“Here, drink slowly, don’t choke.”
On the infirmary bed, Lyte supported Noi’s back, helping her take her painkillers and the pills for her period.
“Do you want to sleep for a bit first? Or eat something?”
On the table beside the bed sat a lunchbox brought by Tina—sweet porridge made by the Church, with extra medicinal herbs for health.
Noi rubbed her flat little belly, hunger overshadowing the pain, and nodded.
“I’m hungry… let’s eat first.”
Lyte found a small foldable four-legged table and set it on the bed, then carefully opened the lunchbox and placed a porcelain spoon inside.
But the frail, white-haired girl pursed her lips, looked at the porridge, then at Lyte, who was sitting obediently by her side, and let out a dissatisfied hum.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like the porridge?”
“No… I want Lyte to feed me.”
Lyte couldn’t help but laugh, and gave in to Noi’s wish.
It was normal to be a little clingy when feeling unwell.
He sat on the edge of the bed, brushed the white strands of hair behind the girl’s ear, held the lunchbox in one hand, and gently scooped up half a spoonful to feed her.
“Is it too hot?”
“Mm… no, it’s just right. Lyte, you should eat too.”
“Me? It’s fine, I’ll go to the dining hall later. You’re so weak right now, you need to eat more to recover quickly.”
He fed her another full spoonful.
Noi pursed her lips, but a thick drop of soup slid down her chin.
“I won’t get fat… Don’t dislike me for eating so much…”
Lyte gently wiped away the runaway soup with a tissue, and cleaned off the water stains too, chuckling softly.
“How could I dislike you? Eat more, so that when you have children in the future, your body won’t have too much burden, right?”
His teasing made Noi’s face instantly flush red, her eyes darting around, as if steam could burst from her head.
“You… All you think about is children! Pervert, lecher! I won’t have your kids!”
“Oh? Really?”
Lyte’s question made the girl fall silent, then she reluctantly admitted what was truly in her heart.
“Of course that’s a lie… I just want you to care about me more, that’s all.”
Girls’ emotions are more volatile at special times.
The hint of vulnerability she showed was caught by Lyte, who patiently soothed her.
He fed her another spoonful of sweet porridge, his tone light yet undeniably resolute.
“Nothing is more important than you. You’re the one I want to grow old with. For now, let’s focus on getting you healthy. If there’s any problem, I’ll handle it, okay?”
“Mm…”
Her mouth tasted sweet, and so did her heart.
After lunch, the side effects of the medicine made her sleepy.
Lyte loosened the tight collar and zipper of her nun uniform, soothing her to sleep.
“The last time we were in the infirmary… did you really fall for me?”
Noi looked at Lyte sitting nearby, recalling the past.
He had taken care of her like this before, but now they were lovers—only the wedding ceremony remained.
“Do you want the truth or a lie?”
Lyte’s big hand gently massaged her aching belly, warm and comforting.
“A lie.” Noi replied without hesitation, afraid the truth might sting.
“Your beauty made me fall in love at first sight.”
“Sweet talker, but I don’t believe you.”
Lyte snorted, “That’s why it’s a lie.”
In truth, both of them knew it had started as just a game, but after a week together, the fake feelings had become real.
In a way, ever since the Ennoblement Ceremony, their relationship had shifted towards marrying first and falling in love later.
They’d started with completely different goals, but somehow ended up fitting together, truly living as a couple.
After chatting for a while, Noi soon grew drowsy and started drifting off.
“Lyte…”
A sleepy murmur.
“Don’t go…”
Her small hand reached for the boy by the bed, and was covered by his big, warm hands.
“Sleep well, I’m here.”
“Mmm…”
Her lashes closed, shutting away the thoughts in her blood-red eyes, and Noi fell into sleep.
Lyte didn’t move, just watched the girl’s adorable sleeping face.
He planned to wait until she woke up before going for lunch himself, but suddenly the door opened.
He turned to see the blue-haired nun, Chenxi, beckoning him outside.
With no choice, Lyte gently let go of Noi’s hand.
Sensing the warmth leave, Noi whimpered in discomfort, her fingers opening and closing, but she couldn’t hold onto her beloved.
Lute asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The Imperial Princess is here. She asked for you by name.”
***
“Splish!” The sound of surging water.
A numb, tingling sensation between my legs, my head cold and dazed.
I could feel liquid gathering at my chin, then dripping to the floor.
I instinctively tried to wipe my face, only to find my wrists shackled tight.
“Witch, it’s time for your torment today.”
‘Torment? What torment?’
I forced my eyes open, but my vision was missing a corner.
Oh… it’s that dream again, isn’t it?
But unlike before, the setting wasn’t the Execution Platform before a crowd, but a lavishly decorated bedroom.
A handsome face with a hint of heroic sharpness leaned in close, lifting my chin and examining my face before bursting into wild laughter.
“Not bad, not bad. Looks like your bewitching face is back. It’s much more fun to play with you like this.”
I couldn’t understand, nor did I want to.
My throat was dry and parched—I wanted water.
The stitches that had sewn my lips shut seemed to be gone.
“Lyte… Why are you treating me like this…”
The laughter stopped abruptly, like a video paused mid-play.
The young man named Lyte twisted his head stiffly, showing a gentle smile on the surface.
“No reason. Before, it was the World’s Duty. Now, I just use you as a self-healing toy to vent on. I can’t defeat the Evil Spirit, but I can still torture a Witch who has lost her rights.”
“……”
Lyte ignored my silence, walking to a corner of the room where all sorts of ‘toys’ were displayed.
“Which one should we play with today?”
He picked out a pitch-black whip right in front of me.
“How about this? Do you like it?”
I couldn’t understand, nor did I want to accept.
My arms and legs had healed, but my ankles were still chained to the floor.
I could only kneel, looking up at Lyte in plea.
“No… I’m scared.”
“Heh.”
A contemptuous smile, and then the whip lashed down hard.
It hurt so much…
He didn’t hold back.
The force was so great, the air cracked like a bursting chestnut, and a bruise quickly appeared on my chest.
“Please… have mercy…”
As my mind grew clearer, my hearing returned, and I heard the buzzing of some electrical device between my legs—something seemed to be stuffed inside.
My body ached horribly.
I wanted water.
“Water…”
“Water? Are you sure you want water?”
Lyte seemed to think of some twisted way to vent his anger.
He picked up a cup of water, beaming.
“You want this? Beg me for it.”
“Please… please let me have a sip, I’m so thirsty.”
“Of course, of course.”
Lyte nodded cheerfully, but the next moment he said something that made me want to vomit.
“As long as you say, ‘Please, master, stab my heart. I want to die so much,’ I’ll let you drink.”
“…Lyte, you’re insane.”
I don’t want to die.
That’s not something I want to say.
Rejected, Lyte’s face darkened.
He swung the whip again, this time soaked in salt water, laced with a bit of the Brave’s Power, stabbing into my bones and soul.
The pain made me cry.
“Hahaha, you’re crying again? How rare. I just love seeing you cry.”
My tears only excited Lyte more, and he whipped me even harder.
“Will you say it? If you don’t obey, I’ll keep hitting you until you do.”
“Ugh… I’ll say it…”
The whip stopped.
My breathing was ragged, my heart full of unwillingness and shame, but I really felt like all the water in my body had been wrung out.
I needed water.
“Please, master, stab my heart. I want to die.”
I tried to keep my tone as flat as possible, as if reciting a script, but Lyte still grinned widely with delight.
He was so disgusting now.
I hated him, hated him so much.
He picked up the cup, watched me for a while, then took out a packet of powder from his pocket and poured it in.
“Guess what I put in here.”
“…I don’t know, just let me drink.”
“Oh? You said it yourself.”
With a wicked grin, Lyte splashed the water onto my face.
The water moistened my cracked lips.
I went crazy, sticking out my tongue, trying desperately to lick my own face, but ended up looking like a ridiculous clown.
I only managed to drink a little, and my throat burned even more than before.
My face too, felt as if it had been splashed with acid, burning and stinging.
“Ah…”
I couldn’t speak at all, my throat felt scorched through.
I glared at Lyte, who laughed uncontrollably, then took a familiar Black Blade from the cabinet.
“See this? Looks familiar, right? It’s your old friend Xing Chen’s weapon. Remember? The Qilin that was killed by the Evil Spirit! Before he died, he crawled over and told me you were framed, so I sent him off myself. I’d had enough of him always trying to protect a world-destroying Witch. He almost had a chance to revive, too.”
“……”
I opened my mouth to roar, but only air came out.
No sound.
My appearance seemed to please Lyte.
He wiped the Black Blade with a cloth, then traced my face with the blade, sliding it down until it stopped at my chest.
“And now, I’m going to use your good friend’s blade to carve you up!”
My heart was stabbed through.
Despair spread, and I blacked out once again.
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