Meanwhile, back at the fancy mansion near the castle. n sat across from a beautiful woman who made his skin crawl.


    "My dear niece..."


    "Who is dear to you, old man? You only feel your mother and sister to be dear!" Liana responded while eating a cute rabbit-shaped cookie.


    ''Heh, you act like a witch, but in reality, you''re a soft little girl! Ryuji, pleasee home soon!''


    The crimson beauty took the head seat and sat with an air of authority. In stark contrast, relegated to the guest seat, n looked bitter while his fear was palpable as he gazed out the window.


    Kathryn stood in her full armour, a silent sentinel behind the princess, her eyes scanning the surroundings.


    n returned the other knights to their dormitories and then came to his home to rx.


    Only to find this witch waiting.


    "So, may I ask why you came now? The Bloody Tyrant isn''t here at the moment." n tried to buy some time or shift the me to Ryuji, although he didn''t intend to let his brother sink. The princess just held too many of n''s foul deeds as her leverage.


    "Call him. I want to go into the forest and practise magic."


    "WHAT!?" n''s eyes widened. Thiszy princess who barely finished her studies withoutining to him every single day wanted to learn, to practise!? ''What lie is this witch telling? I know there must be something in the forest!''


    "Don''t make a noise like a wronged housewife, you disgusting man! If you weren''t my uncle, I''d have you castrated!"


    n''s head raced, trying to think of the treasure or interesting thing, but came nk. The princess didn''t seem to joke, and his brother would surely beat him with an iron bar if he didn''t do as she said...


    ''Ryuji... Take one for the team!''


    "How can I contact him from here?" He tried onest chance to save both himself and Ryuji from this witch''s plots.


    However...


    "I know you gave him the item—he probably doesn''t even know you canmunicate with him in moments of danger, right?" The princess curled her small lips into a crescent smile, narrowing both eyes as her crimson hair danced with her victorious movements.


    "Silly uncle, did you forget I have eyes everywhere? I even know about that brutish hero sleeping with the beastkin in this very mansion!"


    ''Damned maids!''


    Liana didn''t hate her uncle but seemed to enjoy teasing him. Perhaps it was all the mental abuse he inflicted upon her at every opportunity he had. When she grew up in the pce, knowing that her life would be an eternal struggle to survive. So, she built walls of arrogance and self-centeredness while cultivating a strong and confident facade.


    It didn''t help that n liked to y tricks on her when she grew up. So, as she grew and learned the game, she no longer bothered to feign respect and took every opportunity to repay what he owed her.


    "Hmph, very well. I shall try."


    n tapped the small gemstone inside his ear. The item he gave Ryuji was simr but more like a magic bandage that became invisible after being ced on someone. They wouldn''t even know about it if you didn''t tell them or contact them.


    "Ryuji..."


    "Hmm... why can I hear that retards voice?" Ryuji replied through the spell transmission, and n could feel a sense of anxiety upon the response.


    "...."


    ''What does this bastard think of me? I should be his saviour!!!''


    "Ryuji, it''s me, n..."


    "No shit... What do you want? I''m... wait, Yumiko, stop moving so fast...."


    ''....''


    The moment he heard the words and understood, he suffered this brat''s judging gaze and Kathryn''s fierce scowl. His protégé Ryuji was gettingid in the middle of the day with his fox girl lover!


    "The princess is calling you over."


    "Wait... Let me finish—I don''t want to hear a guy''s voice right now!"


    n bit his lip and wanted to punch Ryuji, but he swallowed his hatred and could only ept; he then turned to the princess and gave her an answer. "He is a little busy right now and will contact me when finished..."


    "Busy? How can he be busy when I desire his presence? Bring him here right now, no matter the state!" Liana''s lovely blue eyes shone as she pointed at n, giving a lovely yet arrogant tone.


    "Liana... if I brought him here right now, not only would you be shocked, Kathryn would try cutting him down..."


    "Hmmm? Why?"


    "Ahem..." n considered how to tell his little niece about Ryuji''s actions, but all he could think of was something stupid. "When a man... loves a woman... very much."


    "!?" The face of Liana and Kathryn turned bright red before she tossed a cookie at him with a squeal. "Fine, we will wait for him to finish..."


    ***


    One hourter...


    n''s face turned pale white, while the princess looked dark, her eyes narrow with dark circles under her eyes and a crackling aura of magic flowing around her body, all the fox cookies now crushed into pieces.


    "Yo, n... I finished."


    "YOU IDIOT!!!" n screamed at the top of his lungs, unable to endure. "COME BACK NOW, OR I SWEAR TO THE GODS YOU WON''T SLEEP UNTIL YOUR OLD AND YOUR COCK DOESN''T WORK!"


    "Alright... calm down, we''re on the carriage now." Ryuji seemed super rxed and in a good mood, which made n''s jealous heart bitter and cold.


    "Ahem... why did he take so long?" Liana''s face looked a little red when she asked, her fingers tapping the table. "I thought a gentleman onlysted a few minutes... Put his replies on the area channel."


    Liana''s request was something that n couldn''t reject. Although they fought like an old dog and a young cat, he loved his niece because she reminded him of his mother. She also held too many of his crimes that he didn''t dare deny her request.


    ''If I don''t, she won''t hesitate to tell my mother about the secret underground auction!''


    "OK...."


    Click!


    The moment n pressed the gemstone on his ear, it turned red, showing that Ryuji''s voice would be transmitted to the room on a loudspeaker so that not only n but also the princess and Kathryn couldmunicate with him.


    "Ryuji, why did it take you so long? We''ve waited so long..." n asked, his heart dropping and wanting to ask for Ryuji''s forgiveness but he couldn''t.


    "Ah... well, I bet that little sexy witch is getting angry. If she''s too naughty, tell her I will spank her plump ass! Well, I was having sex with Yumiko, but Erika likes to watch now, and she got too horny, so I had to satisfy them both before we could leave."


    "What!?"


    "Rude, man!"


    "Sexy witch!? Plump ass!!!" Liana''s and Kathryn''s faces were beet red as the princess waved her hands and twisted her hips. n watched her little show while covering his face with his hands in fear of being detected by Ryuji.


    ''I don''t want to hear about my niece''s ass, you damn erozerker!''


    "He is talking about the other chosen, that Erika!?" Liana''s mouth gaped open as she looked quite adorable.


    ''Damn you, Ryuji! You were supposed to protect and help her, not get inside her!''


    "Man, I really got carried away this time. I didn''t expect her to like it in the ass, and she has such a nice body." Ryuji continued as if he couldn''t hear the princess''sints. Instead, it seemed like he would drift in and out of the conversation.


    n''s back felt icy cold with sweat.


    His little niece looked strange. This was the first time he had seen someone get to her like this.


    "Little princess... we were just ying adult games. Don''t be upset... I''ll show you in the future, okay?" Ryuji''s words confused n, but then hisstment caused the room to be silent.


    "Ryuji... have you been drinking?"


    "Haha, yeah... this spirited wine is so delicious. So, what did you want me to do?"


    n felt his heart stop. This fool got drunk in the middle of the day, and now he made the witch who could destroy anyone she wanted offended.


    ''Though, why does Liana look so amused... That''s the face she makes when she challenges me to a game I cannot win and ckmails me to take part!''


    "Hmmm... like a date in the woods?" Ryuji replied with a cheerful response. However, n saw Kathryn grasp her sword with a murderous glint in her eyes.


    "Oi--"


    "n, be quiet! I will speak from here. Chosen Ryuji, can you hear my voice?" The princess spoke again, her voice clear and filled with elegance.


    "Hmmm, I can hear your voice. It''s as pretty asst time. So, what do you want to talk about?" Ryuji''s casual attitude made the room feel cold as even n couldn''t understand how this chosen didn''t realise the danger he was in.


    "I see. Then, will you join me and Kathryn in the eastern forest for the afternoon? I''d like to practise my magic there."


    "Sure, me alone or is ning?"


    There was a moment of silence while Kathryn held n''s mouth shut as he desperately tried to warn Ryuji. n shook his head but could not remove her iron grip from his lips.


    ''No, Ryuji, it''s a trap! You are going to be the target she practises with!!!''


    "Yes, pleasee alone. Your maid and the other Chosen should remain at the mansion. Remember your promise to me." The princess finished with a strange tone, but the truth of how Yumiko could move so easily was thanks to her, because n told him.


    "Alright, I''ll be at the castle shortly."


    "Heh heh heh... y--you bastard. You are finished!" n yelled after the call ended, ring at Kathryn with hatred. However, she just frowned at him, grabbing the scruff of his neck.


    "Princess, what should I do with this garbage? Is itbustible?"


    "Put him on the couch and tie him up. I think he will make a good pillow while I practise spells."


    n felt a chill, realising his fate—to be a cushioned sacrifice for his little niece, who looked at him with a catlike smile.


    "Wait! You can''t do this! If I get injured, your father will be sad!" n tried to save himself from Liana''s wrath, but it would never work, as the ck crackling lightning arced from her hand.


    "Uncle, please help me!"