Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

"No! Your Highness, please don't say anymore! I understand... I... I'm willing to go tonight..."

Gerberly slowly lowered her head, these words seemingly draining all her strength. The moment her words fell, she trembled uncontrollably in the icy water, like a withered leaf swaying in the cold wind. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks, her lips drained of color, and she looked so weak she seemed about to collapse at any moment.

Tipalotura sighed softly and raised her hand to call back Nanalia, who was outside the door. The two of them went forward together, carefully wiped Gerberi's body clean, and gently helped her to lie down on the bed.

The bedding was soft and warm, and Tipalotura personally bent down to tuck her in.

Her eyes reddened, brimming with tears of grievance, and she finally choked back sobs, revealing her deepest concerns:

"Your Highness...I..."

“I’m not afraid of sacrificing my body at all. As long as I can stabilize my magic, prolong my life, and continue to serve you, I can endure any hardship or humiliation. But what I’m truly afraid of is… the witch’s curse, which will slowly erode my mind and replace my unwavering loyalty to you… I’m afraid that one day, I will lose control of my own destiny and no longer be loyal to only you…”

Tipalotura was well aware of her obsession and fear.

Rather than letting her die in despair while clinging to her dignity, she would rather save Gerberly's life.

She smiled gently and soothed him softly:

"I understand. Don't worry, I will do my best to help you suppress the effects of the curse and won't let you lose your true self. Don't think about anything now, just lie down and rest for a while..."

"Um……"

Although she didn't know how Tipalotura had done it, the exhausted Gerberi was too weak to tell, and only gave a soft reply before falling into a deep sleep under the princess's comforting care. Tipalotura watched her quietly and sighed softly.

"Can you do it? I..."

Night had fallen outside the window, but the sky was not yet completely dark, and the stars were already faintly visible. Tipalotura walked lightly to the terrace outside the window, looked up at the sky, and a hint of gold appeared in the depths of her deep blue pupils.

"That guy has already reached the spirit world... It's unbelievable. It's as if he appeared specifically to disrupt everything in this world."

As she spoke, she seemed to realize something and couldn't help but smile helplessly:

"Lord Orlando, you really are... entrusting such things to your own daughter? Should I say you're being indecent, or are you just as unconventional as ever?"

Although Tipalotura didn't enter the spirit world, she seemed to have 'seen' something from afar through the stars. She 'saw' Olivia secretly taking some strange things from Mrs. Sophie's magic laboratory and preparing them in Ryukyu's room. Upon closer inspection, Tipalotura was both angry and amused, and she looked at Gerberi lying behind her with a wry smile.

"That guy Ryuka is really something, he has no good intentions at all! But... perhaps only such an extreme method can stabilize Gerberi's witch power... After all, unlike Nanalia and the others, Gerberi has been surrounded by blood and slaughter since childhood, and the things accumulated in her heart are not so easy to resolve..."

Chapter 12 Gerberi's Preparation Stage

In the void of the spirit realm, Ryuga closed his eyes, quietly sensing the subtle messages transmitted to him by the celestial spirits surrounding him. The celestial spirits possessed a unique way of communicating; without words, they could clearly project the images and sounds they wished to convey into Ryuga's consciousness. Since he had taken out the crystal shards tainted with the aura of the cruel witch, and the fragment of the teleportation array, some of the curious celestial spirits had lowered their guard and finally revealed the clues he had been desperately seeking.

Deep within her consciousness, a blurry yet clear image slowly emerged: several figures clad in dark cloaks stood silently on a stone platform atop the mountain, their postures upright and their auras concealed. The figure at the head was petite and slender; even through the cloak, it was easily discernible that she was a young girl. The Star Spirit's repeated voice was indistinct and fragmented, mixed with the ethereal echoes unique to the spirit realm, but Liu Xia listened intently and still managed to faintly catch a few lines of conversation and recognize a few names.

“Lilith…Mayo, Chris…?” Ryusha slowly opened his eyes, his fingertips lightly twirling as he murmured, a sharp glint in his eyes. “It seems that the Chosen Ones organization is not a monolithic entity after all, and there are hidden discords and infighting.”

He instantly made a plan: this girl named Lilith was undoubtedly one of Carmela's people; in other words, she was a Vatican spy infiltrated into the Chosen Ones organization. If he could use this name to investigate the relevant personnel of the Vatican's Inquisition, he might be able to uncover more useful clues. Even if "Lilith" was just a pseudonym, the combination of the key information of "girl" and "Carmela's confidante" would be enough, whether given to his own shadow guards or to Lady Sophie, who was well-versed in the various forces in the south, to filter out some suspicious individuals and narrow down the scope of the investigation.

As for the others, especially the leader known as "Mayocles," they were extremely cautious in their conversation, not revealing any unnecessary details about their identities. However, the aura emanating from them exuded a sense of oppressive power that should not be underestimated.

What the Celestial Spirits showed Ryuka was not just the scene of their conversation on the mountaintop. In the images they projected, Ryuka clearly saw that each figure was surrounded by a unique "aura"—a manifestation of the energy fluctuations within each person's body. The Celestial Spirits used this unique aura to distinguish different humans and track their movements.

Aside from Lilith, the auras of the others were extremely complex and chaotic, as if each of them possessed a mixture of multiple distinct powers, intertwined and entangled without any discernible pattern. Mayocles, in particular, possessed the most powerful aura, a blend of several different attributes, displaying the formidable presence of a Heavenly Rank expert. However, compared to those Heavenly Rank experts whose powers were pure and singular, his aura appeared somewhat restless and unstable.

With the ethereal explanations of the Protoss, Ryuga instantly understood the reason: the chaotic power within them was a mixture of various heretical powers of unknown origin. Some of these powers were so strange and mysterious that even these Protoss, who had lived for nearly a thousand years, could not discern their origin.

When Ryūka's gaze fell upon Lilith, and he carefully observed the aura surrounding her, he couldn't help but be shocked, his pupils slightly contracting—unlike the chaotic aura of the others, Lilith's body was enveloped in a surging, boundless pure white aura, so pure that it was without a trace of impurity; it was the Holy Law Qi unique to the Holy See! What shocked him even more was that this Holy Law Qi was not only incredibly pure, but its power foundation was also countless times stronger than that of Mayocles!

"Doesn't this mean that this seemingly young girl's strength is actually above the Heavenly Rank?!"

A wave of shock washed over Liu Xia, who was secretly astonished. Lily looked to be about her age, yet she possessed such strength!

"I thought I was already pretty strong, but I never expected there to be someone even stronger than me! This is truly... tsk tsk!"

Ryuu put away her self-deprecating thoughts and silently wondered, "The Chosen Ones organization is so unfathomable, hiding such a top-tier expert? But if that's the case, why did they only watch from the mountaintop and not intervene in the battle to subdue the Earth Dragon Beast? Was it because they didn't want to risk fighting and revealing their identities? Or did they have some other unknown scheme?"

Countless questions churned in her mind as Liu Xia pondered deeply. The scene in the image shifted again: the girl named Lilith turned first, leading the others slowly into the pre-set teleportation magic circle. Just as her figure was about to be swallowed by the teleportation light and disappear completely, a faint yet incredibly clear golden light flashed like a shooting star within the pure white holy energy surrounding her, so fast it was almost impossible to catch.

Deng!

Ryuu's heart skipped a beat, and his spiritual power involuntarily froze—that golden light was all too familiar to him! It was the aura of the power of order! This Lilith was actually a holder of the power of order, just like him!

This discovery deepened Liu Xia's doubts, and she couldn't help but wonder: since the other party was also a holder of the power of order, did she also know about the existence of the Spirit Realm? And in the images transmitted by the Star Spirit, could those intermittent and blurry details be because she used some kind of power to deliberately cover up most of the key information to prevent others from spying on her?

Liu Xia gently shook his head, temporarily suppressing the many questions in his heart and no longer delving into them. He closed his eyes, imprinting the names, figures, and unique auras of the people in the image into his mind—these clues might come in handy during his trip to the Bauhinia Kingdom, helping him find traces of the Chosen Ones organization.

"Thank you." Ryuga whispered his thanks to the Star Spirits surrounding him, his tone sincere. As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a ray of light, instantly leaving the Spirit Realm and returning to the mortal world.

As soon as she regained her footing, Ryuka immediately contacted Zona and Melanie telepathically. After telling them the information she had gathered, she earnestly instructed them: "Initiate an investigation immediately based on the information I gave you. Focus on investigating the names 'Lilith' and 'Mayocles,' even if they are just pseudonyms. Do your best to uncover all clues related to them and don't overlook any trace."

One of them operated within Otus, while the other was tasked with seeking help from Madam Sophie. As for Ryūka himself, after giving his orders, he stretched lazily and looked up at the stars in the sky.

Although the night was deep, it was only around eight or nine o'clock, and there was still plenty of time. A mischievous, playful smile slowly crept onto his lips, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes as he secretly calculated in his mind:

"Tonight, there's a 'fun' job waiting for me~ I'd better warm up my muscles first~"

Just thinking about seeing Gerberly's beautiful, grumpy face turn into a wailing mess made Liuxia feel all the fatigue of the past few days disappear.

With this thought in mind, Liu Xia didn't delay any longer. With a swift movement, she used her spiritual power to speed towards Thunder Fortress, her aura revealing an undisguised anticipation and joy.

-----------------

On another floor of the tower, Liuxia's new guest rooms are more spacious than imagined, luxurious like a small palace. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, there is a wide terrace where the evening breeze gently blows and the lights of Thunder Castle can be faintly seen in the distance, both grand and elegant.

"That should be about right, right?"

Adela wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, her breathing slightly rapid. She turned to Olivia beside her and asked softly. While Ryūka was out scouting the battlefield, she and Olivia had made a special trip to Madam Sophie's magic laboratory and brought back quite a few things. These included items specially "sponsored" by the old lady, as well as things Ryūka usually used that they had packed in advance.

On the soft, large bed, a row of oddly shaped wooden planks, gleaming leather whips, metal handcuffs, and various strange and indescribable implements were neatly arranged. Just a glance at them made their legs ache and their cheeks flush involuntarily. The elegant trolley that had originally been used for breakfast was now filled with bottles and jars of all sizes, soft feather brushes, and "stoppers" of varying shapes and sizes—each item exuding an ambiguous and eerie atmosphere, making their hearts tighten and filling them with dread.

As for the wooden crates brought from the magic laboratory, Adela curiously squatted down and examined them one by one. Inside, besides some common alchemical potions, there were also quite a few failed alchemical products, each of which made her secretly gasp. Looking at the words marked on the bottles, Adela couldn't help but swallow, a chill inexplicably running through her body, yet a barely perceptible restlessness lurked in her eyes.

"A failed healing ointment—it can heal wounds quickly when applied, but it causes unbearable itching, an itch that seeps into your bones; a magic potion that blocks pain—it failed to be made, and not only does it fail to block pain, it actually increases the sensitivity of the skin several times over; there are also water magic scrolls, lightning magic scrolls, and even illusion scrolls that can make people see outside their bodies and simultaneously see both their own inner and outer appearances..."

Just imagining in her mind what her master, Ryūka, would use these things for made Adela feel feverish, her body so weak she could barely stand, and even her breathing became rapid. But what intrigued her most were the several huge glass jars—filled with colorful, translucent "liquids," clear and bright, looking quite beautiful. They involuntarily reminded her of the various refreshing drinks Ryūka often made himself in Sochi.

"What is this?" Adela asked, pointing at the glass jar with curiosity in her eyes.

“It’s a magical gel made from slime,” Olivia explained calmly, then added, seeing Adela’s confused look, “It’s a magical gel made from slime.”

"My mother originally wanted to refine an alchemical product similar to Ansel Gel from the Duchy of Ansel in order to develop the magical technology of Thunder Fortress, but unfortunately she failed in the end."

"A failed product? What's the use of it?" Adela pressed.

"With just a little magic input, it can move according to the user's will. It looks like a liquid, but it's actually a soft, dry gel that can be manipulated into any shape with magic. Moreover, it can be mixed with different potions to produce different effects... As for the specific usage..."

At this point, Olivia pointed to several items on a nearby shelf—a transparent syringe as thick as an arm, a grotesquely shaped metal rod, and thick ropes and restraints used to bind the body. Adela looked in the direction she was pointing and instantly understood, her cheeks flushing bright red, even her ears burning.

Both of them had been "trained" by Ryūka, so there was no need for them to hide anything from each other. A single glance or gesture was enough for them to understand the purpose of these objects. However, Olivia remained completely calm throughout, showing no shyness whatsoever, which made Adela somewhat uneasy. She chuckled awkwardly and said in an ambiguous tone:

"Hehe, it seems Miss Gerberly is in for a good 'enjoyment' tonight..."

"Really? How exactly do you enjoy it?"

A cool, slightly amusement-laden voice suddenly came from behind, startling Adela so much that she froze, as if struck by lightning. She whirled around, dropped to one knee with a thud, bowed her head low, and barely dared to breathe. Olivia, standing beside her, was also momentarily stunned. After regaining her composure, she quickly and respectfully bowed to the newcomer, her expression becoming somewhat restrained.

Approaching silently from behind was none other than Tipalotura, the thirteenth princess of the Otus Empire. The two women hadn't sensed her presence at all, unaware of when she had entered the room or how long she had been listening to their conversation. Now, seeing the various suggestive and even somewhat grotesque objects displayed in the room, a sense of foreboding washed over them. Cold sweat broke out on their palms, and they were momentarily at a loss for how to explain themselves to this noble princess.

Gerberi was, after all, Tipalottura's most trusted and closest guard. Tonight's events were a compromise born of utter helplessness, but Adela's gloating and ambiguous teasing attitude had clearly displeased Tipalottura. Adela's heart pounded wildly, her anxiety reaching its peak—she was merely a slave of Ryukyu, of lowly status, and if she truly angered this princess, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If Tipalotura were to kill her here, it would be too late by the time her master returned. Even if that didn't happen, Adela understood that her master would probably be happy to use this excuse to torture her, as a way to appease the princess.

Just as she was filled with anxiety and wild thoughts, Tipalotura walked forward without changing her expression, casually picked up a bottle labeled "powerful aphrodisiac," glanced at it briefly, and then put it down. She then picked up a metal brush, gently stroking the bristles with her fingertips, turned to look at Adela kneeling on the ground, and a meaningful smile curled at the corner of her lips:

"Next time there's a chance, let Liu Xiaqing show me these things. As for the test subject... Adela, who do you think would be suitable?"

Adela trembled with fear, biting her lip tightly, not daring to utter a single word, silently lamenting her predicament. She knew all too well that if this princess really insisted, her master, Ryūsha, might actually use these things on her—the thought of those strange potions and instruments sent chills down her spine, yet she dared not utter a single thought of resistance.

Seeing Adela trembling and silent with fear, Tipalotura gave a soft snort, her tone regaining some of its coldness, and instructed Olivia:

"You two, you should leave now."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Olivia responded respectfully, her tone remaining calm. She didn't ask what Tipalotura wanted to do in the room, nor did she mention Gerberi's whereabouts. She quickly got up, pulled the still trembling Adela along, and hurriedly left Ryusha's guest room, gently closing the door behind her.

After the two left, Tipalotura sighed softly, her aura gradually softening. At the same time, two figures slowly appeared behind her—one was her maid, Nanalia, who was supporting the flushed and distressed Gerberi with one hand, and holding a parasol that could block out all senses with the other; however, Nanalia's small face was covered by a black cloth, obscuring her eyes, and she could only walk slowly with Gerberi's support—Tipalotura deliberately forbade her from seeing these things in the room, lest they taint her eyes and heart. Although the conversation outside the door had filled Nanalia with curiosity and made her restless, she ultimately dared not ask a single question and could only obediently comply.

Gerberly, having only dozed off for a short while, was awakened by a surge of heat within her. In just half an hour, she had countless ambiguous and shameful dreams—in which she was toyed with and humiliated by Liu Xia in various ways, utterly powerless to resist. When she awoke, the bed beneath her was already half-soaked by seeping water, her body aching and weak, even walking felt unsteady on her feet, and her breath was hot.

Although she had changed into light, thin clothing, the slight friction of the fabric against her skin made her feel hot all over, her skin so sensitive it was almost unbearable. Especially her nipples, which, as she stepped into Liu Xia's room, her 'execution ground,' had spontaneously and excitedly stood up, hard as pebbles, rubbing against the fabric of her chest, making Gerberly feel unbearably itchy.

Her once tall and agile body, which had once dominated the battlefield, was now so weak that she could only lean on the petite Nanalia to barely walk. Even so, she could clearly feel that her underwear was already soaked with sticky water, and some crystal clear, slippery liquid was slowly sliding down her fair and smooth thighs, almost dripping to her toes. Every inch of her skin exuded an indescribable shame and heat.

"Nanalia, channel some power into the umbrella, and then you can go back."

Tipalotura gave a soft instruction, taking the parasol imbued with the witch Nanalia's power—it would likely remain lit for several hours after Nanalia left. She then pushed Nanalia out of Ryukatsu's room and slammed the door shut.

After pulling off the blindfold, Nanalia pouted slightly.

"Sister You, really, I'm not a child anymore..."

"I can hear you."

Hearing Tipalotura's voice coming from behind the door, Nunnalia quickly fled...

Chapter 13 An Unexpected Kiss

"Look! It's the Governor of Ryukyu!"

"Your Excellency!"

As night fell, Thunder Fortress shed its daytime solemnity and gained a more vibrant, lively atmosphere. Soldiers who had finished their duty gathered in the fortress's market to relax before curfew. Many, having distinguished themselves and received rewards for their service in the battle against the Earth Dragon Beast, invited a few comrades for a few drinks, enjoying a moment of leisure.

Just then, Liu Xia stepped through the air, her figure sweeping across the night sky, instantly attracting everyone's attention. The soldiers below raised their glasses in salute and cheered loudly. Liu Xia smiled and nodded in response, riding the wind all the way to the top of the core tower of Thunder Fortress before gently landing and calmly straightening her clothes.

"Phew... I feel like many soldiers now genuinely admire me. It's a pity this is ultimately Lady Sophie's territory, and the one they truly respect is still that old lady. Otherwise, I could gain some followers and faith to enhance my strength..."

Ryūka muttered to himself as he stepped into the tower, bumping into Olivia and Adela walking towards him. Seeing their awkward and embarrassed expressions, he frowned slightly and asked:

"What's wrong? Is everything arranged?"

“Um… Master.” Adela’s throat bobbed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat awkwardly. “Princess Tipalotura… has been waiting in your room for quite some time.”

Immediately afterward, she recounted the entire incident. Liu Xia was taken aback, utterly unable to fathom the princess's thoughts. The thought of her having her carefully prepared items witnessed by the princess made her feel embarrassed, and she muttered to herself:

"Oh no, will the princess be angry about this and refuse to let Gerberi come over...?"

With a mix of trepidation and unease, Liu Xia slowly walked to her room door, took a deep breath, and gently pushed it open.

"You're back, Liu Xiaqing. Did you gain anything from this trip?"

Inside, a graceful and aloof figure came into view. Tipalotura's face was veiled by a light gauze, and she wore a long, creamy white and gold dress, her figure graceful and elegant. The hem of the dress trailed on the ground, and with each light step, her delicate sandals accentuated her fair skin, appearing and disappearing, giving her an ethereal and otherworldly air.

As an imperial princess, she maintained royal dignity and solemnity only in public. In private, she dressed casually and gracefully, her loose and soft dresses making her look like a peerless beauty who had stepped out of a classical sculpture. In addition, she was surrounded by a faint fragrance unique to witches. Being in the same room with her, it unconsciously stirred Liu Xia's heart and made her restless.

Tipalotura's tone was calm and casual, seemingly inquiring about his travel haul, but her actions made Ryūka extremely awkward. She strolled leisurely between the shelves and the bed, carefully examining the various items on the table with a curious expression, like a young girl casually browsing through curiosities. Sometimes she picked up a wooden spanking stick and lightly touched its texture; sometimes she twirled a slender whip around her fingertips; sometimes she picked up a bottle or jar on the table, scrutinizing the indescribable text marked on it…

"Haha... The harvest was quite good. I wonder why Your Highness suddenly came? Where is Gerberly?"

Ryusha's eyes darted away as she tried to smooth things over, inwardly cursing. Tipalotura's unusual calm was clearly hiding anger.

He sighed inwardly, feeling that his plans with Gerberi tonight were likely to fall through. Watching Tipalottura move effortlessly among the objects, he felt a surge of annoyance, even an urge to execute the princess on the spot. But he quickly calmed down, recalling what Olivia and the other had said—Tipalottura had appeared silently, without even Olivia noticing her presence, undoubtedly due to the witch Nanalia's witchcraft.

Who knows how many witches with different abilities are hiding around Tipalotura? The more she dares to appear in front of Ryūka so openly, the less Ryūka can figure out the princess's background and intentions.

Just as Ryūka was about to give up hope, Tipalotura seemed to have already seen through all his thoughts. Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, her deep blue eyes curved into shallow crescents, and with a faint smile, she gently raised her chin towards the balcony:

"There it is~"

Liu Xia's heart tightened, and she quickly looked in the direction the woman indicated, her heart pounding faster.

The moonlight was hazy, and the terrace was dimly lit, revealing Gerberly's figure. She wore a loose, elegant white nightgown, her limbs tightly bound by translucent, gelatinous tentacles, folded behind her back, her entire body suspended in mid-air like a bizarre ornament, exuding a sensual allure. Although she was conscious, the soft tentacles covered her lips, preventing her from making a sound. Only her eyes, filled with resentment and helplessness, gazed desperately into the room.

Noticing Ryusha's gaze, Gerberi became agitated and struggled fiercely with her agile body, but the tentacles only tightened around her, and she couldn't break free at all.

"Is this... the kind of gel Olivia mentioned?"

Ryuka couldn't help but swallow, glancing at Tipalottura beside her out of the corner of her eye. This gel wasn't a real slime or tentacle; all its actions had to be manipulated by magic. So, it was Tipalottura who bound Gerberi into this alluring state?

"Ugh! Ugh ugh ugh!!"

As Ryūka looked at Tipalotura, Gerberi's reaction intensified! Bound by the gel tentacles, Gerberi struggled to free her lithe body, only to be tightened further. Her shapely legs, dangling as if kneeling, were spread wide apart. Moonlight streamed through the hem of her white gauze nightgown, projecting the view and curves beneath onto Ryūka's face!

Whether it's the perfect curve of the lower buttocks, the slightly raised inner thighs with strong and powerful muscle lines, or even the full camel toe between the legs, everything is clearly shown through projection!

Liu Xia's gaze was naturally drawn to this beautiful sight, and her blood rushed downwards. Under the moonlight and white gauze, a silvery thread could be clearly seen running vertically down from the center of Gerberly's legs! The clear, sticky fluid appeared crystal clear in the moonlight, dripping from Gerberly's thighs all the way down to a height of more than a meter! As her delicate body struggled violently, this viscous, transparent line of fluid even swayed, sometimes breaking and sometimes connecting, leaving slippery wet marks on the floor!

Damn! This woman looks resistant, but her body is already so aroused! Liu Xia clicked his tongue. If Tipalotura hadn't been there, he would have already grinned and reached under Gerberi's bare skirt, then rubbed her plump camel toes until they were a mess with her incredibly sticky juices!

And the upper part of her nightgown was pushed high by her unbound, enormous breasts, the two nipples clearly visible! The loose white dress draped down like a curtain from those two protruding points, no longer clinging to Gerberly's body. Moonlight streamed in, and her powerfully sculpted waist revealed her astonishingly large, peach-like buttocks, no longer bound by the tight riding breeches of her usual attire, swaying wildly with each movement!

"Waaaaah!! Ugh!!!"

Seeing Gerberi bound up like this by Tipalotura, Ryuka was both excited and confused about what the princess was trying to do. Did Gerberi refuse to have intercourse with him, and that Tipalotura had forcibly brought her here?

Her fierce struggle wasn't an outburst of anger towards herself, but rather a plea to Tipalotura...