Lilith kept her sharp gaze on Damon, her expression composed but clearly calculating. Despite his blindfold, which hid his eyes, she could tell he was still on guard, refusing to let his defenses slip for even a moment. She had to admit, his sheer shamelessness in faking a love confession was something she hadn’t expected. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖 ’What gave him the audacity to try such a ridiculous ploy?’ Lilith suppressed the urge to click her tongue. She had dealt with many suitors, each more polished than the last, but none had been so bold—or so insincere. The fact that he didn’t mean a word of his flattery was an unexpected sting to her pride. ’He’s just too interesting,’ she thought with a faint smile, though irritation simmered beneath her calm exterior. "Now for your punishment," she said, her tone laced with authority. "I was going to let you go if you confessed, but seeing how you didn’t, I have no choice but to punish you." Damon maintained his composed expression, though his mind was spinning. "I understand, President. Although I hope you can be lenient and overlook my negligence." Lilith shook her head, her crimson locks swaying lightly. "That’s fine. Forgetfulness is a human flaw, after all. I can’t blame you for being fallible." Damon offered a polite smile. "I am grateful." ’Although I didn’t forget. I just didn’t want to meet you again, you snake.’ Lilith raised two fingers, her sharp gaze unwavering. "I’ll give you two options. The first—one week of house arrest." Damon’s heart sank, though his face remained calm. ’One week of house arrest is as good as a death sentence. My shadow needs to feed, or it’ll turn ravenous. After that, I’ll start losing health until we both die.’ He hoped the second option was better. It had to be. Lilith watched him intently, noting the slight tension in his shoulders. "The second option is for you to assist me. You’ll help with the responsibilities of the student council president. In simpler terms, you’ll be doing chores for me." Damon bit the inside of his cheek to suppress a groan. ’That means I’ll have to spend time around this woman. Damn it. House arrest is starting to sound appealing.’ Lilith caught the flicker of frustration in his otherwise stoic demeanor and smirked. "You’ll also earn credits for your efforts," she added. "It’s a chance to make up for your failing grades in the quarter-semester evaluation. I understand you only enrolled recently and haven’t had time to adjust. The mid-semester evaluation is only a week or two away." Damon nodded reluctantly. "I see. I understand." Lilith wasn’t done. Her smirk deepened as she leaned forward slightly, using his earlier words against him. "And this is a good opportunity for you to try wooing me, isn’t that what you said earlier?" Her voice was sweet and teasing, but it only put Damon further on edge. ’She’s trying to turn the tables on me. I knew there’d be consequences for that stupid confession.’ He scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. "I—uh, actually, President…I mean,…I’m sorry about that. I was just nervous and blurted out nonsense." Lilith stood abruptly, slamming her hands on the desk. "Are you saying you didn’t mean it? Are you implying I’m not good enough? That I’m beneath you? Are you insulting the Astranova household?" Damon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. ’This woman… When did I say any of that? Stop putting words in my mouth!’ He shook his head quickly. "Never! I would never say such a thing! I promise, I apologize!" Lilith’s intense gaze softened into a sly smile. "Relax. I was just joking." Damon chuckled nervously, his tone carrying an awkward edge. "Huhuh. You have a, erhm… unique sense of humor, President." Lilith’s smile widened, her gaze steady as she relished his discomfort. "Good," she replied smoothly, her voice almost too pleasant. "You can get started now." As Damon prepared to turn away, she glanced at him, her voice halting his movements. "Oh, one more thing," she added casually, though her eyes gleamed with mischief. "I believe I’ve told you this before, but I’m not sure if you remember—I told you to call me Lilith." Damon’s lips curled into a wry smile, though the thought in his mind was far from respectful. ’I didn’t forget… I just don’t want to be around you.’ He cleared his throat, forcing politeness into his tone. "Of course, President… ernm… I mean, Lilith. I am honored." ’No, no I’m not. Just let me go, you witch.’ Lilith’s smile didn’t waver. "Good. You can get started now." She gestured to a table by the window, piled with documents. "Why don’t you help me sort those out as a start?" Damon nodded, moving toward the table, but Lilith stopped him. "Wait. Give me your pager number." Damon tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "Erm… Why would you need that?" "Don’t be silly," she replied with an innocent smile. "How can I contact you if I don’t have your number?" Damon sighed. He couldn’t refuse, and even if he tried, she’d insist. Reluctantly, he handed her his pager and exchanged numbers. As he sat down to work, he thought bitterly, ’What misfortune…’ He glanced at the arrows in his pouch and paused. ’Wait. Could my bad luck be because I’m carrying cursed ore? No… The arrows are encased in shells Anvil made. As long as the shells cover them, the effects shouldn’t spread.’ Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention to the documents. His task was straightforward—organize them into categories—but the sheer volume was overwhelming. Damon got to work, his movements careful and deliberate as he sorted through the stacks of documents on the table. Across the room, Lilith settled into her own desk, her eyes scanning papers with the precision of someone accustomed to power. The room was quiet for a while, the only sounds the occasional rustle of paper and the faint scratch of a pen. Lilith’s gaze flicked up from her work, landing on him with a faint smirk. "I hope you can see under that blindfold," she remarked, her tone casual but tinged with curiosity. Damon shook his head slightly but kept his voice neutral. "I can see just fine, thank you." Lilith nodded, her expression unreadable. "Would you like some tea?" He shook his head again, this time more firmly. "I’d rather not trouble you." Her attention returned to her work, and the room fell silent once more. Damon, however, was anything but calm. His mind churned with thoughts as he methodically sorted the documents, considering how he might turn this seemingly insignificant chore into an advantage. After an hour and a half of quiet labor, an idea began to take shape. He remembered the notepad he’d received from Sylvia, a useful tool for crafting plans and misdirections. It might just help him weave a convincing narrative to mislead Lilith while plotting his next steps against Tobias. As he reached for another document, his hand froze mid-motion. The title on the page caught his eye: Details and Premise for First-Year Academic Mid-Semester Evaluation Explore more at freewebnovel Report by Professor Keal Blackthorn Damon’s breath hitched, but he quickly suppressed any outward reaction. Through his Shadow Perception, he subtly focused on Lilith, checking for any sign that she had noticed his momentary lapse. She remained engrossed in her work, her pen gliding across the paper with effortless elegance. "Did she leave this here on purpose?" Damon wondered silently, his mind racing. "What’s her angle?" A sly smile crept onto his lips as he considered the situation. ’Well, I still have to open it if I want to organize it, don’t I? If I accidentally catch a glance at the evaluation details, it can’t be helped.’ He carefully unfolded the document, making sure to appear nonchalant, though his senses were sharp and his focus unwavering. This could be a rare opportunity to gain insight into the academy’s plans—if he played it right. As he worked, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being a fly caught in a spider’s web.