"Are you really trying to protect Zeph or just wanting to marry him, huh, Valeriana?"
The voice attracted the attention of all three of them, turning to witness only a caramel-haired girl with emerald eyes standing not far away from them.
"T-Thalia!?" Zeph's hands slowly loosened on Jia's waist as he saw the real owner of his hands arriving, retreating with a smile while looking at Thalia, whose gaze was fixed on Valeriana instead of him.
"W-what? Why would I do that?" Valeriana, upon hearing Thalia's accusations, felt bewildered as her motives were just to handle the situation for now and then explain everything to Zeph afterward to avoid causing any misunderstandings.
"It's okay, I don't have any problem." Thalia shook her head, accepting Valeriana as her sister only because Professor Deventhia, her aunt, clarified the situation between Zeph and Thalia.