The moment she stepped into the bedroom, Sophia spun around and slammed the door shut behind her.
Hearing the crisp “bang” of the door closing, Floriana’s heart skipped a beat.
“Big sister really dotes on Sylvie, doesn’t she?”
Sophia’s tone was teasing, but Floriana caught a trace of jealousy beneath her descending inflection.
“Of course. After all, she’s not as shameless and vulgar as you are.”
Floriana maintained her cold expression.
“Little Sylvie is the child I’ve raised with my own hands since she was young. She’s been with me for many years—well-behaved, obedient, and adorable. It’s only natural I’d spoil her.”
“Big sister, don’t tell me I’m not?”
Sophia’s words no longer hid her envy.
“I still remember back then, every time my sacred arts or sword skills advanced to a new level, big sister would kiss me on the cheek, encouraging me to keep pushing myself.
“You even said that if I behaved well and obeyed you, the rewards would get better and better.”
Her voice laced with nostalgia, Sophia’s arm, which had been resting lightly around Floriana’s waist, tightened its grip, pinching the soft flesh on her lower abdomen through the fabric.
“But in the end? I stayed by big sister’s side, swallowing my pride and serving silently for so many years—and what I got in return was nothing but deceit and betrayal.”
An unexplainable emotion crept into Sophia’s increasingly sharp tone.
Hearing her recollections, Floriana’s mind involuntarily drifted to a faint nostalgia for the days when she was Grand Paladin.
But what she missed wasn’t her time with Sophia—it was the nearly omnipotent Goldfinger System.
With the system, she could foresee the thoughts in others’ minds and respond accordingly, like having a premonition.
Combined with the comprehensive intelligence the system provided and her own sharp intellect, she was able to achieve true “no detail left uncalculated” strategy.
Back then, before the Queen Floriana, there were no secrets anyone could keep—everything was under her calculated control.
…But now, times had changed.
She’d lost not only the Goldfinger System but also the advantage over those destined heroines she once oppressed.
They had grown and transformed so fast, everything was different.
“Big sister, I want your reward too.”
“Huh?”
Floriana stared at her in disbelief, as if she’d heard some strange, unexpected statement.
“…Why should I give you a reward?”
“Just because… after discovering big sister’s fake death, I kept the secret without a word, and secretly arranged for your safe arrival here by carriage.”
Sophia smiled sweetly and calmly, but the meaning behind her words was unmistakable.
If she wanted, Floriana had no doubt that the news of her faked death would be splashed across the front page of Magic Metropolis News within half a day, and the entire kingdom would know.
For ordinary citizens, the “resurrection” of the upright, brave, and beautiful former Grand Paladin might just be good news.
But for certain special people, it meant much more.
Most crucially, even the once soft and innocent little girl Sophia—who had spent the most time with Floriana and knew her best—had become such a scheming and inscrutable figure.
What about the others?
Floriana didn’t dare imagine.
Sophia’s words were, in essence, a naked threat to Floriana now!
Once the news spread, it would inevitably bring unforeseen trouble to her, and even to little Sylvie, who was about to enroll in the Knight Academy.
There could even be threats to their very lives.
Biting her lip tightly, Floriana wrestled with herself in silence.
…Better to make a slight concession to Sophia for now, rather than expose herself and Sylvie to such danger—
Just a little betrayal of her dignity, like being forcibly kissed—that small price was still bearable for Floriana.
As she thought it over, a cold laugh echoed silently in her mind.
“Hmph… Fine. Speak. What reward do you want?”
Floriana crossed her arms and took the initiative, steering the conversation back under her control.
After all, so far Sophia hadn’t done anything outrageous besides that forced kiss—her guts were probably just big enough for that.
If Floriana dug into it, when she was the villainous Grand Paladin, she’d done far worse things to torment these destined heroines.
But to Floriana’s surprise, Sophia didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she took Floriana’s arm and led her over to the wardrobe against the wall.
“Big sister, do you remember this full-length mirror?”
She pointed to the dressing mirror placed beside the wardrobe.
“…Of course I do. Didn’t I buy this one back then?”
Floriana replied calmly, though an uneasy premonition stirred in her heart.
“Yes, so my reward request is simple—I’ve prepared a new beautiful outfit for you. I hope big sister will wear it like before and show me in front of the mirror.”
Smiling softly, Sophia pulled out an exquisite, seductive Blue Rose evening gown from the wardrobe.
It was paired with semi-transparent ivory stockings and open-toe high-heeled princess boots.
“…Is that all?”
Floriana asked skeptically.
Looking closely, the gown barely covered the shoulders, with only a few straps holding up the upper half.
With Floriana’s figure, wearing it would reveal soft, delicate shoulders and smooth, flawless skin—a bold and sexy design.
But that was it.
Over the years playing villainous roles, Floriana had worn far more revealing leaf-made clothes for missions, so a mere formal dress was nothing.
Still, doubts lingered.
After all the extreme things Sophia had done on the way here…
Now that Sophia had gone through so much effort, coaxing and half-coercing her into the bedroom for a private moment, even getting a chance to make demands…
And all she wanted was for Floriana to change into a pretty dress?
Could it be… she was really just after her beauty?
Though it was just a fleeting thought, Floriana felt it made sense.
Exactly!
So that’s it… Hahaha, little weakling Sophia, your schemes have been completely seen through by this witch lady!