SAINTESS [Chapter 139: We’re pretty familiar with each other.] (Patreon)

“Wait. If you’re calling it a punishment game, then there must actually be a game involved, right? After all, you only get punished if you lose.” Milian muttered thoughtfully for a moment before suddenly realizing something. She quickly spoke up to ask.

“Impressive, Milian. You really are sharp. You actually managed to figure that out?” Aesphyra remarked with exaggerated praise.

“Hmph! Who exactly do you think this princess is?” Milian replied, wearing an unbearably proud expression. However, a few seconds later, her brows furrowed as she realized that the silver-haired woman wasn't genuinely complimenting her at all. She had been mocking her from the very beginning.

“Wait, what do you mean by that?” Milian retorted, unconvinced.

“Huh? Wasn't I praising you for being exceptionally intelligent?” Aesphyra tilted her head, looking truly puzzled. “What did Milian think it was?”

“Ugh…” Milian pressed her lips together. With the other party putting it that way, if she kept dwelling on it, it would just look like she was asking to be scolded.

“Milian, have a little more confidence in yourself.” Aesphyra added, still lightly teasing.

“Tch.” Milian was left speechless and could only click her tongue in annoyance.

This silver-haired human woman really was hard to deal with.

“Then I'll explain the rules.” Isatia found a tea tray, placed a teaspoon on it, and placed it in the middle of the bed.

“All of us sit in a circle on the bed, then spin this spoon. When the spoon stops, whoever the tip points to loses and has to accept a punishment.”

“Huh? Then who spins the spoon? What if someone cheats?” Milian puffed her cheeks.

“If Milian doesn't feel reassured, you can spin it yourself.” Isatia glanced at her.

“Yeah, yeah! Milian, I support you too. I think the person everyone here trusts the most… is you.” Aesphyra rested her chin on one hand, a playful, amused smile on her face as she spoke.

“Huh? Trust me?” Milian blinked. “You woman, you're not messing with me again, are you?”

“Of course not.” There was a subtle undertone in Aesphyra’s voice, as though her words carried a hidden meaning. “If you don’t believe me, why not ask the others? I’m pretty sure they feel the same way I do. Everyone here trusts you very much.”

What Aesphyra really meant was: among everyone present, each and every one of them had more tricks up their sleeve than the last. Even Mirexia seemed to have started playing mind games.

Milian was only a bit of a “little clever one.” One glance was enough to see that, despite her innocent appearance, she simply wasn’t capable of scheming or plotting. With Shikondell standing beside her, the two of them together probably couldn’t muster even half a brain when it came to deception.

Cheating? Milian had neither the means nor the cunning for it. So really, who would have any reason to be wary of her?

"Ahem! I-is that so?" Seeing the others' tacit expressions of agreement, Milian swelled with pride at once.

So she really was that trusted? Was this what they called… charisma?

“Tch. I never thought you’d actually manage to say something true for once!” Milian scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. She wore a smug expression, clearly convinced she had finally gained the upper hand and was determined to make the most of it.

Winnie glanced at Aesphyra beside him, who was clearly enjoying herself as she toyed with Milian, leaving him speechless.

With that golden-haired idiot’s IQ, how could she possibly go against Aesphyra? This wasn’t even a contest, it was dimensionality reduction.

“That's right, that's right. Honestly, Milian, you naturally have this aura that makes people believe you. Guess that's the Sun Elf royal bloodline? Your affinity really is powerful.” Aesphyra continued her smooth talk, putting on an award-winning performance, her voice brimming with piety and sincerity, until Milian was practically floating.

This golden-haired fool had been praised a few times and had already forgotten that she’d been at odds with Aesphyra just moments ago.

“Heh heh, didn't think you had a bit of taste.” Milian held her head high, puffing out her chest smugly.

“Milian, have you heard of the Hexagram Formation?” Aesphyra asked with a smile.

“Huh? What's that?” Of course Milian hadn't.

Not just her, nobody else present had heard of it either.

Not Winnie, not Isatia, not Mirexia.

“It’s a form of divination passed down through our family. Basically, by observing changes in celestial phenomena, atmospheric mana, magnetic fields, and drawing on experience from human affairs, we can predict fortune and disaster.” Aesphyra confidently made up a load of nonsense on the spot. Her explanation was so obscure that no one could understand it, which was precisely what she wanted.

As expected, Milian had an expression that clearly said: I don’t understand a word, but it sounds amazing.

“Did you understand, Milian? I mean, you're so smart, you wouldn't fail to grasp it, right?”

“Ah, I completely understand!” Milian hadn't understood a single word, but she'd been hoisted onto a pedestal. With her pride on the line, she didn't want to lose face in front of so many people, especially Winnie, so she forced herself to say it.

“As expected of Milian. Let me tell you, based on my judgment, your aura is extremely compatible with the magnetic field in that spot. If you play the game there, it'll certainly add icing on the cake to your already excellent luck.” Aesphyra points to a spot off to the side.

“Huh? Really?” Milian still looked hesitant, but her body was honest as she moved over.

“All right, Aesphyra, stop messing around.” Winnie sighed and stopped her.

The spot Aesphyra had told Milian to sit in took up a large open gap, which meant once the spoon started spinning, the chance of it landing on Milian would be the highest.

She was just toying with an idiot, wasn't she? Milian was already stupid, no, her brain usage was low, and she was still being tricked.

“Heehee.” Hearing that, Aesphyra mischievously stuck her tongue out at Winnie, then obediently answered, “Just a joke. Fine, I'll stop.”

Their little exchange instantly made everyone except Milian feel odd.

Especially Mirexia, she looked at Winnie, then at Aesphyra, clearly shaken.

When had the relationship between those two… developed to this point?

She had no idea.

'Virtue + 200.'

Current Virtue: 16779.

“Huh? What?” Only Milian looked utterly confused, apparently still unaware she'd been played.

“Milian, didn't you realize that if you sit there, your chances of getting picked go way up? That area is too wide.” Winnie didn't even know what to say.

“Huh?” Milian looked it over. Only after a moment did she finally understand, then bared her teeth and glared at Aesphyra.

“Good! I knew it! You silver-haired woman had bad intentions, how dare you play tricks on this princess!”

Aesphyra only smiled, saying nothing.

“Y-you just wait! When the time comes, this princess will make you pay!” Milian threatened through her blush, then turned her face away, refusing to look at Aesphyra.

Under Isatia's organization, everyone sat in a circle on the big bed.

It wasn't exactly that, but… how to put it, Winnie couldn't help feeling like they were having a pajama party. Of course, everyone was wearing bathrobes, so if it was a party, it was a bathrobe party.

Aesphyra knelt to Winnie's left. Isatia still sat at the edge of the bed to his right.

Further left sat Milian cross-legged. She fiddled with the spoon, and every so often gave Aesphyra a fierce glare, clearly declaring she'd spin it onto Aesphyra and make her embarrass herself. She was obviously locked into a stubborn grudge against Aesphyra.

Of course, that was only “fierce” by her own definition. No one would find a little kitten baring claws at them truly scary.

As for Shikondell, she sat kneeling back on her heels across from Winnie. Next to her was Mirexia, also seated near the edge of the bed.

Those pale, bare, beautiful legs were truly dazzling to the eye.

“Then… I'm starting, okay?” Milian called out, then flicked the spoon.

The spoon began to spin.

For many of them, it was their first time playing this game, some had never even heard of it, so they couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

Before long, the spinning spoon gradually slowed down.

Seeing the spoon tip about to land on Aesphyra, Milian looked smug, only for the remaining momentum to carry it past Aesphyra at the last instant.

“Wha-?!” Milian stared blankly at the spoon now pointing at herself, eyes wide.

“Heehee. Milian really is honest, spinning the spoon herself only for it to land right back on her.” Aesphyra teased.

“Ugh!” Milian puffed her cheeks, desperate to accept it, yet unable to do anything.

“Then who's going to ask, and we spin again?” Aesphyra said.

“Tch!” Milian gave Aesphyra a look. Knowing this time she absolutely couldn't land on Aesphyra, she put all her strength into flicking the spoon.

The spoon spun rapidly across the tray under Milian's force, then gradually slowed to a stop, and…

Uh.

Looking at where it stopped, Winnie couldn't help chuckling.

Sometimes, the more you fear something, the more it comes for you.

Even though Milian had tried her hardest to avoid Aesphyra by using more strength, that wasn't something strength could control. It was completely random, anyone could be chosen.

And the result was: the spoon tip landed, dead on, in Aesphyra's area.

“Ahhh!” Milian covered her face in frustration.

“Heehee. Milian, thank you~?” Aesphyra even fanned the flames with a bright little laugh, as if Milian wasn't angry enough yet.

“Go to hell!” Milian clutched the bedsheet with both hands, staring with dead fish eyes. “Don't you dare ask some weird question!”

“Of course I won't. I'm just going to ask the question Milian was so concerned about earlier.” Aesphyra smiled.

"I was concerned?"

“Milian, how old were you when you used to swim in the bedsheets?” Aesphyra asked with a hint of amusement.

“I-I... you! What makes you think I ever did that?! How could you possibly know?!”

“Mm-hm. That’s not what I asked. I asked how old you were when you did it.” Aesphyra, naturally, refused to fall for the bait. She knew that whether Milian had actually done it was a separate question, though Milian wasn’t clever enough to set up a trap like that anyway.

“I… ugh!” Milian stammered.

“Milian, Truth or Dare means you have to tell the truth, you know? Otherwise you're breaking the rules.” Aesphyra coaxed gently.

“Ugh! I…” Under everyone's gaze, Milian hesitated for a long time, then covered her face and whispered a number. “Te-ten… fifteen… I guess.”

“Oh my? Fifteen?” Aesphyra widened her eyes and even clapped, sounding genuinely impressed. “As expected of Milian, you’re getting younger the longer you live. You’ve even managed to reverse your aging.”

“Y-you…!” Having this little secret exposed in front of everyone, Milian burned with shame and fury, but she couldn't do a thing about Aesphyra.

“Um, Milian… you didn't have to choose Truth. You could've chosen Dare.” Winnie, watching from the side, couldn't help saying.

“What?!” Only then did Milian realize. She immediately glared viciously at Aesphyra. “You, why didn't you remind me?!”

“Huh? I thought Milian already knew, and chose Truth herself?” Aesphyra wore an expression that said, Isn't that what happened?

This hateful woman!

At that moment, Milian immediately placed Aesphyra into the position of “lifelong enemy” in her heart.

“Guh!” No matter what, she had to land the spoon on this woman and make her embarrass herself too!

Thinking that, Milian spun the spoon again.

The spoon slowed and stopped, this time, it pointed at Mirexia.

“Tch.” Milian pressed her lips together, deeply dissatisfied, and spun again.

Then the spoon stopped, pointing at Winnie.

“Huh?” Winnie was a little surprised. What were the odds?

But fine, better it points to him than to others. If the one asking was Milian or Shikondell, that would still be okay. If it were someone else, who knew what weird thing they'd ask.

Winnie had that kind of premonition.

When Mirexia saw the person asking if she would be Winnie, she was stunned as well.

Everyone else turned their gaze to Winnie.

'Virtue + 80.'

Current Virtue: 16859.

“Mirexia.” Winnie fell silent for a moment, then called her name.

“Mmm.” Mirexia answered softly.

Then Winnie was supposed to ask a question.

But…

Winnie stayed silent.

He didn't know what to ask her. What was there worth asking?

They'd grown up together, childhood friends. What didn't he know about Mirexia?

He even knew Mirexia's hidden fetishes, though of course he'd never asked about that in a situation like this.

But on Mirexia's side, there really was nothing he didn't know.

“Heehee. Winnie, can't think of anything to ask dear Mirexia?” Aesphyra spoke up at that moment.

“Kind of. We know each other quite well.” Winnie replied.

And precisely because they knew each other so well, Winnie understood one thing: if a girl who had grown up alongside you still had no romantic feelings for you after all these years, then there truly was nothing about you that attracted her. If there had been, she would have fallen for you long ago.

“Then I'll ask in Winnie's place, may I?” Aesphyra proposed.