‘What is this old woman’s problem? How does she even know the term “Zhen”?’
However, those weren’t the important points.
Ian was more concerned about his vacation.
He had worked himself to death to complete this old woman’s overtime demands; surely she would agree this time?
“Teacher, I’ve done everything you asked. My vacation…”
Marguerite took another slow sip of tea, the rising steam blurring the playful smile on her face.
“Vacation…”
She drew out the word, watching Ian’s expectant gaze before gently setting down her teacup with a crisp *clack*.
“Granted.”
At this, Ian breathed a sigh of relief.
“However,” Marguerite uttered two light words, instantly making Ian’s heart skip a beat.
“Before you enjoy your vacation, there’s one small problem that needs to be solved…”
Ian’s heart sank with an ominous premonition.
“Wh… what problem?”
He asked cautiously.
Marguerite’s smile was radiant, as if she were announcing wonderful news.
“In view of your outstanding performance yesterday, His Majesty the King has decided to let the ‘Third Prince,’ Arthur Reinhardt, study under you…”
Ian didn’t react for a moment.
“Who? Who did you say is coming to study with me?”
Marguerite leaned in slightly and announced each word with absolute clarity, “Arthur Reinhardt. Why, what’s wrong?”
“Huh??!!”
Arthur Reinhardt?
Was it the same Arthur Reinhardt he knew?
Wasn’t he the protagonist?
‘Instead of fooling around shamelessly with the female leads, what does he mean by coming here to study with me?’
“But Teacher, I — “
“Stop. I know what you want to say. Zhen already tried to advocate for you. But His Majesty is determined to hand the Third Prince over to your guidance. There’s nothing I can do. Oh, calling myself this is actually quite addictive…”
Ian was utterly bewildered.
‘Wait a minute, lady. I just wanted the right to take a vacation whenever I wanted. How did things turn out like this?’
Since things had come to this, he had to consider how to protect himself from getting dragged into the story’s plot.
***
While Ian was thinking about how to deal with the protagonist, Arthur Reinhardt…
At the Connaught Ducal Mansion in the Imperial Capital.
On a soft, large bed, Sherivelle’s long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened them.
Those beautiful red eyes had now become a terrifyingly bright shade of crimson.
Before losing consciousness, she had seen her cat fearfully rejecting her.
“Mr. Cat doesn’t want me anymore…”
She whispered to herself.
Her voice didn’t tremble or sob as one might expect; instead, it was frighteningly calm.
**[Yes, he doesn’t want you anymore. Are you sad?]**
A voice echoed deep within Sherivelle’s mind.
The voice sounded exactly like her own, but it was firmer and carried a sense of pleasant clarity.
Sherivelle’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
She wasn’t surprised, as if she had known “she” was there all along.
“Yes… it hurts so much here…”
Sherivelle curled up, clutching her heart.
**[So, do you still want him?]**
“I do!”
Sherivelle answered without hesitation.
“But… Mr. Cat hates me…”
**[Then just make him fall in love with you…]**
“Fall in love with me?”
**[That’s right, dear. If he hates you, make him love you. If he rejects you, then you must tie him to your side and be together forever… He is yours.]**
The voice in Sherivelle’s head was sweet and dangerous.
“Together with Mr. Cat, forever…”
Sherivelle was tempted.
“But I don’t know what to do to make him stay by my side forever…”
**[It’s okay, dear. Leave it to me. I’ll teach you how to…]**
“Lock Mr. Cat by my side…”
Sherivelle slowly sat up.
Her snow-white hair turned into a silvery-white cascade that slid down her shoulders.
“Dear Mr. Cat, are you ready to stay by my side forever?”
Sherivelle raised her hand, her fingertips swirling with ripples of Space Distortion, a wave that carried an unstable, dangerous aura.
The voice in her head let out a low, pleasant laugh, as if it had finally found resonance.
Sherivelle got out of bed barefoot, stepping onto the plush carpet.
She walked to the ornate dressing mirror and stared at herself.
Her face was still exquisitely beautiful, but her red eyes were no longer the magnificent gems tinged with fragility from before; instead, they had settled into an almost demonic dark red.
Her white hair also seemed a bit brighter.
Her weakness had vanished.
Her fear had vanished as well.
In their place was an incredibly pleasant smile and a sense of danger…
After a while, Sherivelle tried to curl the corners of her mouth, adjusting the curve of her eyelashes so that the demonic dark red was slightly hidden by long shadows, allowing the dangerous pleasure to settle deep within her eyes.
She practiced over and over until the figure in the mirror became “normal” again.
She was still beautiful, delicate, pitiable, and fragile.
When Duke Frederick, accompanied by Old Anna, came to visit…
“Father…”
Sherivelle lay on the bed and slightly tilted her head to look at Duke Frederick as he pushed the door open.
Her voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of fragility.
Duke Frederick’s heart tightened, and he tossed aside the slight sense of dissonance that had just arisen.
“Shirley, my daughter, how are you feeling?”
The Duke stepped forward quickly and sat by the bed, examining her closely.
“I’m okay… Father, I’ve made you worry…”
Guilt and unease appeared in her eyes at the right moment, her fingers unconsciously twisting the bedsheets.
It was so perfect that even Old Anna looked extremely worried.
Duke Frederick’s heart softened completely, and he quickly comforted her.
“It’s fine, it’s all in the past. It’s enough that you’ve woken up, Shirley.”
He hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow Ian’s suggestion and tentatively propose the Dependency Transfer Method.
However, Sherivelle’s reaction was completely beyond his expectations.
She was only slightly stunned, her long eyelashes lowering as if she were thinking.
After a long silence, Sherivelle finally spoke under the nervous gazes of Duke Frederick and Old Anna.
“Okay…”
That soft, weak response made Duke Frederick unable to believe his ears and eyes!
It really worked! Ian’s ridiculous-sounding Dependency Transfer Method was actually effective!
Mr. Ian is truly a divine doctor!
“Good! You should rest first. Leave the rest to Father.”
“Mm,” Sherivelle responded obediently, even squeezing her father’s hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool.
It wasn’t until the Duke left the room full of relief and hope, his footsteps gradually fading away, that Sherivelle’s mask of being “obedient,” “calm,” and “recovering” slowly peeled off.
She loosened her grip and spread her palm, which showed a few shallow nail marks from her tight clench earlier.
In the mirror’s reflection, her eyes became deep and crimson once more, and a pleasant curve hooked the corner of her mouth.
“See, it’s very simple, isn’t it?”
Her voice was soft and sweet.
Inside the room, only the girl’s pleasant self-muttering remained.
***
Far away in the Tower of Stars, Ian shivered for no reason, a chill rising up his back.
At the same time, the System announcement rang out at just the right moment.
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