Chapter Text
Every year, Manuela eagerly awaited Valentine's Day, hoping it would finally be the year she found true love. But as per usual, her overflowing inbox of admiring love letters turned out to be crude opera goers from her days past, and younger students playing pranks, referring to her as "Professor Mommy," clearly teasing her age.
Dejected, Manuela began drowning her sorrows in wine.
The students she was overseeing this year, the kindhearted schemers of the Golden Deer, noticed Manuela's depressed state. As they brainstormed ways to cheer her up, a brilliant idea was proposed - extend Valentine's Day into an entire week of love-themed festivities! Manuela's eyes lit up at the idea of having even more time to find love. The students were thrilled to see Manuela's spirits lifted.
And so Manuela and her delegation of students marched into Rhea and Seteth's office, presenting their pitch for Valentine's Week. While Seteth frowned disapprovingly, saying things about "propriety" and "studying", the students were not deterred, and kept on explaining the virtues it would have. Team building opportunities, workshops to encourage better communication between houses, and rescheduling the White Heron Cup to crown off the week!
Rhea chuckled at their antics. "Very well," she said. "We could all use some levity now and then. The tradition is approved - on one condition. Everyone must still attend classes as normal during the day, but your evenings will be freed up in the spirit of camaraderie."
Seteth spluttered. "Archbishop, please! Think of the damage to our reputation!" But Rhea held firm. And so, the very first Valentine's Week began.
Manuela took great pleasure watching her students laugh, sing and even find love during the festivities.
And much to her surprise, on the final night of Valentine's Week, someone approached Manuela with a smile and said: "Care for a dance, Professor?" Their eyes met, and Manuela laughed. True love had been closer than she realised all along.