After a pause, she continued, "I've learned so much here, and I want to keep learning. I don't want anything else to distract me. If you really have to ask, then wait until I've finished my training and left—then we can talk!"
Lucia Lu nodded.
"Mia Quinn, how's your make-up tutoring going?" Ethan Lu asked. "Last time you got a pass on the exam, but this time you probably won't. The test is coming up soon!"
Mia Quinn answered confidently, "Absolutely no problem!"
......
In the blink of an eye, it was time for another monthly exam.
Before the test began, His Majesty the Celestial Emperor announced that this time, the first and second place would receive rewards.
Everyone asked what the rewards would be.
He said it was a secret.
So everyone worked even harder than usual.
Lucia Lu was no exception.
Plus, every night she had Sean Shaw as her tutor—who was honestly even more reliable than the Celestial Emperor. Any questions she had, she could ask him, and her ranking soared to an all-time high: second place.
First place, as always, was Sean Shaw.
Mia really was an exceptionally smart kid.
Her mind was quick, and she was great at drawing inferences.
This time, she pulled ahead and made it into the top thirty—her ranking was even higher than Ryan Lu's.
Mia Quinn teased him mercilessly.
Ryan Lu looked absolutely crushed.
He immediately started begging Sean Shaw for extra tutoring.
His noisy complaints were overheard by the others.
Then a whole crowd rushed over, all wanting Sean Shaw to tutor them.
Every single one was a Saint Maiden.
Sean Shaw kept a cold face and turned them all down.
"That's not fair!" Ryan Lu clung to him. "Why does Mia get special treatment and private lessons?"
Sean Shaw glanced at him, a bit helpless. "Let go of me."
"No way!" Ryan Lu clung to Sean's sleeve. "If you don't agree, I'll just keep pestering you."
Lucia Lu yanked him away. "Ryan Lu! Fifth Highness is tutoring Mia Quinn because she's making up several months of missed lessons!
You've been in the Palace Guard Barracks way longer than her! You're older too, but your scores are still worse! How do you even have the nerve to complain about special treatment?"
Ryan Lu bit his lip. "Then you tutor me! There's no way I'm losing to a little brat!"
Lucia Lu sighed. "Fine! If you don't mind, I'll tutor you!"
"My little sister is still the best," Ryan Lu swore. "Someday I'll find you the most amazing brother-in-law ever!"
Lucia Lu rolled her eyes.
......
But they all underestimated just how determined the Saint Maidens were to get 'extra tutoring.'
Especially Divine Lady Snow, who was totally shameless.
That night, as soon as Sean Shaw arrived, she knocked on the door.
Lucia Lu went to open it and saw her standing there with books and brush-and-ink, wearing a humble smile. "Divine Lady Lucia, I heard you're tutoring Ryan Lu—can you help me out too?"
"We're studying the same stuff," Lucia Lu said. "Sometimes you even score higher than me! I don't think there's much I could teach you!"
"Then let's just discuss together!" Snow Yuan said. She'd somehow gotten so familiar with Lucia Lu, and before Lucia could reply, she squeezed right in.
Lucia Lu closed the door helplessly.
Then she headed straight for Mia Quinn's room.
Lucia Lu called after her, "Divine Lady Snow, I live over here."
Snow Yuan replied, "Oh... I just want to listen to Brother Sean review the earlier lessons. You two do your own thing, don't mind me."
Then she knocked and went right in.
Lucia Lu thought, maybe... Sean Shaw would kick her out.
But after a long while, she still hadn't been kicked out.
Lucia Lu could still hear her silvery laughter.
She sounded genuinely happy.