Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

At night, Hestia followed Annelie to their new residence.

Before them stood a two-story house with a domed roof. The roof curved gently, resembling the upward arcs of traditional Eastern architecture. Below, the walls shimmered in a turquoise-like pale blue, adorned with golden leaf-patterned embellishments on the windows and floral carvings. The design struck a perfect balance—neither overly ornate nor too plain.

Upon entering, they stepped into a spacious hall. One wall featured curved lattice glass panels, allowing a clear view of the garden outside. At night, curtains could be drawn for privacy and quiet.

The round table in the living room was painted in a matching turquoise hue. On it sat a porcelain teapot, its handle and the rims of the accompanying teacups accented with gilded details. Aside from the table and chairs, the hall was sparsely furnished, exuding a minimalist and refreshing vibe.

Behind the living room was an expansive kitchen, large enough to accommodate ten maids working without feeling cramped. On the other side were a servant’s lounge and a storage room.

Their bedrooms were on the second floor. Hestia’s room was across from Annelie’s, with an additional guest room left vacant. There was also a small loft on the top half-floor, currently unused. The bathroom, located in the basement, offered serene privacy, resembling a swimming pool with excellent insulation and temperature control.

“Is all this really necessary?” Hestia asked, slightly overwhelmed after touring the house. She was aware Annelie came from a wealthy family, but the sheer extravagance of the arrangements still surprised her.

“It absolutely is! A good living environment allows one to focus entirely on their tasks,” Annelie replied, sharing her philosophy. She was a meticulous person and believed in providing the best for meaningful endeavors, especially when it came to bonding with Thilan.

“Well, if you say so.” Since she was already here, Hestia decided not to argue. She wasn’t rigid by nature—just unaccustomed to such surroundings.

Not long after they sat down, a few maids brought over freshly brewed tea, its subtle aroma wafting with the steam.

Holding the warm teacup, Hestia glanced out the glass window. She could hear the chirping of insects and the occasional birdsong. The tranquil setting made it hard to believe they were still within the Edess Academy grounds. Apart from their house, there seemed to be nothing else nearby.

“On my way here, Lady Isabelle mentioned I could ask you about anything I didn’t understand,” Hestia recalled the instructions given to her before departing.

“Of course! Feel free to ask me about anything, Thilan,” Annelie said confidently, patting her chest with pride.

“About Edess Academy…” Hestia paused to organize her thoughts. “How do people usually interact here? I’ve heard rumors that it’s quite different from other academies.”

“Well, there are some differences,” Annelie admitted, “but in the beginning, there’s no need to worry too much. Just treat it like a regular high school.”

“Many students here come from influential families, but they’re still 16- or 17-year-olds at heart. They like games, enjoy interesting movies, chat, and deal with various worries, just like anyone else.”

“My family, the Schellenworth family, has exposed me to many peers of similar status. Honestly, aside from 10% of their habits or interests being a bit unique, most of them aren’t much different from ordinary people.”

“I see…” Hestia nodded slightly. For now, she decided to trust Annelie’s reassurance. Though she suspected things might not be as simple as they seemed, her initial anxieties had eased somewhat.

The two continued chatting about the house’s features and the surrounding environment. Eventually, Hestia asked curiously, “About the maids here—are they always on standby like this?” She had noticed two maids standing motionlessly by the wall for quite some time.

“Yes, they stay ready to assist us anytime,” Annelie explained.

“Eka, Ella, come here.”

The two maids approached briskly, their footsteps nearly silent, a testament to their training.

“This is Thilan, the new mistress of this house and my dear friend. From now on, treat her with the same respect as you would me. Understood?”

“Yes, Sixth Mistress,” they replied in unison. Annelie was the sixth-ranked sibling in her family.

“Good. Now, go prepare the bath. Thilan and I will head there shortly.”

“Understood.” One maid left to prepare the underground bath, adjusting the water and temperature, while the other remained standing in the living room.

Noticing Thilan’s unease, Annelie elaborated, “It may look tiring, but our family compensates them well. Some jobs simply require this level of readiness—it can’t always be easygoing.”

“I understand,” Thilan nodded, though her gaze wavered.

“I used to work in a café, so I get it,” she added. She wasn’t unfamiliar with service roles, but it was surreal how, in just two weeks, she had transitioned from serving others to being the one served.

Life was unpredictable. Such effortless luxury left her feeling uneasy.

An hour later, Thilan found herself alone in the bath. Annelie had already left, leaving her to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

It was truly relaxing to have the space to herself. As she splashed gently in the water, listening to the ripples, she thought about how much more at ease she felt alone.

After soaking for half an hour, she moved to the nearby shower area, rinsed off, dried herself, and changed into her sleepwear before heading to her bedroom on the second floor.

“This way, please.” The maid Eka guided her to the room and opened the door. The spacious bedroom featured a bed draped in soft veils, gently swaying in the night breeze, exuding a warm and cozy atmosphere.

“Thank you. You can rest now. There’s no need to stand guard outside tonight.”

“Yes, Miss.” Eka bowed before quietly retreating.

So obedient, Thilan thought. She had expected the maid to protest but was pleasantly surprised by her compliance.

That night, the dim moonlight filtered through the glass window, casting a serene glow over the room. Hestia slept soundly, no longer waking intermittently like before. Unbeknownst to her, she had gradually stopped dreaming of her sister and mother. Perhaps she had finally begun to let go of those somber memories, stepping out of the darkness to reveal her true self.

The following morning, she woke to birdsong and sunlight.

Still a little drowsy, Hestia hesitated to get out of bed.

After lingering for a while, she glanced at the clock. It was almost 8 a.m., so she reluctantly sat up, running a hand through her tousled hair.

After quickly tidying her hair, she stepped out of the bedroom to wash her face, only to find two maids already waiting outside. Thankfully, they weren’t the same maids from the previous night but rather a new pair.

“Good morning, Miss,” they greeted.

“Morning~” she replied casually.

“Are you heading to freshen up? Please follow me.”

The maids led Hestia to a washroom at the end of the hallway, preparing towels, a toothbrush, and other items for her. Afterward, they returned with her to the bedroom to help her style her hair and dress in her outfit for the day.

Ten minutes later, Hestia descended the stairs, only to find Annelie already waiting for her with breakfast set on the table. She had no idea when they had prepared it all.

Upon inquiring, she learned that the maids in the house were divided into four teams—three working on rotation and one on standby.

What luxury, Hestia thought. These maids weren’t just attractive but also impressively capable, with each having at least Sequence 3 skills.

“Today, I’ll take Thilan to tour Edess Academy,” Annelie suggested.

Hestia naturally had no objections. Over the next two days, Annelie guided her around campus, allowing her to gradually familiarize herself with the academy.

Compared to the Swallow Garden Academy, Edess Academy was undeniably more extravagant—not just in its facilities and environment but also in its use of advanced technology and abundance of staff.

The courses at the academy were divided into two types: mandatory and optional. Mandatory courses required students to be present, while optional ones allowed students to visit classrooms and consult teachers at their convenience. Each subject had dedicated classrooms and teachers available 24/7 to meet students’ learning needs.

“This flexibility is for students who may have demanding schedules and can’t attend every class,” Annelie explained.

For example, the course Intermediate Aijeka Theories was primarily theoretical, requiring only the completion of the first four sessions within the first month. Students could attend those sessions at their own pace. This made it a typical optional course.

On the other hand, Combat for Transcendent Pathways involved both theoretical and practical lessons. Students had to attend practical sessions, which often became the most social classes where classmates interacted.

Such scenarios were not uncommon. Roughly three-quarters of the academy’s courses were optional, with the remaining quarter being mandatory, primarily scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays.

“And why are there classes on Saturdays? Well, it’s because many students have other commitments during the week,” Annelie said, holding Hestia’s hand.

“For instance, ‘Lilim the Innocent,’ a rising actress in the Four-Leaf Crystal Region, is a freshman at our academy. She’s constantly filming and can only spare two days weekly for classes.

“Then there’s the heir of the Grey Fox Group, Harperton. His father recently had an accident and is hospitalized, so he’s been managing many company affairs, leaving him with limited time for school.

“Some students love traveling and often fly off to various destinations. Forcing them to stay on campus every day would be torture.”

“Ordinary schools require students to attend classes together to conserve resources and teaching staff. But Edess Academy has no such constraints. Here, smaller class sizes—often just 4-5 students per session—allow teachers to give more focused attention, leading to better educational outcomes.”

Now I understand, Hestia thought. This truly is a wealthy and privileged institution.

The two days of adapting to her new environment passed quietly. On the third day, the opening ceremony took place—a mandatory event for all new students.

…

In a spacious hall with pristine floors, deep blue rose decorations adorned the black curtains on either side. Around 1,000 students stood on the floor below the stage. They came from all corners of the Four-Leaf Crystal Region, including geniuses from both northern and southern Verdant Veil districts, peers from other star system space stations, and even students from a habitable neighboring planet.

Onstage, the chairman delivered a speech, as was tradition, recounting the history and aspirations of Edess Academy.

“Edess Academy originated as a splinter group from Saint Ingo Academy, embodying a spirit of rebellion and defiance…” he began.

“The power of conformity is immense. Countless mediocre individuals follow the crowd aimlessly, wasting their lives and settling for mediocrity.”

“They may once have had unique ideas or dreams but never took the first step. Why? Because they feared being different.”

“To stand out in a group takes courage. It means facing scrutiny, questions, and repeated explanations—until one day, your success silences them all.”

“Taking an unconventional path comes at a price. It is daunting because you can no longer hide within the crowd.”

“But if you aren’t willing to pay this price and dream of ascending to greatness amid applause and admiration, you’re deluding yourself.”

“Let go of these naive fantasies. Abandon the illusion of moral perfection. Pursue your goals without being swayed by others’ chatter. Break through the barriers of mediocrity around you, free your mind from distractions, and walk your own path.”

“Although Edess Academy was born from Saint Ingo Academy, we will not forever remain in its shadow. Challenging tradition and transcending ourselves has always been our mission.”

“With that, I conclude my speech. Next, please welcome our freshman representative, Thilan, to the stage.” He set down his notes and scanned the young faces in the audience before stepping offstage to applause.

Is it my turn now…

From a backstage corner, the girl adjusted her black-and-blue dress, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the spotlighted stage.

Her sleek black hair framed her face, adorned with a sapphire hairpin. Her dress, unlike the standard student attire, exuded elegance with its subdued black base, deep blue accents at the sleeves and collar, and a sapphire bow at her chest. Paired with her slender figure, graceful waist, and matte black stockings, she radiated a quiet and mysterious allure that captivated both students and teachers alike.

When she began speaking, her delicate, ethereal voice resonated as though it were a gentle whisper by the ear, captivating the entire hall. Even if some might forget her words by the end of the day, that soft and soothing voice would linger in their minds.

The hall grew silent, save for her voice. It became so quiet that one could hear the faintest sounds, like a feather dropping.

Hestia initially didn’t notice this as she focused intently on her prepared speech. But midway through, the overwhelming silence compelled her to glance up.

What a pair of dreamlike eyes she had—like a fawn stepping hesitantly into a clearing, shimmering with a hint of timidity yet laced with resolve. The azure in her eyes sparkled like starlight on a dark night, drawing everyone into their depths.

Having shed her past shadows, encouraged by friends and mentors, the girl finally revealed her unique colors. Unlike her sister Themisia’s prideful and breathtaking beauty, Hestia was modest and tranquil, with an inner strength beneath her calm exterior.

She might still blush and appear shy, but this no longer restrained her freed heart. Perhaps this touch of innocence made her even more endearing.

As the speech concluded, the silence broke into thunderous applause. The doubts and challenges she had feared never materialized. Instead, she felt both relief and uncertainty.

Relief that she had passed this trial, and uncertainty over whether she had truly overcome it—it all felt so surreal.