At this exact moment, Callista was just a full-time idiot.
She lacked both the raw magic and the social clout to diffuse the silent war brewing in front of her.
All she had to shield herself with was a fragile, paper-thin noble title.
"Did she now?" Corvina murmured, her voice dripping with dangerous curiosity.
"Indeed," Livia chimed in, a faint, audacious smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Her ladyship was immensely grateful for the private tutoring sessions I provided over the weekend."
’Livia, you absolute menace!’ Callista screamed internally.
The maid knew exactly what she was doing.
She was deliberately poking a high-tier villainess just to watch the fireworks, fully aware that Callista would be the one caught in the crossfire.
And the gamble paid off instantly.
Corvina’s golden eyes narrowed into razor-sharp slits, radiating pure, suffocating malice. "A common servant with zero formal education... tutoring my fiancée?"
The disrespect hit its mark.
Livia flinched slightly, her stoic facade cracking for a split second before her gaze hardened with equal intensity.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: APPROVAL RATING DROP] ╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗ Master: Corvina von Ravencrest Approval Rating: -10% (Current: -10% / 80%)
Warning: Master’s territorial instincts have been triggered by your maid’s insolence. ╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
"Anyway!" Callista squeaked, shamelessly throwing herself forward to physically step between them.
She latched onto Corvina’s arm, letting out a nervous, trembling chuckle to diffuse the nuclear tension. "I’m here for our deal! I’m all yours for the week, remember? I’ll do whatever you want!"
It was mortifying. She was acting like a total pushover, but survival demanded sacrifices.
"You’re right," Corvina said softly, the tension in her shoulders melting into something far more predatory.
Before Callista could celebrate her tactical success, Corvina snaked a firm hand around her waist, pulling her flush against her chest. She leaned in, her breath warm against Callista’s exposed collarbone, and without a word of warning, sank her teeth sharp and deep into the side of her neck.
"Agh!" A high pitched noise escaped from her lips.
Their teeth just lingered just long enough to leave a deep, undeniable mark before pulling back, casually wiping the corner of her lip with a dark, satisfied smirk.
"Consider that your collar for the week," Corvina purred softly, casting a cold, triumphant glance right past Callista’s shoulder toward Livia.
Hold on, hold on a second.
This was not how one was supposed to treat the woman who stole her fiancé.
Corvina was clearly going to extreme lengths purely out of noble spite. Her emotions seemed more confusing at this point.
A few steps away, Livia watched the entire display with unadulterated revulsion.
Her inner monologue was practically painted across her stoic face: Aristocrats really are just filthy swine draped in jewels and stolen power.
"I shall take my leave now, my lady," Livia said, executing a stiff, textbook bow before turning toward the left wing, the direction of the General Branch buildings.
Corvina smirked in smug satisfaction, clearly relishing the maid’s departure.
"Ow..." Callista winced, gently cupping her throbbing neck.
If she were being completely honest with herself, this was her first time ever receiving a hickey, and from a fictional villainess, no less.
She genuinely couldn’t decide if this was a mark of shame or a badge of honor.
"Don’t even think about covering that up with makeup."