Undine was genuinely confused. Wasn't I just stating the facts? She really did feel like something had been "stuffed" into her consciousness. She wasn't wrong.

  Eros, however, had no intention of explaining the double entendre. He simply wore a rather cryptic, mischievous smirk.

  The following days were peaceful. By day, Eros attended classes and dragged the red-haired girl out to eat; by night, he teased Undine or chatted with Joanie, who stayed over occasionally.

  But on the other side of the fence, Saliba was spiraling into disbelief. His gaze constantly darted toward Undine, then back to the pocket watch in his hand—a device that remained stubbornly silent and still. He was lost in a fog of confusion and frustration.

  One day, while Eros was wandering the campus alone, Saliba intercepted him. The Prince looked disheveled, his eyes bloodshot as he demanded, "You found out, didn't you? It was you!"

  Eros looked at the "Blue-Hair" with feigned surprise. "What are you talking about? Found out what?"

  Saliba was beyond livid; his rationality was fraying. "The Spirit-Favored physique! Where did Undine’s Spirit-Favored aura go?"

  Eros’s eyes narrowed slightly, the playfulness vanishing for a split second. So this brat really was planning that. But an instant later, he relaxed again, adopting a tone of utter indifference. "Oh, that? I found it, so I sacrificed it. Is there a problem?"

  Saliba froze, his face a mask of incredulity. "Impossible... That’s absolutely impossible! If she were sacrificed, how could Undine still be alive?"

  Eros let out a sigh, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "Don't you know that a sacrifice grants a wish from a Great One? My wish was simply to have Undine resurrected."

  Saliba’s mouth fell open. He looked like he had just swallowed a swarm of flies. An opportunity to make a wish to a Great One... and you wasted it on THAT?! It took him a long time to find his voice. "Don't you realize that the resurrected Undine isn't the original 'her' anymore?"

  "I know," Eros chirped with a light smile.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Then why—"

  "I just need an obedient Undine," Eros interrupted, his tone chillingly casual. "As for whether she’s the 'original' one or not... does it really matter?"

  With a faint laugh, Eros turned and walked away. Saliba stood rooted to the spot, his face twisting into a mask of pure malice. You dare steal the Augustine family’s fortune? You dare flaunt it in my face? You are dead. You are absolutely dead...

  He immediately headed for the Deans' office to report Eros for secretly worshipping an Evil God. He wasn't worried about being dragged down with him. His family was the Imperial Royalty; they had countless ways to hide their tracks. Even if the Church searched his home, he feared nothing.

  But Eros? He was just a country noble whose ancestors got lucky killing "Night Remnants." To Saliba, such a family wasn't even fit to shine his shoes. Yet, this upstart dared to defy him repeatedly and snatch his destiny? In Saliba’s mind, Eros had already written his own death warrant.

  Inside the Deans' office, the three heads of the academy watched the indignant Saliba with peculiar expressions.

  "Deans, you must believe me! This Eros is beyond arrogant. He dares to worship an Evil God right under the noses of the Three Great Churches!" Saliba shouted. "Such a fallen individual stains the sanctity of this academy. I implore you to order an immediate trial for both him and Undine!"

  The three Deans exchanged looks of silent amusement. Seeing their hesitation, Saliba doubled down. "I swear upon the honor of the Augustine family! Eros is a cultist, and Undine is likely dead—the girl we see now is almost certainly an evil spirit from the Abyss in disguise!"

  One of the Deans, who had heard rumors of Saliba’s failed pursuit of Undine, whispered the context to the other two. They suddenly "understood."

  Dean Como looked at Saliba with a mix of pity and exasperation. "Prince Saliba, are you aware of Eros’s bloodline?"

  Saliba blinked, confused. "Yes, he's an Elf. What of it?" As he spoke, a realization began to dawn on him, followed by shock and doubt.

  Dean Como nodded. "In our Church’s historical records, the Elven race is described as kind, benevolent, elegant, and peace-loving. How could a scion of such a bloodline worship an Evil God? Furthermore..."

  Como didn't finish the sentence, but the other two Deans understood. The Elven race has its own God—one of the oldest in existence. Furthermore, the one who bestowed blood upon Eros is a 'Holy One' just a step away from divinity. Why would he ever need to grovel to an Evil God?

  By the time Saliba walked out of the building, his head was spinning. What the hell is going on? That guy admitted it! He said he sacrificed her! Why won't they believe me? Just because he's an 'Elf'?

  Wait... if he's an Elf, why WOULD he sacrifice to an Evil God?

  Confusion, disbelief, and a total lack of comprehension consumed him. For the next few days, Saliba walked around in a daze, no longer bothering Undine. In his mind, she was now a terrifying "Abyssal Spirit."

  The other students, however, simply thought the Prince had finally had his heart broken by Undine’s constant rejections.

  If Eros had known he had been reported, he probably would have laughed until he cried.