Royal Palace Rear Garden, in a secluded corridor.
Wendy and Laxana walked one after the other in silence.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of post-rain earth, mixed with the sweet fragrance from the distant flowerbeds, but none of it could dispel the heavy tension between them that almost seemed tangible.
Astreia wanted to follow, but Wendy stopped her with an apologetic yet resolute gaze.
She could only stand at the restaurant door with the equally troubled Little Queen, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the greenery, her face full of worry.
Laxana’s steps were slow. Her high-heeled boots tapped crisply yet sluggishly against the stone path.
It was as if she was gathering her strength or organizing her thoughts.
The warmth in her stomach had restored her ability to think, but also reignited the humiliation and anger that had been forcibly suppressed for days.
At last, the young lady stopped beside a small fountain carved with angels.
After making sure no one was around, she turned around.
“Speak,”
Laxana’s voice was still hoarse, but now carried a hint of coldness.
“What on earth has been happening these past few days?”
“Before I explain, I must apologize to you first.”
Wendy didn’t avoid her gaze. He bowed slightly, performing an impeccable noble gesture.
“Because of my negligence, I brought you immeasurable trouble and harm.”
“I am truly sorry, Miss Klein.”
His sincerity was overwhelming, and all the accusations Laxana had prepared seemed to land on a cushion, powerless.
“Call me Laxana!”
The young lady snorted, stepped forward, and jabbed her still somewhat trembling finger hard into the Prince’s chest.
“Apologize? If apologies worked, would I need to lie on a bed like a corpse for seven days and seven nights?!”
“Do you know what I went through these days?”
“Ah?!”
Wendy fell silent.
Of course, he didn’t know.
He only knew that he and Astreia had been waging a “tug-of-war of wills” at the peak of desire, each encounter intense and consuming.
But he had completely ignored how this pleasure, through that bizarre “Curse of Empathy” link, became torture inflicted on another person.
Seeing his silence, the fire in Laxana’s chest flared even higher.
“You have no idea!”
She suddenly raised her voice, eyes shimmering with tears.
“I could only hide in my room, lying in bed like a useless wreck! All my strength was drained—I didn’t even want to lift a finger! My mind was filled with… all those… shameless scenes of you two!”
By the last few words, Miss Klein’s cheeks were crimson, whether from anger or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.
“Every time I closed my eyes, I could hear your breathing, feel your body heat, even… even taste the flavor in your mouths…”
Her words halted abruptly, as saying more would be unbearable.
It wasn’t just images.
It was breath, heartbeat, body heat, every tightening and trembling of muscle.
It was the satisfaction and surrender after being utterly conquered by Astreia.
And the taste this Prince left on her lips and teeth…
Upon hearing this, Wendy was shaken to his core.
The extent of empathy was even deeper and more terrifying than he had imagined!
This was no longer mere emotional resonance, but a complete connection of all five senses!
“Laxana, does your Klein Family, as the oldest magical house in Valoran, have any records of the ‘Thorn Kiss’ or the Curse of Empathy? Or… ways to break it?”
He thought this was a reasonable proposal.
But unexpectedly, it instantly ignited all of Laxana’s fury!
“Break it?”
Miss Klein’s eyes widened, locking onto Wendy as if she would devour him whole.
“What?!”
She lowered her voice, each word squeezed from between her teeth, filled with self-mockery and bitterness.
“Do you find me a nuisance?”
“Does the presence of this unnecessary listener disrupt your fun with Astreia?”
“So you want to kick me aside, so you can enjoy yourselves without restraint in the future, right?!”
“Eh???”
Wendy was utterly confused.
What kind of logic was this woman using?
He looked at her pretty face twisted in anger, at a loss.
“That’s not what I meant.”
The Prince forced himself to explain.
“I’m worried about your health. After Astreia’s Witchification, her desire is like a bottomless pit. If it’s not satisfied, she’ll completely lose control. She can use magic to replenish my stamina, so we can keep… going.”
“But you can’t. You’re just an ordinary person. If this continues…”
He hadn’t finished.
“What? You’re saying I can’t?!”
Laxana exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, radiating hysteria.
“I…”
Wendy was now completely lost, feeling like she was dealing with someone unreasonable.
Seeing Wendy’s innocent expression of “you’re making trouble for no reason,” all of Laxana’s rationality shattered.
Why?!
Why do you get to enjoy it while I can only suffer all the pain and aftermath like a pitiful bystander?!
Why do you look at me with those eyes, as if I’m the most troublesome, fragile, useless thing?!
A surge of jealousy, resentment, and madness surged through her.
The young lady lunged!
In the Prince’s stunned gaze, Laxana grabbed the back of his head with both arms, pulling him in fiercely.
Then, she kissed him hard!
“Mm!!!”
Wendy’s eyes widened, his mind going blank.
He instinctively tried to push her away—this was the Royal Palace Rear Garden! What if someone saw…
But Laxana didn’t care, wrapping her legs around him.
Her white high-heeled boots crossed and trapped Wendy, her attack wild and desperate.
She wanted to reclaim all the humiliation she had suffered for seven days and nights, with interest!
She wanted this man to know she wasn’t a passive observer!
She could be… the one in control!
Wendy felt the despair and madness, the trembling intensity, and his resistance crumbled.
Guilt slowly filled his heart.
His tense back relaxed, and an unprecedented impulse overwhelmed reason.
He wanted to use this moment to give her a sliver of comfort, and to say: I see your pain.
Time stretched at this moment, then snapped.
Cold air filled their lungs as they broke apart, both panting and turning their faces away, unsure what to say.
After a while.
It was Laxana who finally broke the suffocating silence.
“You two…”
“Can you… try to restrain yourselves a bit from now on?!”