Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world Chapter 632: A chat with Esmery

Solvyrn Academy - Headmistress’s Office

Brandon pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Esmery was standing by the window, and she was wearing a deep blue dress under a matching coat that hung open over her shoulders.

The front of the dress dipped low, revealing a soft, full line of cleavage that caught the afternoon light.

She turned the moment she heard the door, and for a second her expression stayed carefully composed... until her eyes fully settled on him.

"...You’re back."

Her voice was quieter than usual.

Brandon closed the door behind him and walked further into the office.

"Yeah. Sorry it took a week."

Esmery stepped away from the window and came closer, the soft sound of her heels quiet against the floor.

The coat shifted with her movement, and the deep cut of her dress became even more noticeable.

"You disappeared without a proper word," she said, stopping just a short distance in front of him.

Brandon gave a small, apologetic smile "Things came up. I didn’t plan on being away that long."

Esmery looked at his face for a moment longer.

Then she exhaled softly and reached out, lightly brushing imaginary dust from the front of his shirt with her fingers.

"You look tired," she murmured.

"A little."

She tilted her head slightly and leaned in just a bit closer "Sit. You can tell me what kept you away for a whole week."

Brandon walked over and sat on the edge of her desk.

Esmery moved around and sat in the chair beside him, close enough that her knee nearly brushed his leg.

She rested one arm on the desk and turned slightly toward him.

The blue fabric of her dress shifted with the movement, drawing his eye down the deep line of her cleavage before she spoke again.

"You really had me worried. I kept thinking something might have happened."

Brandon rested his hands against the edge of the desk "I should’ve at least sent a message."

"You should have."

She leaned her elbow against the desk and rested her cheek against her hand, watching him.

"So, are you going to tell me what kept you busy for a whole week? Or are you going to keep that to yourself too?"

With a chuckle, he replied "It wasn’t anything dramatic. I just... went out for a short vacation."

He leaned back a little on the edge of the desk. "I needed some time away. Clear my head. And somewhere along the way, I lost my phone. By the time I realized it was gone, a few days had already passed."

Esmery stared at him for a moment "...You lost your phone?"

"I did."

She let out a soft breath that was half a laugh, half disbelief "That’s why no one could reach you for an entire week?"

Brandon gave a small, slightly sheepish smile "Pretty much."

Esmery shook her head slowly, still watching him.

"You’re... haa... unbelievable," she muttered, though there was no real irritation in her voice. "I was actually starting to think something serious had happened."

"I... figured as much."

She looked at his face for another second, then finally leaned back a little, lowering her hand from her cheek.

"Next time you decide to disappear for a ’short vacation,’ at least leave a message with someone. Or buy a new phone sooner."

Brandon’s smile softened "I’ll keep that in mind."

Esmery held his gaze a moment longer before the corner of her lips curved upward again "And here I was overthinking and complicating the overall situation."

Brandon tilted his head slightly "Why?"

Esmery’s smile faltered just a little.

She looked away for a second, toward the tall windows, then down at the desk.

One of her fingers idly traced the edge of the desk "Well, you know... Because of that night,"

Her voice was softer now "A week ago. When you dropped me off."

She paused, then let out a small, awkward breath "...I kissed you. And then I just... walked away." (chp: 471}

Esmery’s cheeks took on a faint color, and she still wasn’t looking directly at him. "After that, I tried contacting you a few times. Nothing came back..."

She finally glanced at him again, a little embarrassed, "I started thinking maybe you didn’t answer because of that, and I made things uncomfortable between us. So you were avoiding me."

Her fingers curled slightly against the desk.

"It sounds stupid when I say it out loud. But after a few days of silence, that thought kept coming back."

"And this one week of waiting and overthinking felt like 500 years to me..."

Brandon stiffened for a moment and smiled dryly in his heart ’That caught me offguard.’

He stayed quiet for a moment after she finished speaking.

"...You weren’t the reason I didn’t answer," he said eventually.

"I really did lose my phone. So it had nothing to do with the kiss."

She let out a small breath, something between relief and lingering embarrassment "Mhm..."

Brandon’s gaze stayed on her "And for the record... it didn’t make things uncomfortable."

Esmery blinked "It didn’t?"

"No."

She looked at him for a second longer, then her lips curved into a quieter, more genuine smile "...That’s good,"

She leaned back slightly in her chair, "I kept wondering if it was too sudden. Or too forward."

Brandon’s mouth twitched faintly "You were sudden."

Esmery gave him a look "That’s not helping."

He chuckled quietly "I’m just saying. It was unexpected. Not unwelcome."

Hearing that, Esmery let out a soft giggle and looked into his eyes more carefully.

"...To be honest," she said after a moment, "you feel quite different today."

Brandon raised an eyebrow slightly "Different how?"

With a thoughtful look, she spoke "You always had this... playful energy around you,"

"Even when you were being serious, there was still something light in your gaze. Like you were half-teasing no matter what was happening."

"But right now... it feels different. There’s a kind of maturity in your eyes that wasn’t there before. Or at least, not this clearly."

Esmery’s lips curved into a small, teasing smile "Did you go on that vacation to reach nirvana or something?"

Brandon stared at her for a second.

Then he let out a short laugh "Nirvana?"

"I’m just saying," she continued lightly, clearly enjoying the chance to tease him.

"You disappear for a week, lose your phone, and come back looking like someone who spent the entire time meditating under a waterfall... it makes a woman wonder."

She rested her cheek against her hand again, watching him with amused eyes.

"So? Did you attain enlightenment while you were gone? Should I start calling you Master Brandon now?"

Brandon shook his head, still smiling faintly "You’re overthinking it again."

"Am I?" Esmery’s tone remained playful.

"Because the difference is noticeable. You feel... different."

Her voice grew softer "...It suits you, though. I like it."

She let out a small breath, still looking at him "It’s strange. I only realized how used I was to that lighter version of you after seeing this one."

Brandon was quite surprised that she was observant like that, even though they only spent a short time together.

He stayed quiet for a short while after she spoke.

"...A lot happened," he said eventually.

Esmery’s eyes lowered slightly, "I see."

She didn’t probe anything further and simply accepted the answer as it was.

"Well. Whatever it was... you don’t look worse for it."

A small smile touched her lips again "If anything, you look more like... I don’t know how to describe it."

"Before, you could still get away with that playful look and make people underestimate you. Now..."

She tilted her head a little. "Now it’s harder to ignore. I might have to start treating you more carefully... not just as a 22-year-old anymore."

Brandon raised an eyebrow "Really?"

Esmery’s smile deepened just a touch "Don’t look so surprised. A woman notices these things."

She slowly stood up from the chair and sat beside him on teh desk "I still owe you dinner, you know."

Brandon glanced at her and gave a nod "I remember."

Smiling, she replied "Also since the Vernuil family was formally recognized as one of the Great Houses... I was considering throwing a small party."

She looked at him as she said it, clearly watching for his reaction.

"A few close people. Some of the matriarchs who supported the vote. Nothing excessive." Her voice softened a little. "And I was hoping you would come."

The afternoon light continued to settle across the room, catching against the deep blue of her dress and the open line of her cleavage as she leaned slightly forward.

"You were there when it happened," she murmured. "It feels strange to celebrate it without the person who stood next to me through the whole thing."

Esmery held his gaze for a second longer, then added more lightly "Of course, if you’re too enlightened for parties now, I suppose I’ll understand."

He gave her a sidelong glance. "You are teasing me with every chance you get."

Giggling, she patted his arm, saying, "Duh. it’s not like I get to tease you every day. Besides, it’s very tempting to poke you a little."

Brandon shook his head faintly, though the corner of his mouth had already curved upward.

Esmery watched that small reaction with clear satisfaction "So, will you come?"

"Obviously."

"I’m glad to hear that. Also, where is Miss Ravene? I heard she was with you when you came to the Academy."

"She... went to her lab to get some things."