Aphrodite carried the prepared Food Box, walking lightly toward the far end of the seldom-visited Corridor deep within the mansion.
The afternoon sunlight was filtered by heavy curtains, casting a dim glow on the dark-carpeted Corridor, with silence enveloping everything.
If one did not know better, they would never guess that behind this wall, a hidden room existed.
Aphrodite stopped in front of the seemingly empty wall, the corners of her lips curling slightly.
Bella’s craftsmanship was becoming more exquisite with each passing day—no wonder, since she had taught her herself.
A faint, proud feeling welled up in Aphrodite’s heart as her gaze landed on a seemingly ordinary pattern on the wall.
She reached out her free left hand, and at the tip of her index finger, a wisp of magic gathered, drawing in the air a simple yet rhythmically precise rune.
When her motion traced the final node and her fingertip touched the wall, a sudden change occurred.
The once-solid wall began to turn transparent and illusory, as if melting into the light, until finally, a hazy, dreamlike archway woven from light and shadow appeared.
Without hesitation, Aphrodite lifted the Food Box and stepped through the doorway constructed of illusion and reality.
Once her figure had fully crossed, the light and shadows behind her quickly gathered and solidified, and almost as soon as she stepped in, the wall returned to its original solid and silent state, as though nothing had happened.
Behind her stood the sturdy wall; before her was the room specially prepared for Lia.
“Lia, I brought you lunch!” Aphrodite called out cheerfully as she walked into the room.
However, the instant she opened the door, she found the room empty.
Everything was excessively tidy. The bed was made so flat it looked as if no one had slept in it, and even the air carried a strange, frozen stillness.
“How odd, where is she? Did she go to the restroom?” Aphrodite frowned slightly, stepped in a few paces, and set the Food Box down on the small round table in the center of the room, just as she was about to go check the bathroom. Suddenly, she felt an eerie gaze from behind.
That unsettling stare made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Uwah! This chilling sensation behind me… Why does it feel like something strange is watching me?
Instinctively, Aphrodite turned around, and was startled by Lia, who had appeared behind her like a ghost without her noticing, nearly crying out in surprise.
“Wah! When—when did you get here?” She clutched her chest, staring at Lia, still shaken.
She doesn’t even make a sound when she walks? Was this kid an assassin in her previous life?
“Even if I’m late bringing food, you don’t need to hide and scare me like this, right?” Aphrodite half-joked, trying to ease the uncanny atmosphere.
Lia did not reply.
She simply stood there in silence, staring at Aphrodite with unblinking eyes, as if gazing through her at something else.
Lia’s posture was also a bit strange, her shoulders slightly hunched forward, hands drooping at her sides, fingers unconsciously curled.
Aphrodite didn’t notice Lia’s oddness, only assuming it was a sign of hunger, and a wave of guilt surged in her heart.
Looks like she’s really starving. All my fault for oversleeping and keeping her waiting so long.
Just then, Lia suddenly moved.
Like a silent cat, she quickly drew close to Aphrodite, her nose almost brushing against Aphrodite’s collar, taking in a deep breath.
“So fragrant…” Lia’s voice was soft, dreamy, her breath grazing Aphrodite’s neck.
Aphrodite froze for a moment, then laughed.
“Of course it’s fragrant, our food here is great…” Aphrodite began listing things as she turned and opened the Food Box, not noticing the way Lia’s gaze grew even more intense behind her.
“Afraid you’d be too hungry, I brought you two servings…” Aphrodite rummaged through the Food Box for utensils, ready to serve the dishes.
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on her wrist!
“Hey! No need to rush, I’m getting your food right now!” Aphrodite tried to shake free, but found Lia’s grip was like iron.
Only then did Aphrodite sense something was off.
Don’t tell me it’s the Devouring Sickness again.
But as far as she knew, the Devouring Sickness rarely recurred in such a short time, at least it never had with Bella when she was young.
Surely I can’t be that unlucky.
“Lia?” With this thought, Aphrodite tentatively called out, mentally preparing herself to bolt at any sign of trouble.
At the first hint of danger, I’m running—no way am I getting drained again.
And if she tries to drain me through my mouth again, there’s no guarantee I’ll get as lucky as last time.
At Aphrodite’s call, Lia suddenly trembled, the look in her eyes swiftly changing to one of panic.
As if startled awake from sleepwalking, she immediately let go of Aphrodite’s wrist.
“Sorry,” Lia stepped back, turning away, seemingly unable to meet Aphrodite’s eyes.
“I was just… too hungry.” She explained stiffly.
Aphrodite rubbed her reddened wrist, her suspicions immediately buried under a wave of guilt.
Sigh, look how hungry the child is.
“It’s all right, come eat now.” Aphrodite’s tone softened even more, and she began setting the dishes from the Food Box out on the table, arranging the utensils thoughtfully.
However, Lia did not come over as expected, instead standing still, her gaze shifting uneasily, her toes even sliding half a step backward, as if she were resisting something.
“Aren’t you hungry? Come eat.” Aphrodite urged in confusion.
Lia bit her lower lip and murmured, “I… prefer to eat alone.”
Aphrodite’s expression changed to one of sudden understanding.
She immediately stood up considerately and walked toward the door. “Then I’ll step out. Take your time eating. If it’s not enough, there’s more in the kitchen.”
At the doorway, she suddenly remembered her plans for the afternoon, turned back, and said to Lia, “I’ll be going out to buy some things today. I’ll help you with your treatment when I get back. Is there anything you want? I can pick it up for you.”
Lia still did not look at her, only muttered softly, “Could you… buy me some clothes?”
“No problem! Leave it to me!” Aphrodite agreed readily.
However, she had no intention of picking them out herself—instead, she planned to let Ella, who would accompany her on her outing, handle it.
After all, her taste didn’t always match others’. She’d learned her lesson buying clothes for young Bella before.
As the door clicked shut, Lia seemed drained of all strength. Her knees buckled and she could barely stand, bracing herself against the cold wall.
A flush quickly spread across her face, sweat beading on her forehead, sliding down her cheeks and neck, her breathing growing rapid and uneven, chest heaving—it was obvious she’d been holding something back with all her might.
“What… what just happened to me…” Lia muttered to herself.
Recalling the moment she drew close to Aphrodite, that almost overwhelming, primal urge that seemed to come from the depths of her bloodline.
It wasn’t simple hunger, but a deeper, more primal desire—a need to be near, to… possess.
That special scent Aphrodite exuded was like the most tempting poison to her, awakening her most instinctive self.
For a moment, she’d even wanted to pin Aphrodite down and…
At the thought, Lia shuddered with fear.
“I have to… I have to get a grip before she returns…” she murmured, pressing her burning cheek to the cold wall.
Outside the door, oblivious to all this, Aphrodite was humming an off-key tune as she headed toward the mansion’s front entrance, mind filled with her shopping plans for the afternoon.
“First, buy my pajamas, then get clothes for Lia, and maybe stop by the Sweet Shop.”
She paused, as if considering something, then said, “Lia would probably like sweet things, too.”