Chapter 111: So willingly…?

Lillian felt both confused and deeply displeased with the current situation.

Last night had been Viviana’s turn to guide Tina. Lillian was aware that Viviana had taken Tina to the imperial capital.

She hadn’t given it much thought. After all, no matter what Viviana attempted, she was someone who had already failed once.

Viviana was the one who had driven Tina to the brink of despair. Lillian believed there was no way Tina, who was so wary and guarded, would ever open her heart to Viviana again.

At least, that’s what she thought. That’s what she believed.

But the scene unfolding before her eyes was incomprehensible.

“Please treat me however you wish, Lillian.”

Tina was meekly following her lead.

Even the defiance that had always lingered in her gaze was now nowhere to be found.

Why?

What could have happened in just one night?

Even the wooden sword Tina used to wield with fiery determination no longer seemed to hold her interest.

What in the world had that woman done?

How had Tina changed this much… in such a short time?

Clench.

Lillian’s teeth ground together painfully.

Her goal was clear: saving Tina. There was no doubt in her mind about that.

She only wanted to hold Tina close and separate her from that demonic existence as quickly as possible.

Once Tina returned to normal, Lillian planned to restore the dazzling happiness that life had to offer her.

Because she loved Tina.

Yes, she was doing this for Tina’s sake.

And yet, what was this unpleasant feeling gnawing at her?

The fact that it wasn’t her, but Viviana, who had caused this transformation in Tina weighed heavily on her, an undeniable discomfort she couldn’t brush aside.

This couldn’t go on.

As long as Tina’s compliance came at the hands of someone else, the demon couldn’t be completely exorcised.

The only day the demon would be banished was the day Tina returned to her willingly, fully recognizing Lillian as her rightful master.

Even if it wasn’t what she wanted, she would have to take a stronger approach.

“Are you truly saying I can treat you however I want, Tina?”

Lillian’s voice, low and chilling, filled the room. Yet Tina, smiling faintly, nodded in response.

“As much as you like.”

Lillian’s hands wrapped around Tina’s neck.

“Gah?! Ah… Hrk…!”

“Is it really fine? Even if I do something like this?”

“Guh… Hrk… Kah…!”

Tina’s strained gasps escaped her lips as her arms and legs thrashed desperately, but Lillian’s grip didn’t falter.

Tina barely managed to gasp for air, her body writhing in vain.

“Answer me, Tina!”

Lillian’s voice pierced the room, sharp and demanding.

But with her airway blocked, Tina’s eyes began to roll back.

Tears pooled in her eyes, trembling on the verge of spilling over.

Yet, even in the face of such pain, Tina didn’t resist.

As if she had resigned herself to everything, she endured silently in Lillian’s grip.

“Y-yes… I… like… it.”

“…What?”

“Go ahead, break me as you wish.”

Lillian grimaced and let go of Tina’s neck.

“Gasp, haah, huff…!”

Tina collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

A vivid red handprint was etched onto her frail neck.

Lillian’s gaze lingered on the mark and the provocative yet oddly delicate curve of Tina’s neck.

“Spread them.”

“…Pardon?”

Tina’s eyes widened in shock.

Lillian’s lips curled into a cold smile as she pointed under Tina’s skirt with her finger.

“Didn’t you say I could do whatever I wanted? Spread them. I’m going to relieve some pent-up desires today. You’re still a virgin, aren’t you?”

Lillian fully expected Tina to recoil and refuse.

No matter how much one’s personality might change, humans instinctively feel shame.

Her words were meant to provoke Tina’s dormant shame and resistance, to slowly subdue and tame her again by exploiting those emotions.

But Tina’s response shattered all of Lillian’s expectations.

“If that’s what you want, Lillian… I’ll give myself to you.”

“…What did you say?”

Before Lillian’s eyes, Tina’s pale face was tinged with a faint blush.

The blush was not only beautiful but could be described as downright endearing.

Tina covered her face with one hand as if embarrassed, but her gaze remained fixed on Lillian.

Slowly, quietly, she spread her legs to the side.

“I don’t mind if you treat someone like me as an object.”

As Tina’s legs parted, her skirt naturally slid down, revealing the shadowy white fabric beneath.

At the sight, Lillian’s heart instinctively began to race.

“Tina, are you serious? So willingly…?”

“Yes.”

Tina’s blue eyes held not a trace of deceit. Only pure, crystal-clear goodwill shone through.

It was as if she genuinely wanted to be treated as an object.

“If it helps you, Saint, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

But that pure goodwill pierced Lillian’s chest like a blade.

She couldn’t bear to face Tina’s self-abandoning demeanor head-on.

An unsettling sense of something fundamentally wrong consumed her.

And she couldn’t think clearly anymore. The sight of the intimate space between Tina’s snow-white legs made it impossible for her heart to calm down.

“I-I just remembered something urgent I need to take care of. I can’t do this right now.”

***

In the end, Lillian had no choice but to flee.

If she stayed there any longer, she felt she would make an irreversible mistake.

“Why…”

Tina murmured quietly, staring blankly at the spot where Lillian had stood.

What did I do wrong?

I thought Lillian wanted to see me in pain. That’s why I even asked her to hurt me to ease her burdens.

But instead of laying a hand on me, Lillian left my side with a bewildered expression.

She left without saying a word.

Could it be that I misunderstood? Should I have shown even more suffering than I already did?

Or… could it be that they’ve grown tired of me and left?

“I don’t know anymore…”

I am a sinner. I deserve to be punished.

But I didn’t even know how I could atone for the sins I committed.

From the start, could such sins even be atoned for?

Now, all I want is to ease the anger and resentment of those I’ve hurt, even just a little.

However, now that even Lillian has turned away from me, I feel completely lost about how to mend the hearts I’ve broken.

I even found myself wishing that they would torture me—perhaps that might lighten their burden, even a little.

“I-I’ll do anything I can.”

I mumbled to myself as if pleading to the victims who would never hear me. Perhaps all of this stemmed from my selfish desire to alleviate my own crushing guilt.

‘I don’t understand people’s hearts well… but surely, they must all want to see me suffer.’

It might be natural for a victim to find some solace in the sight of their tormentor in pain.

Grasping the middle finger of my hand tightly, I pulled it back with all my strength.

Crack—

The sickening sound of a finger twisting unnaturally echoed. Overwhelmed by the searing pain, I couldn’t help but scream for a while.

But I didn’t stop there. One by one, I bent my remaining fingers in turn.

Tears of agony welled up and blurred my vision. Screams clawed their way from my chest to my throat, but I bit down hard on my tongue, forcing them back.

Only after breaking all my fingers did I stop. But my efforts were in vain. A radiant light seeped from the floor, instantly healing my injuries.

I stared blankly at my flawless, unscarred palms.

“Ah…”

It was in that moment that realization struck me, and my eyes widened in astonishment.

This place was a sacred space where any wound healed in an instant. At first, I thought Lillian had created it to prevent me from taking my own life.

But I was wrong.

This infinite healing space was no different from a realm where I could endure endless suffering.

This was the opportunity Lillian had given me.

A chance to reflect on the sins I had committed with my own hands and repent.

“Now I understand, Lillian.”

Even in a moment like this, you showed me kindness.

You are truly a gentle person.

So I, too, must repay your warm consideration.

Crack—

Without hesitation, I bent my fingers again. And then another finger, and yet another.

By the time all my fingers had broken, the sacred light healed my hands once more.

And so began a repetitive cycle: breaking, healing, breaking, healing.

The unbearable pain nearly caused me to lose consciousness, but each time, I bit my tongue to pull myself back.

But even this had its limits.

At some point, my mouth foamed with white froth, and my tearless eyes burned as if they had been scorched.

“Just a little more…”

Yet, I didn’t stop.

Just as I was about to bend my fingers again—

Crash!

A sharp sound of something shattering echoed throughout the room.

Lifting my blank gaze, I saw her—Viviana.

With trembling eyes, she stared at me before running toward me with a face drained of all color.

“Tina!!!”