“Knock, knock, knock!”
Suppressing the fear churning inside her, Lorin knocked once again on Phyllis’ door.
“Come in!”
Phyllis’ voice rang out from the other side. Lorin swallowed nervously.
With a soft click, the door slowly creaked open.
Phyllis was still seated at her desk, casually flipping through the documents Lorin had submitted earlier, her gaze filled with interest.
When she heard the door open, Phyllis glanced over.
Upon seeing that it was Lorin, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
She had been thinking about how to go looking for Lorin—but to her surprise, the girl had come right to her.
And… Looking at Lorin’s damp hair and the freshly changed dress she was wearing, a twinge of annoyance stirred in Phyllis’ heart.
So she really finds me that unpleasant, huh?
Just wait—I’ll make sure this Archmage regrets underestimating me…
“Phyllis, do you want to play a game?”
Lorin brought out the object she had been hiding behind her. It was a board game.
“Go? Ugh, no thanks!”
Phyllis shook her head immediately.
Of all games, she disliked Go the most—too complicated and tedious.
“It’s Gomoku.”
Lorin walked up and set the board directly on top of Phyllis’ documents.
“I heard from Grace that you used to love playing it, so I came to keep you company.”
“Oh?”
Phyllis raised an eyebrow.
Gomoku—now that was something she actually enjoyed.
Back in the palace, she used to play it often with Grace.
Not that Grace ever beat her.
Every time it looked like Grace was about to win, Phyllis would “accidentally” reveal a flaw in her defense and turn the tables.
After a while, the game grew boring.
But now that Lorin had willingly come to be humbled, she didn’t mind showing off a little.
She wasn’t the same person she used to be—not after all that training with Grace.
“All right!”
Phyllis smiled and agreed.
Seeing this, Lorin dragged a chair over, placed it across from Phyllis, and sat down.
“But just playing like this is boring,” she added.
“How about we make it interesting?”
By “interesting,” she clearly meant gambling.
Phyllis instantly understood Lorin’s real motive and let out a cold chuckle.
So she’s still holding onto hope about that spatial cube, huh?
“Sure! But if you lose, you have to do one thing for me.”
“Deal!”
Lorin agreed without hesitation.
Then she laid down her own condition: “If you lose, you have to return my spatial cube.”
She looked at Phyllis nervously.
Seeing Phyllis nod in agreement, Lorin finally relaxed.
So the risk of exposing herself had been worth it.
The game began—and immediately, Lorin noticed something had changed.
Phyllis had improved.
The girl could now see through tactics that would’ve fooled her in the past.
Lorin was genuinely surprised.
She’d assumed that since Phyllis had become the queen of the vampires, she wouldn’t have had much time for games like this.
Back when they first met, Phyllis had seemed so angry and overwhelmed—it was obvious how busy she was.
But now… Grace deserved the credit for this.
Well, Grace and Lorin herself.
As the match progressed, Lorin found herself taking longer and longer to make her moves.
The longer the game dragged on, the worse her position became.
A cold sweat formed on her back as she realized this.
She couldn’t afford to play cautiously anymore.
Lorin wiped the nonexistent sweat from her forehead.
Even with the wind-enhancing magic array cooling the room, her face still felt burning hot.
“I’m not feeling great today. I should adjust my state of mind.”
As she spoke, she stood up, ready to make her escape.
She was a master at feigning defeat and running away.
“Hey!”
Just as Phyllis made a move, Lorin bolted.
“Heh.”
Phyllis chuckled coldly.
She had already guessed Lorin would try something like this.
The moment Lorin had stepped inside, she had cast a spell to seal the door.
Click, click!
“Huh?!”
Lorin frantically twisted the doorknob.
No matter what trick she tried, the door wouldn’t budge.
Then, a shadow loomed over her.
Lorin swallowed hard and slowly turned her head.
“Heh… Phyllis, I was just joking.”
She looked up at Phyllis with pitiful eyes, hoping to appeal to any scrap of conscience still left in her.
Where had the simple, naïve Phyllis—the one who used to act like a college student—gone?
When had she become so cunning?
“Oh? I don’t recall laughing during a game.”
Phyllis raised an eyebrow.
Then, ignoring Lorin’s struggles, she picked her up and plopped her back into her chair, continuing the unfinished match.
But how was she supposed to finish it now?
Lorin stared at the two open three-in-a-row threats on the board in front of her and fell silent.
Phyllis, on the other hand, was observing Lorin quietly.
Her every movement overlapped with someone from her memories.
Some habits, it seemed, went far deeper than muscle memory.
Christian Byrne…
Or perhaps, Princess Lorin of the vampires…
Pity I didn’t get to be the one to catch you.
But since you fell into my sister’s hands, that works just as well.
After all, my sister’s not here now…
“Pfft—mm!”
Phyllis couldn’t hold back a laugh.
She quickly covered her mouth and continued staring at Lorin.
Lorin gave her a sideways glance, then quietly returned her focus to the board.
She assumed Phyllis was mocking her for playing so badly.
She didn’t notice the peculiar light in Phyllis’ eyes.
“I lost.”
After a long silence, Lorin finally uttered those three words.
She had underestimated Phyllis—never imagined that even as a vampire queen, she would still find time for games like this.
“Let’s go again. Best two out of three!”
Lorin refused to accept defeat.
But Phyllis simply waved her off.
“A loss is a loss. Don’t forget, you owe me one favor.”
She wasn’t stupid.
Lorin had clearly held back in the first match.
If she stopped holding back now, Phyllis had no chance of winning.
“Then I won’t agree to it!”
Lorin turned her head away, ignoring her.
“You don’t get a say!!!”
“!!!”