Chapter 32: Is Eliana Mentally Ill?

Why is she carrying a dinner knife? Is she going to assassinate me? Or… has she already killed someone?

Illyse’s heart gave a sudden leap, almost jumping out of her throat.

She forced herself to maintain a surface-level calm, but her fingers clutching the hem of her skirt tightened instinctively, her knuckles turning slightly white.

“Miss Illyse, welcome back.”

Eliana’s voice was as calm and gentle as ever, even carrying a hint of respect, as if she truly were just a personal maid waiting to welcome her master.

“Eliana, brew a cup of hot tea for me.”

She had to get rid of this woman quickly. Who knew what she was actually planning to do?

However, to her surprise, Eliana did not follow her instructions. Instead, she bowed slightly.

“Miss, I suggest you return to your room first.”

As soon as she spoke, the other maids nearby immediately cast sidelong glances. She actually dared to defy the young lady’s orders! Was she tired of living?

Illyse was also stunned for a moment, but then she reacted instantly.

‘This is bad! If Eliana dares to defy my orders in public like this, it means… she’s going to use hypnosis!’

Sure enough, Eliana clapped her hands. A purple light immediately diffused from her pale golden eyes. The moment the servants present came into contact with that purple glow, their eyes instantly became utterly hollow.

Illyse obviously noticed the change in the others as well. Relying on her previous practice, she allowed her pupils to quickly lose focus, mimicking the appearance of being hypnotized.

The surrounding maids and attendants seemed to be controlled by a single invisible thread. Their movements stopped in unison, and they stood silently, their breathing becoming almost inaudible. The only sound left in the hall was the subtle *crackling* of burning firewood in the fireplace, making the silence feel even more suffocating.

the purple light in Eliana’s eyes faded slightly, but it did not disappear completely.

She reached out. It wasn’t to support Illyse, but to gently brush a lock of curly hair that had fallen over Illyse’s shoulder. The movement was so gentle it was as if she were handling a fragile treasure, sending a chill down Illyse’s spine.

“The young lady is tired,” Eliana said. Her voice remained gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable sense of control. “I will escort you back to your room to rest.”

She stepped aside to gesture. The hypnotized servants automatically cleared a path, and Illyse, like an exquisite marionette, walked with slightly stiff steps behind Eliana.

‘This woman’s hypnosis magic has improved even further. Given that, just how many people has she killed behind my back?’

Illyse’s heart grew more and more anxious. Where was she being taken? Was Eliana going to kill her, or was she going to do *that* to her again?

The girl’s steps were incredibly heavy. The stairs, which were usually very short, seemed to stretch out indefinitely.

Upon arriving at her bedroom door, Eliana held her shoulder. Whether intentionally or not, she blew a breath against Illyse’s neck and whispered, “All right, Miss. Please, go inside.”

Illyse stepped into the room and took a soft breath. All right, now she just had to see what Eliana would make her do.

After the maid followed her into the room, she immediately turned around and locked the door behind her.

‘What is she…?’

Seeing Eliana’s actions, Illyse’s legs felt a bit weak. Since the door was locked, whatever she was about to be made to do certainly wouldn’t be anything good.

As if to confirm her suspicion, Eliana’s first words were, “Miss, undress.”

‘Damn it!!!’

—

“Ha… ha… haaa…”

*Clap, clap, clap…*

Amidst the heavy yet somewhat feminine gasps, there was also the sound of rhythmic clapping. There was no doubt they were—

Don’t get the wrong idea; they weren’t doing anything indecent!

‘Is Eliana mentally ill?!’ Illyse roared frantically in her mind, but the movements of her hands did not stop.

She had been ordered to strip down to her underwear and then commanded to do jumping jacks?! The woman was insane!

Indeed, Illyse was panting heavily, already exhausted to the point of collapse.

It had been a very long time since she had engaged in such vigorous exercise. Combined with the fact that Illyse was a noble daughter who rarely exercised, her physical fitness was pathetic.

Now that she was moving, she felt like she was going to die. Was this bastard demon trying to work her to death?

If not for the fear of being exposed, she would have long since collapsed onto the floor and refused to get up no matter what.

‘Please stop, I beg you, please stop!’ the girl prayed desperately in her heart.

“107, 108…”

Eliana sat elegantly in an armchair with her legs crossed, her finger lightly tapping the armrest as she counted.

Her gaze fell calmly on Illyse’s skin, which was flushed and covered in a thin layer of sweat from the intense exertion, as if she were admiring a true work of art.

“120. All right, Miss, you may stop now.”

Illyse almost instantly went limp. Her knees buckled, and she was about to fall to the floor.

But Eliana rose and supported her body. Illyse was forced to maintain a half-squatting, extremely uncomfortable posture. She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently, and her vision blurred from sweat and moisture.

“Not yet, Miss.”

Eliana stood up and paced in front of her, looking down at her.

“Stopping intense exercise abruptly is bad for the body. Stand up slowly, take deep breaths… yes, just like that.”

Under her guidance, Illyse struggled to straighten up. Every breath pulled at her aching abdominal and leg muscles.

Humiliation and anger boiled in her heart, but more than that was a deep sense of confusion. What exactly was Eliana’s purpose in doing this?!

While she was thinking, Eliana walked a circle around her, her gaze meticulously scanning every inch of her body as if checking something.

Then, she stopped behind Illyse. Her cold fingers suddenly touched Illyse’s spine, making the girl tremble as if struck by an electric shock.

“Heh~”

A light chuckle came from behind. Illyse grew even more panicked. If she was going to be killed or cut up, she wanted it to be over with. What was the point of this torture?

What she didn’t know was that behind her, Eliana was in a very good mood. The maid in the kitchen was right; only with consistent exercise would the texture be more firm and chewy.

So, of course, she had to train Illyse.

“Miss, next, please allow me to help you wash your body~”

Eliana’s fingers slid slowly down Illyse’s sweat-drenched back, her fingertips deliberately slowing as they traced the waistline that was tense and sensitive after the intense exercise.

Illyse abruptly held her breath, as if every inch of touched skin was screaming in discomfort and panic.

‘Was this why she made me exercise? But it still doesn’t seem right, does it?’

“Look at you, sweating so much.”

Eliana’s voice sounded right against Illyse’s ear. The warm breath formed a cruel contrast with the coldness of her fingers.

“It won’t do if we don’t clean you thoroughly.”

She gave Illyse no room to respond or resist. Under the hypnotic command, Illyse could only obey submissively…