell us, young miss."
The realization of their insinuations caused a subtle blush to tint Bella's cheeks. She scoffed dismissively, attempting to downplay the situation.
"It's not like that" she retorted in her usual aloof tone, though anyone close enough could detect a faint trace of embarrassment beneath her composed exterior.
After all, what she felt for him was far from the romantic inclinations they were suggesting—it was more akin to a mixture of irritation and an unspoken fear that seemed to have taken root within her.
"Heh?"
The maids exchanged glances, amusement dancing in their eyes.
"Is that so, young miss?" one of them teased.
"Like I said, there's no need to be shy, young miss. As your elder and senior in the aspect of love, we are here to help and guide you to make any man fall for you. Ehehe."
Sighing, Bella felt a mix of irritation and discomfort at the maids' teasing. She raised her hand, and her body was enveloped in a soothing blue light.
Dense mana surrounded her as star-like particles sparked around her body before she disappeared, leaving behind a trail of twinkling particles in her place.
Bella had teleported away, finding the maids' misunderstanding too uncomfortable to bear.
"Ahh! She ran away" the maids exclaimed in unison, their chuckles echoing in the room. Despite their amusement at Bella's reaction
...
"Ouch!" exclaimed a voice from behind Bella.
Startled, she turned around and found Aria Tellus, the younger sister of the person who made her feel uneasy. Aria, with her cascading golden hair and ruby-like crimson eyes, was sitting on the floor.
Bella tilted her head, wondering why Aria was there.
"Good morning?" Bella greeted, her aloof demeanor intact.
Aria, with an awkward chuckle, replied, "Good morning as well, Miss Bella, haha"
Bella continued to stare at her for a moment before extending her hands to help Aria up from the floor. Aria, seemingly embarrassed, accepted the assistance and stood up, smoothing out her uniform.
"Thank you, Miss Bella"
Aria said, her eyes avoiding direct contact with Bella's intense gaze.
Bella, maintaining her indifferent expression, nodded in acknowledgment.
"Just be more careful next time"
Her classmates shook their heads as they observed Bella, leading her to believe they disapproved of her not immediately helping Aria.
Considering the circumstances, she couldn't imagine Aria sitting on the floor voluntarily, and her sudden exclamation suggested a fall.
"I'm sorry" Bella apologized, realizing that her sudden teleportation was the cause of Aria's mishap.
Aria, displaying a forgiving nature "It's okay, Miss Bella."
"Okay" replied Bella in her usual aloof and tired tone. She took her seat immediately afterward, intensifying the awkward atmosphere.
Bella wondered how the situation had taken such a turn, but being an awkward and introverted person herself, she chose to stay silent, gazing at her desk and ignoring everything else.
When their professor arrived, Aria took her seat and looked at the broken glass crystal she had been carrying.
She sighed and put it back in her pocket. Observing this, Bella felt a pang of guilt realizing she was the cause of the mishap.
As Aria settled into her seat, Bella continued to gaze at her from a distance, her troubled thoughts dominating her mind.
Her face frowned thinking of ways to apologize.
…..
Professor Dust Casey, a veteran at Estelle Academy, hailed from humble origins despite being a noble.
His talent and unwavering dedication had earned him the position he held today.
Throughout the years, he believed in his ability to help any student shine, uncovering and polishing the gems hidden deep within them.
This confidence, however, faced a unique challenge in the form of a peculiar student before him—Bella Raisenlier.
Bella's magical aptitude was beyond anything he had encountered.
Her magic resonance score was a perfect 100, magic sensitivity also a perfect 100, elemental attribute applicable to all elements, and her mana level couldn't even be measured.
As Professor Dust delved into the details and reports sent to him directly from his superiors regarding the new student he would be teaching, he initially dismissed the records as complete nonsense.
Never before had he seen a student receive such perfect ratings in all aspects of magical assessment during his extensive tenure as a professor.
Despite Professor Dust Casey's initial confidence in his ability to teach any student, meeting Bella Raisenlier proved to be a unique challenge. The first time he laid eyes on her during the podium ceremony honoring the top students of each department, he realized that there was nothing conventional education could offer her.
Bella seemed to possess a level of magical mastery that surpassed anything Professor Dust had achieved in his own extensive career.
She was like a flower that needed no tending, and a gem that required no polishing—already a shining diamond in the rough.
However, this acknowledgment didn't stop Professor Dust from feeling a tinge of annoyance.
From the very start of the class, Bella consistently dozed off during lectures, and there were times when she would yawn loudly, seemingly indifferent to the professor's efforts.
While her behavior was disrespectful, Professor Dust found himself powerless to enforce discipline. Bella, it seemed, had the potential to obtain her diploma and leave the school whenever she pleased.
As the semester progressed, Professor Dust Casey found himself facing an unexpected dilemma.
He had been instructed to be lenient with Bella Raisenlier, allowing her to do as she pleased within the academy.
Her extraordinary talents were not only a testament to her own abilities but also a potential source of prestige for Estelle Academy.
Despite his initial irritation with her lackadaisical approach to education, Professor Dust had to prioritize her unique status.
Bella's penchant for sleeping through lectures had become a routine, a behavior that Professor Dust had come to accept.
However, to his surprise, Bella's attendance had improved in the current semester.
Not only was she punctual, but she also seemed actively engaged in the lectures, opening her eyes and attentively following the discussions.
This unexpected change left Professor Dust both nervous and encouraged, as he felt the weight of her expectations.
Yet, one particular day deviated from the norm. Bella, who usually maintained a detached demeanor, was now frowning at him.
Her intense blue eyes bore into Professor Dust, and her furrowed brows suggested deep contemplation. The professor couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Professor Dust wondered, experiencing a level of stress and uncertainty he had never encountered before