Chapter 64: A Battle of Words
After changing and having breakfast, Kailun headed towards the dungeon, two food boxes in hand.
Phils was still asleep. She had spent the night tossing and turning in the cell next to his, unable to sleep.
It wasn’t that the walls were thin. He had simply forgotten to close the window.
Winnie’s favorability had dipped even further after last night’s accident, reaching -90.
She sat slumped in the corner, her once pristine dress now stained and crumpled.
She glanced up at him as he entered, her eyes filled with resentment, before quickly looking away. Last night’s events had clearly taken a toll on her.
Kailun decided against further torment. Everyone had their limits. Pushing her now wouldn’t yield any additional benefits.
He placed a food box outside her cell and entered Vivian’s room. She was sitting at the table, engrossed in a novel.
“Tomorrow, I’m taking you to see your sister. If we’re lucky, we might even bring her back to keep you company.” He placed the food box on the table and opened it for her.
“If you manage to capture that woman, I might even thank you.” Vivian swung her legs, her feet dangling above the ground.
“No need for thanks. Just a kiss will do.” He chuckled.
Her eyes lit up. “Can I pay you in advance?”
“Of course.” He feigned ignorance.
“Close your eyes. Give me five seconds. I’ll grant your wish.” She tilted her chin up, a triumphant glint in her eyes.
This was her chance to turn the tables, to make Kailun her pet and subject him to the same torment he had inflicted upon her!
“Close your eyes! How am I supposed to kiss you if you’re staring at me?” She urged, impatient.
“Alright.”
He closed his eyes and sat still, a smile playing on his lips. He was an experienced angler, patiently waiting for his prey to take the bait.
The moment his eyes closed, Vivian popped the poisoned candy into her mouth and, with a mischievous grin, launched herself at him, her lips crashing against his.
Her tongue explored his mouth with a surprising amount of enthusiasm.
Kailun, enjoying the sensation, couldn’t resist teasing her back.
Their tongues danced, a playful battle for dominance. Vivian, to her surprise, found herself enjoying the experience.
Kailun knew her all too well. He could practically read her mind.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally pulled away, breathless and flushed.
“You’re doomed! You’ve been poisoned! Without my antidote, you’ll be coughing up blood within three days!” She stood, her hands on her hips, her stocking-clad legs planted firmly on his instep. “Scared speechless, are we?”
She imagined herself leading the charge against Hilna, Kailun by her side, her loyal puppet.
But Kailun simply pointed at his lips. “That’s not where I wanted you to kiss me. You misunderstood.”
“Where then?”
He didn’t answer. He simply lowered his head.
Vivian followed his gaze, her face turning crimson. “You pervert! How dare you think such filthy thoughts! I’ll punish you!”
He caught her fist before it could connect. “Before you punish me, why don’t you check if your antidote is still… effective?”
“Don’t think you can trick me! You just want to steal my antidote! I’d rather die than hand it over to you!” She tugged on her hand, her voice firm.
Despite her childish appearance, she was truly willing to die to spite him.
“Admirable spirit. But have you considered the possibility that the antidote hidden under your pillow has been… replaced?”
He could barely contain his laughter.
Vivian: “？！?”
Her face went through a series of emotions in rapid succession: shock, disbelief, then fear.
“How did you know?” She stared at him as if he were a monster.
“How could I not know? A simple search would have revealed it.”
He had thoroughly searched her person while carrying her home that night.
Vivian: “…”
She was speechless. Where should she even begin? After a long pause, she finally asked, “How did you know where I hid it?”
“I guessed.”
The most infuriatingly simple answer. She knew further questioning was futile.
He was hiding something. He knew her better than she knew herself.
She walked over to her bed, retrieved the hidden vial from under her pillow, and poured out two small candies.
Just as he had said, the antidote was gone.
She slumped onto the bed, defeated. “I lost. What do you want?”
He rested his chin on his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Two options. Either fulfill my previous request, or… put on a good show for your sister tomorrow. I’ll give you the chance to fight her one-on-one.”
“But I can’t beat her!”
“I said you can, so you can. Don’t you want to tie up your cruel and selfish sister and whip her yourself?” He extended his hand towards her.
She took it. “I accept.”
“Excellent. I’ll be watching your performance tomorrow. Oh, and I’ll have Carol deliver the dungeon keys to you tonight. Clean up Winnie. I can’t have her looking like a mess when I introduce her to her sister.”
He glanced at the transparent glass wall, his eyes meeting Winnie’s.
“He’s a monster…” She quickly retreated, cowering in the corner.
She had witnessed every moment of Vivian’s downfall. Observing from the sidelines only intensified her fear.
She had lost all dignity on the first day. What horrors awaited her in the days to come?
The thought sent shivers down her spine. If no one came to rescue her, she would surely break.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your day.” He waved and left the room.
As he walked away, he “kindly” took the food box he had placed outside Winnie’s cell.
Winnie: “？？?”
Had he placed the food there just to taunt her?
Thanks a lot.
She burst into tears again.
When it came to being heartless, Kailun was truly a master.
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