Chapter 657: Hollows Behind Smiles ( 657 )

“…And what, young master~?” Liana’s voice dipped lower, her fingers still tangled in his hair.

“Err… errr…”

“Now now~ Don’t be shy~ Tell us… young master.”

Gloria’s tone was sweet, but when her eyes opened slightly behind her glasses, the air visibly dropped in temperature.

Javier gulped. “A-Ah… you both look… err… s-scary?”

“Hmm~? Don’t evade the question, young master~” Gloria’s smile didn’t change, but her tone left no room for escape.

Javier pressed his lips shut.

Tight.

Sealed.

Zipped.

Nope.

Nothing coming out.

Liana’s grip shifted slightly—just enough for Javier to feel the warning.

Then Gloria glanced to the side. “Oh~? Should we take turns guessing, Liana?”

Liana smiled gently. “Yes. That might work better~”

Gloria tapped her chin playfully.

“Hmm… Let’s see. Maybe he flirted a little. Like holding hands?”

Javier blinked. Calm. Steady.

“Or maybe…” Liana chimed in, her tone still elegant. “A hug, perhaps?”

A single bead of sweat formed on Javier’s temple.

“Or maybe… a kiss on the lips?” Gloria asked softly.

More sweat.

Now two beads.

Liana tilted her head, eyes still locked onto his.

“Or maybe…” she whispered, voice turning dangerously soft,

“…she allowed him to bury his face on her chest?”

Javier flinched.

“…!!”

His whole body twitched.

Gloria’s eyes glinted behind her glasses.

Liana leaned closer, lips near his ear.

“Young maaasteeer~”

Liana’s voice suddenly rose, sharp and trembling.

“You have us… and the first girl you go to is—”

Her eyes narrowed like knives.

“ERISA!!?”

“Eeeekkk!!” Javier threw his hands up defensively.

“I was trying to find you both!! I needed comfort! And she was just… there!!”

Gloria arched a brow.

“Oh? Just there?”

“I-I was back from the mission! I—I ran to the estate and tried to find you both—honest!”

Liana crossed her arms. “And?”

Javier froze.

“Err… she was… there… and um… she looked… beautiful… and…”

“And?”

Liana and Gloria leaned in, voices now in eerie unison.

Javier wilted under their gaze.

“Err… I… I… I ki… kissed her…”

Both of them blinked once.

“…On the lips?” Gloria asked.

“Err…”

“ON. THE. LIPS!?!?” Liana snapped.

Javier covered his face.

“Eeeekkk!! I didn’t mean to! It just—happened!! She leaned in!! Or maybe I leaned in—I don’t know!!”

Gloria turned to Liana, eyes dead calm.

“We should cut his dick.”

Liana nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. Cutting his dick is our best option.”

“EEEKKKK!! Nothing but that!! Please!! Mercy!! I treasure that part!!!”

Both Liana and Gloria moved at the same time.

With one smooth motion, they reached to their sides—drawing their blades in a flash of steel and light.

Javier’s eyes widened.

“EEEKKKK!! I’M SORRY!!! MERCY!!”

But before the punishment could be delivered.

Footsteps approached from the hallway.

“Young master.”

A calm, refined voice.

“Lord Garius is calling for you.”

The girls froze mid-step.

Javier blinked. Then darted past them like a squirrel, diving behind the source of the voice.

Erisa.

Elegant as always, Erisa stood at the corridor with a neutral expression, hands folded neatly in front of her.

Javier peeked out from behind her back.

“Erisa!! Help me!! They’re going to cut me!!!”

Erisa let out a small sigh and gently shook her head.

“Now now… both of you. Calm down.”

Liana’s blade remained steady.

Gloria adjusted her glasses with a slow, chilling smile.

“Calm down? My my, Erisa~ You sound composed for someone who’s… possibly aiming to join the young master’s harem~ Hmm?”

Erisa didn’t flinch.

Her expression remained calm. Unshaken.

“I’m not,” she replied smoothly, eyes steady.

“But…” she added, voice quiet but firm,

“If it’s just about the kiss—”

She glanced at Javier behind her shoulder.

“Well, the young master wanted one kiss. So I gave it.”

She turned back to Liana and Gloria.

“It’s not like I’ll get pregnant just from a kiss.”

Gloria’s eyes narrowed, and her fingers slowly adjusted her glasses.

“…Ara~ How bold.”

Her voice was soft, but the edge behind it could slice steel.

Liana took a step forward, her blade now sheathed but her presence sharper than ever.

She faced Erisa directly—calm, composed.

“A kiss won’t get you pregnant…” she repeated Erisa’s words.

“…But it will surely touch your heart. Hmm?”

Erisa met her gaze evenly, unflinching.

Before either could speak further—

She turned slightly and called out behind her.

“Young master. Now, go. Lord Garius is waiting.”

Her voice dropped to a commanding tone.

Javier, who had been crouching behind her like a guilty toddler, grinned quickly and bolted toward the manor like his life depended on it.

“Y-Yes ma’am!!”

Once his footsteps vanished.

Liana’s gaze darkened.

Her words came slowly, each syllable carefully weighed.

“I don’t want you to be part of young master’s harem.”

Erisa smiled.

Not with arrogance.

But something quieter. More dangerous.

“I won’t.”

She turned slightly to walk past them, voice light as silk.

“…But if he ever needs a concubine…”

Her eyes flicked toward Liana and Gloria just briefly—one corner of her lips lifting.

“I’m ready.”

With quiet steps, Erisa walked down the corridor, her posture as straight and serene as ever—leaving behind two frozen women, their eyes locked on her retreating back.

Liana sighed, her hand brushing her bangs back as she stared at the empty hallway where Erisa had disappeared.

“…Why is every maid in this Armand household after the young master,” she muttered, “even though they all know he flirts around…”

She exhaled again, this time deeper.

“Just because he’s handsome.”

Gloria sighed as well, almost in harmony.

“…Well. He is handsome,” she admitted reluctantly.

There was a pause.

Then Liana’s eyes narrowed, thoughtful.

“…Perhaps we should punish him tonight.”

Gloria’s eyes glinted behind her glasses.

“Yes, first wife.”

Her voice was smooth as silk.

“We should punish him.”

Liana crossed her arms and gave a slow, deliberate nod.

“Tonight… we let him sleep alone.”

Gloria smiled. “I’ll make sure the bedroom door is locked.”

Liana added with a smirk, “And if he needs a hugging pillow…”

Gloria finished without missing a beat—

“He can call Erisa. Or one of the other maids. Right~?”

They both smiled.

Cold. Coordinated. Merciless.

Inside Liana’s mind.

Young master… really doesn’t care for me or Gloria anymore, does he…?

Her eyes lingered on the empty hallway, the place where Javier had vanished moments ago.

She smiled.

But it wasn’t warm.

It wasn’t sad either.

Just… hollow.

A shape of a smile—without feeling behind it.

Maybe… maybe I should stop.

Her fingers curled slightly at her side.

Stop trying so hard.

She glanced to her right.

Gloria was already walking slowly toward the manor, her usual calm steps betraying nothing.

Liana remained standing.

Unmoving.

Maybe it’s time… for me to stop too.

Her shoulders slowly dropped.

To stop trying.

( End Of Chapter )

Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.