Before Emma was forced to disguise herself as Fox Lian's admirer, she actually had someone she truly admired—the Elf Prince, Thranduil.
Unlike Fox Lian's aggressive, irresistible allure, Thranduil was cool and elegant as moonlight. His long pale-golden hair shimmered softly, his emerald eyes were like lakes deep in the forest, and his pointed ears peeked gracefully through his hair. He radiated a tranquil aura of nature. Skilled in healing magic and communion with plants, his mastery of the harp was unmatched across the Three Realms. At the academy, he was universally acknowledged as the "flower atop the high peak."
Emma had always admired Thranduil. His quiet strength, vast knowledge, and understated yet captivating presence perfectly matched her image of a "true idol." She had once secretly attended his harp solo, and carefully noted every pronunciation when he lectured on ancient Elvish.
Yet all of this admiration had to be buried deep once she was forced into the persona of "Fox Lian's obsessed admirer."
To avoid suspicion, she deliberately steered clear of places where Thranduil might appear. Even if she happened to encounter him in the library, she would only nod quickly before retreating into the shelves, pretending to be absorbed in researching Fox Lian's "preferences."
Sometimes, when she overheard other girls discussing how moving Thranduil's new composition was, or how he had cultivated another rare spirit plant, a faint pang of regret would stir in her heart. But she could only bow her head and throw herself into conversations with Gu Liang about "how His Highness Fox Lian's hairpin today seemed to be set with a different spirit stone."
The most agonizing moment came during the Elf Clan's Moonlight Tea Gathering, when Thranduil personally served tea to each guest. When it was Emma's turn, his emerald eyes looked at her gently, his voice like wind brushing harp strings: "Emma, this is a newly blended calming flower tea. I hope you enjoy it."
Emma's heart skipped a beat at his clear gaze, and almost reflexively she lowered her head, accepted the cup, and stammered in a mosquito-soft voice: "Thank you, Your Highness! Um… Fox Lian seems to have gone that way, I'll go check!"
With that, she fled like a startled deer, clutching the untouched tea, escaping his sight in panic.
Thranduil watched her retreating figure, then glanced at the cloud-patterned handkerchief she had left behind. A faint confusion flickered in his emerald eyes.
And all of this was quietly observed by Fox Lian not far away.
His violet eyes narrowed, watching Emma's avoidance of Thranduil, comparing it to her stiff "performances" in front of himself. For some reason, it left him displeased.
This goddess… had good taste, he thought idly. But still…
He glanced at the silver fox fur that had gathered in his palm, flicked his fingers, and let it drift silently onto Emma's forgotten handkerchief.
…First come, first served.
Later, when Emma and Fox Lian were truly together, he casually brought it up during a chat: "By the way, you used to admire Thranduil, didn't you?"
Emma was focused on combing his tail, not even lifting her head: "Mm, he is indeed very talented."
Fox Lian's tail instantly went taut, ears pricking upright: "Oh?"
Sensing his tension, Emma laughed, set down the comb, and rubbed his suddenly alert fox ears: "But now…" She leaned closer, eyes glinting with mischief. "I prefer the jealous, clingy, fluffy fox at home."
Fox Lian's ears trembled under her touch, his tail relaxed again, happily curling around her wrist.
As for that handkerchief once left before the Elf Prince, later marked with fox fur?
It had long since been "dealt with" by a certain petty fox.