Chapter 149: The Pet Prince, the Little Queen’s Fear!

Yekaterina did not sleep a wink all night.

The soft, luxurious bed in her Bedroom now felt like it was covered with sharp nails, making her toss and turn, unable to find rest.

In her mind, the scenes from yesterday evening replayed over and over again.

Her sister’s eyes—no longer pure, now clouded with a strange, demonic purple.

Wendy’s broken, fragile, pale face peeking through the door crack.

And Laxana, that foolish woman, surrounded by Physicians and Priests, tormented for half the night.

Although her life was saved, the mental shock had been so severe that she remained unconscious, only able to mutter, “Don’t… don’t cut anymore…”

Yekaterina scratched her head in frustration, feeling for the first time that things had spiraled completely out of her control.

She was like a mischievous child blowing up fish in a pond—thinking everything was under control, only to awaken an Ancient Leviathan that had slumbered at the bottom since ancient times.

Now, this awakened monster was using its cold eyes to scrutinize every small fish in the pond.

Including the mischievous child herself.

“Grrr…”

Her stomach growled at an inopportune moment.

Forget it, even if the sky is falling, I have to eat first.

Yekaterina forced herself to perk up, changed into her regular clothes, and headed to the Royal Dining Room.

She desperately needed to know what had happened behind that door last night.

Was Wendy… still alive?

With the anxious feeling of walking to her own execution, she pushed open the heavy dining room doors.

Then, she froze.

The bloody scene she had imagined did not appear.

The dining room was as neat and bright as ever.

Morning sunlight streamed through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating even the dust in the air.

At the head of the table, Astreia was elegantly slicing the meat on her plate.

She wasn’t wearing her usual heavy armor today, just a simple white shirt.

Her golden hair draped casually over her shoulders, making her look like a regular noblewoman—spirited and radiant.

If one ignored the dark purple chain she was absentmindedly playing with in her other hand.

The other end of the chain was fastened around someone’s neck.

That person was Wendy.

“……..”

Yekaterina’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.

Wendy was alive.

He looked… perhaps even “good.”

He wore a white shirt matching Astreia’s, and though his face was still a bit pale, color had returned.

He sat quietly beside Astreia, a gentle, even doting smile on his face.

But that purple-black collar around his neck—crafted entirely from pure magic, adorned with thorn patterns—was blindingly conspicuous!

That collar was like a brand declaring ownership, tightly locked around his neck, announcing his new identity.

Pet.

“Little Lina, what are you doing at the door? Come, sit.”

Astreia’s voice snapped Yekaterina out of her stupor.

She looked up, and her sister offered her an incomparably gentle smile.

The gray-purple in her eyes had faded, but traces still lingered.

“Yes… Elder Sister.”

Yekaterina felt as if her legs were filled with lead.

She trudged step by step to the table and sat at the farthest seat from the twisted pair.

Her mind was blank, with only two words flashing repeatedly.

Holy shit!

Holy shit!!

Holy shit, is this for real?!

“Today’s venison is very tender, Wendy, have a taste.”

Astreia cut off a small piece of juicy venison and offered it to Wendy with a silver fork.

To Yekaterina’s astonishment, Wendy showed no resistance.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly, opened his mouth, and obediently accepted the meat.

He chewed slowly, then smiled radiantly at Astreia, eyes brimming with happiness and love so intense it nearly overflowed.

“Delicious.”

His voice was hoarse, as if from a hangover, but so tender it could melt water.

“Anything you feed me tastes good.”

“Pff—-”

The mouthful of milk Yekaterina had just drunk nearly sprayed out.

The Little Queen clamped her mouth shut, barely maintaining her composure, but violent coughing turned her face red.

Damn!

This dog food is poisonous!

Astreia looked over in concern.

“What’s wrong, Little Lina? You look awful. Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Yekaterina instantly felt as if an invisible hand had seized her heart, making it hard to breathe.

It was here!

She’s here! She’s come with that “I know everything but won’t say it” nuclear smile!

“N-no problem.”

The Little Queen forced a smile uglier than crying.

“Just… a bit worried about Laxana, not sure how she’s doing.”

In critical moments, pulling a teammate as a shield was basic survival.

“Oh, Little Shana? I asked the Physician.”

Astreia’s smile didn’t change as she played with the chain, its light “clatter” echoing.

“She’s fine. She just got a bit too excited yesterday, overextended herself. A few days’ rest will do.”

Excited?

Overextended?

Yekaterina nearly choked again.

Sister, do you call passing out from pain “excited”?

Do you even understand the meaning of the word “excited”?

As she raged internally, an even more explosive scene unfolded.

Wendy, sitting beside Astreia, actually picked up a peeled grape and brought it to Astreia’s lips.

His movements were so intimate, they might have been a couple married for ten years.

“You eat too. You must be exhausted these days.”

Astreia seemed to thoroughly enjoy the prince’s feeding.

She opened her mouth and accepted the grape, her gray-violet eyes narrowing in satisfaction like a cat being petted.

Then, as if remembering something, she flicked her wrist.

“Clatter.”

The chain was gently pulled.

Wendy’s body immediately followed the motion, obediently leaning into her, his head resting on Astreia’s shoulder, nuzzling close.

The entire action was smooth, natural.

As if he was born to be treated this way.

“…….”

Yekaterina was speechless.

She stared at Wendy—the man who, just two nights ago, had plotted with her under the table and sparred with Laxana.

She looked at the expression on his face—utterly absorbed in love and bliss.

And at last, she understood.

It’s over. All over.

Prince Wendy had been thoroughly trained into a plush toy!

He must have confessed everything to her sister!

A terror unlike any she’d felt before surged through Yekaterina, like an icy pond swallowing her whole.

She had once believed herself a cunning hunter, with Wendy and Laxana as mere pieces on her board.

Now she realized she wasn’t the player at all.

Like them, she was just another dish on a more powerful, terrifying monster’s plate.

The only difference: Laxana had been devoured to near death, Wendy had been eaten willingly, and she—

She was the appetizer the monster hadn’t even touched yet.

“I… I’m full!”

Yekaterina could not sit any longer.

She sprang from her chair, using every ounce of strength to keep her legs from buckling.

“I just remembered I have some state affairs to handle. Elder Sister, Prince Wendy, you… enjoy your meal!”

With that, she fled, abandoning all sense of royal decorum.

Behind her, Astreia’s laughing voice echoed.

“Go ahead. Don’t tire yourself out.”

That gentle warning struck Yekaterina’s ears more like a curse from the depths of hell.

She dashed back to her Bedroom, slammed the door shut, and pressed her back to it, gasping for breath.

Her back was already soaked in cold sweat.

What should I do?

What do I do now?

Laxana was out of commission, Wendy was lost.

She was alone.

No, not even a person anymore.

In her sister’s eyes, she probably wasn’t much different from Wendy—a backup toy.

A thought rose uncontrollably from the depths of Yekaterina’s mind.

I must—I must find a new ally!

Someone powerful enough to resist—even suppress—this witchified elder sister!

But in the entire capital, who had such power?

In the Little Queen’s mind, the names of countless nobles flashed by, only to be dismissed one by one.

Suddenly, her thoughts froze on a single name.

The person who had supported her quietly from the beginning.

A Cardinal holding immense power—loyal, yet never blindly so.

The Prime Minister of Valoran.

Allison Visseran!