Chapter 44: Villainess Princess × Slave (7)

She flopped backward onto the soft mattress, covering her red, aching forehead with both hands and letting out a long, pathetic groan into the empty room.

"Owww..." Lyra whimpered, her soul practically floating out of her mouth. "He was definitely planning to snap my neck in my sleep! System... I almost died before the etiquette lesson even started!"

Ding!

The blue screen floated cheerfully above her nose.

[ But you handled it like a true villainess, Host! ] the System encouraged. [ Ordering your future executioner to get scrubbed till his skin is red definitely matches your spoiled, haughty image! ]

"I didn’t do it to be a villainess!" Lyra wailed into her pillow. "I did it because if he stays covered in dark shadows and dirt, he looks ten times more horrifying! At least if he’s clean, he might look like a normal human being instead of a demonic assassin!"

She rolled over, staring blankly at the grand golden ceiling of her room. Ninety days felt like an eternity, and every single second spent around Cassian Draven was a battle for survival.

"Two weeks..." Lyra whispered softly to herself, counting down the days on her fingers. "Just two more weeks until the Female Lead gets here... Please, miss female lead hurry up and get recruited so you can take this monster off my hands!"

Nearly an hour later, the doors of the Princess’s bedchamber swung open once again.

Lyra was sitting gracefully at her vanity table, absently touching the tender bump on her forehead while arguing with the System in her mind. Hearing the footsteps approaching, she slowly turned around and completely froze.

Standing in the doorway was Cassian.

The dirt, dried blood, and smudges of grime were entirely gone. His thick, dark hair was clean, still slightly damp, and brushed back neatly from his sharp, striking face. He was wearing the black and silver uniform of a royal guard, fitting his broad shoulders and narrow waist perfectly. The iron chains that had bound his wrists and ankles were completely removed, leaving only faint, reddish marks around his pale wrists.

Without the dark grime and shadow of the dungeons, his true face was completely revealed. He had a sculpted jawline, high cheekbones, dark, alluring eyes, and an air of quiet, breathtaking elegance that no simple guard uniform could hide.

Behind him, the young maids who had accompanied him from the bath hall gasped softly, their cheeks flushing bright pink as they sneaked hesitant, breathless glances at him. Even the strict head maid bit her lip and grit her teeth in silent frustration. It irritated her to no end that a mere royal slave, stripped of his title and dignity, carried himself like a flawless piece of art created by the gods.

Lyra’s dark eyes widened as she stared at him. For three whole seconds, her brain completely short-circuited.

Holy crap... Lyra thought, her mind going completely blank as her inner soul practically gasped. He doesn’t look like a dungeon monster anymore... he looks like a supermodel straight out of a luxury dark romance cover!

Ding!

[ Host, you are staring for too long! ] the System’s voice buzzed frantically right near her ear. [ Maintain villainess decorum! ]

Lyra instantly snapped out of her daze. She blinked hard, quickly shaking her head, and pulled her chin up into her signature haughty posture. She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a cold, Hmph!

"Well," Lyra scoffed, sweeping her gaze up and down his tall frame with forced disdain. "Look at that. Now you are finally looking like someone who is worthy of being looked at by this princess! At least you won’t bring shame to my grand estate when you walk behind me."

Cassian didn’t break under her sharp tone. He simply raised one eyebrow, his deep eyes locking onto her face with an unreadable glint. He lowered his head slightly in a slow bow.

"I live to serve Your Highness’s refined eyes," Cassian replied smoothly, his raspy, deep voice carrying a faint, dangerous edge.

Lyra’s throat tightened, but before she could throw another sarcastic insult his way, the head maid stepped forward, holding her wooden etiquette rod with a firm grip.

"Princess," the head maid said firmly, bowing slightly. "Your imperial father explicitly commanded that your etiquette lessons must resume immediately. The imperial tutors are already waiting in the grand study on the west wing."

Lyra’s posture instantly deflated. "Ugh..."

Five minutes later, Lyra was being practically dragged down the long marble corridor toward the west wing. She walked with reluctant steps, dragging her feet like a miserable child being taken to the dentist. Walking two quiet paces behind her was Cassian.

System... Lyra wailed frantically in her mind, her soul practically crying tears of absolute misery. Save me! Why do I have to take etiquette classes?! I am a modern girl! Why do I have to spend three hours learning how to sip tea with my pinky finger out while sitting like a wooden plank?!

[ Because you are playing a spoiled, perfect royal princess, Host! ] the System replied cheerfully, floating beside her head. [ The Emperor expects his daughter to excel in royal manners! If you skip class, the head maid will report you to your father, and your world suspicion score will shoot straight up! ]

I don’t care about suspicion scores! Lyra whined in her mind, throwing her head back in despair. My spine is going to snap in half! The last time I took that lesson in real world, the tutor made me balance five heavy books on my head for two full hours! Two hours, System! My neck was stiff for three days!

Cassian, walking silently behind her, kept his eyes trained on the back of her neck. He couldn’t hear the System’s digital voice, but he could clearly see every single dramatic expression passing across the Princess’s face.

He saw the way her shoulders drooped, the way her dark eyes rolled toward the ceiling, and the way her lips pouted in utter, pathetic misery. She looked less like a vicious, cold-blooded tyrant and more like a grumpy kitten being forced to take a bath.

What a strange girl, Cassian thought, his dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Where did the terrifying girl who whipped me in the courtyard go? Why does she look like she’s about to cry over a simple manners lesson?

As they approached the massive glass archway leading into the west wing, the head maid sped up her pace, stepping ahead to open the double doors of the grand study and greet the strict imperial tutors waiting inside.

The moment the head maid turned her back and stepped through the doorway, Lyra’s dark eyes lit up with wild determination.

Now is my chance! Lyra thought frantically.

Without hesitation, Lyra grabbed the hem of her sweeping gown, spun around on her slippers, and darted like a frightened rabbit down a narrow servant corridor on her left!

She moved so fast that her dress swished against the stone walls.

Cassian blinked in utter surprise. His sharp reflexes kicked in instantly, and he took a quick, effortless stride into the narrow corridor, his long legs catching up to her within two seconds.

"Princess, what are you-" Cassian began, his raspy voice cutting through the quiet hall.

Before he could finish his sentence, Lyra whirled around. She reached up, grabbed the lapels of his guard uniform with both hands, and forcefully yanked his tall body down to her eye level!

Her sudden action was so bold and completely unexpected that Cassian actually froze, his pitch-black eyes widening by a fraction of an inch as her soft, rose-scented warmth pressed close to his chest.

Lyra quickly raised her small index finger to her own lips, glaring at him with wide desperate eyes.

"Shh! Shush!" Lyra hissed frantically in a harsh whisper, her heart pounding loudly.

She pressed her back against the cool stone wall of the narrow servant hall, holding her breath as the sound of the head maid’s loud voice echoed from the main corridor.

"Princess? Princess Lyra?! Where did Her Highness go?!" the head maid’s frantic voice called out from the distance, followed by the clicking of footsteps searching the hall.

Lyra squeezed her eyes shut, clinging tightly to Cassian’s uniform like a drowning person holding onto a wooden plank. She waited in absolute horror until the sound of the maid’s footsteps slowly faded away down the main hallway.

Only when the corridor returned to dead silence did Lyra let out a long breath of pure relief.

She opened her eyes, only to realize that she was still clutching Cassian’s collar tightly, and he was still leaning down, hovering merely inches away from her face. His cool, dark eyes were staring straight down into hers, analyzing her with an intense focus that made the air in her lungs feel thin.

Lyra’s cheeks instantly flushed bright red. She quickly let go of his jacket, taking a hasty step back and smoothing down her wrinkled dress to cover her embarrassment.

She lifted her chin, putting on her absolute best arrogant expression, even though her heart was thumping like crazy.