'Boy, weren’t you brave last night!?'

Queen Eden still remembered vividly how she had been humiliated.

Trying to outmaneuver a succubus in such matters?

Did he really think the name “succubus” was given without merit?

The Queen, narrow-minded and vengeful, was intent on payback.

Shia, on the other hand, didn’t dare make a fuss.

Queen Eden acted recklessly because her nature as a succubus allowed her to.

But Shia was human. He had a sense of morality.

---

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

“Are you two done talking yet?”

The voice, muffled by the door, was filled with worry.

Rong had her entire body pressed against the door, eavesdropping with both concern and curiosity.

After much reassurance from Shia and a sleepless night, Rong had reluctantly agreed to let him negotiate with queen Eden alone.

However, she insisted on standing guard outside the door.

If Shia encountered any trouble, she’d rush in immediately to protect him.

But just now, she thought she had heard something unusual inside and couldn’t help but ask.

“Not yet. Just wait a bit longer,” Shia called out, raising his voice slightly.

Rong’s concern grew.

“If anything dangerous happens, you have to call for me right away!”

“No.”

A curt response. Shia fell silent again.

Rong bit her lip, her unease growing.

“Are you really okay?”

“Really. Have you finished the task I gave you earlier?”

Shia’s voice was strained, almost stuttering.

---

Rong pouted, glancing at the building blocks in the corner.

'Why does it feel like he’s treating me like a child?'

When she said she wanted to stay close to help, he had simply handed her the blocks to “play with.”

Still, she reluctantly returned to finish her “task,” though her heart was full of worry.

What Rong didn’t realize was the most glaring detail:

Before they entered to negotiate, queen Eden had been visibly annoyed by Rong’s lack of trust.

Yet now, when Rong had directly questioned her from outside the door, the Queen had not uttered a single word.

The reason?

Queen Eden wasn’t in a position to speak right now.

---

Inside, Shia was holding his hand firmly over her mouth, his face a mix of frustration and defeat.

He never thought he’d find himself in such a predicament.

'Am I really living the life of someone’s unlucky spouse right now?'

His heart was heavy with guilt.

Rong was right outside the door, yet here he was, betraying her trust.

For the first time, he understood Ella’s perspective back then.

But as his gaze drifted downward, landing on the mature and alluring queen Eden, he couldn’t help but sigh.

The Queen, lips pressed under his hand, had eyes brimming with mischief and allure, like autumn waves rippling under moonlight.

Sigh…

The guilt deepened.

But it was also… undeniably breathtaking.

---

“Creak.”

The door opened.

Rong immediately looked up, her eyes wide and expectant.

Shia stood in the doorway, his steps halting slightly as if hesitating. After a moment, he walked out.

Rong jumped up, scattering the blocks she had meticulously assembled. She didn’t care, rushing to his side.

Her eyes roamed over him, inspecting him from head to toe.

She wanted to make sure no parts were missing.

Her examination eased her worries somewhat.

Behind Shia, queen Eden’s sultry, raspy voice rang out.

“My dear daughter, do you not trust your mama?”

The voice carried a hint of reproach.

Rong, finally reassured that Shia was unharmed, sighed in relief and turned toward the Queen—only for her vision to suddenly go dark.

That familiar fragrance.

That familiar softness pressing against her.

That familiar suffocating sensation, paired with the voice of mild irritation coming from above her head.

“You’re hurting your mama’s feelings like this.”

The warmth of the Queen’s plush embrace enveloped Rong, her face squished into the softness.

From Shia’s perspective, however, Rong’s struggle only caused the Queen’s ample curves to ripple even more dramatically.

As the Queen vented her dissatisfaction, she trapped Rong firmly in her arms. At the same time, her enchanting eyes fixed on Shia, filled with teasing and meaning.

Her tongue darted out, licking her lips, her expression one of satisfaction. The sight sent a shiver down Shia’s spine.

Having spent much time with Rong, Shia had underestimated the succubus race.

After last night’s experience with queen Eden—an ancient succubus with centuries of repressed desires—he had a newfound respect for their terrifying charm.

The memory alone was enough to make his back tingle.

---

Rong, struggling in the Queen’s arms, only succeeded in making the situation more… lively.

By the time she escaped, her hair was a mess, with a single tuft sticking up adorably.

Her expression was a mix of indignation and resignation.

'Now do you see why I don’t trust you alone with my master!?'

Thankfully, their departure marked the end of this ordeal.

Since they couldn’t afford to be away from the academy for long, Shia and Rong prepared to return that day.

---

At the farewell, queen Eden stood at the entrance in a crisp white suit, her expression solemn as she addressed Shia.

“In the future, my daughter will rely on your care.”

Shia nodded.

Even without her reminder, he would have done so.

But her next words nearly made him choke.

“You’d better keep your word, especially since… I’ve already paid you handsomely, haven’t I? Master Shia, I trust your sense of honor.”

Shia coughed awkwardly, struggling to maintain a calm façade.

Rong, noticing the Queen’s cryptic expression and Shia’s composed demeanor, tilted her head in confusion.

“What payment? Did she pay you a lot?”

Dreamland’s wealth was no secret, even to Rong, who was ignorant of its underground operations.

Shia flicked her on the forehead.

“Children shouldn’t ask questions they don’t need to know the answers to.”

The Queen watched them with amusement, clearly unbothered by Shia scolding her “daughter.”

Shia nodded politely to the Queen before stepping into the vehicle.

---

In the car, Rong rubbed her forehead, more curious than ever.

“How much did she pay you? Since she’s paying, does that mean you’re responsible for all my food, clothes, and housing now?”

She paused, her smile brightening.

“So, does this mean we’ve officially met each other’s families? Can I just stick by your side forever now?”

Her innocent joy made Shia’s guilt deepen.

He felt like he was tarnishing a pure light in his otherwise murky world.

This world wasn’t black and white, nor was it defined solely by race.

There were people like Rong, untouched by the darkness around them.

And then there was him—a man who had seen too much and carried too many stains.

The contrast between them was stark, like a pristine white page next to an ink-drenched brush.

The thought made Shia’s heart waver.

Faced with her cheerful questions, he didn’t know how to respond.

So, he resorted to his tried-and-true method of distraction: his cat-taming techniques.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com