Chapter 446: The Answer

A strange atmosphere began to circulate through the Saintess’s boudoir—over the pink-canopied bed.

A beast named Anna was facing off against a little lamb named Liya in this cruel hunting ground where they contended for the single prey.

It looked like a wildly uneven duel; the absolute suppression of experience and level made it seem as if the outcome had already been decided before the match even began.

But in the face of the beast’s feral grin, the little lamb, though trembling, did not retreat.

It wasn’t over yet.

Liya took a deep breath and slowly calmed her earlier wavering mind.

So what if there was a rank gap—she... she would never admit defeat!

Liya refocused on the poker game. Now that she knew the gap, she had to be even more cautious—best to shut down the beast’s offensive right here at the game level!

...

“I finally won, yay!”

Third round—winner: Ariel.

Loser: Liya.

Liya set down the cards and let out a long breath.

Even with her strong learning ability, she had indeed played very little in the past, and she could clearly feel the difference in game skill between herself and Anna and Ariel.

Luckily, poker also tested luck.

So far, her luck seemed pretty good; up to now, Anna hadn’t beaten her once.

As for Ariel...

Liya’s gaze fell on Ariel, who had not noticed the undercurrent of confrontation in the room at all, still immersed in # Nоvеlight # the joy of victory, excited that she could issue orders...

Ariel, in a sense, should count as her teammate.

...

Ariel truly hadn’t perceived the secret clash between Anna and Liya, because even if you swapped in someone else, they would never imagine that two women whose relationship wasn’t deep—who up to now couldn’t even be called “friends” and held no great blood feud—could have such blade-bright glints hidden in their gazes that they were already capable of slicing some scumbag to pieces a hundred and eighty times.

She was still excited over how “open and bold” Senior Anna had just been.

Atmosphere is contagious; it was precisely this slightly heated, “girls-cuddling-girls” vibe that would let her accomplish her aim more easily.

However... after a brief thrill, Ariel silently mouthed calm down to herself and reined in her emotions.

She couldn’t rush it.

As a woman determined to build a grand crystal palace and become a queen of the harem, she had, since childhood, devoured countless works of literature on matters of the heart; after long thought and tempering, she had returned to simplicity and grasped the principle.

Although she’d had no chance to practice yet, among the countless methods, there was one she considered the most reliable and with the highest success rate.

—Boil the frog in warm water.

Exactly. Though it sounded like some scumbag’s trap, it was indeed the ultimate move Ariel had distilled!

After all, while this world acknowledged the beauty between girls, it was still a minority mindset; only by warming feelings little by little could she lead Liya, without realizing it, into sinking deep.

Her pot of water had been simmering for a full ten years!

There was no need to rush this one—the game had only just begun.

Therefore, under Liya’s expectant gaze, Ariel gave a slight nod—don’t worry—then thought for a moment:

“Since my punishment just now was a handstand, then you can take it easy, Liya—do squats.”

“S... squats?”

“That’s right.”

Ariel propped her chin with both hands, full of anticipation.

“When we were messaging before, you said you were doing squats, and I still haven’t seen what they look like. Let me think... not many—just do fifty. Can’t have it look like there’s no punishment at all, right?”

“...”

Hearing this punishment—and the reason Ariel gave for issuing it—Liya’s expression became a bit odd.

She hadn’t really done any squats; that night when Ariel called on the sound-transmission stone, she had been...

Wait—that probably did count as squats.

Liya’s cheeks warmed. She forcibly stopped her unnecessary associations and, under Ariel’s expectant gaze, rose gracefully to her feet.

All right. It was only squats, it wouldn’t—

Huh?

But the moment she merely began to rise, as if she suddenly realized something, the slight ease at the corner of her mouth froze again.

Her whole body also stopped where it was, frozen in a slightly bent, awkward posture.

“What’s wrong?”

Anna blinked and asked with a face full of concern.

“N-nothing.”

Liya forced her spirits up and smiled, then shot Ariel a quick glare with eyes shimmering with thin, crystalline tears of shy vexation.

Ariel!!

Aren’t we companions?

Why are you doing this to me!

Of all things—why squats.

It wasn’t that squats were anything in themselves, but the problem was that she had been busy from morning until just now and hadn’t had time to change out of her formal dress.

And precisely because of that, she had also had no chance to...

“Hm?”

Ariel also sensed that Liya’s mood was off—but she was completely at a loss.

What was going on? Just fifty squats. Why did Liya look as solemn as if she were about to walk a tightrope?

Was fifty too many?

No—that couldn’t be right. Even if Liya’s body was indeed very delicate, she shouldn’t be that weak.

And hadn’t she practiced before?

“Oh?”

Unlike Ariel, who had no idea, Anna suddenly seemed to realize something.

She moved closer to Liya; the tip of her nose lightly sniffed near her.

Beneath the faint body fragrance, she caught another... scent.

It also belonged to Her Highness the Saintess, so it wouldn’t be purified by Holy Light, but it was the kind of scent that only appeared after certain special circumstances and certain special emotions arose.

As someone who had been there, Anna knew that scent well.

And precisely because of that familiarity, she was surprised. With a faintly arched brow, she smilingly studied Liya’s cheeks, which were turning redder and redder.

“Really all right? Do you need me to support you?”

“I’m... fine.”

Liya smiled, drew a deep breath again to calm the restlessness, pretended nothing had happened, and quickly stood up straight.

“Is that so? But you don’t look very suited to doing squats right now.”

With a half-smile, Anna’s gaze circled, finally settling meaningfully on Liya’s lower abdomen beneath the pure long dress.

“If it’s inconvenient right now, we can choose another punishment. I’m right, aren’t I, Ariel?”

“Uh... yes, yes.”

Clueless, Ariel nodded like a pecking chick. “Liya, if you’re not feeling well, I can—”

“It’s fine. I can do it.”

Casting a glance at Anna’s enjoying-the-show expression, Liya gritted her teeth.

“S-squats, right? I’ll do them.”

Liya went to the same spot where Ariel had just done her handstand.

It was only a few steps away, and her posture was extremely elegant; there was not the slightest flaw in any step she took.

She stood straight, recalled the key points of squats, then raised both hands and placed them behind her neck.

The motion made her already upright chest even more prominent, and her waist and back straighter. Her usually private underarms were exposed to the air, making her cheeks burn hotter.

Resolute, Liya drew one more deep breath—waves surging—then, keeping her upper body still, slowly bent her knees.

The gorgeous long dress she wore was not a puffy princess dress but one that could slightly outline her body’s curves; so when Liya slowly squatted, though her long legs were completely hidden beneath the hem, from top to bottom a stunning beautiful arc drew itself tight.

“Mm~”

At the instant she lowered herself, a low, sweet breath slipped from Liya’s nose.

Her eyes lowered—and collided with the gaze sneaking out from under the bed. She met it, shyly.

“No way...”

Hidden under the bed, Muen had, from the girls’ chatter alone, not figured out what was happening; he had simply assumed that the silly Ariel wanted to see what Liya looked like doing squats.

But the moment he saw Liya squat down right in front of him, Muen understood—understood why Liya and Anna had had that exchange earlier.

At the same time, he remembered what had happened at dawn today—also in Liya’s room—that slightly risqué joke he had made.

Could it be that, at that time, Liya hadn’t just taken the little toy away, but had actually...

Gulp.

Thinking that, Muen couldn’t help secretly swallowing, feeling that his carefully suppressed heartbeat and blood flow were starting to break free.

...

After lowering came rising.

Still keeping her upper body steady, it was only her two long legs and full, rounded hips that exerted force. At the moment she pushed, a sweet little hum slipped from Liya’s nose again.

Again and again.

Ariel stared blankly. She had never expected that such a simple squat, once done by Liya, would be so... breathtakingly alluring.

It was as if this were not a simple squat at all but a dance at the center of a lamp-lit floor—music swelling—passionate and lost in itself, letting every beauty show to the fullest.

And the audience consisted only of her—and Senior Anna beside her.

“Fifty...”

When the last one was done, a fine sheen of fragrant sweat dotted Liya’s forehead, and her cheeks were a little flushed.

She returned to the bed, still breathing lightly; her gaze was a bit hazy.

“W-was it that tiring?”

Ariel asked dumbly.

“N... no.”

Wiping the fragrant sweat with a handkerchief, Liya gently smiled and refused Ariel’s diligent offers of tea—Ariel truly believed she was tired.

“Maybe it’s just that today was too busy, and my stamina really can’t keep up.”

When she finished, she turned that smiling gaze toward Anna.

“Did I do well, Senior Anna?”

“...”

Anna didn’t speak, but her expression grew serious.

She had underestimated her.

She had thought this innocent, adorable Saintess was a harmless little lamb, but she hadn’t expected that beneath that lambskin was the whisper and lure of a viper.

Like the forbidden fruit hanging high in a tree—the sweetness and taboo hidden beneath spotless sanctity would only invite a more frenzied obsession and pursuit.

No wonder she had caught that bad man’s eye—there really wasn’t a single simple role among them, was there?

Rubbing her temples, Anna felt a headache—unsure whether to praise that bastard’s taste or curse that scumbag’s promiscuity.

But thinking carefully, perhaps it was precisely because of his “unfaithfulness” that she herself could remain one of those “not-simple roles” at his side.

Well, that had been within her expectations the moment she chose to clasp that hand of salvation. In truth, he was the fruit hanging high—so sweet, so beautiful—like the sun, always attracting moth-like butterflies that chased the flame.

So, what next?

Anna thought a moment.

Since she was here, there were things she had to confirm.

...

“Looks like I finally get to beat you once,” Anna announced with a sweet smile.

Another round ended.

Winner: Anna.

Loser: Liya.

Liya puckered her lips, heart uneasy; she could only wait helplessly for this “senior’s” punishment.

“Let me think...”

Anna touched her smooth chin and glanced at Liya’s lower abdomen.

Having sensed those things earlier, she had wanted to tease her—have her do a splits, for example—but now it seemed meaningless.

Therefore—

“Question.”

Facing Liya, who looked as if she were meeting a mortal enemy, Anna finally spoke, asking word by word:

“Liya, do you have someone you like?”

“Eh?”

Liya froze, not understanding why Senior Anna was “asking what she already knew.”

Could it be that everything she had said and done before was based only on guesses?

“W-w-we’re going straight to the main topic?”

But before Liya could react, Ariel burst out with a huge commotion.

On one hand she gasped that Anna would throw out the very question she herself had prepared for the most critical moment before the game had even reached its fever pitch, and on the other she looked at Liya with burning expectation.

Under both their gazes, Liya frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and answered truthfully:

“Yes.”

“!”

Ariel straightened at once, eyes shining.

Anna seemed to sense something; she gave Ariel a quick look, then shifted her gaze away indifferently and continued:

“Then, the person you like...”

“Senior Anna, only one question per win.”

“...Good point.” Anna nodded lightly. The game went on.

And then... Liya suddenly realized there was no need to keep playing.

Because, as someone who had swindled countless people in the lower city of Belrand as a black-hearted shopkeeper, winning a mere poker game was as easy as eating or drinking.

Aside from the single round Ariel won with her past experience from robbing robbers, every other victory belonged to Anna.

“Liya, the person you like... is he someone close to you?”

Ariel, twisting with nerves, used her one question right.

“...Yes.”

“!”

Ariel’s eyes grew even brighter, her hands unconsciously clenching into excited fists.

Next came Anna’s turn.

“Is the person you like a Belrander?”

“Yes.”

“Is he in Belrand?”

“No.”

“In the Holy City?”

“...Yes.”

“Where in the Holy City? North Street? South Street?”

“No.”

“Then is it Aimier Cathedral?”

“...Yes.”

After a flurry of questions, the smile on Anna’s face deepened, like a beast finally cornering its prey.

“Last question.”

With Ariel beside her growing more and more tense and expectant, Anna spoke each word slowly, like passing sentence:

“The person you like... is he in this room?”

“...”

After a long silence, Liya looked toward the goddess statue at the other side of the room.

Under the goddess’s gaze, she could not lie.

Therefore she could only release the answer that had already been on the verge of bursting out.

“...Yes!”