A month slipped quietly by.
The Ikelite campus on a winter morning was covered in a thin layer of frost. Bare branches trembled in the biting wind, and the Botanical Garden gave off a fresh, chilly fragrance.
Large swaths of dark cloud drifted across the sky, with only a few scattered strips of blue secretly peeking through the gaps.
The students hurried past wrapped in thick coats, hot coffee or tea cupped in their hands. Their breaths formed little trails of white smoke in the cold air.
"Little Hugh makes her entrance."
With a faint smile on her face, Hughberlian walked out of the Sage Institute Main Building.
Having completed the exam for her final course of the semester, she was officially on Winter Vacation.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Talia waiting for her on a campus bench in the distance.
Talia rubbed her hands together from time to time, then took another deep breath of cold air, savoring the unique clarity winter brought.
Two boxes of packaged pastries and cakes sat on the wooden bench beside her. It seemed that if she had not been waiting for Hughberlian, she would already have been unable to resist eating both portions.
Watching Talia fidget and struggle to contain her impatience from afar, Hughberlian burst out laughing.
She really wanted to use all the Duke's Family's money to feed Tata, so she could eat her fill, sleep well, and live happily every day.
Hughberlian had now moved into Talia's home, and Talia had not driven her out. She continued teaching her magic day after day.
Thus, after the agreed-upon two-week protection period, the two of them continued living together without saying so explicitly. They still said good morning and good night to each other every day, and nothing had