“Why?” Anya tilted her head, a soft “Eh?” escaping her nose.
There’s…there’s not that many reasons, really. This comic…em, it might not be suitable for you!”
Iris’s cheeks flushed a sudden shade of red, and even her voice was laced with hesitation.
Her gaze never dared to land on Anya, nor did she have the courage to look at the comic.
At that moment, Iris felt completely ill at ease, trapped between retreat and advance.
If she said too much, it’d only get more awkward, but if she said nothing, she couldn’t stop Anya’s curiosity.
Yet, it was precisely Iris’s panicked expression that only made Anya even more curious.
She couldn’t hear any warnings now; her gaze clung to the comic, her petite body leaning slightly forward, making it clear she intended to get to the bottom of things.
“This is bad, this is bad!” Iris stood in place, so anxious her hands and feet didn’t know where to go, yet she still couldn’t think of any way to stop her.
“Might as well just give up for now!”
In the end, she could only grit her teeth and simply hide away in the System Space to take shelter, deciding to wait out the storm.
With her chat partner gone, Anya could finally focus all her attention on the comic.
She flipped open the pages; the beginning was filled with warm memories, telling the story of two girls walking side by side in the morning light, sharing little secrets.
The delicate, exquisite art style was wrapped in a layer of soft light, and in no time, she was completely drawn into that tiny world.
But as she continued reading, that pure friendship gradually fermented into an even more delicate and lingering affection.
The little bits of sweetness between the pages—a whispered confession with downcast eyes, a moment of leaning side by side, a shared smile and gaze—were like gentle sparks, quietly knocking on Anya’s empty heart.
This gentle fluttering, carrying a warmth, was something she’d never experienced before.
“Why…am I so affected by these kinds of scenes?” Anya pressed her pounding chest, clearly feeling the heartbeat racing, her eyes full of confusion and shock.
Time slipped away quietly in the sound of pages turning. Suddenly, Anya let out a soft cry, “This… what is this!”
Her cheeks instantly burned bright red, her gaze drifting, as if she might faint at any moment.
She stared at the intimate closeness of the two heroines in the comic, and those indescribably ambiguous details, unconsciously squinting her eyes.
But the curiosity in her heart was like a little hook, pulling her eyes open again.
The more she looked, the redder Anya’s ears became, even the top of her head seemed to be steaming.
She clearly knew she should look away, yet her fingers seemed glued to the page, unable to stop turning them.
That feeling of knowing she shouldn’t but being unable to resist made her heart restless, even her breath became light and shallow.
……
Northern Border, Kalende Manor.
Meidi walked slowly on the crimson carpet, her velvet skirt swaying in delicate arcs with her brisk steps, humming a light tune at her lips, her whole demeanor thoroughly relaxed.
On the sofa in the hall sat a refined young man with silver-grey curly hair, dressed in a black velvet vest.
In his hand, the red wine in the goblet was so dark it was nearly black.
He was the eldest young master of one of the three great families of the Northern Border, Noya Kalende.
“My dear, what’s put you in such a good mood?” Noya’s voice was low and pleasant, tinged with a bit of doting affection.
“Hehehe…”
Meidi chuckled, walked over and curled up on his lap, arms naturally draped around his neck, her nose nearly brushing his chin.
“It’s nothing but the grand ‘gift’ delivered by those idiots.” Her eyes sparkled with smug light, her slender fingers pinching a transparent Magic Bottle, holding it up before Noya.
The bottle was engraved with intricate magic runes, and inside, a crimson liquid flowed under the lamplight, like solidified magma.
She gently shook the bottle, the sound of liquid striking the glass crisp and clear.
“To get their hands on some so-called important intelligence, they just handed over this treasure without a second thought. What a bunch of simple-minded fools.”
Noya’s eyes were instantly drawn by that touch of crimson, and his previously relaxed posture tensed slightly.
Even through the Magic Bottle’s seal, a domineering, pure magic power seeped out in wisps, mingling with an ancient and chilling aura unique to primordial creatures, making one’s heart itch.
“Oh? What’s this?” He raised his brows with interest, but just as he touched the bottle, the scorching magic inside startled him into a brief pause.
“This isn’t something ordinary…” Meidi smiled with upturned eyes, a hint of allure in her gaze.
She slowly uncorked the bottle. The moment the stopper left, a dense, overwhelming surge of magic exploded out, tinged with the faint scent of blood, instantly filling the whole hall.
“This is… dragon blood? And it’s Pure Dragon Blood?” Noya’s pupils shrank, all composure on his face shattered.
He sat up straight with a start, staring intently at the Magic Bottle.
The goblet in his hand clattered to the carpet, red wine splashing and merging with the crimson of the rug.
One must know, Pure Dragon Blood was a treasure beyond value!
The pure-blooded dragons had long hidden themselves in the frozen mountains of the north; every part of their bodies was a divine gift, and a single bottle of their blood could drive people mad with desire!
He reached out, wanting to touch it, his eyes filled with disbelief and greed.
Though Pure Dragon Blood was laced with deadly poison, it could greatly amplify magical power and even break some magic seals.
In a life-and-death battle, it was enough to turn the tide.
“How could those people gift you such a secret treasure?” Noya’s voice was trembling, his eyes never leaving that bottle of dragon blood.
“What else could it be for?” Meidi sneered, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
She corked the bottle again, gently running her fingers down Noya’s cheek.
“Those people will do anything to defeat my uncle. All I did was give them what they thought was some crucial information, and they handed this Pure Dragon Blood to me in exchange.”
Looking into Noya’s eyes, her smile deepened. “Darling, with this Pure Dragon Blood, no matter how strong that member of the Lorsi Family is, it won’t matter anymore.”
“Heh…Meidi.” Noya’s eyes overflowed with joy. He raised his hand to stroke the back of her neck and leaned down to plant a burning kiss on her lips. “Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life.”
“Me too, Noya.” Meidi closed her eyes, burying her face in his neck.
“About your cousin—do you want me to send someone to settle the score for you?” Noya suddenly asked, a trace of coldness in his tone.
“Save it.” Meidi glanced up, a look of disdain flashing across her face. “As long as we take first place in next month’s Great Competition, Uncle Kalende will have eyes for no one but us. That brat won’t matter then.”
“That’s true.” Noya nodded with a smile.
Meidi traced her finger across Noya’s palm, her tone casual: “But I haven’t forgotten the humiliation she saw me suffer yesterday. Once the Great Competition is over, I’ll deal with her myself. That girl won’t get away.”
As her words fell, a cold, ruthless glint flashed through her eyes, quickly veiled by a gentle smile.
She nestled into Noya’s embrace once again, her face brimming with happiness.