Shia wasn’t particularly impressed by Violet’s speech on stage.

As a seasoned player who had gone through the game multiple times, Shia knew all too well the significance of this heroine.

The "White Stockings Princess," one of the game’s few characters with flawless appeal.

Her porcelain, silky skin was often highlighted in the game’s CG illustrations, whether through melted ice cream scenarios or lavish bath product application scenes.

She came with an alluring combination of silver hair, royal blood, and a strong yet tragic persona. On top of that, she was a princess from a kingdom on the brink of ruin, set for an arranged marriage, and even had an aunt who bore a striking resemblance to her and ruled in her stead.

Both were fully romanceable characters. You could even unlock the "double combo" route.

But!

Despite her overwhelming charm, Shia didn’t like Violet’s personality.

Why?

She was incredibly contradictory!

A deeply conflicted, tragic older-sister type who spent the entire storyline at odds with herself.

And, to top it off, her personality guaranteed constant friction with the current Shia.

Whether it was due to her preferences or her personal pursuits, conflict was inevitable.

While it might make sense narratively, Shia couldn’t care less. 'Why should I be the one to suffer!?'

For now, his priority was finding the succubus princess.

The princess was also a freshman, though she had arrived in disguise. In the game, she was relatively easy to spot—most other characters were background filler.

But in reality, those background silhouettes were now living, breathing people.

Spotting someone disguised in a crowd was far more difficult than it had been in the game.

Shia scoured every corner his eyes could reach but failed to catch sight of her.

Even after the ceremony ended, he came up empty-handed.

It was disappointing, sure, but it wasn’t the end of the world.

It seemed he’d have to wait for the qualification tournament, a key story event.

Shia lowered his gaze, his thoughts turning toward the tournament and its related events.

Immersed in his plans, Shia didn’t notice that Violet had been watching him from the stage.

The girls around him, however, were abuzz with chatter.

"Who is she looking at?"

"She’s definitely been glancing this way!"

The chatter didn’t even reach Shia, who remained lost in thought.

Violet, meanwhile, grew increasingly irked.

From the moment she stepped on stage to the very end of the ceremony, this black-haired boy hadn’t spared her a single glance.

'Man, you’ve successfully caught my attention!'

---

As the freshman qualification tournament approached, Ella had already highlighted its importance. Naturally, Lilith was concerned about Shia’s performance.

That evening, she paid him an unexpected visit.

The tournament would determine class placements and resource allocations within the academy. It was crucial to push Shia as hard as possible.

“Shia, do you love me?”

“If you do, then win the freshman qualification tournament for me.”

“My man must be a hero among men.”

“If you can’t even claim first place in such a trivial competition, do you deserve my faith in you?”

The attack had begun!

Facing Lilith’s second round of PUA tactics, Shia wasn’t the least bit surprised.

She was ramping up the pressure, jumping straight to max intensity.

First place? Easier said than done.

Shia lacked even a trace of cultivation talent. Even the academy’s prodigies couldn’t confidently guarantee their rankings here.

Lilith knew full well that Shia had no talent for cultivation.

But did that matter?

Of course not.

It didn’t matter how he accomplished it—she demanded results.

“What if I can’t get first place?” Shia asked, his tone neutral.

Lilith feigned a look of sadness.

“My man would never fail at something so trivial.”

“It’s just a matter of willpower.”

“If you truly love me, you’ll make it happen.”

“If you can’t…”

The implication was clear: 'If you fail, you don’t love me.'

Lilith was masterfully connecting unrelated concepts, weaving them into a web of guilt and expectation.

Shia wanted to laugh.

'What does love have to do with tournament rankings?'

Still, in this world, cultivation wasn’t the only path to success. There were countless other avenues to explore.

And again, what did love have to do with tournament results? This was nothing more than an attempt to instill self-doubt.

If she could make him believe “I can’t even manage this—I’m worthless,” her job was done.

But Shia wasn’t the pushover he used to be.

Pressure needed an outlet.

Shia’s head drooped, his entire demeanor collapsing as though defeated.

“You’re right,” he muttered.

“I have no cultivation talent. How could I ever take first place in the tournament?”

“I love you, but I can’t prove it.”

“I’m just garbage.”

He looked every bit the beaten dog Lilith wanted him to be.

Lilith smiled in satisfaction.

'Now this is how my loyal lapdog should act.'

But before she could deliver the next blow, Shia flipped the script.

“A failure like me doesn’t deserve to stay by your side.”

Shia raised his head, his eyes filled with sorrow and reluctance.

The sincerity in his gaze stunned Lilith.

She started to nod, then hesitated as realization struck her.

Wait—was he… giving up?

While her ideal tool recognizing his inferiority was a win, she hadn’t intended for him to 'actually leave.'

Shia pressed on, his bitter smile widening.

“From now on, you’ll have to live without me by your side.”

“I’m sure someone better will come along—someone who can protect you.”

Lilith froze, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak.

“You…”

Shia cut her off.

“I can’t meet your expectations. I’m worthless. Staying here will only cause more pain. I might as well drop out.”

Lilith was floored. She wanted to belittle him, sure—but not push him away completely!

'Did I overdo it?'

Shia turned, his head hanging low, as if preparing to leave for good.

Panic flashed across Lilith’s face. On instinct, she grabbed his wrist.

“Why would you think that?”

Her tone softened. “When there’s a problem, we find solutions. You can’t just give up!”

But Shia remained resolute, his back still turned.

“You don’t need to say anything. I understand now. I’m not good enough. I don’t deserve to stand by your side.”

Lilith’s heart raced.

She’d never truly seen Shia as a real fiancé, but how could she let her most useful tool walk away?

Now, her priority had shifted: she needed to reignite his spirit.

Unbeknownst to her, Lilith had already fallen into Shia’s trap—and she didn’t even realize it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com