A Splash of Reality

What was happening to Tia? Could she truly have fallen under the spell of her own charm ability?

“No! You must regain your senses!”

Chloe, using the foot Tia had seized, suddenly thrust it backward, delivering a sharp kick directly to Tia’s face. This sudden act sent Chloe’s heart leaping into her throat, fearing that Tia, in her anger, might retaliate with unrestrained force.

Though the kick failed to break Tia’s hold, Tia abruptly ceased her movements, her entire body stiffening, her hand still clamped around Chloe’s ankle. Suddenly, Chloe felt a tickle on the sole of her foot, followed by a rush of warm, moist breath against her arch, culminating in a soft, damp, rubbing sensation.

Her face, in an instant, flushed a brilliant crimson, like the glowing embers of a furnace.

“Ah! Stop licking!”

A surge of astonishing strength erupted through Chloe’s body, and Tia, still in the throes of her peculiar enjoyment, received yet another forceful kick to the face, the very saliva she had applied now smeared across her own forehead.

Chloe, as agile as a slippery loach, scrambled back into the rear seat, instantly reverting to her defensive posture, hugging her knees and curling into a tight ball. Her wide eyes, unblinking, fixed a wary gaze upon Tia.

Yet, with desire already blazing within her, Tia was hardly one to relent so easily. She tugged at her collar, then licked her lips, preparing to crawl forward.

What am I to do? Am I to once again surrender to Tia’s whims? To be filled again, to ache all over again, to lose my dignity once more?

Chloe’s breath grew increasingly ragged as she watched Tia draw nearer, a resolute glint entering her eyes, as if she had suddenly made a momentous decision. Reaching into the storage pocket behind the seat, she snatched a bottle of mineral water. With a determined grit of her teeth, she twisted open the cap and forcefully splashed the contents onto Tia’s face.

“I’m sorry!” As the water flew, Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.

It was do or die! Either I would successfully bring Tia back to her senses, or I would be subjected to an even crueler torment.

Chloe hunched her shoulders, cautiously opening one eye to gauge Tia’s reaction. Fortunately, after being doused with mineral water, Tia’s gaze visibly cleared, the heart-shaped pupils in her eyes gradually receding.

It seemed she had succeeded. Chloe exhaled deeply, a wave of relief washing over her at the success of her first act of defiance.

“Chloe… I… what has happened to me?” Tia dazedly surveyed her soaked upper body, beads of water steadily tracing paths down her drenched hair.

“You almost ******* me again.” Chloe offered no further words, instead glaring at Tia with an expression of utter disdain. Full of lingering resentment, she used her small hand to firmly push back Tia’s head, which had already stretched towards her. Then, she picked up Papertreat, the plushie, burying the lower half of her face behind the doll, her clear golden eyes fixed intently on Tia.

Reflecting on her own actions, Tia couldn’t help but feel a surge of guilt as she gazed at the utterly childlike appearance of the girl before her. This sight reminded her of her younger sister, Yilan; as a child, whenever Yilan was angry with her, she would assume the very same posture and expression.

“I’m sorry… I… I truly don’t know why this happened… I suspect it might have been the saliva…”

“Saliva?”

In Chloe’s eyes, Tia now seemed even more perverse.

“Are you saying that just a little bit of my saliva was enough to send you into such a frenzy?” Chloe covered her mouth, a small laugh escaping her lips, and the girl’s teasing gaze, accompanied by her subtly arched brows, once again tugged at Tia’s heartstrings, causing her to instinctively swallow.

Tia found herself utterly speechless, unable to formulate a retort. Like a criminal confessing a crime, she lowered her head, her fingers intertwining nervously. Her usually aloof face now wore an expression of profound grievance.

“Pfft~”

Witnessing Tia’s uncharacteristic display, Chloe couldn’t help but let out a peal of silvery, bell-like laughter.

“So, you can make that face too? How wonderful it would have been if you’d shown such an attitude sooner… Never mind, it doesn’t matter. You’ve already taken everything from me anyway; this is merely one less instance. I’ve grown accustomed to it.” Chloe seized the opportunity to lecture Tia, and as she continued to speak, her voice gradually tinged with sorrow. While she couldn’t fathom why Tia had transformed into such a more agreeable person, the events that had already transpired remained irreversible. Even if Tia’s actions were unintentional, influenced by some external factor, some scars simply could not be erased.

[Master, please don’t be sad. Our immediate priority is to capitalize on this opportunity to further deepen Tia’s guilt, which will help improve your relationship!] Papertreat, clutched against Chloe’s chest, suddenly spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial tone.

‘Alright! I’ll do my best!’ Chloe lowered her head, responding in a whisper.

Unbeknownst to Chloe, her subtly sorrowful yet deliberately concealed demeanor – her pitiable pretense of having accepted everything – struck Tia’s heart like a bullet. Sadness, a profoundly complex emotion, is notoriously difficult to conceal; it lays bare one’s most authentic self and invariably elicits sympathy from onlookers. For some, this sympathy gradually ferments, eventually evolving into a peculiar aesthetic, where the very emotion of sorrow acts as the finest cosmetic, rendering an individual more captivating.

Perhaps humans truly are creatures swayed by appearances. The sight of Chloe, so fragile, so weary, as if easily cradled and controlled within a single hand, coupled with her exquisitely rare beauty, evoked the image of a delicate diamond or a fleeting blossom, rendering her utterly unforgettable…

Tia’s breathing grew heavy, her mind consumed by incessant self-reproach. Yet, this torment stemmed not from a sense of having wronged Chloe, but from the horrifying realization that she harbored such profound and illicit feelings for someone inextricably linked to her sister’s death.

Am I truly a pervert? A lecher who, upon beholding a beautiful young girl, could cast aside the fact that she was an enemy and shamelessly engage in intimacy with her before the very grave of the sister she had caused to die?

But no matter how she tried to rationalize, Tia could not deny one undeniable truth: she felt an intense desire for the girl before her, both physical and emotional. This time, it was not born of any charm or enchantment, but sprang purely from her own heart.

No, no, no, perhaps something is truly amiss… I should consult a doctor first; I need to be examined myself. Tia abruptly severed the complex, web-like thoughts swirling in her mind. Any problems will naturally resolve themselves in due course.

Initially, her sole intention was to visit the doctor to address the issue of Chloe’s burgeoning fox ears and tail. Now, however, several new questions had materialized. How could Chloe be unable to taste food? And what was the meaning behind this sudden, overwhelming desire she felt for Chloe? Even with her usual lack of self-awareness, Tia now recognized several unsettling discrepancies within herself. Her attitude towards Chloe resembled a tumultuous roller coaster ride: at times she could treat her normally, at others she felt an inexplicable rage, and then, at still other moments, she was consumed by an overwhelming desire.