"You're willing to forsake ethics, laws, and even your life for him. Your love for him has already run this deep, so is it really necessary to ask me?"

Ann spoke softly:

"You just need to follow your heart, don't you?"

"Follow... my heart?"

Aluka murmured in confusion.

"Miss Ann, do you mean... to give up, just as I mentioned earlier?"

"Oh? Is that what your heart desires?"

"Y-Yes, of course."

"Are you sure about that?"

Ann suddenly leaned in, her face drawing closer.

Her gaze, sharp like a searchlight, seemed to pierce through Aluka's clear eyes, delving straight into the depths of her heart, as though it sought to uncover all her secrets, capturing them within her sight.

Aluka's composure faltered for a moment, like a moth in the darkness caught by sudden illumination. The defenses in her heart were pried open, bit by bit.

Without the protection of the shadows, what filth and decay lay exposed under the light?

"Wait, Miss Ann, I..."

"Answer my question."

Ann leaned in even further.

Aluka could feel Ann's breath, the brush of her eyelashes, and those eyes—those eyes that seemed to see through everything—tugging harshly at her unvoiced, disgraceful thoughts deep within.

"Do you truly... want to give up, Aluka?"

"I..."

Do I really want to give up?

Am I truly willing to let them be together?

Am I really...

...

What nonsense.

I don’t want that even a little.

If Rod ended up with someone other than me, I’d go crazy with jealousy.

Especially that bitch. If only she would just die.

...

"It seems you understand now."

Ann let go of Aluka.

Looking at Aluka’s completely transformed expression, she smiled with satisfaction.

"Love is something you must pursue for yourself. How could you possibly give up?"

"But... I still don’t quite know what to do."

As if drowning and clutching at a straw, Aluka tightly held Ann’s hands, earnestly asking, "Miss Ann—no, Master! From now on, you are my master. Could you teach me what to do? How can I win Rod's heart?"

"Isn't that simple? The heart and the body are tightly interconnected."

Ann extended a finger and tapped Aluka’s chest.

"So if you want to capture the heart of the one you love, you naturally need to capture their body. Of course, this won't happen overnight; it takes time. Lots of time."

"Capture... the body..."

Aluka's heart skipped a beat.

This idea—this thought—she might have had it long, long ago. But, alas...

"But... Rod is so strong, I..."

"That magic you used just now was good."

"Huh?"

"The enchanting magic."

Ann propped her chin on her hand, her voice tinged with regret as she said,

"Too bad I’m not good at magic; otherwise, I would definitely learn it."

With that magic, there’d be no need to bother with things like spiking drinks.

"Enchanting magic..."

Aluka's breathing grew heavier.

Exactly. If that enchanting spell earlier could work on the Lake Lord, then surely it could... on Rod...

"But..."

Aluka swallowed hard. "Wouldn’t that be... wrong?"

"It is, indeed. But have you forgotten what you just said?"

Ann chuckled.

"For love, you said you didn’t care about life, ethics, or laws. Why would you care about this?"

"Oh."

Right.

For love, I’ve already thrown life, ethics, and laws out the window. Could I really be bothered about these tiny things?

It’s just... a mere spell after all.

Maybe... maybe I learned that spell for this exact moment to begin with.

Maybe, deep inside, my heart has already rotted away.

"I understand. I finally understand!"

Though fully aware of her decayed essence, a spark of brilliance lit up in Aluka’s eyes.

"Thank you, Master. I know what to do now."

"Good. That’s what I wanted to hear." Ann nodded approvingly.

"However, there’s still one final question I don't quite understand."

Aluka asked seriously,

"What if Rod stays stubborn and refuses to accept my love? After all, enchanting magic has a time limit, and I only excel at supportive spells. If he decides to escape, I might not be able to stop him."

"Hehehe. Since you’ve already chosen to call me Master, I’ll let you in on a little secret."

Ann leaned close to Aluka's ear, speaking in a soft, almost tender voice:

"No matter how strong a man is, once you break their arms and legs and lock a sturdy collar around their neck... they’ll turn into obedient little lapdogs that only bark when you tell them to."

...

...

Ann left.

And the rain stopped.

Aluka stood alone by the lake, lowering her gaze to stare at the water’s surface.

In the lake, her reflection stared back—sweetly smiling, her lovely face untroubled. The previously overwhelmed expression vanished completely. Her eyes were now as clear and tranquil as the lake before her.

"As expected of Master. She's cleared up every little doubt."

"Why hadn’t I realized this earlier? The real me?"

Aluka touched her face. It felt as though something about her had changed—though simultaneously, perhaps not at all.

Regardless, her mind was set at ease, and her soul felt lighter.

She now knew exactly what to do.

"I do wonder who it is that captured Master’s heart."

"But there’s no time to think about that now."

Aluka averted her gaze.

"It’s time to head back. Rod is waiting for me."

...

Tonight, at a romantic spot where it would be just the two of them, she would confess her love to him.

If she fail...

Heh. No. She won't.

...

...

Creak.

The heavy iron gate groaned as it opened, the noise unnervingly grating.

Dripping with the scent of rain, Ann entered the cage.

"You’re finally back."

Moen opened his eyes, concealing the weariness in them and feigning annoyance.

"I might’ve just died if you’d disappeared for much longer."

"Oh my, does that mean you’ve finally been moved by my devotion and are ready to give your whole self to me, body and soul?"

Ann’s cheeks blushed faintly as her face lit up with feigned emotion.

"In that case, could Master give me a kiss of love first?"

"Give you... No, I meant I’m starving! Absolutely starving!"

"Tch."

Ann’s expression returned to total neutrality in an instant, prompting Moen to marvel at how fast she could change faces—a speed that really faster than a Sichuan opera.

"Here, Master, the fish you wanted."

Ann opened the food container in her hands, and the rich aroma immediately filled the small cage.

Perhaps from prolonged hunger, even Moen—accustomed to the finest delicacies—found his mouth watering uncontrollably.

"It’s steamed and grilled. Which do you want first?"

"Steamed, I guess."

"Alright. Say 'ahh—.'"

"Ahh—."

As the fish passed his lips, the tender meat sent waves of pleasure through his taste buds.

Despite his ulterior motives, Moen couldn’t help but praise how delicious the fish was.

"Careful with the bones, Master."

"I know. I’m not a child. What kind of idiot would still... ah."

"What’s the matter?"

"I... I think I got a fishbone stuck in my throat."

"Is that so? Then here you go."

Ann suddenly slinked forward like a cat approaching its prey.

"Wait, what are you doing, Ann?"

"I want to kiss you."

"Now?" Moen’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Didn’t you say you had a bone stuck? I’m going to hold your nose closed during the kiss and suck it out. With my lung capacity, it might just work."

"Wait, no! That’s..."

"... ..."

"Actually... I was joking..."

"... ..."

"Don’t be serious about this, Ann! No, stop! This could kill... Mmph!"