Chapter 34: She Proposed a Truce
Lena had followed the signs along the forest path.
In the heart of the Priest Academy was a vast snow-needle tree forest. Its quiet and secluded atmosphere made it a perfect spot for couples to meet and engage in intimate activities.
Lena didn’t like such tranquil places. There was no specific reason; in her past life, she had often hidden in desolate, uninhabited jungles to avoid the empire’s pursuers. She had even compiled a survival manual filled with her firsthand experiences.
Her fingertips pressed gently.
The kitten in her arms couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.
Lena held Angel in her lap, stroking her chin, her nose close to Angel’s pink hair, inhaling its fragrance. “You don’t seem to hate me at all.”
“I hate you to death, devil,” Angel said, biting her lip.
“You forgot ‘Master’ again. How many times do I have to teach you before you remember?”
Lena didn’t feel any satisfaction. An empty feeling washed over her once more.
Looking at the King of Narcissus on her middle finger, its light shimmering strangely, Lena suddenly said, “Don’t you think it’s beautiful?”
Angel breathed shallowly. “It’s alright, not as beautiful as you.”
“Hehehe, I quite like your compliments, but you need more practice, or your bad-tempered Master will punish you.”
“So, you have a good temper?”
What a joke.
Faced with such blatant sarcasm, Lena unexpectedly nodded. “Mm, everyone used to say I had a bad temper, even strangers, so I became the Lena everyone expected, catering to the public’s taste.”
Her grip tightened around Angel’s waist.
“It hurts… Master…”
“…”
Lena remained indifferent.
“You’ve hit a nerve, haven’t you, devil!” Angel suddenly burst out. “You’re a selfish and self-serving demon who only wants to possess others without considering their feelings! You don’t deserve such a beautiful appearance. With your ugly soul, your filthy body, and your despicable methods of taking what you want, no one will ever love you!!”
“Shut up!”
Lena abruptly raised her hand, wanting to slap Angel hard.
But her hand stopped mid-air, unable to fall.
Lena narrowed her eyes, a murderous glint in them. “You’re getting bolder, kitten. Do you really think I won’t touch you?”
Angel didn’t get angry, but instead laughed, as if giving up. “If you really wanted to hurt me, you wouldn’t have given me a warning beforehand. I can see your internal struggle. If you wanted me dead, I should have died at the Falmouth mansion that day! Not now, being kept by you, my will bound by a contract. You don’t want to kill me at all!”
“Interesting, go on,” Lena loosened her grip.
Angel rubbed her sore waist, gathering her emotions. “You don’t hate me, Lena. You actually hate yourself the most. Although I don’t know who you’re holding a grudge against, I see the path you’ve laid out for Ling Ling.”
“Did Agnes tell you that?”
“Ling Ling told me herself.”
Angel stared at Lena’s profile, while Lena looked towards the bushes, where two nuns were hiding.
“Your relationship seems very good, beyond that of master and servant.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Don’t lie to yourself. Ling Ling likes you, but you can’t face it, so you chose me instead. And I’m Ling Ling’s substitute. That’s a good enough reason, isn’t it?”
Angel “helpfully” provided an excuse for Lena.
But Lena didn’t need one. “You’re wrong.”
“Where am I wrong? Don’t you like Ling Ling?” Angel pressed.
Lena’s eyes flickered, her expression turning serious. “I can say I like her, but I have to say you’re wrong. You don’t know what’s happened to me, so you assume I’m some kind of sinner addicted to desire, trapped in the mud and unable to save myself. I know better than anyone what I truly want.”
Lena looked directly at Angel, emphasizing each word of her last sentence.
Angel met Lena’s gaze without fear for the first time, feeling incredibly brave, her heart lighter than it had been in days.
She saw the devil falter, saw Lena engage in a heated debate with her because of Ling Ling, and saw Lena’s truly serious side.
So, the devil, when serious, was as meticulous as a surgeon about to perform an operation. Could it be that Lena’s usual languid demeanor was all a pretense?
Including her attitude towards Angel?
“So, what are you seeking?” Angel asked.
“I…”
Lena paused, her long eyelashes fluttering, her lips parting slightly. “I can’t tell you that… Honestly, you’re biting off more than you can chew.”
“But you didn’t stop me from speaking, and you didn’t use the contract. This proves that you also yearn to confide in someone. I can help you. I can be your confidante, just like Professor Agnes.” Angel finished in one breath, staring intently at Lena’s expression.
This wasn’t for Lena, but for herself.
Right or wrong, it all depended on whether this move could open Lena’s heart, allowing her to see inside.
This was the compromise she had come up with after two hours of contemplation, a crucial peace treaty with the devil.
Lena: “Hmph.”
What did “hmph” mean?
Had Lena seen through her scheme?
Angel felt anxious. “Say something, don’t distrust me. I can really help you, including clearing your name and promoting your identity and strength, making you a celebrity in the academy…”
“Heh, clever girl.”
Lena gave another ambiguous reply.
Leaning back against the bench, she parted her stocking-clad legs.
The heat generated from having Angel sit on her lap for so long was becoming unbearable, her blood circulation restricted… Simply put, her legs were numb.
So, what to do about numb legs?
“Ouch!”
“Don’t move, kitten. If you’re scared, hold onto my collar and burrow into my arms. Your great Master will protect you.” Lena teased, her hand catching Angel’s bottom just as she was about to fall, gently moving her to the bench beside her.
“I’m not scared, I’m not afraid of anyone!” Angel, still shaken, retorted bravely.
But the weakness in her legs forced her to lean against Lena’s shoulder, making them look like a loving couple.
“Is that so? Let’s let the audience judge your performance.” Lena tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her pink earlobe.
“Don’t change the subject, answer me.”
“Answer what? Haven’t I already answered?”
“?” Angel was confused. She looked at her current position, then at the empty space above Lena’s beautiful legs.
Suddenly, it dawned on her, and she scoffed. “…Tsundere devil!”
“The audience has arrived, Miss Angel. It’s your turn to perform. Don’t disappoint me,” Lena said, her eyelids half-closed, a smile playing on her lips.
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