Chapter 46: Threat

“However, there’s still a week until Sistem’s banquet. What if within this week, Irina Zi controls Liyakade again and sends her after Alice? What will you two do then?”

Field didn’t believe that Irina Zi, who had already torn ties with them, would go an entire week without doing anything to Liyakade and the others.

“Then… how about binding me up until the banquet starts? Or locking me somewhere?”

Liyakade tentatively proposed to the two.

“I don’t think that will work.” Field shook her head.

“Even if we tie you up, the controlled you would use magic to cut the ropes. If we imprison you, you’d try to escape with magic. Even if you wore Anti-magic Handcuffs, you’d just keep banging your head against the wall until you fainted. That wouldn’t help at all and would be too cruel for you.”

“That’s true. Does Alice have any good ideas?”

After hearing Field’s rebuttal, Liyakade also felt that imprisoning herself wasn’t a good option.

“Me?”

Alice pondered for a moment. “I think… actually, maybe we don’t need to do anything. Since Irina Zi said she wants to slowly torment us, she probably won’t unleash all her tricks at once. At worst, I could hide somewhere safe.

Even if Liyakade is controlled and tries to find me, she won’t know where I am and would just wander around aimlessly.”

“That makes sense.” Field nodded. Alice’s analysis was indeed reasonable. Besides, the first thing Irina Zi had ordered Liyakade to do was to force Alice, which showed Irina Zi really wanted to toy with them slowly, raising the threshold little by little.

If she went all out at once and broke them both, it would be too easy for them.

“If this still doesn’t work, I’ll have to ask Father to deal with it.”

Field’s father was, of course, the King of the country. Although as the Third Princess she wasn’t highly regarded, this was about royal dignity.

Irina Zi dared to be so arrogant toward her; she wouldn’t hesitate to use royal authority now.

“Then the plan is settled for now.” Seeing that it was getting late, Liyakade decided to return to her dormitory first. “I’ll head back now.”

“Eh? Miss Liyakade, you’re going back?”

Alice asked in confusion. “She’s already stopped pretending. If you run into her, wouldn’t you be treated even worse?”

“That’s right.”

Liyakade turned and explained the reason for going back. “What Irina Zi did today was definitely to sow discord and break our relationship. She must think that we already have a rift. Anyone forced like this would have grievances, even if the other party is controlled.”

“I’m definitely not holding a grudge…”

“Uh, Alice is different.” Liyakade scratched her cheek, recalling Alice’s confession when she was pinned down earlier, blushing slightly. She felt a bit awkward now—she hadn’t expected Alice to like her, and Irina Zi certainly wouldn’t have guessed that.

“Anyway, under normal circumstances, it would be as I said.”

Liyakade shook her head like a rattle, trying to shake off the blush and her pink fantasies, then continued, “According to Irina Zi’s plan, Alice definitely wouldn’t want to keep me around anymore. I wouldn’t have the face to stay with her either.”

“No way!”

Alice protested anxiously. “Even if… even if that happened, I’d be very happy for Miss Liyakade to stay!”

“That’s because I said that’s the normal expectation!”

“You two…” Field glanced between Liyakade and Alice, their ambiguous looks felt very off, stirring a strong sense of crisis in her.

“What exactly did you two just do? Why does the atmosphere between you feel so different?”

“Almost… almost got treated like that by Miss Liyakade, so… a little nervous is normal, right?”

Alice stammered an explanation.

“I don’t believe it. Nervousness isn’t usually that intense! I think what Liyakade said is the normal situation!”

“That didn’t actually happen, just almost happened.”

“Yes.” Liyakade’s words stopped Field from pressing further.

“Precisely because it didn’t happen, I have to go back and make Irina Zi believe it did. If I don’t return, she’ll definitely become suspicious and more vigilant.”

“Then… after the Contract is dissolved, will Miss Liyakade still come to our dorm?”

Alice looked at Liyakade with hopeful eyes.

“Of course. I still have to tutor you.”

“Will you stay here at night too?”

“Well… we’ll see about that.”

Field was left speechless. The plan wasn’t even confirmed successful yet, and they were already thinking about what came next?

Although Field also wanted Liyakade to keep staying, wasn’t it a bit too early to discuss this now?

Something wasn’t right—definitely wasn’t right. There had to be some secret between these two.

“If she gets more vigilant, our actions will become even more difficult. That’s why I need to go back without raising her suspicion.”

After explaining, Liyakade turned to leave.

“I’m heading back now. Don’t see me off this time; there might be her spies outside.”

“Miss Liyakade, please take good care of yourself!”

“Take care, Liyakade.”

“Mm.”

Liyakade closed the door of Alice’s dormitory and shortly after returned to her own.

Irina Zi seemed to have been waiting here for some time.

“Were you kicked out?” Irina Zi asked mockingly, looking at Liyakade with a smug expression.

She hadn’t expected Irina Zi to move so quickly, already eager to mock her.

Liyakade lowered her head darkly, silent, pretending to be very dejected.

Seeing Liyakade’s depressed appearance, Irina Zi grew even more delighted and leaned close to sniff at Liyakade’s neck.

“What a foul smell, perfectly fitting that slut’s lowliness. So, Liyakade, does doing those things feel good? Though I’m sure that slut doesn’t think so.”

As expected, Irina Zi believed this would cause a rift between them, so Liyakade had to continue playing along.

“None of your business.” Facing Irina Zi’s hostility, Liyakade feigned anger. This was the first time she had answered back; though fake, there was some real resentment toward Irina Zi.

“Oh? Talking back now?”

Seeing Liyakade’s reaction, Irina Zi knew her scheme was working and felt even happier.

“When exactly did you betray me?”

Irina Zi’s playful expression vanished.

“Is there any point talking about it now?”

Liyakade retorted.

“Heh heh heh.” Irina Zi gave a cold laugh twice. Even though Liyakade was rude, Irina Zi didn’t immediately use a Spell Command to silence her like before.

“Looks like cozying up to the royal family gives you confidence.”

“So what?”

Liyakade didn’t bother answering properly.

“Nothing much. Just that it seems physical punishment no longer satisfies you.”

Irina Zi’s face twisted into a cruel smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t punish you physically like before.”

“Today was only the beginning. There are more fun things waiting for you. Live with fear and despair.”

Irina Zi activated a Spell Command forbidding Liyakade from committing suicide.

“I won’t do anything to you. But whenever you feel happiness, I will shatter it. If you make friends, I will make you torture them to death with your own hands. If you find a lover, I will force you to offer your body everywhere.”

“When you are utterly despairing, I will slowly crush your body piece by piece. I want you to die utterly alone. So, never give in to despair, teehee.”

Liyakade remained silent, standing still.

“Tsk, not even going to kneel and beg for mercy? Such a boring reaction.” Irina Zi looked at Liyakade’s expressionless face with a hint of displeasure, but she didn’t intend to take action.

“Fine, I hope you’re as tough then as you are now.”

With that, Irina Zi stormed out.

Liyakade’s behavior matched her expectations perfectly—the mask was torn off, her friends no longer trusted her, and they were angry enough to talk back to her. Irina Zi could already imagine Liyakade’s eventual breakdown.

However, Liyakade’s act was still a performance, even toned down. If she were truly angry, even with the Contract’s protection, she would risk her life to kill Irina Zi. If she couldn’t attack directly, she’d blow the ceiling down to bury them both under the rubble.

“Phew, I managed to hold on. I just hope the plan seven days from now succeeds.” Liyakade sighed in relief and lay back on her bed.

***

In the distant Demon Territory.

“That woman is still bullying our people. Looks like it’s time to teach her a lesson.”

Korim lounged idly on her throne, her crimson eyes burning fiercely.