“No, it’s not like that…”
Laxana’s voice trembled with tears as she hastily denied it.
In those violet eyes, a wave of panic surged from having her feelings exposed.
“Even though—even though I’ve thought about it before.
…But I’d never actually do it! I swear!”
“Be-because…because an Astreia like that wouldn’t be Astreia anymore! What I want to see is Astreia’s real smile…”
Her explanation was feeble and powerless, unable to convince even herself.
“Then hurry up and let me go!”
Wendy seized the chance, shouting sharply in anger, trying to drag the conversation back on track.
“Astreia went to catch the Berwick Countess—she could find us here any second!”
“We need to get dressed right now, or if she finds out about us…”
“Yes, yes, yes! Astreia!”
The name struck Laxana like a bolt of lightning, making her whole body tremble as reason briefly returned.
She scrambled to her feet in a flurry, genuinely seeming about to undo the Light Chains.
But her movements were clumsy to the extreme, and she somehow ended up straddling Wendy, her hands fumbling over the Prince’s chest and waist, searching blindly for the chain’s magic node.
The position made Wendy’s scalp tingle, a surge of heat shooting straight to his brain.
“Don’t sit on me! Get off! Hurry and unlock it!”
However, in the next moment—
A stunningly beautiful face, tinged with a strange, feverish blush, slowly pressed against the side of Wendy’s face.
Warm breath, accompanied by a whisper, drifted into the Prince’s ear.
“Little fool…”
“Did you really think I’d let you go?”
!!!
Wendy’s heartbeat stopped in that instant.
A chill shot from his tailbone to the back of his head.
Before he could react, Laxana was already smiling wickedly, arms reaching out like a beautiful serpent to tightly embrace Wendy’s head.
Fingertips painted pale violet traced his lips, toying with an ambiguous playfulness.
“Wendy Black…”
“Everyone has many sides.”
“I’ve always, always loved Astreia, but ever since you appeared, I’ve felt something new for her—a feeling I can’t even explain myself.”
The “Rival in Love’s” voice echoed, dreamy and ethereal, yet tinged with an unexplainable resentment.
“Ever since that night at Sunset Fortress, I keep thinking—she and I are the same build, both mocked since childhood, so why, why does she get to meet someone like you? Someone who doesn’t care about looks and is even willing to do those shameful Little Imperial Uncle poses for her?”
“Why? Just because she met you first?”
“Why…can’t I?”
“I really…feel so jealous…”
She lowered her head, burning lips nearly touching Wendy’s.
“Prince, why don’t you like me? Even after we just did something so wonderful, you don’t feel even a shred of attachment…”
“That really…makes me so sad~”
What the hell!
This woman’s crazy!
Is she about to Blacken?!
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Wendy hurriedly tried a final struggle.
“Don’t—don’t do anything stupid! I—I’m Astreia’s man! What happened before…that was just an accident! If you dare keep going…”
“What’ll happen if I do?”
At some point, the innocence and arrogance of a magical genius had been utterly replaced by overwhelming allure.
She shifted her posture slowly, her full, beautiful body settling directly atop the Prince’s chest.
Looking down from above.
Her eyes lowered, long lashes casting twin fan-shaped shadows in the candlelight, their watery depths exuding irresistible charm.
“I noticed it just now, you know~” she chuckled.
“Your eyes kept drifting to my legs.”
“You…”
“You really are a hopeless leg man, aren’t you?”
Though phrased as a question, her tone was nothing but certainty and mischief.
Wendy’s heart jolted violently.
It’s over.
He’d been seen through.
This crazy woman was right—Wendy Black was, at his core, a hopeless leg man!
Whether it was Astreia’s powerful, wild, honey-toned legs capable of kicking an orc’s head off, or the ones before him—wrapped in white, high-heeled boots, slender, flexible, and perfectly curved—he loved them all!
And from a certain, even darker, unspeakable angle, the pair before him might even strike his XP harder.
But—he absolutely couldn’t admit it!
In such an extremely ambiguous atmosphere, the struggle between men and women was all about who first admitted their XP—the moment you did, you lost all initiative and were utterly at your opponent’s mercy!
Especially right now, after a “close encounter,” when both sides were physically and emotionally vulnerable—if he admitted it, Laxana would wield it as a “weapon,” launching her fiercest assault…
Wendy had no doubt—no matter how much his mind screamed “this is wrong,” his body would betray him instantly, bowing in total, tragic defeat!
He had to bluff through! He had to guard the final line of defense for his dignity!
“Y-You guessed wrong!”
Forcing himself to meet those purple eyes, Wendy summoned all his acting skill, making his gaze appear clear, honest, and even a bit indignant at the misunderstanding.
“I do like long legs, but only to admire! What I truly love…is abs!”
The Prince stared “Rival in Love” dead in the eye, declaring every word with unwavering conviction.
“It’s Astreia’s sculpted, powerful 11-shaped abs that are my true love!”
Now, more than ever, he couldn’t afford a hint of guilt!
Even a flicker of his gaze, and he’d never get off this bed alive!
“Oh~ is that so?”
Laxana dragged out the question, tilting her head, and her beautiful violet eyes clearly read, “Keep making things up.”
Yet, glancing down at her own smooth, soft stomach, then recalling Astreia’s cheetah-like, chiseled muscle lines, she found herself doubting for a moment.
Could she have misjudged him? Was this man actually one of those rare abs enthusiasts?
Seeing a hint of hesitation on her face, Wendy felt a sliver of hope ignite within.
It was working! He was slowly turning the tide! If he pushed a bit more, maybe—
Just as the Prince was about to press his advantage, utterly dispelling her doubts—
A sly glint flashed in the “Rival in Love’s” eyes.
Her body shifted—a deft, golden spin.
Then, she slid back sharply!
“Mmph!!!”
Wendy’s vision went black, his nose instantly engulfed in a warm, intoxicating fragrance.
The high-heeled boots, previously a distance away, now pressed tightly on either side of his cheeks!
Those slender, sculpted lines occupied his entire view with overwhelming force.
Wendy’s breath froze.
“How about it—do you like it?”
A slightly triumphant tremor drifted down from above.
Miss Klein even pressed harder with mischievous malice, exerting a near-crushing force as she reveled in the Prince’s tense body.
“If you can last a minute without reacting, I’ll believe your nonsense and let you go…”
Her voice grew lower, more seductive, like a demoness whispering in a dream.
“But if you fail…”
“Then today, I’ll seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance and, along with Astreia’s share, thoroughly…enjoy myself!!!”
wendy being a feet guy was unexpected