Movira’s fingertip slowly drew circles in Seraphina’s palm, carrying a certain suggestive meaning. “The right to interpret the rules rests with me. If I say three times, then it’s three times.”
“You… you’re clearly twisting words and forcing logic!” Seraphina could only express her protest through rebuttal and glaring eyes. The gap between the two of them was not just a little bit.
“What? Unconvinced?” Movira’s voice softened even further, her body also quietly drawing closer, the tip of her nose almost touching Seraphina’s side face.
“Or is it… that you want to cash in one ‘punishment’ right now? For example…”
Her gaze deliberately swept over Seraphina’s lips that were trembling from nervousness.
This dangerous line of sight made Seraphina not dare to move at all, because even movements indicating refusal were counted as violating the rules. The flush on her cheeks rapidly spread.
If she had known earlier she wouldn’t have accepted it!
At the beginning she had felt it was nothing, just a boring word game! But…
“Mmph… wuwu!” She wanted to say words of refusal, yet forced them back down, and could only let out vague whimpers as she lowered her head and pressed her scalding forehead against Movira’s collarbone, tactfully signaling her not to do that.
Movira was thoroughly delighted by this cute reaction of hers and finally released Seraphina’s hand, instead gently stroking the back of her head.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. These three times will be remembered for now, depending on your performance from here on.”
These seemingly tolerant words only made Seraphina feel even more dangerous, like a Damocles’ sword hanging over her head, never knowing when it would fall!
Seraphina pouted and muttered softly, this time carefully avoiding all sensitive words, “…You just know how to bully me.”
“Hmm?” Hearing this, Movira leaned in a little closer again, her warm breath once more filling Seraphina’s outer ear.
“I’m bullying you? Why don’t you think about what you did to me last night? Besides, I’m clearly ‘educating’ you to follow the rules. Furthermore…”
She dragged out her tone, tightened her arms once more, and further closed the already small distance between them until it was completely eliminated. “Just now, who was it that actively sat on my lap? Doesn’t this mean you silently allowed my ‘bullying’ of you?
Oh my, looking at it this way, my dear even has a tendency toward masochism!”
“You…!” Seraphina was so angered by this black-and-white-reversed speech that she wanted to bite someone, and on top of that the last sentence…
Of course she wasn’t that perverted! But… she also couldn’t refute it… In the end she could only abruptly raise her head, all the words stuck in her throat and unable to come out.
Movira had by this point already realized that today’s teasing had been about enough.
If it continued like this it would definitely reverse into the opposite extreme, so she quit while she was ahead, patted Seraphina’s back, and her tone also returned to normal.
“Alright, let’s talk about proper business. Regarding those things Lina said to you just now… aren’t you planning to recount them once? Perhaps I can help with something.”
Seraphina repeatedly looked at Movira, as if confirming whether the other truly wanted to discuss proper business with her, and not pretending in order to launch the next “surprise attack.”
“What are you worrying about?”
“Nothing…”
Seraphina told Movira about those matters concerning Lina.
Movira only nodded and said, “I understand. Then what are your thoughts?”
Seraphina was so angry she rolled her eyes at her and said, “You don’t have a single opinion of your own! Asking me about everything!”
“Isn’t that still relying on you? My Seraphina’s head is much more clever than this one of mine!” Movira’s arms gently swayed around Seraphina’s waist, her voice lowered and softened.
This was clearly coaxing talk, and Seraphina found it very pleasing.
She slightly raised her chin, the corners of her mouth also unable to help adding a bit of a curve. “That’s right! That’s right! Hmph.”
Afterward, Seraphina collected her expression. “What I’m thinking is, regarding Lina’s… it’s best to also let Dekalorin know. As for Saint Eustacia… Lina probably won’t be very willing.
Besides, Dekalorin has long since stopped appearing frequently and is no longer the leader of the Holy See, yet her influence still solidly exists. This way, if she provides help under her personal name, it will be much more convenient, and the resistance will also be smaller.”
Movira nodded in agreement. “Mm, that makes sense. Dekalorin is indeed far more reliable than that thick-headed Saint Eustacia, and she handles matters more smoothly and with more skill.”
Seraphina then thought of something else and sighed.
“However… I also don’t know whether Dekalorin will agree. Her only goal is handling the matter of ‘Rusting Dawn.’ Regarding Lina’s revenge… or even restoring the country, it probably isn’t within the scope of her considerations.
After all, the people involved in this whole series of events are truly far too many. Will she really wade into this muddy water?”
“She will be willing.” Perhaps it was from understanding of an old friend, or perhaps insight into an enemy, Movira’s tone was very certain.
“You just need to open your mouth and speak, or add that this is beneficial to the stability of the Demon Realm, and she absolutely will not refuse!”
Seraphina asked back in confusion: “If you said it was beneficial to the stability of the human camp that would still make sense, but why specifically say beneficial to the stability of the Demon Realm… Is this beneficial to the humans?”
“How is that not possible? It seems the clever Seraphina still has moments of being a bit dumb!” Movira lightly tapped Seraphina’s nose, making the other hurriedly pry her hand away.
“If you’re going to say it then just say it! Why mess with me…”
“Alright, alright. Rather than saying she hopes to see the stability of the Demon Realm, it’s better to say that we both hope for the stability of the opposing camp.
This way both sides have reasons to mobilize the warmongers inside, and also have reasons to unite the various mixed forces inside.
It’s more beneficial for maintaining the balance of power between both sides, and preventing a third party from driving the wolf to swallow the tiger.”
Seraphina blinked her eyes.
This kind of dynamic balance was indeed much better than one side being superior to the other.
Clearly if it had been her previous self, she would definitely have been able to figure it out!
But why now… had she become dumb?
“Mm… I understand.” She responded, then remembered another concerning question. “Then… what about Saint Eustacia? Just now you told Lina that you wouldn’t let her see Saint Eustacia again in the short term. What’s going on? You… didn’t do anything to her, right? You really can’t lock her up or put her under house arrest!”
This tense appearance made Movira a little amused. She reached out and pinched her cheek as she said:
“Calm down a little. I’m not that stupid yet. Calling it house arrest isn’t quite accurate either. I just had Erasia go ‘accompany’ her for a while.
Of course, if she chooses to wander around, I won’t stop her either. I only told her not to meet with Lina again recently, and also to let her calm down a bit.”
“Calm down? What’s wrong with her?”
Seraphina pressed further, thinking of the scene of Saint Eustacia and Lina meeting yesterday.
“Nothing major. It’s just… her mood is a bit low. Being accused by Lina like that was quite an impact for her. It’s just that the time…”