Chapter 153: Layana’s Devilish Whisper

The voice from outside the door was steady and clear.

Like the bells of evening prayer, it carried an undeniable force.

“Layana, my old friend.”

“Open the door. This time… we need to have a proper talk.”

It was Prime Minister Allison!

Laxana’s pupils contracted instantly.

Why would she come here? And with that official, storm-brewing tone.

The mischievous smile on Layana’s face, the one she used to tease her daughter, faded slightly.

She cast a meaningful glance at Laxana, as if to say: “See? Trouble’s come knocking.”

The Dean stood up, glided elegantly to the door, and opened it with a casual pull.

Outside the door stood two people.

At the front was none other than Cardinal Allison Visseran, Prime Minister of Valoran.

Her expression was grave, her deep eyes filled with exhaustion.

Behind her, with a tense face, was the Little Queen, Yekaterina.

Seeing Laxana inside as well, Yekaterina’s body visibly stiffened.

Her gaze darted away, unable to meet Laxana’s eyes.

“I received the letter.”

Layana was the first to break the silence.

She didn’t even invite the two in, just leaned lazily against the doorframe, her beautiful violet eyes surveying them with interest.

“The contents were interesting, but not detailed enough. I’d like to hear it from those involved.”

Yekaterina shuddered under her soul-piercing gaze, instinctively wanting to hide behind Allison.

Allison stepped forward, calm and unwavering, shielding the Queen with her presence.

“Layana, this is serious. It concerns the future of Valoran.”

“Oh? The future of Valoran?”

Layana chuckled lightly and finally stepped aside.

“Then come in and let’s talk. I’m quite curious what kind of matter could make an old fox like you so restless.”

***

Inside the study, the air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.

Encouraged by Allison’s eyes, Yekaterina took a deep breath, straightened her back slightly, and recounted everything that had happened over the past two days in as calm a tone as possible.

From that night at the palace gates, with Astreia’s sudden appearance.

To Laxana passing out from pain due to the Empathic Link.

Then to this morning, the glaring Magical Collar in the dining hall, and Wendy’s indulgent, seemingly blissful expression…

As Yekaterina spoke, Laxana’s expression grew darker.

Traitor!

The Little Queen spilled everything.

Now, Astreia and Wendy were really going to become new specimens lined up together in Mom’s lab!

Yet, unlike her and Yekaterina’s horror, Layana showed no shock after hearing the story.

In those beautiful violet eyes, something close to fervor lit up.

“Interesting, too interesting!”

The Dean slapped her thigh in excitement, jumped up from her chair, and began pacing the room, muttering to herself.

“To endure such a powerful mental stimulus and not lose control, but instead enter a relatively stable symbiotic state?”

“A perfect balance of reason and desire… No, not balance, but a whole new Dominion Mode! She turned her own desire into the reins binding her possessions, and by mastering her possessions, stabilized her own reason in return…”

“My goodness! This is a case never before seen in any textbook! A discovery great enough to overturn all conclusions in the Tome of Dark Erosion!”

Allison and Yekaterina listened to these near-mad words, chills running down their spines.

“Layana!”

The Prime Minister finally couldn’t take it, breaking the Dean’s self-absorbed trance.

“This isn’t the time for academic discussion. We want to know if there’s a solution.”

“Help?”

Layana stopped walking, turned to them with a smile of certainty.

“Of course I’ll help them.”

“Solution?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“The solution is simple. Send Princess Astreia and the interesting Prince Wendy to Central Academy.”

Her tone was as casual as inviting someone for afternoon tea.

“At Central Academy, we have the most advanced magic suppression barriers and the most comprehensive knowledge systems. I’ll personally teach her how to understand, control, and ultimately master this power.”

“As for Prince Wendy—”

Layana’s gaze shifted to Laxana, the corners of her mouth curving playfully.

“As the key tool for stabilizing the witch’s emotions, of course he must be brought along for thorough observation…”

“You wish!”

Laxana finally erupted.

She leapt from the bed, flailing her arms to block Layana’s path.

“I absolutely will not let you treat them as lab specimens!”

Miss Klein’s eyes were red as she pointed at her own mother’s nose, bringing up old grievances.

“Do you remember Shan Shan?! The Elemental Sprite I raised since childhood! Just because you wanted to study the spatial magic patterns on its wings, you turned it into a specimen while I was away!”

“And what about that time in the Weeping Mountains?! You called it ‘training,’ but really you just wanted to see how much Three-Headed Demon Serpent neurotoxin I could endure for your firsthand experimental data!”

“And now you want to use my friends! Layana Klein, you have no heart!”

Her anguished accusations plunged Allison and Yekaterina into silence.

They knew Layana was a magic maniac, but not to the point of disowning her own kin.

Yet faced with her daughter’s outrage, Layana showed neither guilt nor anger.

Instead, she smiled indulgently.

She walked up to Laxana, ignoring her defensive posture, and gently patted her head.

“My foolish daughter, do you really think I do it all just for research?”

She bent down, whispering words meant for only the two of them.

“Think about it. What is Central Academy?”

“A place of strict rules, tight security, and my eyes everywhere.”

“Once Astreia enters, as a royal princess, she’ll be buried under magic theory courses, physical training, and endless lessons on controlling her powers. She’ll be so busy she won’t have time—much less opportunity—to cling to her toy every day like now.”

Laxana stiffened all over.

Layana caught the change, her smile deepening.

“Then, a man alone in his room every day, with no one watching over him… Don’t you even want a taste?”

Boom—

The words exploded in Laxana’s ears like thunder.

Her reason screamed that it was a trap—her devilish mother’s seduction!

Yet a tide of emotion crashed through the dam of reason in an instant.

Unbidden, a scene unfolded in Miss Klein’s mind.

In the ancient, grand library of Central Academy, sunlight streamed through stained glass in the afternoon, painting dappled patterns across the floor.

Wendy sat alone in a corner, his face forlorn, his charming eyes stripped of their usual mischief and replaced by heartbreaking vulnerability.

And she—she appeared before him like a ray of light.

She would reach out her hand, saying softly: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

She would take him to the Astrology Tower to watch falling stars, or to the Mist Forest to pick the sweetest berries, or use her most powerful magic to drive away all his fears and shadows.

He would grow to rely on her, trust her…

And finally, on some silent night, he would lie on the bed, the collar belonging to Astreia gone from his neck, replaced by a crystal-silver chain she placed there herself…