Chloe’s Dilemma

Honestly, Chloe felt a twinge of regret now. It seemed that this time the meal was unexpectedly normal, and Tia, instead of wolfing it down as she usually did, savored each bite as if every piece of meat had its unique flavor.

A remnant of blood stain lingered on her collar, yet her serene, elegant demeanor made her appear like a connoisseur. The dim, yellow light cast a soft glow as the two sat across from each other, separated only by a bottle of camomile flowers that had been hastily placed between them. Chloe caught a whiff of the fragrant scent, momentarily unsure if it was Tia’s or the flower’s. She had never liked this scent as much as she did now, for it significantly eased her nausea, even if only temporarily.

Clutching her stomach and leaning forward, Chloe’s pallid complexion was somewhat masked by the warm, yellow light.

After what felt like an eternity, Tia reached for a tissue to wipe her mouth. “I’m full. I smell a bit of blood on me, so I’ll go take a shower. Could you please clean up the dishes, Chloe?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!” Chloe replied promptly.

The moment Tia returned to her room, Chloe rushed to her own bathroom, dropping to her knees in front of the toilet. A wave of nausea surged through her, her face paling as her eyebrows furrowed. Her small mouth opened involuntarily. Her delicate frame shook slightly, then lurched forward.

“Ugh…” Chloe gagged, trying to suppress the sound, despite the room’s decent soundproofing. Vomit triggered a chain reaction of sensations, and the mere sight and smell of it urged her to continue heaving until her stomach was empty. Even after retching up only bile, Chloe couldn’t stop the spasms in her stomach. Only when she could bring nothing more up did she press the flush button, washing away the disgusting contents.

She slumped against the toilet, panting heavily, her body feeling bruised and weak, her complexion unnaturally pale, with saliva at the corner of her mouth and tears of discomfort in her eyes.

Why? The ingredients were clean, and Tia showed no signs of discomfort, so it couldn’t be the food. That left only one possibility: her own body. Strangely enough, it wasn’t just the act of eating that made her want to vomit, but even the smell of food made her nauseous, as if her body was actively rejecting it.

The only culprit could be the impurities Tia had forcefully introduced into her system. After all, if these impurities were harmful within Tia, how could they be harmless in her? It seemed Doctor Blanca had misdiagnosed the situation, and it was far more severe than anticipated. But Chloe didn’t blame her; the fault lay with Tia, who had hidden the truth about the impurities from the doctor. When a patient conceals information from their doctor, it’s the patient’s responsibility when the condition worsens.

She felt despairing that the black energy’s corruption could prevent her from eating normal food. Yet, nutrition was essential for survival. If she couldn’t eat regular food, what could she eat? The answer was clear. It was like a form of addiction, where consuming too much of one substance made it impossible to ingest others normally, leading to a never-ending cycle of dependency. At this point, she was utterly dependent on Tia.

What should she do? Just a brief exposure to the impurities had led to this. If she continued, wouldn’t she become a witch, as Doctor Blanca warned? Was this despair? Chloe didn’t think she was that desperate. There had to be a way out, even if she became a witch. As long as she didn’t do harm, she could still live a good life. People only hate witches for their actions, not their existence. Besides, in a magical world, who knows what other miracles might exist?

For now, this was the only comfort she could offer herself. She leaned against the white porcelain toilet, her vision swimming. She hadn’t eaten anything substantial all day, and her frail body was struggling. At the sink, she splashed some water on her face and rinsed her mouth, slowly regaining her composure.

Don’t be so pessimistic; at least Tia seemed to be doing well.

Chloe went to the living room to clean up the dining table and wash the dishes, her body feeling limp and exhausted. Just as she finished, Tia emerged from her shower, dressed in a sleepwear that accentuated her femininity. Unlike Chloe’s pristine white dress, Tia’s sleepwear, though a standard size, was slightly snug, emphasizing her curvaceous figure. Her ample chest and shapely rear were features Chloe could only envy. Tia usually dressed modestly, so it was a revelation to see her in such an alluring ensemble. Chloe found herself unable to look away.

It wasn’t purely out of lust. It was akin to appreciating a Greek sculpture, admiring it not just through a lecherous lens, but as a perfect creation of nature.

Chloe had never believed such perfection existed, but seeing Tia made her reconsider. I thought my own body was perfect, but perhaps it was just too picky?

“Why are you staring at me like that? Do you find me attractive?”

“Attractive…” Chloe blurted out, her face flushing pink, her eyes darting nervously.

“I mean, you’re beautiful… er…” Trying to clarify that she wasn’t some lustful pervert, Chloe stammered, her hands flailing in the air.

Tia’s lips curved into a seductive smile at Chloe’s adorable fluster. Being bullied by such a girl was a delightful experience.

Chloe quickly closed her eyes, banishing the inappropriate thoughts. I’m not a masochist… I’m not a masochist…

Tia, who was drying her hair with a blow dryer, paused, wondering about Chloe’s strange behavior. “What’s wrong with her? Her face is so red, could she have a fever from being outside too long?” Considering Chloe’s delicate constitution, Tia thought it likely and approached her, pushing aside her golden locks to feel her forehead. The temperature seemed normal.

As the blend of camomile and lotion scents wafted over her, Chloe opened her amber eyes, only to be met with a breathtaking sight.

“How about you sleep with me tonight?”

“What?!” Chloe’s eyes widened with shock and a mix of emotions.

“Why? That’s too sudden…”

“No particular reason, I just feel like it.”

This is moving too fast, isn’t it? Was Tia having another episode, looking for an excuse to make a move? But that didn’t make sense, as Tia could easily take what she wanted, and I couldn’t resist. What was her true intention?

“Don’t you want to?”

“N-no, it’s just… a bit embarrassing…”

“We’ve done everything else, why be shy now?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Tia regretted them. Everything they had done was forced by her, and such a comment might be seen as insensitive. She felt a twinge of guilt, realizing that her hatred, amplified by the black energy, had driven her to extreme actions. She wanted to change Chloe’s perception of her through these means.

Of course, even without the black energy’s influence, Tia couldn’t bring herself to let Chloe go, not after what happened with Yilan. She couldn’t bear the thought of Chloe living a normal life, free from her control.

Seeing Chloe’s cooperative behavior, Tia decided to ease her burden a bit, as constantly seeing her anxious was unsettling. As long as Chloe remained under her control, a little relief wouldn’t hurt. Especially since Chloe was trying so hard to please her. Tia had initially wanted to stop her, seeing it as insincere, but ultimately decided to let it be.

Who could resist such a pitiful and adorable girl?