The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies-Chapter 269: Jealousy

“Kaiser!” Hearing Adele’s name from Kaiser’s lips, Wofoo’s heart leaped into her throat. She called out, her voice sharp, her usual deference replaced by a surge of protectiveness, a fierce loyalty to Adele, her “master,” mirroring Celeste’s own devotion. It was a bold move, a challenge to Kaiser’s authority.

Kaiser, however, seemed oblivious to the tension, or perhaps, given her overwhelming strength, she simply didn’t care. “What? Is there a problem?” she asked, her voice a low purr.

“...Please, don’t,” Wofoo pleaded, her courage faltering in the face of Kaiser’s power.

“Don’t what?” Kaiser’s brow furrowed, her sharp gaze like a blade. “I said, I’m just... curious about her.”

“Wofoo, we’re... acquaintances. I’ll give you face. Take me to her.”

“Otherwise,” she added, her voice hardening, “I’ll just eliminate you both and find her myself. It won’t be difficult.”

Kaiser’s bluntness, her casual disregard for their well-being, was a chilling reminder of the power she wielded. Wofoo’s status was insignificant, but their sparring sessions had forged a... connection, a grudging respect that Kaiser, in her own way, acknowledged. She didn’t want to lose Wofoo as a... companion, but Adele’s presence, the shift in Wofoo’s loyalty, threatened to sever that bond. And it fueled Kaiser’s curiosity. What was it about this Adele that captivated so many, that inspired such fierce devotion? Even Dorothy... Kaiser’s eyes darkened.

Celeste, sensing the danger, grabbed Wofoo’s arm, her fingers digging into the girl’s flesh, a silent command to stand down. Wofoo hesitated, her fangs grazing her lip, then reluctantly obeyed, taking a step back. Celeste stepped forward, forcing a smile.

“...We understand, Kaiser. We trust you won’t harm Adele. But if you deceive us, if you... disappoint us...” she paused, her voice hardening, “I promise you, we will make you regret it. Not just within the Secret Realm, but outside as well. We will hunt you down, even if it costs us our lives. Call it a threat if you want, but it’s simply... proof of our love for Adele. Our resolve.”

Kaiser, her expression unreadable, turned to Wofoo, her voice low and thoughtful.

“Even you, Wofoo, have developed such... resolve... in such a short time?” She was curious, intrigued. Wofoo, the lone wolf, had never shown such loyalty to anyone. She trusted only herself, her claws and fangs her only allies.

Kaiser had seen Wofoo’s dedication, her relentless training, the hours she spent honing her body into a weapon, her outward submissiveness a mask for the rage and resentment that simmered beneath the surface. And yet, this same girl, after just a few days with Adele, had... changed. She had become... Kaiser, not one for insults, struggled to find the right word. It wasn’t that she was kind, simply that she didn’t care. She was too strong, too aloof, to bother with such petty emotions. But now... she had to say it. Wofoo had become... like a dog. And she seemed... proud of it. It was... interesting.

..................

Wofoo didn’t answer, but her silence spoke volumes. Kaiser, not pressing the matter, followed Celeste and Wofoo towards Adele’s campsite. In the distance, she saw the flickering firelight and the figures gathered around it.

“So you’ve turned the Blood Trial into a camping trip,” Kaiser remarked, her voice a mix of amusement and... something else.

Wofoo glanced at her, then at Adele, a pang of guilt twisting in her gut. Had she... led a wolf into their den? The irony of the thought, coming from a werewolf hybrid, wasn’t lost on her.

Celeste smiled at Kaiser. “Everyone has the right to choose their own path,” she said, her voice smooth and diplomatic. “Some strive for power, others for peace. And my master, Adele, prefers to find... the joy in the mundane, the beauty in the ordinary. To live each moment to the fullest. That is her creed.”

Adele: ...I didn’t even know I had a creed. But seeing Kaiser’s stunned expression... it seemed Celeste’s little speech had worked its magic.

Wofoo’s lips parted in surprise, then closed firmly, her teeth clenching. Big sister is amazing! she thought, her admiration for Celeste growing. Celeste, it seemed, had become her... mentor in the ways of... doghood? And Adele, naturally, was the alpha of their little pack.

Wofoo knew her place: the newest, lowest-ranking member. But rank among wolves wasn’t determined by age or experience, but by strength and loyalty. In Adele’s pack, it was about protecting Adele, about serving her needs. Wofoo would climb the ranks, she would prove herself worthy. She had always been driven, unwilling to accept her lowly status, even when faced with the harsh realities of their world.

“If she truly is as you say...” Kaiser said, her dark eyes gleaming with a strange light, “then I have to admit, she’s... remarkable.” It was the look of someone who had long been alone, who had finally found someone... interesting. Her eyes, usually described as black as ink, held a hint of deep blue, a predatory gleam that radiated power and a subtle, unsettling intelligence.

Celeste knew she couldn’t prevent Kaiser from meeting Adele. So she had elevated Adele’s status, hoping to pique Kaiser’s curiosity, to make her... hesitate. And if Adele’s... less-than-stellar qualities were revealed, if Kaiser was disappointed, perhaps she would simply walk away, her pride refusing to tolerate anything less than perfection. It was a gamble, a risky strategy, but it was the best Celeste could do.

Wofoo, however, didn’t grasp Celeste’s subtle maneuvering. Her wolfish eyes narrowed, and she tugged on Celeste’s skirt, a silent question: What do we do now?

Celeste, placing a reassuring hand on Wofoo’s, conveyed a silent message: I have everything under control.

They returned to the campsite, their minds filled with conflicting emotions.

Adele, Sharon, and Edith had already noticed their return, their gazes drawn to the tall figure beside them. Recognizing Kaiser, Adele’s brow furrowed in confusion, though she wasn’t afraid. She had her protectors, two powerful Sequence Ones, and she wouldn’t be intimidated, not anymore. And thanks to Wofoo, she now saw Kaiser not just as a rival, but as a bully, someone who had contributed to Wofoo’s suffering. She wouldn’t give Kaiser a warm welcome.

Edith and Sharon, however, were less confident. They knew Kaiser’s reputation, her monstrous strength, a force rivaled only by Dorothy and her otherworldly familiar. Even together, they wouldn’t be a match for Kaiser. Edith’s “Black Feathers” ability, though visually impressive, was a ranged attack easily countered by Kaiser’s close-combat prowess. And Sharon’s dream manipulation was useless against someone as mentally disciplined as Kaiser.

They both grabbed Adele’s arm as she made a move to... well, it wasn’t clear what she intended to do, but it involved raising her middle finger in Kaiser’s direction. Edith gently but firmly redirected Adele’s hand, turning it into a fist.

Kaiser, observing this strange interaction from afar, asked, “What are they doing?”

Celeste, forcing a smile, said, “My master is... welcoming you. She’s always so... graceful and polite.”

“...Is that so?” Kaiser, however, didn’t think Adele’s earlier gesture was a greeting. And why had Edith and Sharon stopped her?

“Aren’t they being... disrespectful?” she asked, her gaze fixed on Edith and Sharon.

Celeste’s smile faltered, but she managed to maintain her composure. “Y-yes,” she stammered, “Sequence Ones... they’re all like that. Arrogant. They probably think they’re your equals, descendants of the True Ancestors, so they don’t need to... greet you formally. That’s why they stopped Adele.”

“Tsk, how arrogant. I thought Lady Chen Xi’s granddaughter would be different.” It seemed Kaiser had expected more from Edith, and her disappointment was evident. Kaiser, having grown up surrounded by Sequence Ones in Twilight City, accepted Celeste’s explanation without question. She saw most of them as arrogant and weak, unworthy of their noble bloodlines. Edith had left Twilight City at a young age, and Sharon was a relative unknown. Kaiser had certain... expectations for them, perhaps even hoping for a worthy sparring partner. But so far, they had both been... disappointing.

Kaiser, surprisingly, seemed to trust Celeste. Perhaps it was the inherent confidence of the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° strong, their casual disregard for the weak, even their deceptions. Kaiser didn’t think anyone would dare to lie to her.

Wofoo, however, felt a cold sweat trickling down her back. She had seen Adele’s intended gesture, the universally recognized sign of disrespect, and she marveled at Celeste’s ability to spin such a blatant act into a sign of... politeness. Celeste... was truly a master of deception.

Adele, after a whispered consultation with Edith and Sharon, turned to face Kaiser, a “friendly” smile plastered on her face, though the twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her true feelings. Thanks to Edith and Sharon’s hasty explanations, she had realized just how close she had come to causing a disaster. Her little act of defiance could have resulted in their entire group being wiped out by the terrifyingly powerful Kaiser. This was the oppressive aura of a Body Technique vampire... something Adele, accustomed to dealing with Ability Users and mages, hadn’t fully grasped.

She had to be careful, at least until Dorothy or Hermione arrived to... deal with this problem.

Celeste led Wofoo towards Adele, and the three of them faced Kaiser, a historic meeting between the diminutive Adele and the imposing Kaiser. Kaiser’s gaze, however, was filled not with hostility, but with curiosity and... a hint of anticipation. And Adele, returning her gaze with a gentle smile, seemed to confirm Celeste’s earlier description: a kind, gentle, and polite girl.

Kaiser extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Kaiser.”

“...I’m Adele. Nice to meet you.”

“You’re different from the rumors.”

“Different how?”

“They say you’re a... player, a heartbreaker, manipulative, arrogant, and spoiled. A bad girl, basically.”

“...” Adele’s smile froze. She couldn’t deny any of it.

Fortunately, Kaiser, her social skills as underdeveloped as ever, continued, “I appreciate that you’re able to see through those rumors.”

“It’s nothing,” Adele replied, forcing a smile.

“But they were right about one thing,” Kaiser continued, her gaze intense, “You have a certain... allure. And the fact that so many girls are devoted to you... it speaks volumes about your character. There’s something... I can learn from you. And more importantly,” she added, her voice lowering, her gaze locking with Adele’s, “I want to know how you managed to... capture Dorothy’s heart, Adele.”

Kaiser had finally revealed her true purpose.

This was what she was most curious about, what confused her the most!

Why would Dorothy fall for such a seemingly weak vampire girl?

Here, in the Secret Realm, free from the constraints of Twilight City’s social hierarchy, Kaiser finally had the chance to ask. Her own motivations were simple, pure: to defeat Dorothy. Despite her imposing physique, she was surprisingly... naive, her emotional development stunted by years of neglect and a single-minded focus on her rivalry with Dorothy.

She hadn’t experienced love, or even a fleeting infatuation; her feelings for Dorothy were those of a competitor, a grudging respect for a worthy opponent. So her interest in Adele, her obsession with understanding Dorothy’s affection for the girl, stemmed not from love or friendship, but from... jealousy.

The bitter sting of having her rival... stolen.