Chapter 19: Shiya was caught between the two proud women of heaven

Xiang Shiya, the Village Chief of Flower God Village, gave a slight nod and then turned to leave.

Karlen immediately stepped forward, blocking his path.

“Village Chief Edwin, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave those two corpses behind. They attacked our Student Council members.”

The man spread his hands as he spoke.

“Now I suspect these two were conducting some kind of evil ritual. Even if they’re dead, they need to be taken to the guard post for an autopsy.”

Village Chief Edwin gave Karlen a long, deep look, a hint of approval flickering in his eyes.

But that was all it was.

The old village chief’s expression turned cold as he said in a deep voice, “Do you have any evidence?”

Karlen was momentarily speechless, unable to get a word out for a long time.

“Now that they’re dead, you should let it go. If you want to keep making trouble, then call the guard post to Flower God Village and have them arrest this old man.”

With those words, Village Chief Edwin pointed a thumb at himself fearlessly.

But the young men from the village behind him all wore fierce expressions, nothing like the casual tone of his words suggesting he’d just accept capture and punishment.

Watching Karlen return dejectedly, Elena knew the negotiation had failed.

She massaged her temples in frustration, ready to shift the heavy topic first.

“Shiya, do you know that old village chief? Why was he so polite to you?”

Shiya was also confused, playing with the blue ribbon bow at the tip of her hair as she chose her words carefully.

“I don’t know him. And I always feel like that old village chief is polite on the surface, but there seems to be malice hidden in his eyes.”

Just then, Leonora also sidled up to Shiya, tapping the girl’s forehead with her ice-cold fingertip.

“And this one was being chased by those stone statues made by the Flower God Village people the whole time during the fight. Anyone could see something was off, right?”

At that moment, Karlen looked around at everyone and offered a tempting suggestion.

“Since Village Chief Edwin is friendly toward Miss Shiya, why don’t we take her to visit Flower God Village tomorrow and try to negotiate the possibility of restarting the Flower God Festival?”

Shiya could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“Karlen, didn’t you say they were conducting some evil ritual? Why would we want to walk into that unknown dragon’s den?”

Karlen didn’t care at all about Shiya’s flustered expression, speaking in a flat tone:

“I was just using that as an excuse to intimidate him, to keep the village chief around so we could negotiate further.”

“Besides, it’s perfectly normal for these small villages to have some eccentric faiths. As long as they pay taxes on time, the Imperial Royal Family turns a blind eye to it.”

At that, Elena also spoke up:

“Don’t worry, Shiya. Even if there is real danger, we’ll protect you.”

The princess slowed her tone, trying not to let her anxious mood show.

“And Shiya, once this matter is successfully resolved, I can transfer you to a cushier administrative position with better pay.”

Seeing Shiya lower her gaze without a word, completely unmoved, Elena lightly bit her lip.

“Shiya, it’s been a while since we last went shopping like we used to.”

The princess raised a hand and brushed her long golden hair over her shoulder.

“I can buy you several new outfits too.”

The two Student Council members exchanged surprised glances.

After all, this Miss Shiya in front of them had only been acting docile and soft for the past few days.

Before that, she’d been constantly, madly professing her love to the princess, even threatening and hurting any man who got too close to her.

Considering she’d even shared a bed with the princess this morning, if the princess invited Miss Shiya out tomorrow, rumors would probably spread all over the Imperial Capital by the end of the day, wouldn’t they?

Shiya gently ran her hand over her neck.

The wound there, and even the scar, had vanished without a trace.

She understood exactly what price lay beneath Elena’s tenderness.

All this care and companionship, things the original owner could never touch even in death—Elena was throwing them out without hesitation, using them as bargaining chips.

She felt a bit angry, angry at herself for being so weak, her heart clenching with pain.

So she vented that anger without reservation onto Elena.

“Your Highness, since I know it’s dangerous there, I won’t do anything stupid to hurt myself. Don’t insult me—and don’t insult yourself—with your presumptuous offers.”

Silence fell over the whole group.

Even Karlen, the instigator of all this, opened his mouth.

He never expected Shiya to resist so fiercely.

This was the Empire’s exalted princess—was she trying to get herself killed?

And hadn’t Shiya always been obsessively, madly in love with Elena?

Elena’s smile vanished instantly.

Shiya’s words were effectively slapping her in public.

And just then, one particular young lady laughed without any restraint.

The disdainful chuckle was especially grating beneath her cool, clear voice.

She wasn’t giving the princess even a shred of face.

Leonora had been annoyed since she heard Elena offering to buy Shiya clothes.

She’d spent a little time picking out dresses, light gauze and silk for that girl, and Elena had sent them all back.

The young lady bluntly shoved her way between them, shielding Shiya behind her, and said with a sneer:

“Since this one doesn’t want to go, Your Highness, don’t force the issue.”

Elena, rarely losing her temper, reached around Leonora and pulled Shiya back.

“Handling matters with my little sister doesn’t require concern from the Celestine family.”

Even though they weren’t blood-related.

Leonora was quick to react, grabbing Shiya’s other arm and refusing to let go.

The two proud beauties began a silent tug-of-war, their eyes clashing fiercely in midair, sparking a tangible, scorching arc of electricity.

But poor Shiya, caught in the middle, had her slender, perfectly toned arms pulled in opposite directions.

After that outburst to the princess, she’d already used up all her courage.

Now, even though it hurt so much she was gasping and about to cry, she didn’t dare say another word.

In the end, Princess Elena was the one to relent first, looking away and releasing Shiya.

Not for any other reason—she just felt that glaring at this willful young lady made her look childish.

Caught off guard as the girl was pulled into her arms, Leonora immediately noticed Shiya’s reddened wrist.

For once, she averted her eyes, a bit embarrassed.

Elena lightly curled her hand into a fist and coughed twice against her lips, drawing the attention of the others, who had been frozen watching the drama unfold.

“Let’s set this aside for now. Mr. Feen is probably already waiting for us at the Student Council.”

Hearing this, Shiya suddenly had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, when they returned to the Student Council building, they saw the great director lounging lazily in a chair.

“Miss Shiya, you’re finally back!”

Feen perked up immediately, rushing over excitedly to grab Shiya’s hand and shake it.

“Look, look—I stayed up all night and finished writing your script!”

He said, handing a thick stack of papers to Shiya.

Staring at the densely packed tiny characters covering the white pages, Shiya almost threw the whole pile away.

‘Save me—am I still in Elena’s bed and haven’t woken up? Why won’t this crazy old man let me go?’

“Um, Mr. Feen, I already told you, I have my cleaning duties.”

Shiya stepped back, putting some distance between herself and the man, ready to hand the script back.

But then Elena stepped forward, her pale blue eyes fixed seriously on her.

“Shiya, everyone’s morale is already low because of the Flower God Festival. If we have to tell them the play can’t even be rehearsed…”

Elena paused, gauging Shiya’s expression before continuing.

“…Some people might really do something stupid to hurt themselves, out of fear of Father’s punishment.”

As expected, Shiya’s soft brow furrowed slightly, her pale golden eyes dimming.

Elena seemed to have found a way to make Shiya compromise more easily than with promises.

Just then, Leonora also leaned close to Shiya’s ear and whispered.

“Agree to her.”

The crisp scent of plum blossoms instantly drilled into the girl’s eardrums, reaching straight to her heart.

Shiya tilted her head instinctively, a faint plum-red blush spreading across her cheeks.

But she remembered what she’d promised Leonora, and imitated the young lady’s gesture, leaning close to her ear.

“But Miss, weren’t we supposed to take this chance to sabotage things and break up their relationship?”

Moist, warm air from the girl’s parting lips brushed against Leonora’s earlobe.

A sudden wave of numbness swept through her, almost making the young lady lose her footing.

She lightly steadied herself on Shiya’s shoulder and whispered back:

“If you don’t agree, Elena will just find someone else to replace you. Better to go along with it for now, and then look for an opportunity to do something.”

The princess, standing nearby, watched the entire exchange of whispered words.

But she just let out a slow, heavy sigh, suppressing the turbulent emotions churning inside her.

Elena knew Leonora had some ulterior motive, and it was aimed at her.

But she had no choice but to allow it, if she wanted Shiya to agree to act in the play.

For the first time, Elena felt she had lost control over this girl she’d grown up with, practically a sister to her.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

Shiya nodded, but before the young lady pressed behind her could smirk at having everything go according to plan,

the girl turned nimbly and pushed the still-stunned Leonora forward.

“Only, I want Miss to join the play too.”

As she spoke, Shiya wrapped her arms around Leonora’s shoulders from behind, resting her slender chin on the young lady’s shoulder, flashing a sweet smile at Elena.

“I think Sister Elena and Miss have never really gotten along. This could be a good chance to build some rapport.”

Hugging the proud young lady from behind also prevented her from just storming off upon hearing the request.

After all, if she was going to do something to offend the princess later, she needed a teammate she could drag into a pit without any guilt.

At that moment, the girl had no idea that as she pressed herself against Leonora, the young lady’s pretty face was already bright red, her lashes fluttering, lips tightly sealed, unable to utter a single word.

Elena didn’t even raise an eyelid.

“Of course, that’s fine.”

Feen, the great director, had been watching the interaction between the three girls with burning eyes, seemingly struck by new inspiration.

But he held back his creative urge, clapped his hands to get attention, and produced a script.

“All settled, ladies?”

“Then let me read out the plot outline. Next up is the first sweet encounter between Miss Shiya and young Karlen.”