Chapter 24: She Is Mine

“You're always like this, like a little child when you eat.”

Vilnia's tone was full of doting, and her finger seemed to linger on the corner of Mel's mouth a little longer than usual.

Mel's cheeks immediately felt hot.

She quickly lowered her head, picked up a piece of bread, dipped it in some soup, and put it in her mouth.

Vilnia sat elegantly opposite Mel, her gaze as sticky as honey, glued tightly to Mel.

“Mel, have you lost weight recently, or not been resting well?”

Suddenly, she spoke softly, “You look a bit pale.”

Mel was slightly taken aback and subconsciously shook her head.

“I don't think so.... I feel fine.”

“Is that so....”

Veronica nodded gently, “By the way, a new dessert shop has opened near my house. I heard their raspberry cake is very famous. Do you want to go try it together this weekend?”

Her voice was cheerful, yet carried a hint of firmness that did not allow for refusal.

Mel raised her head and met Vilnia's deep eyes.

There seemed to be some kind of fiery emotion hidden within them, making one dare not look directly.

“I.... I might have to this weekend...”

“Are you going to be with other people?”

Vilnia interrupted Mel's words, her tone still gentle, but now with a hint of danger.

“Is it Anna who gave you the chocolates, or Claire, or perhaps Jonathan?”

“Clink——”

The cutlery collided with the plate, making a crisp sound.

Mel's hand trembled slightly, nearly knocking over the soup bowl.

“No... it's not that, I just have to——”

Before Mel could finish, Vilnia suddenly reached out and covered Mel's trembling hand.

The warm touch made the latter freeze.

“Don't be nervous, I was just kidding.”

Vilnia chuckled softly, but did not let go of her hand.

“It's just that you're leaving soon, so I'm a bit reluctant to part with you. Just take it as a thank-you for the notes, and say yes to me this one time, okay?”

Her thumb gently caressed the back of Mel's hand.

This intimate gesture made Mel's heart beat faster.

“I.... I understand.”

Mel finally chose to compromise.

In any case, she didn't need anything from the gathering for the time being, nor did she have anything to sell.

And it wasn't good to keep going to the black market, after all, she was still being monitored by the Fifth Department.

(Speaking of which, does the Fifth Department know that Vilnia is also a Shepherd?)

This thought suddenly appeared in Mel's mind.

“That's great, then it's a deal. I'll come to your house to pick you up.”

Vilnia's smile deepened.

She finally released Mel's hand, but the warm touch seemed to linger on Mel's skin.

“I'll prepare well, I promise to give you an unforgettable weekend.”

Vilnia's tone was cheerful, but it made Mel feel a sense of unease for no reason.

The feeling was like an elegant spider patiently waiting for its prey to fall into the web it had carefully laid out.

Lunch ended in this subtle atmosphere.

As Mel stood up to leave, Vilnia suddenly grabbed her wrist again.

“Wait.”

Vilnia stood up and approached Mel, reaching out to gently adjust Mel's slightly messy tie.

“Your tie is crooked.”

She said softly, her breath brushing past Mel's earlobe, “You have to pay attention to your appearance, Mel.”

Vilnia said meaningfully, “After all, you are.... the focus of many people now.”

“What... do you mean?”

Mel looked at Vilnia with some confusion.

“It's nothing.”

Vilnia took a step back and shook her head gently at Mel.

“You go back to the classroom first, I still have something to do, so I won't go with you.”

Hearing this, Mel glanced at Vilnia, then nodded gently, turned and quickly left the cafeteria.

After Mel left, the smile on Vilnia's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold expression.

She slowly walked to Claire's side, then sat down and smiled slightly at the girl who was eating.

“Hello, Claire, can we have a chat?”

Her gaze swept over the young girl before her.

When Claire looked up, a strange pattern appeared in her pupils.

It was a pattern that only Vilnia could see.

Because Claire is her lamb.

Without giving the other a chance to answer, Vilnia sat down directly opposite Claire.

Sunlight fell on the dining table between them, but it could not dispel the suffocating atmosphere and chill.

“Who let you get close to Mel?”

Vilnia said, casually picking up a carrot from the other's plate with a fork and taking a light bite.

“I believe I told you to keep your distance from her——she is mine.”

“Crunch——”

The sound of the carrot breaking between Vilnia's teeth was exceptionally clear in the quiet corner.

Claire trembled all over.

She looked up, her eyes full of panic.

“S...sorry, Miss Vilnia, I just... just wanted to help Mel....”

Claire's voice trembled, like a child who had done something wrong.

“Help?”

Vilnia chuckled softly.

“Are you sure it's not for other reasons? For example... at the behest of certain people?”

Claire suddenly looked up, and the strange pattern in her pupils began to fluctuate violently.

Vilnia reached out and gently caressed Claire's cheek.

The gesture was gentle, yet carried a force that could not be resisted.

“Tell me, my dear Claire, who made you do this?”

“Plop——”

Claire's tears dripped onto the plate.

“It was.... it was Dad who said, to get on good terms with Mel....”

Hearing this, Vilnia's eyes grew even colder, but her fingers still gently wiped the tear from the corner of Claire's eye.

“Don't be sad, Claire.”

She said softly.

Remember, Mel belongs to me. Without my permission, no one is allowed to get close to her.

Including you, including your father, and including everyone else, understand?

Claire nodded mechanically, and the pattern in her pupils gradually calmed down.

Vilnia withdrew her hand in satisfaction, stood up to smooth her skirt, then turned and left, leaving Claire sitting there alone, her eyes empty.

The sun still shone warmly in the cafeteria, but it could not reach into Claire's eyes, which had lost their light.

Vilnia strolled down the empty corridor, the heels of her shoes making crisp sounds as they hit the floor.

She stopped at a window and looked through the glass at Mel behind it.

At this moment, Mel was sitting alone at her seat, taking a short rest.

The young girl's eyes were slightly lowered, and she did not notice Vilnia's arrival.

Vilnia reached out her hand and gently touched the glass, as if caressing Mel's silhouette through the air.

The sunlight cast mottled light and shadow on Mel through the leaves, a sight so beautiful that it intoxicated Vilnia.

“Click-clack——”

The sound of footsteps came from the other side of the corridor.

Vilnia withdrew her gaze and looked in the direction the sound came from.

“Anna,” Vilnia said with a smile, stopping the blonde girl who was approaching.

“May I have a word with you?”

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