The next morning, Velin got out of bed and instinctively reached beside him, his hand meeting something soft.
After a moment's thought, he rolled over and embraced her, then began thinking about what he needed to do that day.
First, he would visit his eldest disciple, then head to Jiangtaen County for an inspection, assess Zeflin and Zelia's administrative abilities, and give them those books on ice magic.
On the third day, he would visit the Gray Mist Space to learn about his uncle's research results and reward the garrison while he was there.
And after that...
After running through more than a dozen things he needed to do, Velin suddenly felt overwhelmed by his workload.
"Right, I still need to take Cecilia out to play. I'll do that while I'm at it."
Without his noticing, time slowly slipped away.
At nine in the morning, Xuemiyya urged Velin out of bed, and he left the bedroom.
Xuemiyya sat at the dressing table, watching Head Maid Hilda arrange her hair, when she suddenly remembered something.
"Hilda."
At her call, Hilda replied respectfully, "What are your instructions, Matriarch?"
Xuemiyya tucked the hair over her forehead behind her ear, glanced at the pale blue eyes in the mirror, and said, "Prepare three wooden rods for me. They should be flexible, but not too thick."
"Yes."
A few minutes later, Hilda left the room.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Xuemiyya smiled happily.
"What excuse should I use to teach Kmelia a lesson this time?"
"Perhaps I should test the Staff of Solitude's power and see whether I can have her dancing in the palm of my hand."
Beating her up in an illusion, then teaching her another lesson in reality—that sounded like a rather good idea.
At that very moment, Kmelia, who was