Cynthia smiled leisurely.
She made a gesture of releasing magic. The radiance of magic blossomed, and the adventurer’s leather armor on Su Zhao’s body abruptly transformed into a silk dress.
Su Zhao’s entire outfit took on a completely new look.
Aside from the sapphire necklace that Su Zhao had put away into her game inventory in advance, all the traces Evelyn had left on her vanished completely and cleanly.
Not even the slightest trace of her aura remained.
Cynthia did not answer her question; instead, she bent down to cup her bare arch. “You should learn to hand over dirty clothes to the maids.”
She scolded her gently, “Why can you never remember?”
She taught her with meticulous care, resembling a gentle elder sister who took on the heavy responsibility of upbringing in place of a mother, kindly instructing her younger sister in various common sense matters of daily life.
What on earth was going on with Cynthia?
This was a genuine elder sister. Logically speaking, romance targets were one thing, but a game shouldn’t have zero bottom lines like this, right?
Su Zhao was somewhat unsure of the current situation.
The favorability system chimed in at the right moment, accurately pushing the content Su Zhao cared about most directly before her eyes.
[Successfully recruited a romanceable character]
[Romanceable character: Cynthia, Crown Prince of the Lanrian Empire]
[Cynthia’s current favorability: 0]
Zero.
That was completely preposterous.
The [Favorability: 0] on the system panel pricked at Su Zhao’s eyelids. Amidst her trance, those cool fingertips leisurely crept up onto her cheek.
They ambiguously rubbed against the corner of her lips.
Su Zhao stared at the face close at hand.
Peacefully and calmly, she closed the system.
Fine, then.
As long as you are happy.
The servant promptly presented new shoes, and the cool satin pressed against the center of her foot. Su Zhao shivered, instinctively curling her toes, but her heel was firmly locked in place by the webbing between Cynthia’s thumb and index finger.
“What are you dodging for?”
Cynthia completely gathered that sole into her palm, seemingly measuring it meticulously with her fingers.
“The scar from stepping on a crystal cup last year has finally faded away.”
When her thumb brushed across the arch of her foot, the light calluses formed from Cynthia’s knight sword training tickled Su Zhao’s skin with a slight, itchy ache.
The curve of her palm matched Su Zhao’s ankle with absolute perfection. There was an indistinct, scalding warmth resembling a vine.
Taking root and growing from Cynthia’s palm, it slithered and wrapped around her ankle following the movement of tying her shoelaces.
“Tomorrow, pick out a ceremonial gown and practice your dance steps.” Cynthia had already arranged tomorrow’s schedule for her, saying gently,
“At this year’s ball, my little sister, you will undoubtedly be the absolute protagonist.”
Unable to move, Su Zhao watched her rounded toes curl up involuntarily as she looked on helplessly while the esteemed crown prince bent down and gracefully put the shoes on for her.
The oppressive weight of her sister’s gaze was far too heavy. Su Zhao felt a stir of eagerness, yet forcefully suppressed the palpitation:
“My dance instructor, can I choose them myself?”
“No, you cannot.”
The crisp click of a button snapping shut sounded like a clean and decisive locking of handcuffs. The amusement in Cynthia’s eyes vanished abruptly, and the ribbon wrapping around Su Zhao’s ankle tightened violently.
Su Zhao gripped her clothing tightly.
She couldn’t help letting out a muffled groan.
She knew she was quite literally pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth.
Whether Cynthia caught her underlying meaning or not, she ultimately refused her gently and with absolute certainty:
“Naturally, your first dance should be personally taught by the royal family, after all.”
The royal family?
Or Cynthia?
The servants lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound or disturb them, holding their breaths until they solidified into murals on the wall.
Cynthia’s fingertips slowly swept across the back of Su Zhao’s foot, the remaining warmth in her palm still lingering and roaming over Su Zhao’s skin.
She cupped her burning sole.
“Those idiots staring at your toes…” Cynthia’s smile at the corners of her lips was ice cold. “…are they even worthy of touching my little nightingale?”
Su Zhao had nothing to say in response.
Silently, she checked her favorability value once more.
The glaring zero pricked at her heart.
“My dearest sister, please tell me honestly.”
Cynthia held down her ankle and picked up the other shoe. As the final pearl button locked into the eyelet, Cynthia’s fingertips hooked into the edge of the shoe opening and slowly moved upward from her heel.
Her voice was laced with amusement, “Are you choosing a teacher, or are you trying to pick a dance partner for yourself?”
An elder sister with an overly strong desire for control was truly annoying.
Once again summoning her courage, Su Zhao attempted to fight for an opportunity for herself and the Saintess, only to have her sister ruthlessly crush any chance of interaction yet again. She couldn’t help feeling somewhat wronged and stifled.
Her sister was too overbearing.
She wanted to rebel.
Yet the words that actually slipped out were, “Of course I am choosing a teacher!”
She certainly wasn’t trying to sneakily smuggle in any private agenda.
Su Zhao’s tongue tripped over itself and her confidence fell short, but she still stared at her righteously, offering an upright and justified reply:
“My first dance must naturally be saved for sister, of course!”
When one lives under someone else’s roof.
One must bow their head when the time calls for it.
Su Zhao generously consoled herself.
Sister was very pretty anyway; no matter who she cuddled with, she wouldn’t be on the losing end.
“A little liar full of falsehoods.”
With a faint, scolding laugh, Cynthia rose leisurely.
Catching the floral scent emanating from Cynthia, Su Zhao felt an indescribable sweetness ripple through the breeze stirred by her sleeve cuffs.
Su Zhao sniffed. It was a deeply comforting scent, so familiar that Su Zhao’s current body seemed to have already memorized the imprint carved deep into her bones through countless past days and nights.
Was it a rose?
Cynthia curled her knuckles and lightly flicked her forehead. “Starting tonight, you will move back to the east bedchamber. Your palace is undergoing renovations.”
The new palace was located right beside Cynthia’s, separated by mere inches. Every single move Su Zhao made could not escape the sister next door.
Blinking, Su Zhao showed a hint of resistance: “Why?”
“A venomous snake has crawled into the house.”
Smiling, the crown prince pinned a rose into her hair and stepped back to admire her. “Sister always has to clean out the nest before letting the little bird sing in peace.”
If things were going to be like this, how on earth was Su Zhao supposed to contact Evelyn?
Cynthia was a powerful mage herself; how could she possibly fail to notice magical fluctuations happening right through a shared wall?
Su Zhao felt extremely worried.
Wanting to refuse, she crumpled in defeat before Cynthia’s threatening smile.
“I understand, sister.”
Dejectedly following the servants, she returned to her new quarters.
The palace had already been tidied up, making it look as though Cynthia’s decision had not been a temporary impulse.
The pillows and duvets were plush, and the drifting wisps of incense diffused the familiar fragrance of roses all around.
Listlessly rolling into the bed, Su Zhao grabbed a handful of the white-gauze-like mist, her surroundings similarly wrapped in Cynthia’s scent.
Wax tears accumulated on the candlestick into clusters of coral as Su Zhao dipped her quill into ink for the third time, watching the night patrol knights outside her window changing shifts.
The tip of her pen bled ink onto the paper, and she lowered her head, staring blankly at the unfinished invitation letter.
Evelyn’s name floated between sincerely invite and eagerly look forward to your presence.
Like a sword hanging in the balance, yet to fall.
Since Evelyn was certain she could rush back to participate in the Holy See’s blessing ceremony, completing the mission within three days should certainly be a piece of cake for her, right?
Should she hide it from her sister and secretly invite Evelyn to the ball?
Her favorability value was only that tiny bit away!
Resting her chin in her hand, Su Zhao tapped the tip of her pen once, twice.
She felt heavily tempted. And heavily guilty.
Frightened by her sister’s majesty.
She ultimately failed to truly complete this invitation.
“Your Highness, the crown prince sent someone to ask if you have any dissatisfaction with the decorations anywhere in the palace.”
The maid’s voice suddenly rang out, startling Su Zhao so badly she nearly knocked over her inkwell. Hurriedly snatching a blank sheet of paper to cover the gorgeous invitation letter, she extinguished the candlelight in one swift motion.
“There is no dissatisfaction, tell sister I have already gone to sleep.”
Not until the maid’s footsteps vanished at the end of the corridor did Su Zhao tiptoe toward the window, cautiously opening a crack in it.
Listening carefully for a long moment and confirming there were no other movements outside, she poked her head out and swept a lightning-fast glance across the empty courtyard.
Closing the window, she pulled out the invitation letter once again.
Should she invite Evelyn?
Pinching the sapphire between her fingertips, Su Zhao gazed at the invitation letter with an unsettled mind. The sapphire necklace cast a cold reflection under the moonlight, resembling Evelyn’s eyes gazing gently at her with full anticipation as she awaited her response.
She seemed to be asking her.
Did she truly have the heart to crush this anticipation of hers?
The night wind swept across the terrace, causing the trees outside the window to rustle, immediately followed by the crisp, light cry of a nightingale.
Su Zhao’s hand shook, and a tear of ink dropped onto the invitation letter, blurring the words sincerely invite into a smudge of shadow.
Feeling guilty at the moment, she had been startled by the interruption and nearly convinced herself that her sister had discovered her petty actions.
After a false alarm.
Her already wavering resolve completely disintegrated.
Not today.
At least not today.
Evelyn was likely busy; before finishing her mission, she should be unable to spare any attention and might not have the time to accept the appointment.
Meanwhile, Su Zhao had just returned home, and her sister was undoubtedly paying close attention to this place at all times. There was no telling what magical means she possessed, much like that unscrupulous woman at the auction house, to spy on every single move inside her room.
She hated these mages who lacked all sense of boundaries!
Dropping her pen, Su Zhao casually rolled the unwritten invitation letter into a ball and tossed it away effortlessly.
Having finally made up her mind, Su Zhao’s tensed mood relaxed instead.
She comforted herself by thinking that since she had just stirred up a huge hornet’s nest, she should probably keep a low profile these past two days, tuck her tail in, and behave like a good child.
Having toiled all day, Su Zhao was utterly exhausted.
Destroying the scattered corpus delicti with candlelight and finishing tidying everything up, she sank slowly into the soft bedding. Just as she prepared to close her eyes, a sudden warmth spread across her neck.
The sapphire necklace grew hot in the dark, and the golden text slowly emerging upon it flickered back and forth like Su Zhao’s rapid heartbeat.
“Are you asleep?”
They were so familiar with each other that Su Zhao could even mentally reconstruct the tone of voice the other person used when speaking these words.
Scrambling up in one fluid motion and feeling like a thief caught in the act, Su Zhao instinctively looked outside first to make sure no one was around before lowering her voice to reply:
“Not asleep, is sister finished with her busy work?”
On one side was the tension of fearing discovery by Cynthia, and on the other was the thrill of secretly philandering right under her sister’s nose.
Carefully covering her chest, Su Zhao felt her heart about to leap out of her ribs. She even wondered nervously if it might disturb her sister’s sharp hearing next door.
Receiving her reply, Evelyn then spoke.
“I have already hurried back to Lanster City, and I will assemble the team shortly to set off toward the Sun Forest.”
“The elves discovered Duke Norland’s tracks and are helping to pursue her. The reinforcements we sent previously have already followed the guidance deep into the forest.”
Initially, Evelyn communicated with her through text. She was likely worried that Su Zhao might be asleep and feared waking her.
Upon confirming she was still awake, the Saintess spoke aloud. Her voice, clear and cold as snow, flowed slowly past Su Zhao’s ear.
“Once I lead the team to encircle them from the other side, Duke Norland will have no way to fly away. I imagine it won’t be long before I can complete my mission and take her down completely.”
A wave of palpitation rippled through Su Zhao’s heart. Clasping the sapphire tightly, she stared earnestly at it.
As if through this manner, she could clearly see the other end, those ice-blue eyes belonging to that person which were as pretty as a lake.
“Sister, when you all head over there, you can certainly teleport across. However, the entire Elven Forest is under the protection of the Goddess of Nature.”
“A forest that massive is entirely a magic-forbidden zone.”
After all, Su Zhao was not a native-born local and hadn’t connected these details beforehand.
Yet reflecting upon it slightly now and slowly realizing it, this mission was fraught with danger everywhere and was actually nowhere near as easy as she had imagined.
“You will have to search on foot, remaining vigilant against the elves while also guarding against the hidden arrows of demons.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
Listening quietly, Evelyn did not speak.
Tapping the edge of the bed with an unsettled mind, Su Zhao felt the sapphire press painfully against her skin. Realizing this, she quickly relaxed her grip.
Unable to decipher the thoughts of the person on the other end, she could only offer careful words of persuasion.
“Sister, the mission is not urgent. After all, the Sun Forest is the elves’ territory; as long as they are willing to help, outsiders will definitely not be able to escape.”
“Safety first, you must protect yourself well.”
Evelyn’s soft chuckle brushed past Su Zhao’s ear. Making no promises, she merely said, “Rest assured, I still have to come back to see you.”
This simple remark.
Surpassed ten thousand words combined.
Thinking it over and over, Su Zhao concluded that the problem shouldn’t be too major. After all, Evelyn was one of the nailed-down romanceable characters.
If that jerk of a game dared to pull a scripted death right when her romance route was nearing success, forcing the character she had spent so much effort romancing to go offline.
Su Zhao would dare to disconnect immediately, pick up a weapon of truth, engage in an offline battle, and personally fly over to stab the game planner.
Once the serious business was concluded, the three-minute communication time limit was down to its final scraps.
Both fell into silence.
The atmosphere remained serene yet devoid of awkwardness. Turning over and lying flat on her bed, Su Zhao stroked the sapphire with an unsettled mind.
The gem’s cool texture involuntarily reminded her of the previous night when Evelyn stood right where the moonlight shone brightest to draw a teleportation array for her, while the night dew trailing from the hem of her robes slipped across her palm.
Moist and ice cold.
Just like those eyes congealed with ice and snow.
Her unvoiced invitation swayed back and forth in her heart.
Should she be willful?
This question continuously interrogated her heart.
“Little sister.”
Cynthia’s lazy voice pierced through the window lattice: “If you’re not asleep, get up and come try on the newly arrived dance gowns.”
How did her sister know she wasn’t asleep?
She had clearly extinguished the candlelight!
No longer able to bother with her internal struggles, Su Zhao scrambled to put away the sapphire in a panic. Yanking the blanket up, she dove her entire body underneath it, covered her head, and flattened out her breathing.
Playing deaf and dumb without replying, Su Zhao placed her hands peacefully flat over her chest.
Feigning death.
Meanwhile.
The starlight at Su Zhao’s fingertips went out in an instant.
Evelyn’s whispers still seemed to linger around her earlobe.
“If I can bring Duke Norland back to the Summer Palace before the clock of the ball tolls.”
“My dearest princess, as a reward for the victor, might you grant me the privilege of stepping into the ball?”
Difficult, difficult, difficult.
How could a single word capture such difficulty?
Su Zhao was plagued by nightmares all night.
Likely influenced by those two hateful characters.
Su Zhao couldn’t escape torment even in her dreams.
Early in the morning, taking advantage of the unscattered morning mist, Su Zhao carefully dodged the patrolling knights and slipped into the stables holding up her skirt.
The stable hand yawned as he handed over the reins.
“As you requested, it is the gentlest mare.”
The palms of Su Zhao’s hands grew slick with sweat as she gripped the reins.
Cautiously, she observed her surroundings.
“Is Your Highness going to gather morning dew?”
The groom looked suspiciously at her nervous demeanor.
“To, to pick some of the freshest roses for sister.”
Her heart tightening, Su Zhao immediately grabbed the saddle. Unskilled as she was, the motion of mounting the horse nearly tore her skirt.
Sensing an abnormality, the groom warned, “For safety’s sake, I will report to Her Highness the Crown Prince and arrange a carriage for you.”
Su Zhao whipped the horse forcefully.
Amidst the neighing of the horse, the groom had no choice but to stagger back a few steps, unable to ask further questions as he watched her leave in a blur.
Su Zhao spurred her horse straight into the thin fog, the invitation letter pressed against her heart burning with heat while the rose scent she had accidentally spilled onto the sealing wax last night lingered.
She had no idea how long she rode before clumsily crashing into a patch of woods. Lifting her gaze once more, she saw Evelyn casually leaning against a tree trunk in the morning light deep within the woods, smiling at her.
“Does the crown prince know that her nightingale has learned to sneak out?”
Su Zhao’s smile hadn’t yet had time to fully bloom.
She nearly tripped over the stirrup.
The Saintess reached out to steady her with just the right amount of force, though her fingertips lingered a fraction longer against her wrist.
“The ball begins at dusk, and you’re making an appointment at midday, did you want me to hide in the wardrobe a few hours early?”
“Sister’s eyes and ears are everywhere.”
Guiltily glancing back, Su Zhao saw white, hazy mist forming a maze while the swaying tree trunks resembled silent guards.
As she pulled her hand back from the other’s grasp, she accidentally brushed her cloak loose. “You entered through the side gate, I’ll find a way to have someone meet you.”
Evelyn suddenly closed the distance.
Exuding a dangerous, oppressive force.
“If I were to say.”
Evelyn hooked the falling strap of her gown, her cool fingertips seemingly soaked through by the morning mist as their damp sensation crawled all the way up to Su Zhao’s neck and shoulders.
“What if I want to make my entrance on the red carpet through the main gate instead?”
Every word and action of hers exuded ultimate aggressiveness, differing completely from the Saintess of Su Zhao’s impression.
Speechless, Su Zhao clutched her cloak tighter, wrapped herself up, and looked up at her innocently.
Her earlobe suddenly grew hot. A warm current materialized from nowhere, rushing out of her body along her earlobe and condensing above her head into an eye of surveillance.
“Is that so?”
Horses neighed.
The black crows startled from the treetops shattered the morning mist, answering in Su Zhao’s stead.
Another familiar light chuckle pierced through the maze.
The tone carried exceptional contempt.
“You are worthy?”
Cynthia’s sneer pierced the dream like a silver needle.
Su Zhao was scared wide awake by her sister in real life!
Upon waking up, lingering fear still clutched at Su Zhao, leaving her unable to snap back to her senses for a long while as she stared straight at the chandelier.
Su Zhao felt a sudden urge to destroy the world.
“Your Highness has urged you three times. Please proceed immediately to choose your dance gown.”
Yet when Cynthia’s servant came to summon her, Su Zhao hung around the doorway, inwardly wishing she could slam the door in her hateful sister’s face, though she forced a smile onto her face right away.
“Understood, right away.”
After all, Cynthia completely crushed her in every aspect, status, strength, and power.
The wise person submits to circumstances.
Su Zhao endured it!
Using the excuse of viewing dance gowns, Cynthia successfully tied up Su Zhao’s hands and feet, normalizing the situation by calling her to the main hall.
This was Cynthia’s residence.
The moment she stepped inside, Su Zhao’s steps grew heavy. Dragging her feet slowly to the main hall, she finally understood what the crown prince’s delayed revenge referred to.
Three entire racks of new dresses glared at her menacingly, each one adorned with pearls heavy enough to snap someone’s neck.
“Sister, are these all for me?”