Save your energy for tonight’s trial.

Flora’s pink hair tips brushed against Livia’s nose, and upon hearing that voice, Alice’s legs instantly went weak. The two of them tumbled into a heap.

“Ten points deducted for trying to escape~”

The pink-haired princess jingled her keychain and suddenly leaned close to the iron bars, her pupils shimmering with an eerie pink glow.
“Guess, guess~ what’s the favorite tool the Inquisitor uses to interrogate those guilty of treason~?”

“Ah, ah, Jiejie~ look, look how well-behaved, adorable, obedient, and sensible I am! Could you, could you possibly consider letting me go? Oh, and I can assist you! I’m a gold-tier support! All those mysterious fainting spells, teleportation secrets, assassination attempts—you name it, I can help you uncover the mastermind behind it all!”

The golden-haired girl slapped her thighs dramatically, her face practically screaming ‘I’m a genius’.

Meanwhile, the white-haired little girl stood up from the bed, nodding vigorously.
“That’s right! Honestly, I already have a rough theory—me and Jail-Alice, the legendary ‘Dragon and Phoenix,’ together we—”

“Save your breath. Save it for tonight’s judgment.”

Illya’s voice drifted in with the night breeze, cutting off the two cute troublemakers.
“After all, for the next few months, you’ll be learning how to be a proper…”

A silver chain suddenly whipped in from outside, coiling tightly around Livia’s ankle.
“…pet.”

“Eep!?”

Livia shrank into the corner, wishing she could just bang her head and reset time—back before she’d been captured, when she could’ve grabbed Alice and fled.

“Alright then~ my two adorable little ones~ I’ll come visit you again tonight~”

When the outside fell silent once more, Alice hesitantly broke the quiet.

“Via… I’ve got a plan.”

“What plan?!”

Livia’s eyes lit up. Though she knew her so-called “bestie” was usually nothing but trouble, she was desperate now.
“Spill it—details!”

“Well… this chain is a magic-binding chain.”
Alice pulled out a length of rope from her bosom, speaking in a hushed tone.
“It severs her power and mana. If you can somehow bind Illya’s hands and feet, escaping would be a piece of cake, right?”

“Where did you even get that?! You want *me* to tie up Illya?”

Livia blinked in shock.
“Me? Tying up the Crown Princess? Are you serious?”

“Well, what else? If you won’t do it, I’ll just use it myself! This is my family’s ancestral treasure, you know—brought it with me just in case. Hehe~”

Alice smirked, already tucking the rope away. Livia panicked and lunged for it.
“No, no, no—I’ll do it! I’ll definitely do it! You’re the best, bro! Truly my brother from another mother!”

Livia’s voice brimmed with gratitude—and just a hint of smugness. She then reached into her chest and pulled out a small vial.
“This is a potion I brewed out of boredom and kept hidden. Just a sip, and it’ll make someone dizzy and disoriented—stronger than chugging baijiu! They’ll lose all motor function instantly. You find a chance, slip it into your princess’s drink, and once she’s out cold, escaping will be easy!”

“A potion!?”

Alice took it reverently with both hands, then swiftly tucked it between her cleavage.
“If you had this all along, why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“Tch, I just remembered! I was researching healing potions, stumbled upon an old folklore recipe, had all the ingredients on hand, so I just… gave it a shot.”

“Bro! You’re solid!”
Alice gave her a thumbs-up.
“You tie up yours, I’ll drug mine. Then we meet in the backyard and climb over the wall!”

“Perfect! That’s the plan!”
Livia’s eyes burned with determination.
“We will succeed!”

“Yeah! We will succeed!”
Alice saluted her with a grin.
“Once we’re free, we’re gonna celebrate somewhere amazing!”

The two whispered over the details until they had everything ironed out.

Just as moonlight sliced diagonally through the iron bars, footsteps echoed outside.

Livia quickly shoved the rope under her skirt.

When Ilya pushed open the door, she found this scene: her little captive twisted awkwardly, clutching her hem, while the golden-haired girl whistled innocently at the wall.

“Let’s go.”

“Come on, Sisi~ tonight, let’s have a long talk about the things you said earlier~”

****

In a room lit by soft pink candlelight, the bath was filled with warm water, dotted with floating rose petals.

The moonstone on the ceiling had been dimmed on purpose, scattering the pink glow into shimmering ripples.

Flora placed a silver tray on the small wooden board floating in the tub, swirling her wine glass, her fingers idly toying with the petals on the surface.

“Care for a drink?”

Her voice was gentle, laced with temptation, as if inviting Alice into a game from which there was no escape.

“O-of course…”

Alice bit her lip. She sat face-to-face with Flora, their soaked nightgowns clinging tightly to their graceful curves.

The golden-haired girl’s figure was stunning, and so was Flora’s. Pressed close together, they were like steamed buns squished in a basket.

“I’ll drink you straight to the bottom of the tub!”

Alice raised her glass with forced composure, though her toes curled nervously beneath the water.

The tiny vial hidden between her breasts pressed coldly against her skin.

The water suddenly rippled.

Flora’s bare foot slid over Alice’s instep. Her nightgown hem rose slightly with the wave.
“I’m curious… what perfume do you wear, Sisi?”

The pink-haired princess leaned forward suddenly, her wine-damp lips nearly brushing Alice’s.
“Is it cornflower… mixed with orange?”

Alice’s throat tightened. Her glass nearly slipped from her hand.

The vial nestled in her cleavage suddenly grew hot.

“The water’s just right~”

Flora suddenly grasped her wrist, fingertips pressing precisely over her pulse.

Alice felt the princess’s nails trace along her vein—like a surgeon measuring before the first cut.
“I heard you said you’d ‘take down the princess’… and make me your maid~?”

“I—I didn’t mean it! I was just being silly!”

Alice quickly gulped half her glass, using the motion to secretly shake the potion into the decanter.

The dark red liquid swallowed the dose completely—no trace of anything unusual remained.

Her tense shoulders relaxed. She’d done the hardest part. Now, all she had to do was wait for Flora to collapse.

A confident smile crept onto her face.

Hehe…

Nothing can stop the great me!

She gloated inwardly, already picturing Flora unconscious and sprawled on the floor.

“So what if I did?!”

Alice suddenly felt her spine straighten, her voice growing bolder.
“Hmph! You’re just a little princess brat! I saved you, protected you at the cave entrance, killed so many goblins for you! Without me, do you really think your little head would still be on your shoulders in Oslor Kingdom~?”

As she watched Flora tilt her head back and drink her fourth glass, Alice began silently counting down.
“Ten… nine…”

She watched the blush spread up the princess’s neck.
“Three… two…”