NOVPUBAfter the festival, Violet returned to the Principal's Office and had already changed out of the light ceremonial dance attire, donning again a form-fitting deep-colored elegant gown. Her cascading dark indigo hair was strikingly similar to that of Landry's sister, Elsa.
"I'm the one who delayed your time, Principal."
Lanci nodded slightly to Violet as a form of greeting.
Secretary Nyla did not enter but waited outside, carefully closing the doors to the Principal's Office for them.
Compared to Lanci, the Little Black Cat in his arms—Talia—was even more tense at the moment.
It was, after all, her first time as a cat. She wasn't sure if she was acting convincing enough, so she tried her best not to speak or even move around too much in Lanci's embrace.
Even so, Talia could clearly sense that Violet, the Sixth Army God of Aquamarine, not only held noble status but also possessed unparalleled power, standing at the pinnacle of the Empire's hierarchy. In terms of strength, she was akin to a General Level in the Demon World, so much so that even Yabo admitted he couldn't defeat her.
"Did Julius scare you and Nyla earlier?"
Seeing how composed the professor appeared, Violet spoke candidly to him.
There was no need to feign ignorance with someone as perceptive as Professor Landry.
She was a little concerned that Julius might have been harsh toward Nyla. Knowing Nyla's equally stubborn temper, if Julius had quarreled with her, Nyla would undoubtedly retaliate without holding back.
"It wasn't too bad. Mr. Julius left rather quickly."
Lanci replied as he carried the cat over to sit on the sofa.
"That's good to hear. Sigh, Julius has that kind of temper. Honestly, we're quite close most of the time—that's why he speaks to me that way."
Violet exhaled softly and activated the soundproof barrier artifact on her desk.
She seemed to have regained her composure.
Nonetheless, being subjected to the harsh words of her colleague Julius still left a trace of sadness in Violet's gaze.
"Don't take it to heart—arguments between friends are quite common."
Lanci, seated on the sofa, looked at Violet and offered his advice with a gentle optimism.
Violet picked up a box of special desserts from the Moon Festival Saint Kray Monastery, walked to the sofa opposite, and, with her slender fingers, lightly brushed over the velvet backrest before seating herself across from Professor Landry.
The sofa's texture was soft and exquisite, as if sitting atop a fluffy cloud. The fabric underneath was of the finest silk, exuding a faint fragrance of gardenias that mildly eased her earlier gloom.
"In any case, once Julius calms down a bit, I'll go have another talk with him."
Violet opened the dessert box and placed it on the coffee table, then glanced at the plump gray cat in the professor's arms.
"What an adorable cat. I heard that Professor Landry has a Fifth-order Little Black Cat, one that even protected Elsa. But I didn't expect you had another gray cat as well. It seems you like this one more—you even brought it to the Moon Festival."
She observed the gray cat as she spoke.
The gray cat in Professor Landry's arms had a plush and soft coat of long fur, so thick that the professor's fingers sank into it, like touching a silky strip of marshmallow.
At that moment, it looked somewhat restrained and nervous, curling up slightly in Lanci's arms, its golden eyes reflecting a faint wariness toward strangers.
"Apologies, Principal. Unlike Little Black, this one doesn't let others touch it. If it were Little Black, I'd hand it over to you directly."
Lanci obviously noticed Violet's fondness for the gray cat and had even brought desserts that were safe for both humans and cats to eat.
"It's fine—I can tell. It's very attached to you, almost as if treating you like a lover."
Violet leaned back against the sofa and made a light-hearted joke.
The gray cat in Lanci's arms squirmed slightly, as if Violet's remark had instinctively made her want to avoid sticking too closely to Lanci. Though she wished to pull away slightly, any feminine behavior in this situation would only confirm Violet's words. Thus, she could only force herself to adapt to Lanci's embrace.
"Can I feed it?"
Lanci's gaze shifted to the dessert box that Violet had opened on the coffee table. The lid had been lifted, revealing several fresh pastries inside. The cheese-egg custard mooncakes were perfectly round, their surfaces sprinkled with fine white sesame seeds, glimmering softly under the candlelight.
"Of course. Take a few boxes home later—I have plenty here and no time to finish them."
Violet agreed, gesturing toward her desk.
There were still more iron gift boxes stacked on the desk.
"It seems like you've had a hectic day, Principal—on top of that, having to endure criticism from a colleague. But don't let it bother you too much. The Empire is in a critical period of transformation; those who care deeply about it are often the most impatient."
Lanci spoke empathetically, understanding her situation.
"I'm used to it. Not everyone has the temper of Hesintos—or perhaps most Army Gods have peculiar personalities anyway."
Violet leaned against the sofa, shaking her head, her gaze resting curiously on the professor.
Professor Landry was similarly an amiable person—kind, gentle, and always considerate of others.
If the rumors about Professor Landry taking over as the head of the Imperial New Energy Organization's committee in the coming days turned out to be true, it would undoubtedly be a boon for the Saint Kray Monastery. No matter what, Professor Landry was still one of their own.
"So this Julius, whom you regard as a friend, despite his bad temper, also has his redeeming qualities?"
Lanci asked Violet.
He picked up a piece of pastry from the box, broke off a small portion, and held it delicately between his thumb and forefinger. He then brought it close to the mouth of the gray cat in his arms.
