Chapter 153: Mary Sue Gets PUA'd, "Help Me Build a Harem; They're All Yours!" (2)
"Shia, I've been dreaming a lot lately," she murmured, her voice low and intimate, like a lover's whisper.
Half-asleep in her lap, Shia responded without much thought.
"Hmm? What kind of dreams?"
A nostalgic, wistful expression crossed Lilith's face as she gazed down at him, her warmth radiating even more strongly.
"I dreamed of the past—of you and me," Lilith began softly, her voice carrying the weight of nostalgia.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
"You were just a small, lost boy sitting alone on the street, looking so serious as you told everyone you couldn't find your way home."
"I was just a little girl back then, longing for an older brother. So, I brought you back with me."
"I had the servants clean you up and dress you in fresh clothes. That's when I realized how handsome you were…"
As Lilith's voice wove her tale, vivid images of the past seemed to materialize. A young boy, newly taken in; a kind-hearted, noble young lady.
It sounded like a sweet, heartwarming memory.
But in reality, it was a subtle, calculated PUA (pick-up artist) tactic.
Lilith was not-so-gently reminding Shia of her family's kindness, the debt he owed them, and their shared history.
It was a carefully crafted attempt to tether him emotionally:
'My family took you in. We've always been so good to you. Doesn't that mean you should cherish me, repay me, care for me, and dedicate yourself to me?'
Her unspoken invitation: 'Your childhood sweetheart and fiancée awaits your devotion.'
However—
While Shia did fall into the web of memories, it was not with gratitude or fondness.
Instead, his thoughts were laced with bitterness and irony.
For him, everything—the rescue, the care, the engagement—had been the start of a grand illusion.
What surfaced most vividly in his mind wasn't Lilith's youthful, smiling face. Instead, it was the distant silhouette of a tall, elegant woman.
His younger self sat on the street corner, watching her retreating back.
That noble, voluptuous beauty, always the center of attention wherever she stood, had an undeniable allure.
But her eyes—sharp, narrow, like those of a predator—were devoid of warmth or humanity.
Even as she looked at him, her gaze seemed to pass through him, like she was observing something beneath notice.
Her majesty was cold and detached, the embodiment of a queen who sought dominion over all.
Lilith's cheerful reminiscing pulled him back to the present.
Her words were laced with affection and longing, painting their shared history in a rosy hue.
But Shia merely listened in silence, detached and unfeeling.
Because in the end, every step of his involvement with the Guen family—including his engagement to Lilith—had been carefully orchestrated by unseen hands.
Without that manipulation, how could a random street boy so easily become the fiancé of the Guen family's eldest daughter?
The cruelest irony was that Shia had once genuinely cared for her.
As they grew up together, he'd slowly fallen for her, pouring his sincere feelings into their relationship.
But his earnest love had only ever made him her fool, her obedient "dog."
Shia opened his eyes and met Lilith's expectant gaze.
She was watching him with anticipation, waiting for the pitiable, eager-to-please expression he used to wear—the face of a loyal puppy craving her affection.
Instead—
"You've always liked girls, haven't you?"
Shia's voice was calm, but his gaze was piercing. Something flickered in his eyes, deep and unreadable.
Lilith froze, her mind blanking as his words hit her like a thunderclap.
Her blood seemed to drain from her body, leaving her cold and trembling.
How had he seen through her so easily?
She forced a smile, though it was stiff and unconvincing.
"What are you talking about? The only person I care about is you."
But under Shia's steady, unwavering gaze, her composure began to crumble.
"You can't hide it from me."
The firmness in his tone made her head spin, her palms slick with nervous sweat.
She had never imagined that her carefully constructed facade could be so easily dismantled.
In a world that frowned upon true love between girls, her secret was one that could destroy her reputation and her standing at the academy.
'He has to be silenced,' she thought desperately.
If Shia wouldn't fall in line, if he'd uncovered her secret, there was only one option left.
Bury him.
The thought was ruthless but necessary.
Her fingers clenched into fists as she weighed her options, but suddenly, Shia reached out and took her hands in his.
Lilith blinked in confusion, startled by the warmth of his touch.
Shia sat up, his dark eyes gazing into hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
"But it's okay. I don't mind."
Lilith was stunned, suspicion creeping into her wide eyes.
'Is this for real?'
Shia's expression betrayed no deceit. His calm, steady tone carried the sincerity of someone baring their soul.
It was an incredible act—one that only a true master of emotional manipulation could pull off.
"Actually, I've always known. Do you know why I never brought it up before?"
Lilith remained silent, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Because I always hoped that if I tried harder, became better, you'd turn around and see me for who I really am."
His voice was heavy with regret, yet tinged with bittersweet understanding.
"But now I've realized that love isn't about possession. It's about fulfillment, about giving."
Lilith's eyes began to shine with hope as his words sunk in.
Shia smiled faintly, his expression melancholic yet resolute.
"I want to be your shield, to stand before you and protect you… to help you find happiness with them."
Tears welled in Lilith's eyes as she grasped his hands tightly, moved beyond words.
But Shia wasn't done yet.
His sad smile softened, carrying an almost saintly selflessness.
"And I have an idea—something that could help you."
"What is it?" Lilith asked eagerly, desperate to know.
"Help me win them over."
Lilith froze.
Shia continued, his voice steady and deliberate.
"Once we're married, they'll all be yours."
Her mind reeled as his words registered.
'His… are mine?'
The notion wasn't foreign to her. She had always treated Shia as a means to an end, a bridge to connect her to other girls.
But now, as his words aligned so perfectly with her ambitions, she couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
Tears pricked her eyes again, this time from the overwhelming emotion of his supposed "sacrifice."
'He'd give this much for me? How could I ever doubt him?'
Regret stabbed at her as she thought back to her earlier plan to silence him.
'I was wrong to think of such things. He's so loyal… my poor, faithful dog.'
But then her joy faltered, replaced by a flicker of confusion.
Lilith sensed that something felt slightly off.
'For my happiness, let me help him win over those girls?'
Who exactly is going to be happy here?
Lilith's gaze toward Shia gradually grew more suspicious.
'Wait, could it be…?'
Shia still wore that self-sacrificing, love-stricken expression, as though he hadn't noticed the doubt in Lilith's eyes.