Chapter 65: Villainess Princess × Slave (28)

"STOP!" Lyra roared at the top of her lungs!

Her clear voice echoed through the room

Without a second thought for her own safety, Lyra rushed forward, barging straight into the circle of swords and throwing her small body directly in front of Cassian.

"Your Highness!" Mabel screamed from the corner, covering her face in terror

The knights flinched pulling their swords back mid-air to avoid cutting the imperial princess

Cassian’s fingers twinched as he watched her defend him once again.

He stared down at the slender back of the girl standing bravely before him. Her delicate shoulders were trembling slightly with hidden fear, yet she held her arms out wide, protecting him from a dozen blades without an ounce of hesitation.

A sudden explosion of emotion erupted deep within Cassian’s chest- feeling so intense, so sweet, and so terrifyingly possessive that it made his entire soul shatter into a million pieces.

She’s protecting me again... Cassian thought, his breath catching in his throat as his dark eyes burned with an unyielding light. She would stand against her own brother... against the entire empire... just to keep me safe.

"Lyra!" Julian snapped, his handsome face twisting in dark rage as he stared at his sister defending the slave. "Move out of the way! Are you out of your mind?! Protecting a rebel traitor is an act of treason!"

Lyra raised her head, glaring directly into Julian’s poisonous amber eyes with absolute fierce defiance.

"I said STOP!" Lyra sneered coldly, her voice sharp. "You claim this letter belongs to him? Where is the proof?! Anyone can draw a fake crest on a piece of paper! You dare enter my estate, accuse my personal guard of treason without a proper trial by the Imperial Court, and attempt to execute him in front of my face?!"

"He is a slave from a fallen kingdom!" Julian barked furiously. "His existence alone is a threat!"

"He is MY slave!" Lyra declared, her clear voice ringing through the silent, tense room with absolute, dominance. "Every breath he takes, every drop of blood in his veins, and his very soul belongs strictly to me! If anyone in this empire gets to judge him, punish him, or decide his life and death- it will be ME, and ME ALONE!"

She took a step forward, glaring at the knights with intensity.

"Lower your weapons this instant!" Lyra commanded fiercely. "Or I shall personally report to Our Imperial Father that Crown Prince Julian drew his sword against his own royal sister on the eve of war!"

The knights looked at each other in panic. The threat of facing the tyrant Emperor’s wrath over harming the Princess was far too great. One by one, the knights slowly lowered their steel swords, stepping back in hesitation.

Julian’s jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth rattled. He stared at Lyra for a long minute, his amber eyes burning with pure frustration.

"Fine..." Julian hissed through his teeth, his voice dripping with venom. "I shall leave him alive for now, sister... But the moment I return from the northern war with absolute victory, I will personally strip this slave of his skin in front of you!"

Julian spun around, his black fur cloak swishing behind him as he stormed out of the study, his knights quickly following behind him into the dark, rainy night.

BANG!

The double doors slammed shut once again.

The moment the Crown Prince left, the suffocating tension in the room vanished. Lyra’s legs instantly went completely weak like noodles.

"Phew..." Lyra let out a long breath, her knees giving out as she began to collapse backward onto the carpet.

Before her body could touch the floor, a pair of broad arms wrapped firmly around her waist, catching her fragile frame gently and lifting her into a warm embrace.

Cassian held her close against his broad chest. His pitch-black eyes were dark, stormy, and swirling with a Intense emotion as he stared down at her pale face.

Ding!

A bright, glowing gold screen materialized in the quiet room, displaying numbers that left Lyra shocked!

[ WARNING! CRITICAL METRIC COLLAPSE DETECTED! ]

CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED!

Hatred toward Host: 15% ➔ 0%

Lyra’s dark eyes shook as she stared at the glowing golden floating screen. The large text burned into her vision

[ HOST! WHAT DID YOU DOOOOO!!! ] the System’s voice shrieked inside her brain [ You could have handled it differently! Why did you stand in front of him to save him?! Look at what happened now! His hatred is completely annihilated! ]

"What did you expect me to do?!" Lyra screamed back in her mind, her soul rolling around on the floor in absolute panic. "I panicked, okay?! Julian was literally about to chop his head off! If the Male Lead dies here, the entire world collapses anyway!"

Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, her fingers trembling against her pale gown. "Is... is the mission failed?! What will happen to my soul now? Am I going to be erased from existence?!"

The System let out a long sigh.

[ Well, Host... the whole story hasn’t completely collapsed yet, ] the System explained, its floating panel stabilizing slightly. [ The core plot requirement is that the Male Lead and Female Lead must fall for each other. Since they haven’t bonded yet, the world thread is still intact! If you can somehow complete the story arc and force them together, you will still be granted 50% reward of your original soul fragments ]

Lyra’s dark eyes flickered with a frantic hope. "Fifty percent... Okay! Fifty percent is enough to keep me alive! What do I do now?!"

[ You better start working on shifting his emotions away from you and onto the Female Lead immediately! ] the System urged frantically. [ Show him that you are a heartless, ungrateful tyrant who considers him nothing more than dirt! ]

Lyra nodded frantically. Right! A tyrant! I need to be a ruthless tyrant right this second!

While Lyra and the System were having a chaotic mental breakdown, Cassian was still kneeling on the soft plush carpet, his powerful arms still supporting her waist. His eyes were locked on her face with a deep intensity, his raspy breath brushing warmly against her skin.

Seeing his unblinking, dark gaze filled with pure devotion, Lyra felt a wave of absolute dread wash over her.

SLAP!

A sharp sound echoed through the room

Lyra swung her uninjured hand with all her strength, landing a hard slap right across Cassian’s , sculpted cheekbone! The force of the strike made his head turn to the side, a dark red mark blooming instantly on his pale skin.

Mabel, who was still standing near the door, gasped loudly, clutching her hands over her mouth in absolute shock. Yet, deep down, a subtle wave of relief and happiness washed over Mabel. Her Highness really doesn’t like him... She truly considers him just a servant!

Lyra stood up on trembling legs, pointing a finger at Cassian’s face.

"You filthy slave!" Lyra barked, her voice high and laced with rage, though her inner soul was crying tears of blood. "How dare you touch me with your dirty, lowborn hands?! Who gave you permission to wrap your arms around this princess’s waist?!"

Cassian slowly, deliberately turned his head back toward her.

He didn’t look angry. Instead, his eyes locked onto her face with a glint. The way his dark gaze swept over her flushed cheeks and trembling lips looked as if he had thoroughly enjoyed her touch- and the sting of her hand against his skin only seemed to feed the dark, possessive fire burning deep within his soul.

SHIVER!

A cold, primal shiver shot straight down Lyra’s spine!

Is this guy a masochist?! Lyra screamed internally, her heart pounding. Why is he looking at me like he wants to devour me whole?!

Unable to take the suffocating pressure for another single second, Lyra snapped completely.

"Get out!" Lyra yelled, stamping her foot on the floor. "Get out of my sight right now, you disgusting slave!"

Cassian didn’t push further. He slowly pushed himself up from the floor, his tall frame towering over her for a brief second before he bowed with chilling grace.

"As you command, Princess," Cassian murmured raspy and low, his dark eyes lingering on her face for one last, moment before he turned and walked out the double doors.

"You too!" Lyra spun around, glaring at Mabel who was standing nervously by the bookshelf. "Out! Everyone get out! I want this entire floor cleared immediately!"

"Y-Yes, Your Highness!" Mabel squeaked out hastily, bowing low before scurrying out of the room and closing the doors tightly behind her.

Finally left completely alone, the oppressive aura vanished from the study.

Lyra’s knees gave out instantly. She collapsed onto the soft armchair near the crackling fireplace, letting out a long exhausted groan. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders slumping in utter defeat.

"I can’t... I really can’t cope with anything right now..." Lyra whimpered under her breath. "My head feels like it’s going to explode. System, don’t talk to me for the next five hours. I need a long, uninterrupted break from this crazy world."

[ Understood, Host... ] the System chimed quietly, dimming its blue screen and going silent to let her rest.

Lyra curled up on the chair, wrapping a soft blanket around her shivering shoulders. The warmth of the fireplace, combined with the immense mental and physical exhaustion of the day, slowly washed over her tired body. Within twenty minutes, her breathing evened out, her heavy eyelashes fluttering shut as she fell into a deep slumber.

Outside the window, the heavy autumn rainstorm raged on, dark raindrops pattering rhythmically against the tall glass panes. The fire in the hearth gradually burned low.

Click.

A faint sound echoed through the silence.

Slowly, silently, a tall figure materialized from the darkness.

The mysterious figure stopped right beside the chair where Lyra lay fast asleep.