In Vivian's room, Charlotte and Marinate sat in silence, their eyes locked like clashing blades.
Each glare was sharp, unyielding, as though daring the other to blink first.
They despised one another, that much was clear.
Yet despite their mutual hatred, here they were, waiting in the same space, bound by a single reason.
That reason was Vivian.
Before leaving for class, he had asked them both to wait for him here once their lectures ended.
And so, unwillingly, they waited.
"Hey." Charlotte broke the silence. "How many more days do I have to keep pretending?" she asked Marinate, her tone sharp with command.
Marinate smiled, unfazed. "Princess, why are you so impatient? He's only at the middle stage, we have to wait a bit longer."
"Hmph." Charlotte snorted. "I don't know what you think, but I'm certain he's crossed the line."
Her jaw tightened as she recalled what had happened a few days before. "A few days ago he said he'd collect a harem… if I hadn't been holding myself back, I would've beaten him to a pulp."
Marinate chuckled as she replied, "princess you should have patience like me, it would be better if you learn these things from me."
Charlotte scoffed, her lip curling in disdain. "Learn from you? Don't make me laugh. I don't need lessons from the likes of you."
After their barbed exchanges, silence reclaimed the room.
Though their tongues had stilled, their minds churned restlessly, each making their own calculations about the reason behind Vivian's summons.
Why had he asked them to wait here, together?
A troubling thought crossed both their minds. Would he dare try something inappropriate? The notion flickered, only to be dismissed almost at once.
No… he doesn't have that kind of courage. And besides, if that were truly his intent, he would have called them separately, wouldn't he?
As their silent contemplations stretched on, footsteps echoed outside the room.
He's here… Both thought in unison. But then their brows furrowed, there was another pair of footsteps.
Before they could piece together an answer, the door burst open.
Vivian strode inside, his expression casual enough to dispel their earlier suspicions.
Clearly, he hadn't summoned them for anything indecent.
Yet their relief froze the instant they saw who followed him through the door.
A girl.
The moment their eyes fell on her, an icy shiver coursed down their spines.
"Hello, ladies," Vivian greeted with an arrogant tilt of his chin.
But the girls paid him no mind. Her eyes were fixed instead on Risa, wide and unblinking.
Vivian caught their stares and felt a knot tighten in his throat. 'Come on, now… this is the time to assert dominance. Man up, Vivian. It's time to control these girls.'
Forcing courage into his voice, he declared, "Oh, you've noticed? Yes, that's right. Listen carefully, from today onward, you will behave in front of her and—"
He faltered.
Their eyes.
They weren't the shocked, obedient looks he had imagined. No… they were something else entirely.
'Huh? Why… why are they looking at her like that? What's going on?', his mind churned as he tried to make assumptions but he couldn't get the right picture so he tried to focus.
'No, I can't get distracted now.'
Gathering his courage, Vivian straightened and announced, "This is Risa—"
"Hahaha!" Charlotte suddenly burst into laughter, her voice ringing sharp and mocking.
Vivian stiffened, irritation and unease knotting in his chest. "Why are you laughing? Did I tell a joke?" he snapped, trying to claw back control.
Charlotte didn't answer immediately. Instead, she began to walk toward him.
Vivian's instincts screamed, and he took a step back, but she wasn't approaching him.
Her eyes were fixed on Risa, who by now was drenched in cold sweat.
"Risa, right?" Charlotte asked sweetly, her smile sharp enough to cut.
"...Y-yes," Risa stammered.
"You can leave now. It would be better for both of you. Trust me, you don't want to see what I'm about to do to him. And he certainly wouldn't want to show that side to anyone."
Her words rang like a threat wrapped in silk.
But before Risa could answer, Vivian's trembling voice cut in, "What are you talking about? Do you think I'm the same as before? No, I'm not the person I once was—"
His words were smothered as a hand clamped over his mouth from behind.
"Hold on, dear. Don't say something you'll regret," a low voice whispered, cold and steady.
Vivian turned his head, and what he saw froze his blood, two crimson eyes glowing with a chilling light.
"Risa." Charlotte's voice rose again, her smile never wavering. "I'm asking nicely. Leave."
This time, Risa didn't even try to protest. She bolted out the door in hurried steps, leaving only the suffocating tension behind.
Charlotte turned the key with a sharp click, sealing the door.
At once, her fingers traced a quick sigil in the air, threads of magic weaving into a sound-suppressing veil around the room.
No one outside would hear what was about to happen.
She stepped forward, heels tapping against the floor, her gaze fixed on Vivian.
He writhed uselessly in Marinate's grip, desperation written across his face.
"I thought I could tolerate your little tantrums for a few more days," Charlotte said, her voice cold enough to freeze bone. "But today… today you crossed a line you never should have."
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
With Risa gone and the door sealed, Marinate finally released him.
Vivian staggered forward, tearing himself free, and gulped down a breath as if he'd been drowning.
His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his temples as he tried to steady himself, but the predatory eyes fixed on him gave no room for calm.
Vivian sucked in air, trying to steady himself. "Ch—Charlotte, calm down. It was just an act… I was pretending to be cool. Please, listen to me," he pleaded, eyes darting toward the approaching storm.
"Ohh, really?" Charlotte looked at him with the eyes of an apex predator as she continued, "so you are saying you were acting but what if your tactics had worked? Would you have brought other girls so that you could make a harem," her voice was so cold that it could send shivers.
Vivian's plea faltered as the room closed in on him, the accusation hitting harder than any blow.
He tried to rebuke, "no i would never do that, I am only yours and you are mine, please don't say such things".
Hearing these words Charlotte gave a triumphant smile at Marinate, her smile was clearly mocking as if asking marinate, 'look he doesn't even think of you, now give up'
But Marinate couldn't take it so easily, could she? So she said in a sly tone, "So are you implying that I don't hold anything in your heart?"
Her voice grew teary as she continued, "if I don't hold anything then why did you ask me to come here, how cruel can you be to break the heart of a maiden?."
Obviously it was an act and Charlotte knew it all too well as she snorted but Vivian thought otherwise.
"Please, listen! Don't twist it—I'm not cruel!" Vivian's voice cracked, his eyes brimming with tears. "It was all because of that stupid article. I promise, I'll never act like that again—"
This time Charlotte's voice cut through his pleas like a knife. "Save it. We'll talk after you've had a proper beating."
She closed the distance in two steps, her hand snapping around his collar.
"No, please! I won't do it again, forgive me—" His begging choked off as a hand flew across his face.
Slap!
The sharp sound echoed in the spell-sealed room.
But that was only the beginning.
Marinate stepped forward, eyes cold, and joined in. Blow after blow rained down, until Vivian could no longer plead—only groan, his voice breaking beneath their punishment.