"Oi, girl!"

Zania remained silent. She refused to speak, to acknowledge this devil, or to show any weakness.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

"Hungry?"

Her stomach betrayed her with a slight growl, but she clenched her jaw and glared at the ground. She wouldn’t accept food from a monster. She wouldn’t eat the spoils of tyranny.

Javier sighed dramatically.

"Liana?"

The silver-haired elf smiled sweetly.

"Yes, Young Master?"

Javier’s grin widened.

"Feed her the food."

Liana’s eyes glinted. Beside her, Gloria adjusted her glasses, a sinister gleam hiding behind them.

Zania’s chest tightened, and a chill ran down her spine.

(W-What… are they planning?)

Liana took a piece of roasted meat and dipped it into a generous amount of chili paste. Zania’s eyes widened in horror.

(WAIT—WHAT IS SHE DOING?!)

"Oh~ I know you’re hungry!" Liana cooed.

Before Zania could react, Liana pried her mouth open and shoved the burning-hot meat inside.

"MMHPHH!!!"

The spice hit instantly. Zania’s body jerked. Her mouth burned, her throat screamed, and her eyes watered.

Yet—Liana and Gloria just smiled.

"Ara~ looks like she loves it," Gloria mused.

Zania’s mind exploded in panic.

(THESE DEMONS!! THEY’RE TORTURING ME!!!)

Her eyes burned, her mouth was on fire, and her throat screamed in agony.

Liana’s gentle, sweet voice rang in her ears.

"You’re thirsty, right? Aww~ here~"

Zania’s instincts screamed in warning. But before she could turn away, Gloria held her chin firmly in place.

Zania’s eyes widened.

(WAIT—NO—!!!)

Liana tilted the waterskin, and cool liquid rushed into her mouth.

But then—BURN.

A second wave of fire exploded in her throat. Her eyes shot open in pure horror as she coughed and wheezed, desperately trying to expel the fiery liquid.

Meanwhile—

Liana and Gloria just smiled.

"Ara~ she drank it all~."

"How admirable," Gloria added, adjusting her glasses.

Zania’s breath was shaky, her vision blurred. These women weren’t human. They weren’t even warriors. They were sadists.

And her captor? Javier? He was just enjoying his meal, casually eating his roast meat, completely unaware of the silent torture happening behind him.

Javier felt movement on his back—a slight wiggle, a shudder.

"Hmm?"

He glanced over his shoulder. Zania’s body twitched violently, her face bright red, her eyes watery, her lips trembling. Something was wrong.

Javier’s brows furrowed.

Then he turned to Liana and Gloria, both standing perfectly still, their smiles innocent, hands hidden behind their backs.

Javier narrowed his eyes. "…Hmmm?"

Liana’s ears twitched. Gloria adjusted her glasses. "…Yes, Young Master?"

Javier squinted at them and slid Zania off his back, dropping her onto the ground.

The moment she hit the dground, he finally saw it. Her face was bright red, her mouth quivered as if she had just swallowed molten lava. Her chest heaved violently, and her eyes… her eyes screamed betrayal.

Javier’s expression twisted in horror.

"What the hell just happened?!"

He snapped his head toward Liana and Gloria.

"WATER! GET HER WATER!"

Liana and Gloria? They just smiled sweetly.

"Oh? She already drank some, Young Master~."

Javier froze, his gaze darting between them and Zania. Then—

He finally put the pieces together and sighed deeply.

"…What did you two do?"

Javier sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Old man! Water!"

The merchant, still chuckling, handed him a jug of cool water. Javier crouched down and held it out to the twitching, suffering girl.

"Here. Drink."

Zania didn’t hesitate. She snatched the jug, tilted her head back, and gulped it down. The burning agony in her throat finally eased, and her body relaxed slightly. She wasn’t sure if she was grateful or just relieved she wouldn’t die from chili poisoning.

Javier felt it. A shudder. A chill. An instinctual warning. Slowly, he turned his head.

Liana and Gloria stood behind him, their expressions blank, smiles sweet, but their eyes… terrifying.

In unison, they spoke.

"Next time, Young Master, don’t even think about capturing a beautiful girl."

Javier’s stomach dropped, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

As soon as Zania finished drinking, she sensed a shift in the air—a heavy presence, a dangerous aura.

Before she could react—

"Young Master, come here for a moment~."

Gloria’s soft voice rang in Javier’s ears. Before he could protest, she grabbed his arm and gently pulled him away from Zania.

Javier blinked in confusion.

"Eh? Gloria?"

But she just smiled.

Liana stepped forward, her elegant steps slow and deliberate. Then she gripped Zania’s hair. Zania’s body stiffened, and her breath caught.

Liana leaned in slightly, her eyes burning with emotion.

"I hate that look."

Her voice was calm, almost gentle—but her grip tightened.

"Those eyes of yours… filled with defiance. Arrogance. Hatred."

A pause. Then her voice dropped to a whisper.

"If Young Master didn’t insist on keeping you…"

Her grip tightened enough to make Zania flinch.

"I would have crushed you right here."

Zania stared into those sharp eyes and for the first time—she felt genuine fear. This wasn’t the cold, distant look of a warrior. This was the pure, undiluted hatred of a woman scorned.

Zania’s breath hitched as Liana’s grip on her hair tightened, forcing her to meet those piercing eyes filled with pure, unfiltered hatred.

"You’re lucky."

Liana’s voice was calm. Too calm.

"Lucky that Young Master didn’t tie you up and drag you to the estate like the filthy baggage you are."

Zania’s body stiffened. Liana leaned closer, her breath warm against Zania’s face.

"And if you try something again—"

Her grip tightened painfully. Zania winced.

"You can dream on walking. Ever."

The air grew heavy, and Zania felt a deep, primal fear crawling up her spine. But Liana wasn’t done.

Her voice dropped into a low, chilling whisper.

"And don’t even think about running away, you piece of shit."

Her fingers twisted Zania’s hair cruelly. Zania bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.

"If not for Young Master’s mercy…"

A slight pause, then Liana’s smile turned cold and cruel.

"I would have cut off both of your feet myself."

Javier rubbed the back of his head.

"…Umm, Liana?"

Liana turned toward him, her smile warm, innocent—perfectly sweet.

"Yes, Young Master~?"

Javier felt a shiver run down his spine. That was her dangerous smile. He decided not to question it.

Instead, he sighed. "Let’s go back to the estate."

Liana brightened. "Okay~."

Javier walked toward Zania, preparing to pick her up—

But—

SLAP!

Liana’s hand smacked his away. Javier blinked in shock.

"…Liana?"

She just smiled, but now her eyes were cold and dangerous.

"No need for you to carry her, Young Master."

A pause, then she tilted her head, her silver hair swaying slightly.

"Don’t worry… I will carry her~."

Javier felt his soul leave his body. Liana’s gentle tone was the most terrifying thing he had heard all day.

Meanwhile—Zania’s heart nearly stopped.

"Pikko~"

Liana’s voice was soft, almost playful.

"Come here~."

"Cuquawked?"

The silver-feathered Pekko trotted over obediently, lowering its body.

Then—without hesitation or care—Liana lifted Zania up like a sack of grain. Zania gritted her teeth, struggling.

(Damn it! That’s hurt, you crazy woman—!)

But Liana ignored her completely. With expert precision, she secured Zania tightly to Pikko’s saddle, like baggage, like cargo. Zania twitched in humiliation.

(THIS CRAZY WOMAN!!!)

Liana hopped onto Pikko with a sweet smile, patting Zania’s head like a child.

"Young Master~ Let’s go~."

Javier? His mind went blank. For the first time, he actually felt sorry for the enemy girl.

His voice stammered slightly. "Errr... o-okay..."

Then he turned toward Buddy. "Uhhh… Buddy?"

"Cuquawked?"

Javier climbed onto Buddy’s back. The moment he settled in—Buddy flapped his wings excitedly.

"Cuquawked!!"

Meanwhile, Gloria had already mounted Peanut, who was still casually munching on stolen fruit. She adjusted her glasses gracefully and patted her Pekko.

"Peanuts~ Let’s go, darling~."

"Cuquawked~."

With Javier still confused, Liana gleefully smug, Gloria calmly amused, and Zania silent, they all headed back toward the Armand estate.

( End of Chapter )