The sudden reversal of roles caused the Witch’s brain to stall for several seconds.
Wendy’s mind, however, was crystal clear.
In truth, during these last few days, he had already discovered a problem he had previously overlooked.
Although Astreia flirted and tempted him to the extreme every day, playing with him until his body was weak and limp, she always stopped abruptly at that final step, just as they reached the threshold.
This agonizing sensation was a playful flirtation once or twice, but after many occurrences, it began to feel strangely eerie.
Why would she do this?
At first, Wendy was bewildered, even suspecting for a time that his charm was insufficient to make this proud Princess truly fall.
It wasn’t until just now, amidst the lingering atmosphere and pressure, that a flash of inspiration struck his mind, giving birth to a thought so bold it was almost absurd.
‘Is it… not that she doesn’t want to continue, but that she can’t?’
Just like during their “training” back at the Royal Palace, every time Astreia entered her Witch State, she required him to perform that utterly humiliating “Purification Ritual” before she could return to normal and become the blushing, shy Princess Royal again.
But what if there was no “Purification”?
What if he simply complied and surrendered?
Would that mean the “Witch” personality could maintain dominance over this body until it completely devoured the part belonging to “Astreia”?
With this realization, everything became clear in Wendy’s mind.
The act of kissing her ankle through the stockings just now had been his gamble.
And her sudden loss of control, the violent reaction that shattered her aura, was the best proof!
“You…”
Astreia finally regained a sliver of reason from the waves of numbing, electric sensations.
She wanted to withdraw her leg, but she found her entire body limp, unable to muster any strength.
That long, beautiful leg held in the crook of Wendy’s arm felt as if it didn’t belong to her at all, able only to tremble weakly.
She could only use her voice, which carried a distinct tremor, to try and bring up their previous agreement in a final struggle.
“It is… daytime now… Your duty is to be a guardian… How can you offend me…”
Her words were jumbled and lacked logic, possessing none of the Witch’s majesty.
Instead, she sounded like she was acting spoiled.
Wendy looked up, his face wearing an innocent yet serious expression as he easily interrupted her.
“It is precisely because it’s daytime and my time as a guardian that I must take the initiative. Haven’t you noticed? The source of this curse isn’t in your limbs at all, but near your heart.”
As he spoke, his warm palm moved upward along her graceful curves.
His fingertips brushed over the supple calf, feeling the muscles tighten slightly beneath his touch.
He continued upward, passing the soft back of the knee that still felt tender even under the covering of black silk.
He even mischievously lowered his head to place another gentle kiss on the back of her knee.
“Ugh…”
Astreia trembled violently again, a stifled cry of extreme distress escaping her throat as her eyes instantly filled with a watery mist.
She instinctively tried to press her knees together, but she was held firmly in place by Wendy’s arm, unable to move.
The Prince did not stop.
He continued upward.
He slid past the area barely covered by her pleated mini-skirt, a domain full of startling curves and elasticity.
The temperature in that area was more burning than anywhere else on her body.
Eventually, he came to a firm stop on Astreia’s flat abdomen.
He looked up, gazing at that beautiful face which was already flushed deep red and radiant.
His words were solemn, his tone as serious as if he were reciting the scriptures of the Holy Institute.
“I can feel it. The core of the curse is right here. Through some evil Magic conduction, it causes your heart rate to accelerate, your body temperature to rise, and your consciousness to become clouded. As your most loyal guardian, I must perform a further examination to find the ultimate method to eradicate the curse.”
This solemn fabrication left Astreia completely speechless.
She felt her body growing hotter and hotter, her heart pounding as if it were about to jump out of her chest.
Every beat thundered in her ears.
‘This isn’t a “curse” at all!’
‘This is clearly… it’s…’
Before she could speak, Wendy made a new move.
Using the excuse of checking the core of the curse, his free hand reached for the buttons of the ivory-white shirt covering Astreia’s chest.
“To more accurately locate the Magic fluctuations of the curse, I need direct contact with your skin. Please do not move, lest you affect my judgment.”
His tone was like that of a Physician who was rigorous to the point of being harsh.
His actions, however, were full of an irresistible aggression.
Astreia watched Wendy with wide eyes, watching as he pinched the first button.
His cool fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushed against her burning skin, triggering a series of small shudders.
Click.
The button popped open.
Beneath the ivory-white fabric was lingerie the same color as her uniform, adorned with exquisite lace.
It perfectly wrapped and lifted her proud contours, outlining a breathtaking curve.
Wendy’s breath hitched for a moment.
But he quickly adjusted, his face maintaining that “professional” expression as his fingers continued downward.
Click.
The second button.
The restrictive uniform was peeled back layer by layer, and the soul-stirring, snowy scenery was revealed bit by bit before his eyes.
It was like a sacred mountain hidden by clouds, slowly revealing its awe-inspiring and conquest-worthy true face in the morning light.
An iceberg crashed into magma.
Wendy felt his blood rushing faster, every cell in his body screaming with desire.
Click.
The third button.
When the last button was undone, the entire shirt lost its restraint and fell open to the sides.
The cleavage tightly hugged by the lace lingerie was revealed without any cover, rising and falling violently with its owner’s rapid breathing.
Every heave seemed to challenge the limits of visual endurance.
Extreme Sanctity and extreme Descent merged perfectly at this moment, forming a demonic portrait enough to make any saint fall.
Astreia finally realized the true danger.
It didn’t come from any randomly made-up “curse,” but from the Prince in front of her, whose gaze had begun to change!
She panicked.
The Witch who had dominated everything and played with the Prince in the palm of her hand was now long gone.
In her place was a helpless and longing Princess Royal who had been backed into a corner.
She instinctively wanted to retreat, to escape this situation of being scrutinized and controlled.
This was a strange predicament she had never experienced before, one that made her soul tremble from its depths.
But just as her body moved back 1 inch, a hand firmly pressed down on her shoulder, pushing her back into the sofa without a hint of pity.
Wendy leaned down, his hot breath fanning over her delicate neck, triggering a dense patch of goosebumps.
“Your Highness, don’t be in a rush.”
“The preliminary examination is complete. Now —”
The Prince’s voice paused as his lips gently bit into her reddened earlobe.
“The ‘Purification Ritual’ will enter the next stage.”