Chapter 85: This magic lesson, isn’t the Demon King playing it too fancy?

Lucia’s fingers were cold.

Two fingers gripped Lilia’s cheeks.

The pressure wasn’t intense, but a dull ache that felt as if her bones were being crushed radiated from deep within.

“You… ugh!”

Lilia wanted to curse her out.

However, her mouth was forcibly pried open by a surge of strength.

She tried to grit her teeth in resistance, but those two fingers pressed precisely into the soft flesh of her cheeks.

With a slight increase in pressure, a wave of numbness shot into her brain.

Her jaw went slack, and she could no longer hold her teeth together.

Her mouth was forced wide open.

Humiliated tears welled up and spilled over.

She held her mouth open in vain, unable to do anything but let out soft whimpers from the back of her throat.

“See? Isn’t it better to be obedient?”

Lucia’s tone was flat, devoid of any discernible emotion.

She picked up the Silver Fork once again.

She speared a piece of steak dripping with sauce and brought it to Lilia’s lips.

The aroma of roasted meat mingled with the sweetness of the sauce drifted into her nose.

At this moment, however, the fragrance felt like a mockery.

Lilia’s body trembled as she desperately leaned her head back.

Her crown pressed against the back of the chair.

She wanted to avoid the meat, but there was nowhere left to retreat.

“I don’t want it… ugh… I won’t eat… meow…”

Her protests leaked out of her forced-open mouth, thick with the sound of crying.

Lilith stood to the side.

Her hands were folded in front of her, her head bowed, remaining motionless.

However, her hands, clad in white gloves, were clenched tightly together.

The outlines of her fingertips strained against the fabric, nearly piercing her palms.

Her mind was in a whirl.

‘What is Her Majesty doing?’

‘Feeding her personally? In such a brutal manner?’

Given Her Majesty’s power, a single thought could have forced the little creature to eat on her own.

Yet, Her Majesty had chosen not to do that.

She chose to squeeze her mouth open with her own hands, forcing her to accept the feeding.

This display of possession and control sent a chill through Lilith.

‘Miss…’

As the thought surfaced, Lilith dug her nails into her palm.

The sharp pain brought her back to her senses.

No.

She could not have such thoughts.

Everything Her Majesty did was the law.

She was merely a servant, a tool.

She only needed to obey, watch, and remember.

Lilia was still struggling.

Lucia’s fork pressed against the tip of her tongue.

She tried to use her tongue to push the meat out, but the Silver Fork didn’t budge an inch.

After a dozen or so seconds of stalemate, Lucia lost her patience.

The fingers pinching Lilia’s cheeks tightened their grip.

“It seems you aren’t hungry enough.”

Lilia’s pupils shrank.

Lucia’s other hand rose, reaching toward the collar around her neck.

‘No! Not that!’

The fear of being electrocuted overwhelmed the last of her dignity.

Lilia’s body went limp.

She stopped resisting.

She closed her eyes as clear tears slid down the bridge of her nose and dripped onto her apron.

She resigned herself to her fate.

A warm piece of meat coated in sauce was stuffed into her mouth.

The meat was tender, and the sauce was delicious, but the only things Lilia tasted were salty tears and humiliation.

She moved her jaw mechanically.

Her cheek muscles ached, and her throat felt constricted, making it impossible to swallow.

“Swallow it.”

Lucia’s command rang out.

Lilia’s body flinched.

Her throat bobbed as she forced the food down, swallowing it along with her tears.

“Very good.”

Lucia let go.

Lilia lost all strength and slumped into the chair.

Propping herself up on the table with both hands, she gasped for air.

Tears continued to fall, soaking the fabric over her chest.

Humiliation, anger, and powerlessness — and rising from her stomach, a shameful sense of satisfaction.

These feelings tangled together, making her want to vomit.

Lucia did not feed her again.

She picked up a napkin and slowly, methodically wiped her fingers, completely ignoring Lilia’s breakdown.

“Are you full?”

Lilia lay slumped on the table, her face buried in the crook of her arm in silent protest.

“It seems you are.”

Lucia stood up and walked noiselessly behind Lilia.

Lilia felt a chill emanate from behind her back.

“Since you are full, it’s time for today’s…”

Lilia’s body stiffened.

‘After-dinner… exercise?’

‘What new trick has this pervert come up with now?!’

“For today’s Magic Lesson, we’re going somewhere else.”

There was a hint of interest in Lucia’s tone.

She snapped her fingers.

Snap.

The surrounding scenery distorted and shifted.

The dining table, the chairs, and the remains of the dinner all vanished.

A second later, Lilia found herself sitting on a massive circular bed.

The black silk sheets were smooth and cool, and the air was filled with Lucia’s cold fragrance.

The walls of the room were as smooth as black stone, reflecting her bewildered silhouette.

Lilia was stunned.

“Where… where is this? Meow?”

“My bedroom.”

Lucia’s answer was simple.

Lilia’s mind went blank with a loud buzz.

‘The bedroom? For a Magic Lesson?’

An ominous premonition gripped her heart.

“The content of today’s lesson is a duel.”

Lucia walked to the edge of the bed and sat down.

The silk sheets dipped under her weight.

She patted the spot beside her.

“You attack me, and I will defend.”

Lilia froze, doubting her own ears.

‘Attack her?’

‘Isn’t that exactly what I’ve wanted to do all along?’

“Really? Meow?”

She couldn’t believe it.

“I can use any magic to attack you? Even a Fireball spell? Meow?”

“Of course,” Lucia nodded.

“Everything you’ve learned can be used on me.”

Lilia’s heart began to race.

An opportunity! This was an opportunity! Although she knew she couldn’t hurt this monster, this was the first time she had been allowed to attack of her own volition!

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Lucia continue.

“However, to make it more interesting, we shall add a rule.”

There it was.

Lilia’s heart immediately leapt into her throat.

She knew this perverted game wouldn’t be that simple.

“…What rule? Meow?”

“It’s simple.”

Lucia reached out.

Her cool fingertips traced across Lilia’s burning cheek, making her shudder.

“This magic duel will include a ‘Sensory Link.'”

“A Sensory… Link? Meow?” Lilia’s voice trembled.

“In other words…”

Lucia’s fingertip slid down her jawline and tapped against her collarbone.

“Every time I defend, or every time your attack misses, it will turn into sensory stimulation applied to your body.”

Her voice dropped low, curling into Lilia’s ear.

“It could be pain, it could be an itch, or of course, it could be…”

She leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against Lilia’s ear.

“…the kind of thing I had you experience before.”

The color drained from Lilia’s face instantly, leaving her deathly pale.