Chapter 6: Whoever Bullies or Hurts You Is Your Enemy

“That’s right, a deeper level. When you see me, do you get hurt? Do you feel pain? Do you feel sad?”

Tina shook her head repeatedly. “No…”

“When I look at you, it’s the same. Prejudice is inevitable, and differences in status can skew perception, but since we both live on this earth and can look at each other and communicate, fundamentally, we are equal.”

The girl tilted her head in confusion, carefully pondering the meaning of Lafeier’s words.

“This might be hard for you to understand. Just remember one thing.”

“People are equal because everyone only has one life.”

“If someone is killed, they die.”

“And whoever bullies you with words or mockery, whoever hurts you with whips or violence—that person is your enemy.”

Lafeier stroked Tina’s disheveled hair, his fingers brushing the edge of her slightly reddened horn base, causing the girl to let out a cry.

“Mmm~”

Lafeier: ?

‘There’s a sensitive spot here too?’

‘No, business first.’

He couldn’t guarantee Tina would take these words to heart, but he wasn’t counting on her to understand them. What came next was the necessary preparation for winning over this half-demon girl.

“Do you know what sugar tastes like?”

Tina shook her head. As far back as she could remember, she had been in this prison. Her only memory of sugar was the occasional chatter among the guards about adding “sugar cubes” to their coffee.

In this world, sugar was still a luxury. Even non-mixed-blood slaves couldn’t afford much in a year.

“Open your mouth. Ah~”

Lafeier said softly.

Tina obediently opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs.

Then Lafeier took a lemon-flavored hard candy from his pocket—a trendy confection made by Pastier’s Confectionery in the Imperial Capital exclusively for nobles—and popped it into Tina’s mouth.

“Gulp~”

The moment her tongue touched the candy coating, a sweet-and-sour aroma filled her taste buds. The sourness made her teeth ache, but the sweetness was so wonderful that she didn’t dare make any extra movements, lest she lose even a second of savoring that rich sweetness.

The girl curled up, her eyes moist, and her numb, vacant expression regained a hint of vitality.

Seeing Tina’s pained yet joyful look, Lafeier’s lips curled high.

‘To make someone hate suffering, you first have to let them experience happiness. The anger and dissatisfaction from that contrast, along with the helplessness of being unable to change their situation, will all turn into unwavering loyalty when they are saved.’

Some might say this is inhumane.

‘What a scumbag of a protagonist! I’m dropping this! That’s not how galge work! Shouldn’t you patiently reform her, overcome obstacles together, untie her heart’s knots, and cry in each other’s arms?’

‘Pure love faction loses big!’

‘Admittedly, that pure love route is valid too. But who am I, Lafeier? As a young man from the new era, how can I waste so much time on romance? Efficiency first, right? Besides, they’re all my wings; how can I play favorites? The form and process don’t matter—the redemption I bring to her and to other girls with tragic fates is real.’

Thinking this, Lafeier almost felt like crying for his own nobility.

A moment later, the fingernail-sized candy melted completely in her mouth.

Tina opened her eyes. For the first time, there was emotion in them: reluctance.

‘She’s a little glutton.’

Still, looking at her skeletal body, Lafeier did feel a pang of pity. The bullying Tina suffered must have included food deprivation. Prisons naturally rationed inmates’ meals to only sustain basic daily needs. Full stomachs? Were you joking with the capitalist masters? Even non-prisoner worker families and farming families couldn’t always eat their fill. Besides, if prisoners ate their fill, they might have the strength to cause trouble.

“So, how did the candy taste?”

“Sour… but also very sweet.”

“Do you want more?”

Tina hesitated, her brow furrowed, as if making a difficult decision. Finally, with great effort, she turned her neck and whispered, “No.”

“Is it that you don’t want it, or that you don’t dare want it?”

Seeing her cautious demeanor, Lafeier couldn’t help teasing her.

“…Mmm!!”

“Alright, I’m done teasing you. If you behave, I’ll give you more.”

“But… candy is expensive. Can I really have it?”

“Yes, because you’re very cute.” As he spoke, Lafeier stroked the girl’s head again.

“Cu… cute!?” Tina couldn’t believe her ears. She twisted her head against Lafeier’s palm, and her horn accidentally brushed his sleeve, prompting another soft “Mmm~.”

For some reason, a pang of guilt crept into Lafeier’s heart…

“Are you hungry?”

“Uh… yes.” After a moment’s hesitation, Tina nodded.

“Let’s go eat. I’ll take you, but before that…”

As he spoke, Lafeier took a piece of brand-new fabric from his luggage, folded it slightly, and draped it over Tina’s shoulders, just enough to cover her scarred body. He then pinned the collar, forming a sky-blue striped robe.

“Master, this… this is too valuable!” Tina said, flustered.

“It’s fine,” Lafeier said with a smile. “My dance partner naturally has to dress appropriately.”

The girl’s face blushed all the way to her ears, and the tips of her earlobes almost seemed to bleed.

…

Staff Cafeteria

A man emerged from the kitchen carrying two bowls of meat soup, two loaves of bread, and a steak. He was graceful and elegant.

[Individual Name: Hannibal]

[Position: Head Chef]

[Loyalty: 25 (Initial Trust)]

“Looks very appetizing.” The thick red soup contained onions, meat chunks, potatoes, and more, still steaming. The bread was much softer than the usual black bread, close to the improved pastry bread. As for the steak, its color was tempting and its aroma filled the air.

“I’m honored that you would say so, Master Warden.”

Hannibal bowed. “Please, enjoy your meal, you two.”

With that, he took two steps back and turned into the kitchen.

“That Hannibal fellow is not only a good cook but also knows how to handle people!” Lafeier remarked.

Tina sat across from Lafeier, nervous and fidgeting.

“Eat.”

Only when Lafeier spoke did she pick up her spoon, scoop up some soup, and shove it into her mouth.

The flavors of meat and spices spread through the starch-thickened broth.

“Gulp!”

Fragrant, rich, delicious!

One mouthful, and she couldn’t stop.

In no time, she devoured everything like a whirlwind.

Even Lafeier was a bit stunned by the speed.

‘How hungry is this child?’

Tina slurped the soup noisily, occasionally taking a bite of bread. When Lafeier pushed the single plate of steak toward her, she didn’t even think before grabbing it and stuffing it into her mouth.

Only after biting into the juicy, fatty beef did she come to her senses.

“Mas… Master, I’m sorry!”

“I ate too fast! I’m so sorry!”

That was steak—steak! Only upper-class nobles were qualified to eat steak!

And she, a mixed-blood, had eaten steak meant for a noble master. She was going to be taken out and executed!

No, wait—she had come here to die in the first place…

“Wah…”

The girl hung her head, her face full of regret.

“It’s okay, Tina. Eat more so you can grow.”