Slap—
A crisp slap echoed through the opulent banquet hall, sounding especially jarring.
“You’ve gone too far, Shiya.”
A woman’s cold voice rang out.
Despite the humiliation, the white-haired girl merely covered her reddened cheek, her gaze fixed on the woman the entire time.
“Sister Elina, it’s just because I love you so much that I…”
Before she could finish, a wave of mocking laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd.
Elina had already sighed as if bored, her hand at her side subtly clenching once more.
“Shiya, apologize to Mr. Carlen immediately and beg for his forgiveness.”
Shiya bit her lip, saying nothing.
Her already frail frame, accentuated by the faded white dress she wore, looked even more pitiful.
Like a delicate willow swaying in the wind, a sight to evoke pity—a veritable sickly beauty that made one reluctant to be too harsh.
That is, if one could ignore the blood-soaked fruit knife in her hand.
“It’s alright, Elina. Miss Shiya was probably just a bit emotional.”
The man being shielded by Elina, enjoying the crowd’s attention and receiving top-tier healing, gave a bitter smile.
“I’ve already forgiven her.”
Hearing this, Shiya bristled like a white cat with its fur standing on end.
She pointed the fruit knife directly at Carlen, her tone fierce.
“You bastard! I know you’ve always had ill intentions toward Sister Elina! I will kill you!”
Her response was another sharp slap from Elina.
Shiya was stunned.
Her beautiful, clear golden eyes blinked in disbelief as she stared at Elina.
Elina first offered Carlen an apologetic smile, then turned back to Shiya, her voice icy.
“Shiya, do you realize that based on your actions just now in harming Mr. Carlen, he could have the guards take you away?”
“But Sister Elina, I did all this for you.”
“Apologize to Mr. Carlen now.”
Elina cut her off swiftly.
Even under the mocking gazes of the crowd behind her, her tone carried the arrogance and finality befitting a princess.
Shiya struggled to hold back the tears welling in her eyes.
Memories that shouldn’t belong to her present self surged in her mind once more.
To be more precise, not long ago, she had gained the ability to foresee the future.
Shiya had thought she could use this extraordinary power to see if she and Elina would end up together in the future, forming a happy family.
Even if it proved she wasn’t Elina’s destined partner, she would strive to become Sister Elina’s mistress.
But reality was far darker and crueler than the girl’s humble wish.
In the future, Elina would be defiled by the very Carlen she was now desperately protecting.
Yet, Elina would still willingly offer herself, to be crafted by him into a puppet for his use and amusement.
And Carlen, in his ruthless climb to greater heights of power, would not hesitate to rent Elina out as a commodity to various powerful figures, trampling her love and trust deep into the mud.
By that time, Shiya would have long been executed for the crime of imprisoning the princess.
She could only watch it all unfold in the form of a soul, even witnessing in the end as her own corpse was dug up from the grave by Elina and offered to Carlen to be made into a new puppet.
This was why today, Shiya had barged into Elina’s victory celebration like a madwoman, knife in hand, to stab Carlen.
The memory froze on the final scene:
When Shiya’s soul was finally nailed into her already cold corpse, she opened her eyes as a brand-new puppet to see Elina and Carlen embracing and kissing.
Perhaps sensing a gaze, Elina glanced at her indifferently.
That look held neither mockery nor disgust, only an empty void and the coldness of viewing her as an object.
Then, the two kissed more deeply, and faint, fragmented sounds could be heard.
Shiya grunted, pounding her fist against her head, forcing herself not to dwell on these suffocating futures.
“Sister Elina, everything I did can be explained.”
Shiya looked up, reaching out to grab Elina’s sleeve, but grasped only air.
Elina had already stepped lightly away, returning to Carlen’s side, fussing over him and carefully checking his injury.
That intimate interaction was identical to the memory of them embracing and kissing.
Only then did Shiya suddenly understand.
Whether it was being made into a puppet or being offered to various powerful figures, all of it was something Elina willingly gave for the sake of her beloved.
Then what was she?
Probably just a troublesome burden to Sister Elina.
“Elina Novelia—”
Shiya called out with almost all her strength.
This was perhaps also the last time in her life she would call the other by her name.
Seeing Elina’s gaze return to her, Shiya took a long breath, stepped forward, and pressed the tip of the knife against her own neck.
“Sister Elina, I know you won’t listen to any explanation I give now. So, if that’s the case… could you, just for my sake, stay away from that Carlen?”
Elina’s body shuddered violently, but in the end, she just looked at Shiya with a disappointed gaze.
“Leave, Shiya. Today is my celebration banquet for becoming Student Council President. I don’t want to be troubled by your matters anymore.”
With that, Elina supported the pale, blood-drained Carlen and walked toward the center of the banquet.
“Utterly shameless. Do you have any idea how much trouble your obsessive pestering has caused? Every time, it’s the President who has to clean up your mess!”
A male student in mage robes crossed his arms and snorted coldly.
“Miss Shiya, to love others, you must first love yourself. Instead of idly harassing the President all day, I advise you to find something proper to do.”
A bespectacled senior girl adjusted her glasses, offering well-meaning advice.
This was probably Sister Elina’s true feelings as well.
Thinking this, the heavy burden in Shiya’s heart, like a chain, finally began to loosen.
Thud—
A soft yet clear sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh instantly silenced the noisy banquet hall.
Elina turned in shock, her face horrified as she looked at the girl who had driven the entire blade into her own throat.
The Shiya of this moment no longer bore her usual sickly, obsessive appearance.
Her snow-white hair had lost its luster.
Her eyes were weary as she forced a faint smile toward Elina.
I’m sorry… Sister Elina.
For always causing you trouble.
Unfortunately, her vocal cords had already been pierced by her own hand.
Her final farewell was ultimately a silent, futile effort.
“Healers! Quickly, save her!”
Elina shouted anxiously, throwing herself beside Shiya and holding her, letting the girl’s blood stain her own magnificent white gown, blooming into plum-blossom-like patterns.
Her soul slowly drifted out of her body.
Shiya watched quietly as a crowd flurried around her corpse.
Perhaps only in the moment of her death would Sister Elina bestow upon her this insignificant bit of concern.
Or perhaps, she was just afraid Shiya would die here and dirty the Student Council’s venue.
Her eyes no longer held even a trace of love for Elina.
It was all over.
The Soul Attendant waiting nearby sighed softly, fluttering his angelic wings and shaking loose a few feathers.
“Elina’s managed to keep you alive, my lady… Please hurry back into your body.”
He had truly never seen someone who could survive yet look so utterly unwilling.