Chapter 51: Villainess Princess × Slave (14)

Lyra took a deep breath, putting on her arrogant sneer as she looked down at Cassian.

"Look at you, pathetic slave!" Lyra yelled loudly, her clear voice echoing across the courtyard so all the guards could hear. "You walk too slowly, you stand too tall, and you lack proper royal manners! Today, I shall remind you of your low place!"

She raised the whip high into the air.

The guards watched intently, expecting the usual bloody, brutal display of the Princess’s famous cruelty. Cassian closed his eyes, bracing his broad back for the flesh-tearing bite of the whip.

WHACK!

The whip came swinging down- but right before it made contact with Cassian’s back, Lyra pulled back her strength with all her might, letting the whip barely brush against the fabric of his dark tunic! The loud sound came mostly from the whip snapping against the wind!

Cassian’s eyes snapped open in shock.

The strike carried almost no physical force. It felt like nothing more than a light, soft tap against his back- completely harmless!

WHACK!

Lyra swung the whip a second time, putting on a loud grunt as if she were pouring all her strength into it, but again, she pulled her wrist back at the last millisecond! The whip lightly tapped his shoulder.

"Take that, you useless slave!" Lyra shouted melodramatically, gasping for breath as if she were exhausted. "Feel the power of this princess!"

WHACK!

The third strike landed with the exact same pathetic, gentle tap against his broad back.

Lyra quickly tossed the whip onto the ground, dusting off her delicate hands with an obnoxious, spoiled huff. "Hmph! My hands are tired! That is enough punishment for today! If you step out of line again, I will be twice as harsh!"

Ding!

[ MISSION COMPLETED! ]

[ REWARD: 15 SOUL FRAGMENTS ADDED TO BALANCE! ]

Lyra let out a massive, silent sigh of relief in her head. Yes! Easy points!

"Dismissed!" Lyra commanded, turning on her slippers and marching back toward the palace with her maids trailing behind her.

The guards in the courtyard stood in absolute, stunned silence, exchanging bewildered glances with one another. They had expected to see blood and screams, yet the Princess had delivered three light taps and declared herself exhausted!

On the stone floor, Cassian remained on one knee, staring at the discarded whip lying in the dust.

He slowly reached up, touching his back. His tunic wasn’t torn. His skin wasn’t bleeding. In fact, he hadn’t felt a single ounce of pain.

He looked up at Lyra’s retreating back as her red silk dress swished around the corner of the corridor.

She pulled her strength... Cassian thought, his pitch-black eyes trembling as a wild storm raged inside his chest. She shouted cruel words for the guards to hear, but she intentionally held back the whip so it wouldn’t hurt me... Just like she forced me to eat a full, warm meal under the excuse of a ’poison test’.

A strange, intense heat flared deep within Cassian’s heart, making his chest heave as he stared at the empty hallway.

She was trying so hard to pretend to be a vicious, bloodthirsty monster in front of the world... yet every single action she took in secret protected him, fed him, and spared him from pain.

Why...? Cassian thought, his hand tightening into a fist against the cold stone, his heart thumping wildly. Why are you protecting me, Princess Lyra...?

Cassian slowly lowered his hand from his uninjured back, his fingers curling into a tight fist against the cold stone floor.

He stared at the spot where Lyra’s red silk dress had swished around the corner of the corridor. His pitch-black eyes flickered with a dark intensity.

What on earth caused such a sudden change of heart? Cassian pondered, his mind racing in chaotic circles. Is she possessed by a ghost or something?!

He remembered with vivid, burning how she had treated him for the past three agonizing months. She had ordered him locked in dark, freezing dungeons. She had laughed while guards poured icy water over his wounds. She had watched him bleed with cold, sadistic pleasure written across her face.

Yet nowadays... that terrifying, malicious aura was completely gone.

Cassian scoffed softly under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he recalled her recent outbursts. Nowadays, when she tried to put on that arrogant sneer, it didn’t look frightening at all. Instead, with her flushed cheeks, wide eyes, and pouting lips, her forced arrogant face looked... absurdly cute. It was as if a tiny, harmless kitten was trying its absolute best to roar like a tiger.

Ding!

A faint, invisible ripple resonated in the atmosphere above his head.

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 85% ➔ 84%

A low, raspy breath escaped Cassian’s lips as he let out a quiet scoff.

Possessed by a ghost or not... Cassian thought, a dark smirk slowly curving on his handsome face. Does she truly think that playing nice and acting sweet now will allow her to escape her ultimate fate? Does she think a few soft whip taps and warm bread can wash away months of blood and iron?

He stood up from the cobblestone floor, dusting off his dark guard tunic with slow grace.

If she thinks her cute little act will save her, she is utterly mistaken, Cassian’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. Her strange kindness doesn’t soften my anger. It only makes me want to tear off that fragile mask... It makes me want to torture her mind just like she tortured my body.

Cassian stepped back into the deep shadows of the grand marble archway where the morning sun couldn’t reach him.

He raised two fingers, making a swift, silent gesture in the air.

Swish!

Without a sound, the air behind him rippled. A figure dressed entirely in black cloths, wearing a dark face mask, materialized out of thin air and dropped onto one knee on the grass behind Cassian.

"Your Highness," the shadow guard whispered raspy and low, bowing his head in loyalty. "What is your command?"

Cassian kept his back turned, staring out toward the eastern palace towers. "How are the preparations within the imperial court?"

"Reporting to Your Highness," the shadow guard replied promptly in a hushed voice. "The Emperor held a secret council with his top generals early this morning. It seems the empire is planning to launch a full-scale war against the northern territories within the next month. The palace guards are being redistributed to the front lines."

Cassian’s dark smirk widened slightly, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with an icy light. "Much better. A war will draw the Emperor’s attention far away from the capital... making it so much easier for our forces to infiltrate."

"Understood, Your Highness," the shadow guard said, waiting for further orders regarding the army.

However, Cassian paused for a long moment. His sharp gaze shifted back toward the direction of the Princess’s private rose gardens.

"For now," Cassian instructed raspy and low, his voice carrying a dark weight. "Keep your eyes locked onto the Princess. Monitor every single person she meets, every word she speaks, and every strange action she takes. I want to know exactly what is going on inside that girl’s mind."

The shadow guard froze on his knee, his eyes widening in utter, stunned disbelief behind his black mask.

Master... has never been interested in the Princess! the shadow guard thought frantically, his mind reeling. Ever since we were captured, His Highness has only focused on survival, gathering intelligence, and planning our grand escape! Why is he suddenly ordering a high-level shadow surveillance on the tyrant’s spoiled daughter?!

The shadow guard quickly swallowed his shock, making his own assumption. Ah... His Highness must be planning a thorough revenge plot against her! He wants to find her weakness so he can destroy her completely when our army strikes!

"Yes, Master!" the shadow guard responded reverently. "I shall report every detail of the Princess’s movements!"

With a soft swish, the shadow guard vanished into thin air as if he had never been there at all.

Cassian stood alone in the cool shade, his hand resting on the hilt of his guard sword. He closed his eyes, the memory of her soft, rose-scented warmth from last night still lingering at the edge of his senses.

Let’s see what game you are playing, Princess Lyra, Cassian thought, his heart thumping with a strange, dark anticipation as he stepped out of the shadows to follow her path.

-----------

Meanwhile, on the other side of the royal estate, the afternoon sun shone brightly over the grand imperial rose garden.

A gentle, cool breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming white and pink roses through the air. Fountains splashed softly, and colorful butterflies fluttered around delicate flowerbeds.

Sitting under a massive lounge chair was Lyra.

She had completely discarded her royal mantle, wearing a comfortable, lightweight pastel pink silk gown. Her dark hair was loosely tied with a silk ribbon, and she was currently kicking her feet up like a completely spoiled, satisfied cat.

On the glass table in front of her sat three massive silver trays piled high with delicious treats: fluffy strawberry shortcakes drizzled with sweet cream, iced lemon tea, and fresh, juicy grapes.

"Mmm~!" Lyra hummed in absolute bliss, popping a sweet, creamy slice of strawberry shortcake into her mouth. Her dark eyes sparkled with joy. "This is absolute heaven! Transmigrating into a rich, spoiled villainess definitely has its perks!"

Two young maids stood nearby with feather fans, gently waving cool air toward her while smiling at how happily their Princess was eating.

"Princess," one maid said sweetly, offering a fresh glass of iced tea. "Is the cake to Your Highness’s liking?"

"It’s amazing!" Lyra chirped happily, taking a big sip of the cold, sweet tea. "Tell the pastry chef he gets a extra gold coin bonus this week!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" the maid beamed, bowing low.

Lyra leaned back into her soft cushions, completely immersed in enjoying her delicious afternoon snack.