The gates of Sunset Fortress slowly creaked open.
General Sera and Deputy Commander Kara led the battered remnants of their forces back into the city, only to be greeted by the sight of a statue standing tall in the flickering torchlight.
Astreia stood there, holding Wendy horizontally in her arms, the Magic Pattern on her body glowing crimson in the firelight.
She merely swept her gaze indifferently across the crowd, and those soldiers who had once whispered about her figure all shivered in unison, lowering their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
Dominance, after all, is born from absolute fear of overwhelming Power.
At this moment, in their eyes, Astreia was a god—a demon.
“Y-Your Highness…” General Sera’s throat was dry. She wanted to ask about the whereabouts of the Orcs, wanted to ask why the Princess had become like this, but as the words reached her lips, they were smothered by that terrifying pressure.
Kara followed closely behind, her mind going blank when she saw Wendy, disheveled and flushed, cradled in the Princess’s arms. She glanced at the strange, blood-red Magic Pattern sprawling across the Princess’s body.
Did… did something lewd just happen in here?
“Prepare a bath for me,” Astreia said coldly. “Clear out all unnecessary personnel.”
Sera’s heart trembled. She immediately knelt on one knee and bowed her head deeply. “Yes!”
She dared not ask anything further.
As a veteran of a hundred battles, she could sense that within that voluptuous body was a terror powerful enough to erase Sunset Fortress from the map.
Before absolute Power, all questions seemed meaningless.
Astreia ignored everyone else, carrying Wendy straight toward her own quarters.
Wendy buried his face in the warm crook of the Witch’s neck, feeling the strong heartbeat, though his mind was racing at full speed.
He’d gambled right.
After Demonic Corruption, Astreia’s personality had changed drastically—brutal, bloodthirsty—but at her core, she was still that pure Princess, desperately lacking a sense of security, longing for approval.
This wasn’t the will being completely devoured by the Demon King of Lust at all. It was more like… her Dark Side had been unleashed, her hidden Yandere Trait and Power Level turned up to the maximum.
She conquered the world to prove herself.
She imprisoned herself for the same reason.
She needed absolute possession to fill the emptiness and unease within.
So, this wasn’t a dead end.
Two options flashed through Wendy’s mind: become a plaything to be used at her whim, praying she wouldn’t break him one day; or… become the Princess Consort who could tame the Witch, maybe even turn the tables and PUA her instead?
Astreia’s room was as simple as ever, even bordering on shabby. Other than the bed, some tables and chairs, and a massive weapon rack, there was nothing else for decoration.
At this moment, however, the plain furnishings seemed utterly out of place with the current Witch Queen.
Astreia seemed to notice this as well. She frowned slightly and waved her hand.
Buzz!
A formless wave of magic rippled outward.
Intricate, luxurious dark-purple patterns appeared on the plain stone walls; the rough wooden furniture was cloaked in flowing shadows, transforming in an instant into exquisitely carved Obsidian works of art; even the air grew thick with a sweet, decadent scent.
Within a few breaths, the entire room had changed from a knight’s quarters into the most lavish of Demon King’s bedchambers.
“Now, that’s worthy of me.” Astreia nodded in satisfaction, carrying Wendy as she kicked open the door to the bathroom.
A round bath, large enough for five beds, was already filled with steaming hot water. Scarlet Rose Petals floated on the surface, and the air was thick with steam.
She gently set Wendy down at the edge of the pool. Her magical armor dissolved into a flow of violet light, revealing a body even more breathtaking than before. On her honeyed skin, the seductive red Magic Pattern stretched from her neck down to her lower abdomen, blooming like a flower from hell, exuding deadly temptation.
Wendy forced himself to look away, but a rush of heat still surged uncontrollably from his nose.
He quickly wiped it away.
Damn it! Who could handle this?!
“What, don’t dare look at me now?” The Witch chuckled, leaning in so her hot breath tickled Wendy’s ear. “Weren’t you bold enough up on the watchtower just now?”
“I—I just thought…” Wendy’s mind spun rapidly. He decided to counterattack.
He lifted his head, meeting those teasing violet eyes, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smile. “Your Majesty the Witch Queen, do I not even have the right to undress myself?”
It was a carefully crafted test.
If she flew into a rage, it meant she favored pure violence and domination, and he’d have to switch into survival mode.
But if she was amused, it would mean “Astreia” was still in control.
Sure enough, Astreia froze for a moment, then let out a delighted laugh.
“Heh… You really are always this interesting.” She reached out with slender fingers, teasingly tracing Wendy’s lips, the desire in her eyes almost tangible. “Very well, my Prince. Tonight, you’ll be the one… to please me.”
With that, she was the first to step into the bath.
The hot water rose over her long, toned legs, stopping at her sculpted abs. Astreia leaned back against the edge of the pool, her arms stretching languidly along the rim with a “Duang” “Duang,” like a goddess awaiting her sacrifice. She beckoned to Wendy with a curled finger.
“Come here.”
Wendy breathed a sigh of relief.
He hesitated no longer, stripping off his tattered clothes to reveal a fair and well-proportioned body, and stepped slowly into the water.
The warmth of the pool wrapped around him, driving away the chill of the night, though it could do nothing to calm the storm within his heart.
The Witch said nothing, only reaching out to gently pull the Prince into her embrace, making him lean back against her chest.
The softness and heat pressing against his back made Wendy tense up instantly.
Astreia seemed not to notice his nerves. She simply picked up a nearby towel, soaked it in the water, and began to gently wipe his back.
“Don’t move.” Astreia’s tone was commanding, but her movements were impossibly gentle. “You have another woman’s scent on you. I don’t like it.”
She wiped him thoroughly, gradually using more force, as if trying to scrub away an invisible “stain” completely.
Hearing this, a lightbulb went off in Wendy’s mind. He remembered that seductive, mysterious White-robed Priestess—and also that he’d left behind a farewell letter!
That was his ironclad proof of innocence!
“Astreia!” Wendy immediately turned around, forgetting all about appearances, and hurriedly spilled everything the White-robed Priestess had told him about the Curse. “That’s what happened… I didn’t want to leave you, but I had to for your safety! I even left a letter explaining everything! Didn’t you see it?”
The words had barely left his lips.
Astreia’s hand, which had been wiping his back, suddenly froze.
The steamy, ambiguous atmosphere of the bathroom plummeted to freezing point, and her tone turned dangerous.
“You’re thinking about another woman in front of me again?!”
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