Su Ling sat dazed in her chair, her eyes somewhat vacant. She did not quite understand why she had just said those things.
Even though she didn’t truly think that way in her heart, those words seemed to burst from her throat, beyond her control.
‘Am I being controlled?’
She tried hard to recall what had just happened, but her mind felt like a chaotic mess. That invisible force seemed to still be lingering in her body, making it difficult for her to clear her thoughts.
“I like you, Your Highness. I like you the most… Please enjoy me.”
Even while she was thinking, her mouth seemed to have disconnected from her brain, continuously uttering nonsense. Along with this came a slight heat in her body, as if she had a mild fever.
The silver-haired girl’s small face turned slightly red as she looked up dazed to meet Sista’s gaze. Her lovely ruby eyes were filled with Sista’s reflection. Her pair of jade-white hands had already abandoned the utensils and pastries, reaching out urgently, wanting to touch Sista’s cheek.
Looking at that coquettish appearance, Sista’s expression momentarily became complex. The light in her golden eyes flickered and dimmed before regaining its usual color.
“It turned out like this after all…”
She seemed to be speaking to Su Ling, yet also to herself. She grabbed Su Ling’s hand, holding it gently in her palm, followed by a long sigh.
“Your Highness, what are you saying?” Su Ling asked in confusion. “Did I do something wrong?”
“It is nothing. Just eat your food for now.”
Sista gently stroked Su Ling’s silver hair, her tone becoming much softer.
Su Ling mechanically picked up her knife and fork and continued eating the food in front of her. However, her sense of taste seemed to have vanished, and she could no longer appreciate the deliciousness of those exquisite pastries.
Everything was fake.
Sista had intentionally used her Ability to control Su Ling’s behavior, forcing her to speak those words.
That woman’s desire for control had escalated from simple physical imprisonment to Mental Control. The current Su Ling was like a body whose soul had been siphoned away, only capable of expressing emotions according to Sista’s will.
‘Sista, why? Do you really like this Roleplay?’
She could not ask the question out loud. She could only hope to find an answer from that cold face, but Sista remained silent and expressionless.
Natural light spilled down, casting half of the black-haired girl’s face into shadow.
Su Ling felt very uneasy, yet she didn’t know what to do. She could only allow herself to continue playing this nonsensical role in this eerie atmosphere.
In the quiet bedroom, neither of them spoke. The slight clinking of knife and fork against the plates echoed in the air, sounding particularly lonely and strange.
Once the meal was finally over, Sista pulled on Su Ling’s leash, turned around, and looked out the window at the sunny day.
Through the damp, exquisite window, a vibrant scene came into view. In the garden outside, the trees were lush and the branches were thick with leaves, the deep emerald green spreading out wantonly like spilled ink.
Amidst the greenery, the noisy chirping of cicadas rose and fell. They were hidden deep within the layers of verdant leaves, leaving behind only those clear and passionate cries.
“I hate the sun. However, if you humans do not bask in The Sun, your bodies will become weak.”
Looking at the pleasant summer scenery, Sista’s voice also became calm. “Come for a walk in the garden with me.”
She still showed no intention of loosening the collar.
“Okay! I want to go with Your Highness!”
A vibrant smile bloomed on Su Ling’s face.
“Then let’s go together. Wait, change your clothes first.”
Sista called out softly, and the maid outside walked in with light steps, holding a set of fresh clothes in her hands.
Su Ling stood up and allowed the maid to change her into this new outfit, her eyes full of curiosity as she examined the garment.
It was a gold-colored tulle dress with bubble sleeves. The light purple tulle was layered gently over a white lining, the two colors complementing each other.
The length of the skirt was just right, falling exactly at the curves of Su Ling’s knees and exposing her lower legs. It was not too revealing, yet it showcased the girl’s agility and playfulness.
For some reason, ever since she had been confined in Summer Castle, every piece of clothing Sista made her wear fit her perfectly, as if they had been tailored specifically to her measurements.
Whether it was the collar, the cuffs, or the waistline, they fit Su Ling’s figure perfectly.
However, Su Ling did not like the feeling of being dressed up like a doll.
“Turn around and let me see,” Sista commanded.
Su Ling obediently turned in a circle, her skirt fluttering with her movements like layering, swaying petals.
The sunlight filtered through the tulle onto her fair skin, her complexion white with a hint of red, making the girl look even more pure and flawless.
Sista narrowed her eyes slightly, a flicker of satisfied light flashing in her blood-red pupils.
“You look truly beautiful.”
Her cold voice offered a word of praise, as if talking to herself.
“The… The dress Your Highness gave me is indeed beautiful,” Su Ling responded submissively.
“I was talking about you.”
The silver-haired girl immediately showed a bashful expression.
“Thank… thank you, Your Highness.”
“Let’s go.”
Sista took Su Ling’s hand, opened a pure white parasol, and led her out of the bedroom.
As the afternoon sun fell upon them, Su Ling felt a wave of warmth that was entirely different from the unpleasant, gloomy cold of the underground room.
In the garden, colorful flowers competed to bloom. Although Summer Castle was nowhere near as grand as Hailuosen, the garden was designed to be small and exquisite.
Green hedges, carved fountains, and stone paths were all present. The seasonal flowers of summer were also in bud, with buds of all sizes hidden among the green leaves, showing a burst of vitality.
However, Su Ling’s heart could not find peace.
She didn’t know what Sista really wanted, nor did she know how much longer she could endure this fake Roleplay. Summer Castle was a birdcage that looked beautiful but was actually terrifying.
It was constantly putting pressure on her nerves.
“Su Ling, you are 16 years old this year, right?”
Walking side by side with her on the small stone path, Sista asked.
“Yes, I am already 16.”
“Your appearance has matured, and you’ve grown taller,” Sista remarked. She crouched down by the man-made stream, her pale hand scooping up a handful of clear water. “The Human Race truly grows fast.”
After a moment’s pause, Sista’s gaze fell upon Su Ling’s reflection in the water. In the clear water, the silver-haired girl looked delicate and exquisite.
“Without realizing it, summer has already arrived. You entered Hailuosen Castle around this time last year.”
Su Ling was somewhat surprised. Sista actually remembered everything about her so clearly. As a Princess, there were clearly many other things in her life that she needed to worry about.
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