From behind the distant boulder, Wendy finally stepped out.
He had witnessed the entire battle, which could only be described as a “one-sided beating,” and the cold sweat on his forehead hadn’t stopped.
Something’s wrong, terribly wrong!
Astreia’s current state—whether it was the manifested, ferocious War Spear, the intensity of her magic, or that almost tangible malice and sense of oppression—far surpassed the half-baked form she’d shown during their “deep exchange” two days ago.
This was nothing like the rational Half-Witch Transformation—it was already very close to the Complete Form!
Wendy had originally planned to rush in after Laxana was knocked out, use his old tricks, raise the banner of “Love and Peace,” and help Her Highness achieve “Physical Purification” on the physical level through the most primitive and simple means, using words as his weapon.
But now…he really wasn’t sure he could do it.
The Witch at this moment gave him an overwhelming sense of danger.
Those Violet Eyes held a wickedness he’d never seen before.
It felt as if, if he got any closer, he’d be swallowed whole—bones, flesh, and all, not a drop left behind.
“Rival in Love” had already gone offline with honor.
He needed to think fast and find a way to restore Astreia to normal…
As Wendy racked his brain for a solution and pondered how to handle the current situation, a cold touch landed on the back of his neck.
“My Prince…”
A bewitching and familiar voice sounded right behind his ear.
Every hair on Wendy’s body stood on end. He stiffened like a stone.
Turning mechanically, he saw the Witch standing behind him—he had no idea when she’d appeared—cradling the unconscious Laxana with one arm and wearing a wicked smile.
“Were you…thinking about how to straighten out my friend?”
“!!!”
With a buzz, Wendy’s mind went completely blank.
How…how did she know?!
Did Witchification come with the Ability to Read Minds now?
“Little Wendy…”
The Witch smirked, slinging the unconscious Laxana over her shoulder like a sack and, with her free hand, lifted the Prince off the ground by the back of his collar as easily as picking up a chick.
The familiar feeling of weightlessness made Wendy’s heart leap into his throat.
“Did you really think I was just a lunatic lost in desire?”
The Witch leaned close to the Prince’s ear, her warm, ambiguous breath tickling his neck—yet all Wendy felt inside was a bone-chilling cold.
“When Astreia was fusing with me, do you think maybe…I was fusing with her too?”
***
Late at night.
Sunset Fortress.
Laxana slowly woke amidst softness.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on Astreia’s bed, even dressed in Astreia’s Silk Nightgown with Lace.
The air was thick with a scent so familiar, so intoxicating, it bordered on madness.
It was Astreia’s scent!
This is…Astreia’s room!
She healed my wounds, brought me back to her room, and even dressed me in her sleepwear!
A surge of ecstasy swept through her heart, sweeping away the gloom and humiliation from the earlier beating.
“Rival in Love” hugged the pillow that belonged to her comrade-in-arms, burying her face deep into it and inhaling the scent that haunted her soul.
As expected!
Deep down, Astreia still cares about me the most!
What does that little Prince Wendy even matter!
As she clung to the pillow, happiness nearly overwhelming her, a suppressed moan faintly drifted in from outside the room.
“Hmm?”
Laxana froze.
She held her breath, listening closely.
The sound was intermittent, as if someone was struggling to suppress it, yet also pouring out an extreme emotion.
Mixed in were the noises of fabric rubbing and heavy breathing—remarkably clear in the silent night.
A flush crept across Laxana’s cheeks.
She instantly understood what kind of sound it was.
With over ten thousand female soldiers stationed at Sunset Fortress, after a victorious battle, it wasn’t unusual for some officers to seek pleasure with hired Comfort Husbands.
How…improper!
She pursed her lips, about to pull the covers over her head and shut out the world.
But the more Laxana listened, the more familiar the sound seemed.
Suddenly!
A short, high-pitched cry rang out clearly!
“Wendy…you’re amazing…”
Laxana recognized the voice instantly!
It was Astreia!
She jolted upright, as if struck by lightning.
Damn it! Could Astreia be with that brat…
A terrifying thought took root and exploded in her mind.
Scenes from that morning flashed through Laxana’s head—when she had barged into this very room and seen Astreia and Wendy in disheveled clothing.
At the time, she’d assumed Wendy had arrived before her and caught Astreia just waking up, which had made her so jealous.
But thinking about it now…
The messy bed, the scattered clothes on the carpet, the lingering ambiguous scent in the air…
It was the battlefield of two people who had just tumbled in bed!
Boom!!!
Laxana’s mind exploded, her vision going dark.
Endless jealousy, hatred, and the rage of betrayal surged from deep within, like molten lava, consuming her reason in an instant!
We grew up together, were mocked for our figures together, rolled in the mud together—clearly, I’ve been by her side the longest!
I haven’t even tasted Astreia’s beautiful body!
Why?
Why did that Prince, who appeared out of nowhere, get to her first?!
Barefoot, she slipped out silently, Violet Eyes ablaze with burning Violet Flame.
Following the shameful sounds, Laxana crept step by step to the third floor of Sunset Fortress.
The source of the noise was Wendy’s Room.
Laxana stared fiercely at the tightly shut door.
The magic within her was beginning to rage out of control.
She wanted nothing more than to blast the door open and catch those two adulterers red-handed!
But as she raised her hand to cast a spell, she suddenly realized…
The door…was slightly ajar!
A dim candlelight, along with even clearer, bone-melting gasps, seeped through the gap.
An uncontrollable urge to peek wrapped around her heart like a vine, making the “Rival in Love” almost unable to breathe.
The impulse to barge in and rip that “vixen” Prince off her comrade-in-arms was, in that moment, overtaken by a darker, more twisted desire.
She wanted to see.
She wanted to see, with her own eyes, what Astreia—always so strong before her—would look like beneath that Prince.
Driven by some wicked impulse, Laxana dispelled the Electric Light in her palm, tiptoed like a ghost to the door.
Then, slowly, ever so slowly, she bent down and brought her eye to the gap—the crack between heaven and hell.