‘Why is there an empathic reaction from Laxana?!’
Wendy stared hard at Astreia, his mind still racing to process the earth-shattering changes that had just occurred.
That was the empathic link from Thorn Kiss! A direct feedback rooted in the soul!
‘Even that can be faked?!’
“It’s simple, you know.”
Astreia watched Wendy’s “worldview crumbling” expression, and the pleasure inside her nearly overflowed. She loved seeing him like this—panicked to death on the inside, yet still forcing calm and digging for the truth.
Too cute.
Her Highness the Princess elegantly snapped her fingers.
A wisp of light purple mana drifted up, like a firefly with a life of its own, spiraling around her fair, slender index fingertip. That faint, almost imperceptible glow was incredibly agile, constantly shifting shapes in the air—
Sometimes turning into a fluttering butterfly, then coalescing into two budding roses, and even mimicking a miniature outline of Wendy’s handsome face.
Every transformation was fluid and natural, lifelike, displaying a mastery that was startling.
Wendy watched this magical effect that rivaled a holographic projection, his brows furrowing deeper.
“Your mana control has gotten stronger… but what does that have to do with the game just now?”
‘At best, that explains how you mimicked Laxana’s scent, but how do you explain the bone-deep empathic current?’
“Idiot, you still don’t get it?”
Laxana, who had finally recovered from her shame and shock, rolled her eyes at him and actively started explaining.
Though she too was a victim of this “deception,” as a top-tier mage with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, she had clearly been won over by the technique Astreia had demonstrated.
“Yesterday afternoon, after Astreia left my mother, she mastered a deeper theory of mana application.”
Miss Klein’s expression turned serious, her violet eyes shimmering with the light of academic discussion.
“Everything in this world—from you and me to the air and stones—the most basic constituent unit is ‘Ether.'”
“And ‘Ether’ is essentially the smallest particle of mana.”
She extended a finger and gently tapped the dancing purple light at Astreia’s fingertip.
“Simply put, if our control over mana can reach infinite precision and power, theoretically, we could create everything from nothing, just like the gods!”
“Hiss—!”
Wendy gasped, his mind flashing with crazy concepts like “hand-building a Gundam” or “turning stone into gold.”
‘This worldview suddenly got way more epic!’
Yet even so, he still couldn’t connect this grand “Creation Theory” to that steamy little game just now.
“But that still doesn’t explain the empathy!”
“That’s because you’re a magic idiot, Wendy!”
Astreia finally couldn’t help laughing. She withdrew her mana, stepped forward, and looked at Wendy with the expression of someone teaching a dense student.
“Explaining it to him like that won’t work, Shanna. Watch me.”
She raised her hand again.
This time, the light purple mana didn’t form trinkets. Instead, like a layer of flowing liquid crystal, it quickly spread across her face.
Light and shadow twisted; lines reshaped.
In just one second, a lifelike “mask” had formed.
That face was identical to Laxana’s standing beside her!
Whether it was the lively violet eyes, the slightly upturned nose with a hint of smugness, or even the scent and body odor—everything was restored without a flaw.
Wendy’s pupils contracted sharply.
‘So that’s it… She wore Laxana’s “face” to kiss me!’
‘But… the empathy?!’
“Still don’t get it?”
Astreia’s voice came from under the mask belonging to “Laxana,” tinged with amusement.
“The key isn’t who I turned into, but where my kiss landed.”
She looked at Wendy, then at Laxana, whose face was bright red and seemed to have already guessed something.
Her Highness’s mischievous smile grew even richer. Suddenly, she reached out, wrapped her arm around Laxana’s slender waist, and ignoring the Miss’s surprised cry and struggle, forcefully pulled her in front of herself.
Then, under Wendy and Laxana’s horrified gazes—
Astreia, in front of Wendy, lowered her head with that face wearing the “Laxana” mask and gently kissed the real Laxana.
“Mmph—!”
Miss Klein was immediately struck as if by lightning, her eyes wide, her mind blank.
And almost at the same instant!
Wendy felt a familiar, tingling empathic current surge through the Thorn Kiss link from Laxana’s side again!
Though this sensation wasn’t as strong as before, the soul-deep throb was absolutely unmistakable!
‘So… that’s how it is?!’
Wendy had a complete epiphany.
He finally understood.
Astreia’s cheating method was absolutely genius!
The first kiss wasn’t Astreia kissing him at all!
It was Astreia wearing Laxana’s mask, forcibly kissing Laxana!
Through this method, she perfectly transferred three elements—”Laxana’s scent,” “Laxana’s genuine reaction to being kissed,” and “the empathic current”—all to him at once!
It was a nearly perfect deception!
All the information he perceived came from the real Laxana!
And the second kiss, from Laxana herself, was made abnormal by Astreia’s manipulation.
That’s why the two sensations were so similar—because the source was the same person!
Putting it all together, Wendy’s gaze toward Astreia became incredibly complex.
‘This woman…’
‘Not only is she a monster in combat, now her brain has become this terrifying?!’
“Well? My prince?”
Astreia released Laxana, who was so weak she could barely stand. The latter was too embarrassed to even lift her head, wanting nothing more than to crawl into a hole.
Her Highness walked up to Wendy with a smile, extended her index finger, and gently lifted his chin.
“Did you enjoy my little magic trick?”
“So then, now—”
Astreia’s smile turned dangerous, and her emerald star-like eyes blazed with a hunting flame.
“Game over. It’s time for the real… punishment time, ♪”
Before the words faded, she suddenly lunged, pressing down toward Wendy on the bed!
Wendy was startled and tried to dodge, but found his wrist caught by another soft little hand.
“Hey!”
It was Laxana!
The young lady, who had just been humiliated to the point of death, now had a strange blush mixed with revenge and excitement on her face, gripping him tightly to prevent escape.
“Astreia kissed me! You’re the culprit, so don’t think you can run!”
“You two—!”
In that instant of hesitation, Astreia’s powerful and surprisingly supple voluptuous body slammed heavily onto Wendy.
Then, Laxana let out a shriek and was pulled along by Astreia, both falling onto the soft bed.
On the left, Astreia—hot and sweet like a ripe peach in the scorching sun.
On the right, Laxana—delicate and tempting like a violet milk candy.
One on each side, sandwiching him in the middle.
The prince’s brain completely shut down.
Two freshly bathed bodies, only wrapped in bathrobes, pressed against him.
“Since you guessed wrong, I’m going to… take away your most important thing, ♪”
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