“To be willing to abandon ethics, laws, and even your life for him—your love is already that deep. Do you really need to ask me for advice?”

Anne’s voice was soft.

“You just need to follow your heart, don’t you?”

“Follow... my heart?”

Ailuka echoed blankly.

“Miss Anne, do you mean... I should give up? Like I just said?”

“Oh? Is that really what your heart is telling you?”

“O-of course it is.”

“Is it, really?”

Anne suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

Her gaze was like a spotlight, piercing through Ailuka’s clear eyes straight into the depths of her soul.

As if she intended to drag every last secret out into the open.

Ailuka panicked, like a writhing worm suddenly exposed to the sun. Bit by bit, her mental defenses began to crumble.

Without the darkness to hide in, what ugly, reeking things would be revealed?

“W-Wait, Miss Anne, I—”

“Answer the question.”

Anne leaned in even closer.

Ailuka could feel Anne’s breath. Their eyelashes nearly touched. She felt those all-seeing eyes ripping the shameful truth from her soul with ruthless precision.

“Do you truly... want to give up, Ailuka?”

“I...”

Do I really want to give up?

Do I really want to let them be together?

Do I truly...

...

Yeah, right.

I don’t want that at all.

If Rode ended up with anyone else, I’d go insane with jealousy.

Especially that bitch—if she just died, everything would be easier.

...

“Looks like you understand now.”

Anne let go of Ailuka.

Seeing the transformation in Ailuka’s eyes, she smiled ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) with satisfaction.

“Love is something you pursue. How could you possibly give up on it?”

“But... I still don’t really know what to do.”

Clutching Anne’s hands like a drowning person seizing a lifeline, Ailuka asked earnestly, “Miss Anne—no, Master. From now on, you’re my Master. Please teach me. Teach me how I can win Rode’s heart!”

“That’s not difficult at all. A person’s heart... is deeply connected to their body.”

Anne raised a finger and tapped Ailuka’s chest.

“So if you want someone’s heart, naturally you need to take their body. It may not happen all at once—it could take a long time.”

“Take... his body...”

Ailuka’s heart skipped a beat.

That thought—it had occurred to her long, long ago. But unfortunately...

“B-but Rode is so strong, I—”

“That magic of yours wasn’t bad.”

“...What?”

“Your Charm Magic.”

Anne rested her cheek on one hand, sighing with a touch of envy.

“Too bad I’m no good with magic. Otherwise, I’d definitely learn it.”

With a spell like that, there’d be no need to mess around with drugs.

“Charm Magic...”

Ailuka’s breath quickened.

Right. Her Charm Magic had worked on a Lake Master just earlier.

So on a person...

Or rather, on Rode...

“But...”

Ailuka swallowed hard.

“Isn’t that... a bit wrong?”

“It is, yes. But did you forget what you said just a moment ago?”

Anne smiled faintly.

“For love, you said you were willing to discard life, ethics, and laws. And now you’re worried about something like this?”

“...Ah.”

That’s right.

For love, I already gave up my life, my morals, and the law.

Why should I hesitate over something like this?

It’s just... using a little magic on Rode.

Maybe... I learned this spell without realizing why, all for this very moment.

Maybe... my heart was rotten from the start.

“I understand. I get it now!”

Even as she realized how broken she’d become, a bright light flared in Ailuka’s eyes.

“Thank you, Master! I know what to do now.”

“Good. That’s all I wanted.” 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Anne nodded in satisfaction.

“Just... one last question. I still don’t know the answer.”

Ailuka looked serious.

“What if Rode stays stubborn and refuses to accept my love? Charm Magic has a time limit, and I’m only good with support-type spells. If he really tries to run, I might not be able to stop him.”

“Hehe... since you’ve already accepted me as your Master, I’ll share a little secret with you.”

Anne leaned close to Ailuka’s ear and whispered sweetly:

“No matter how strong a man is—once you break his arms and legs, and put a sturdy collar on him, he’ll become a loyal little house pet who only knows how to bark.”

...

...

Anne was gone.

The rain had stopped.

Ailuka stood alone by the lakeside, head lowered, staring at her reflection in the water.

The lake clearly mirrored her image.

She was smiling—sweetly, adorably. That troubled look from earlier had completely vanished, and her eyes were as clear as the water beneath her.

“Master really is amazing... She opened my eyes.”

“How did I never realize it? This is who I really am.”

Ailuka touched her own cheek. It felt like something inside her had changed—and at the same time, nothing had.

But either way, her thoughts were crystal clear now, and she felt lighter.

She knew what she had to do.

“I wonder what kind of person managed to capture Master’s heart.”

“...But now’s not the time to be thinking about that.”

Ailuka turned her gaze away.

“Time to go. Rode’s still waiting for me.”

...

Tonight, in a romantic place where only the two of them would be...

She was going to confess her love.

And if she failed—

Hehe. That’s not going to happen.

...

...

Creaaak.

The heavy metal bars of the cage grated open with a screech that made Muen’s teeth hurt.

Anne stepped into the cell, trailing mist and lake scent behind her.

“Young Master, I’m back.”

“Finally.”

Muen opened his eyes, hiding the exhaustion behind them, and mock-complained:

“If I hadn’t seen you soon, I was gonna die.”

“Oh my... does that mean Young Master has finally been moved by my devotion, and is ready to give himself—body and soul—to me?”

Anne looked genuinely touched, cheeks flushing slightly.

“Then... please, let’s start with a kiss of love.”

“I meant I was starving to death! Starving!”

“Tsk.”

Anne’s expression snapped back to cold indifference so fast Muen couldn’t help but think her face-switching speed beat out Sichuan opera.

“Here you are, Young Master—your fish.”

Anne opened the food box in her hand, and a rich aroma instantly filled the tiny cell.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t eaten in so long, but even someone used to the finest delicacies—like Muen—couldn’t stop his mouth from watering.

“It’s steamed and charcoal-grilled. Which would you like to start with?”

“Steamed.”

“Then... ah—”

“...Ah—”

The fish entered his mouth, and the tender flavor exploded across his tongue.

Even if it was all for some scheme, Muen had to admit—the fish was incredible.

“Young Master, be careful of bones.”

“I know, I’m not a kid. It’s not like I’m—gah.”

“What is it?”

“...I think a bone really is stuck in my throat.”

“Oh dear, then there’s only one solution.”

Anne suddenly crawled toward Muen like a cat.

“W-What are you doing, Anne?!”

“I want to kiss you.”

“Right now?!” Muen’s eyes went wide.

“Didn’t you say you had a fish bone stuck? I was thinking—I’ll pinch your nose and suck really hard during the kiss. With my lung capacity, I might be able to pull the bone out.”

“Eh? Wait, that’s not how that works!”

“......”

“Actually, I was joking.”

“......”

“You’re serious?! Anne, no—if you do that I’m going to die—mmmmmph!”