At this moment, “Rival in Love” had her eyes tightly closed, her face flushed.
A faint scent of alcohol filled the air.
Clearly, the so-called “noble-style negotiation” had been a trap from the start…
She’d been forced to drink.
Berwick City was indeed full of pitfalls, danger at every step.
But just as Wendy was pondering countermeasures, the housekeeper’s next move made every hair on his body stand on end.
He watched as the housekeeper walked to the liquor cabinet at the bedside, took out a small crystal flask filled with crimson liquid, pulled out the stopper, and roughly pried open Laxana’s mouth, pouring the entire contents inside.
“Damn it!”
One look at the color and viscosity of the liquid told Wendy it was definitely nothing good!
Most likely a potent aphrodisiac or some other kind of dangerous potion.
He instinctively wanted to step forward to stop her, but reason forced him to stay still.
After all, being powerless, rushing in would just be a waste.
The housekeeper, after finishing everything, turned around.
As if seeing through Wendy’s inner resistance, a cruel pleasure appeared on her face.
“This is the esteemed Miss Laxana Klein. What I just gave her is Berwick City’s specialty magic potion—‘Thorn Kiss.’”
Her smile grew more twisted, brimming with undisguised malice.
“This potion is very strong. If she doesn’t engage in the most intimate life union with a man within ten breaths, the potion’s power will transform into countless invisible thorns, piercing her organs from inside out, letting her die in a blend of ecstasy and agony.”
Ten breaths!
Wendy’s heart sank sharply.
“Of course, you don’t have to fear causing trouble.”
The housekeeper’s expression changed again, taking on a gentle and persuasive tone.
“As long as you get close with her, the magic of ‘Thorn Kiss’ will bind your lives together. It becomes an invisible chain—no matter how far Miss Laxana goes, you can sense each other, and vice versa. If she tries to kill you, she’ll suffer the same pain herself.”
The housekeeper paused, as if savoring the shock on Wendy’s face.
“When the Lady wakes up to find she’s been with a ‘lowly man’ like you and formed an irreversible life link, guess what the Klein Family would do to cover up the scandal?”
She walked to the door and looked back at Wendy with a meaningful glance.
“So, don’t be shy. Serve Miss Laxana well. Your beautiful future begins tonight. We’ll all be outside, listening closely~”
With that, the housekeeper, along with the two Guards, left the room wearing malicious smiles—”thoughtfully” closing the door behind Wendy.
“Click.”
The door was locked from the outside.
Inside, dead silence fell.
Only the crackling of candle flames and the increasingly ragged breathing from the bed remained.
Wendy, dressed in shameful clothes, looked at Laxana’s pain-twisted sleeping face caused by the potion…
His expression tangled with conflict.
Within ten breaths…
To save, or not to save?
That was the question—but not a choice.
Not save her?
If Laxana died, the Klein Family would surely be enraged.
The Northern Army would lose a vital magic support, possibly leading to hostility with the Klein Family.
What about Astreia?
Who would she blame for her close friend’s death? In all likelihood, he’d be the one to take the fall.
At that point, even making it out of Berwick City alive would be in doubt.
Moreover, Astreia was still outside on the “Catch the Count” mission—if something happened here, everything would collapse.
But saving her…
Wendy looked down at the “Virtue Crusher” outfit on his body, then glanced at the Recording Crystal hidden in the shadow of the candlestick.
If this got recorded, Wendy Black could kiss his reputation goodbye forever.
Both choices seemed to lead straight to hell.
“So hot…too hot…”
As Wendy’s mind waged a fierce battle, Laxana on the bed let out a painful moan.
Under the effects of “Thorn Kiss,” her skin began to flush an eerie pink, her whole body feverish, tearing at her luxurious Mage’s Robe in her dazed search for relief.
“Riiip—”
The soft sound of fabric tearing was especially piercing in the silent room.
Wendy’s heart lurched.
No!
He absolutely couldn’t let Astreia see this!
If Astreia completed the “Catch the Count” mission and rushed over, only to open the door to a disheveled Laxana and himself in this ridiculous “fetish outfit”…
He couldn’t even imagine that scene!
He had to stop Laxana before she ripped her clothes apart!
And before she died, he had to come up with a plan!
No more hesitation—Wendy dashed to the bedside and grabbed the “Rival in Love’s” flailing hands.
“Hey! Wake up!”
However, his touch was like igniting a powder keg.
In her stupor, Laxana latched onto him like a drowning person grabbing an ice floe, using all her strength to flip over and pull him into her embrace.
A soft, burning body pressed tightly against him, wrapping around Wendy like an octopus.
“As…treia…”
She mumbled incoherently, burying her face into Wendy’s neck, greedily sniffing as if the Prince was some elixir to quench her thirst.
Damn it!
Ten breaths were almost up!
Wendy could feel the temperature of the body in his arms rising abnormally, blood vessels under the skin seeming to flow with magma.
He was almost suffocated by her grip, but his mind spun furiously.
Strip!
He had to remove her clothes before she tore them herself!
If the clothes remained intact, later he could claim she’d taken them off herself and that he’d merely “watched over” her.
Yes, that was it!
A perfect plan!
To save Laxana, Wendy forced himself into sage mode, chanting “Lust is emptiness” in his mind, and began the extremely difficult task.
Yet, the ideal was lush, the reality bony.
A Mage’s Robe, designed for protection and style, had buttons, ties, and locks a hundred times more complicated than expected.
Wendy fumbled like a rookie bomb technician, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Stop moving, will you, Lady?!”
Laxana kept writhing unconsciously, making Wendy’s “disassembly” work several times harder.
The Prince could only half-kneel on the bed, using one leg to pin down the “Rival in Love” while undoing the complicated fastenings.
The position was unspeakably suggestive.
Wendy didn’t even dare look toward the Recording Crystal, only praying it couldn’t catch his face.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Seven breaths…
Six breaths…
At last, the Mage’s Robe came off intact, and Wendy tossed it to the foot of the bed.
Next came the shirt and skirt underneath.
Five breaths…
Four breaths…
As the last restraint was undone, just as Wendy was about to sigh in relief, Laxana suddenly went still in his arms.
Wendy’s heart jolted.
Had the drug worn off?
He looked down.
The “Rival in Love’s” long eyelashes fluttered.
Then, she slowly opened her eyes!
A pair of violet irises, hazy with confusion and the mist of potion, met his gaze.
Time froze.
Laxana: “…”
Wendy: “…”
It’s over!