Although she left with composure and elegance, the current situation painted a starkly different picture.

Shia stared at Violet, utterly speechless.

“What kind of trick is this?”

He hadn’t done anything yet, so why was she acting this way?

At the moment, Violet was crouched in the corner, clutching her head with both hands. She looked like a pitiful creature caught red-handed, trying her best to make herself invisible. Her stance screamed “defense mode” as if preparing for some terrible punishment.

Her poor, helpless expression made it seem like she was about to be bullied by some villain.

The issue, however, was that Shia hadn’t done anything yet.

As soon as they walked into the small forest, Violet had behaved this way. Seriously, wasn’t she the one who had instigated trouble and actively sought him out?

Now she was acting as though he was the villain here.

Violet clung to her head without lifting it or saying a word. She simply bit her lip and shut her eyes, ready to endure whatever retribution might come her way.

Shia crouched down in front of her, leaning in to see her face.

“Hey, wasn’t it you who started this? You sent someone to mess with me, right?”

Violet slightly raised her head, revealing her teary eyes. Her reaction only fueled Shia’s bluntness.

“You’ve already played the villain, so why act so pitiful now?”

Violet didn’t respond, merely gazing at Shia with a look that could melt hearts. However, her pitiful demeanor didn’t sway him one bit. In fact, he found the contrast amusing.

After all, wasn’t this royal princess always exuding confidence? She had a knack for justifying her selfish actions with lofty excuses. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state was an unexpected treat.

But to his surprise, Violet didn’t deny her involvement this time. Instead, she took full responsibility.

Finally lifting her head, she pressed her lips together and spoke.

“Yes, I don’t like you, so I wanted to humiliate you. Teach you a lesson.”

Her candid confession left Shia momentarily stunned.

“I’m the one who tattled to the senior. I’m also the one who instructed Aph to bully you. She’s just a Silver Moon Royal Guard following orders.”

She met his gaze unwaveringly. “If you want to settle the score, direct it all at me.”

Her bold and forthright manner even earned Shia’s grudging admiration.

“So, you admit to all these bad deeds. How do you plan to apologize?”

Shia’s casual tone made Violet’s confusion even more apparent. Her mind was blank, unable to fathom how to respond.

“…I’m sorry?” she said hesitantly.

Her apology lacked sincerity. Clearly, she needed to show more effort.

“That won’t cut it. Show some proper attitude,” Shia remarked, shaking his head.

The confusion in Violet’s eyes deepened, accompanied by a growing sense of dread. She had chosen to bear the blame and anticipated facing consequences—nothing more than enduring another round of bullying from this scoundrel. She could endure it.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked cautiously.

Shia’s smile widened, an unsettling mix of amusement and malice. He crooked his finger at her, beckoning her closer. Though reluctant, Violet obeyed, moving closer until she could hear his whispered request.

Her face immediately turned crimson.

This… this was outrageous!

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the sly grin on Shia’s face made her hesitate. She realized she had no leverage here. If she wanted to shield Aph, she had no choice but to comply with Shia’s absurd demands.

The bustling campus outside the grove continued as usual, filled with students laughing and chatting. However, if one ventured close enough and listened carefully, they might hear a low, trembling voice coming from the forest.

“Daddy…”

The soft, quivering tone was barely audible, dripping with embarrassment.

The stark contrast between the lively campus and the peculiar dynamic unfolding in the grove created an electrifying tension.

Shia, his eyes half-closed and a smirk tugging at his lips, seemed to revel in his villainous role. For him, being the bad guy had never been so satisfying.

Yet, he wasn’t entirely pleased with Violet’s performance. There was room for improvement.

“How can you sound so stiff? Again, with more sweetness.”

Violet wanted to disappear into the ground. But she had no choice but to follow Shia’s instructions, softening her voice and making it syrupy sweet. Her bashful demeanor was a perfect blend of defiance and submission, a sight Shia found thoroughly entertaining.

As his gaze shifted downward, he noticed something new: Violet’s shoes. Today, she wore strappy, sky-blue high-heeled sandals. The delicate silk ribbons wrapped around her legs, crisscrossing before tying into a neat bow at her calves.

Shia openly admired her footwear, even offering a compliment.

“You’re quite obedient, aren’t you? Taking your daddy’s suggestions is a good habit.”

Violet reflexively pulled her feet back, but standing made it impossible to fully hide them. Her embarrassment surged anew.

“I didn’t wear them because of you!” she retorted, her voice tinged with shame. She told herself it was merely a whim—a break from her usual boots.

“Sure, sure,” Shia said, nodding thoughtfully. “Tsundere, huh? Makes sense.”

Though understanding, he wasn’t about to let such behavior slide. Reaching out, he gently patted her head.

“Honesty is important. I get your stubbornness, but it’s not a good habit.”

Violet wanted desperately to swat his hand away, but in this situation, resisting wasn’t an option. She couldn’t afford to provoke him further, not when Aph might suffer the consequences.

“But don’t worry,” Shia continued. “I’m a good daddy. I’ll make sure my daughter learns to be a truthful, obedient child.”

A sinking feeling settled in Violet’s chest. This couldn’t mean what she thought it meant…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com