The Seeds of Attachment

Chris, it can be said that this was the first time she truly got to know the girl named Aile.

Before this, she deliberately avoided talking to Aile and had no private contact with her.

On one hand, this was in obedience to Mingqian’s command: to isolate Aile, ensuring she would rely solely on him within the entire manor.

Chris harbored no affection for Aile whatsoever.

While this dislike was only natural, Chris nevertheless kept a close watch on the girl’s transformation.

She had known Aile for a long time, and the Aile of today was far from the frail figure she had once been.

Not only had she grown taller, but her chest had also blossomed.

Her features were exquisite, and her golden hair cascaded down to her waist, resembling a wave stirred by the wind.

Chris also possessed golden hair, though hers was cut short.

She deeply envied Aile for such beautifully long locks.

The only drawback was the perpetually cold indifference in her otherwise lovely eyes and brows.

Her expression remained placid, as if she had seen through all worldly affairs.

Only in Mingqian’s presence did the girl’s face truly come alive with emotion.

This fact thoroughly displeased Chris.

Aile continued speaking in an impassive tone:

“If you are going to teach me, then please do so properly. Or are you, who is hailed as the strongest, incapable of even teaching me?”

She understood Chris’s personality perfectly, which was precisely why she chose to speak in such a manner.

Aile knew that Chris, no matter what, would not be able to tolerate her provocation.

“You really have a nerve! Hmph, just watch me…”

Chris forcefully suppressed the fury raging within her, demonstrating light-attribute magic to Aile one by one.

Once finished, she exhaled deeply, a refreshing smile gracing her lips.

“Well? Have you learned it? I showed it to you once, so don’t you dare say you didn’t see it clearly!”

“Or are you implying you can’t even manage something so simple?”

Chris, in turn, began to needle Aile.

She refused to believe anyone could learn magic after seeing it only once.

If such a person truly existed, the world would be far too strange.

Chris’s triumphant smile quickly froze on her face.

“Oh, is that how it is?”

With just a single glance, the girl replicated most of Chris’s magic.

This feat, almost impossible to achieve, was accomplished in an instant by Aile.

Aile spoke calmly:

“Thank you, Big Sister. There are still a few areas I haven’t fully grasped, but it won’t take long.”

‘This light element truly lives up to its reputation,’ she thought. ‘Simply by learning a little, I feel something roaring within my bloodline.’

‘If I could fully master this power, I would be one step closer to my ultimate achievement.’

Chris had witnessed Aile and Mingqian in the early days of their magic practice.

Back then, Aile struggled with everything; even the most basic spells required her to practice tirelessly to master them.

Her master had criticized her, punished her, making her remember the humiliation with her flesh and mind, and that was how she had grown.

If not for that, she would not have understood.

If not for that, she would not have progressed.

Yet, Aile completely failed to comprehend that it was her master’s favoritism, and even her master himself always smiled and denied it.

What benefit did teaching Aile bring to her master? Still, he tirelessly accompanied Aile.

But Aile understood nothing of it.

Now, even heaven itself had bestowed upon her extraordinary talent.

Chris pouted, thinking that if she had known, she would never have agreed to teach Aile, no matter how much her master had implored her.

‘Honestly!’

A girl’s clear voice interrupted Chris’s thoughts.

“Big Sister, where is Master?”

Aile’s eyes were not on Chris; unconsciously, she was searching for Mingqian’s figure.

A feeling of unease coiled in her heart.

Even for her enemy, she had to concede that, in this world, he was the one who had spent the most time with her.

“Master… Master, he…”

‘Most likely, Master has already been taken by Noyu by now.’

‘She and Noyu had already reached an agreement; once Noyu was finished, it would be Chris’s turn.’

The great door creaked open, and a somewhat flustered Eliza peered inside.

“No, this is bad, Chris, Aile, Master! He’s been taken by the princess!”

Compared to Chris, who already knew, Aile’s reaction was by far the most pronounced.

Aile clenched her fists.

A duke being captured, or even killed, should have made her feel delighted.

That was how it was supposed to be.

Her mind was flooded with a chaotic jumble of unclear thoughts.

‘No, no.’

‘It’s not because he’s important, absolutely not.’

‘In this world, no one can steal her right to revenge; she must exact it with her own hands.’

‘But… is that all there is to it?’

He was her teacher, or rather… her master.

Though she desperately wished not to admit it, the Duke had become very important to her.

Without even realizing it herself, a hint of anxiety gradually crept into her expression.

She had slowly begun to regard the Duke as a part of her life; in places she hadn’t noticed, he had already embedded a thorn in her heart.

Aile took a deep breath, finally realizing that what the man had inflicted upon her was far more than mere pain and humiliation.

How could he simply be taken away so easily by others?

She hadn’t yet thoroughly defeated him.

She hadn’t yet told him face-to-face that she hated him.

She hadn’t yet… truly made him see her, hadn’t yet asked that question.

Death…

The word leaped into her mind once more.

She longed to rush out immediately.

The person she was now was no longer a helpless girl.

‘Again… am I going to lose someone again?’

‘Wait, why “again“?’

‘She clearly hated the Duke.’

Aile shook her head, dispelling the sudden, inexplicable thoughts that had surfaced.

What she could do was quite limited, but this was also an opportunity.

If she could rescue him, her status would undoubtedly rise significantly.

She might even… be able to compete with Chris.

‘Yes, it’s just that.’

‘It’s just that…’

“I’m going to save Master.”

‘Yes, this isn’t submission, nor is it a show of loyalty.’

Aile gripped her own body tightly.

‘This is merely the first step to gain his trust.’

‘Her revenge wasn’t just about killing him, but about making him lose everything.’

Aile lifted her head, meeting Chris’s astonished gaze.

“I’m leaving.”

“What did you say?!”

Chris was surprised by Aile’s first expression of her own thoughts; in the past, even when criticized, she had never uttered “stop.”

She had always lacked the “human” feeling common to girls her age, cold and distant like a robot.

But now, where was any trace of a robot in her?

Her body was taut, her crimson lips trembled slightly… the anxious look was clearly visible.

Chris was about to speak to stop her, but the girl was already fully dressed, using wind magic to rush out the door.

“Ah! Big Sister! Quick, stop her, otherwise, she’s going to witness the scene!”

“The scene? Chris…”

“You wouldn’t…”

Eliza grabbed Chris’s shoulder, pulling her face close.

“Chris? It seems you’re hiding something from Big Sister?”

Chris’s shoulder twitched, and she quickly averted her gaze.

“I, I don’t know anything!”

Eliza’s smiling face held a chilling edge.

“Confess truthfully!”