The moment Iris twitched, Ludmint frowned. Her silvery Corruption Power surged out of her sleeves and enveloped Iris, who was sleeping on her laps. Like strands of hair, they tickled Iris, stimulating her mind. Her body quivered.

"Iris?" Ludmint whispered. "Have you met with any danger? Maybe I shouldn’t have allowed you.”

Ludmint held her breath and bent down. Her hair fell from her ears, obscuring her eyes, casting a shade on Iris's nervous expression. Her breathing grew rigid, her heart aching. Despite the lack of danger, she couldn’t calm herself. She raised Iris’s head toward her, and her lips slowly descended, pressing softly, uncontrollably.

"Why are you tempting me with your diabolical scent?" Ludmint tensed, her tongue reaching out, caressing the whiff of burning air seeping from Iris’s mouth. "Your clueless face, it's inviting me. Will you forgive me if I overstep—this scent?"

Ludmint's silvery Corruption Power glowed, suppressing her rising desires. She almost pushed away Iris, but she held herself, for she did not want to hurt her lovely, shy friend. Instead, she slowly lowered Iris to the ground before distancing herself, eyeing Iris and the chained Barineer.

After a silent second, Ludmint pointed at Barineer. A silver needle shot toward Barineer. Its sharp tip pierced her left forearm, splashing blood against the floor; a peculiar scent, the same scent which Iris had, rose out of Barineer.

As the pain spread, Barineer snapped open her eyes and coughed violently. Blood rushed out of her mouth, ears, eyes, nose, every orifice. Her pale face withered further, but there was now a hint of vitality, of determination, in her gaze.

"What did you do!" Ludmint swiped her right hand. Tens of burning rays of light surrounded Barineer. "Get rid of your scent on her, or I won't let you die."

If not for the chains binding Barineer, the pressure would have forced her to kneel. Her bones and flesh ached, yet she gritted her teeth and raised her head. Despite her exhaustion, she spat out blood, her eyes staring at Ludmint.

"Save . . . Lady Iris . . . first," she said, shivering.

"Lady . . . Iris?” Ludmint's mind raced through countless possibilities and found no explanation. "Impossible. She comes through the void; there is no connection between your Order and her. How did you control her?"

"She . . . saved me."

Ludmint did not bother arguing with Barineer. She clenched her right hand. Her Corruption Power invaded Barineer’s body, forcefully stabilising her condition. Without checking, Ludmint turned around and rushed to Iris. Her Corruption Power delicately entered Iris, diving deep inside her body, dispelling her disguise, returning her to her Slime Girl appearance.

The strange scent permeated Ludmint, but she endured its enchantment. Her power intertwined inside Iris, merging with the azure Corruption Power, sharing with Iris her senses and emotions.

Iris shook, awakening.

As heat accumulated inside her body, Ludmint failed to resist her blushing. Her sensitive touches tickled her mind, which gradually grew nervous and dizzy. Her gaze kept wandering towards Iris's lips, breasts, abdomen, neck, every soft, inviting place.

Before her was the sleeping maiden, and Ludmint had to wake her up.

"Iris, you must wake up before I fall asleep." Ludmint covered her eyes. "You once told me about a fairytale in which the prince woke up the sleeping beauty with a kiss. I am no prince, but I can be your princess."

"Lud, Ludmint?" Iris's voice was meek, confused, yet excited. "What are you doing?"

"It's nothing." Ludmint turned away. Her messy hair concealed her face. "I was surprised at your silly—"

Iris reached forward, grasped Ludmint's head, and pulled down. She lifted herself, blowing a puff of heat, then kissed Ludmint. She allowed no break nor preparation as she licked Ludmint's mouth and inserted her tongue inside. The burning itches spread throughout their bodies.

Surprised, Ludmint instinctively resisted, but she relaxed before long and let Iris dictate the flow. This sensation of going along the flow was fresh, something she hadn't experienced in a long, long time. As something inside her shifted, she tensed her legs and abdomen, but the pleasuring relief did not arrive.

Iris separated from Ludmint, panting.

"If you're going to be my princess, please follow your script properly," Iris said, blushing hard. "I, I don't know what I was doing. Please don't get carried away. I'm not going to continue this."

"Iris, you are the beauty, I the princess. How could you order me?” Ludmint moved down and sniffed Iris's neck. "It's your fault. You set aflame my breasts. I can't control myself; I can't follow your request."

"Evil Ludmint, you're smirking. You're at the Condensation Phase. This fragrance cannot overwhelm your mind unless . . . unless you want it!"

"Will you defy Your Royal Highness?"

Iris wanted to speak, yet Ludmint's pairs of reddened eyes, laced with blooming lust, stopped her. Like precious gems, they captivated her, awakening her desire as an elder sister, as a prideful maiden. The seductive scent also affected her; she was a Monster Girl. Her instinct called for her to accept the embrace, to become one with Ludmint, to fall into the abyss.

Ludmint, you've taken good care of me, too good for a stranger like me. Outwardly, we are lovers. We must play our part. It is my obligation, the obligation of the wife. I am hers; she's mine.

"How can I say no to such a face?" Iris grinned. "Now, make me yours."

Ludmint trembled. Though faint, she could discern it. Iris seemed to melt into a new person, someone so soft and delicate, yet firm and mature. Despite laying everything open, Iris became an endless depth where warmth and chill coexisted. Her unreadable face smirked, and her foggy silhouette sneered.

Iris was about to join with Ludmint when Barineer weakly coughed. Although feeble, her tone reverberated inside the room. Iris and Ludmint froze, then untangled themselves, their body temperatures rising rapidly.

"Ludmint, save her first," Iris said, facing away from Ludmint. "I need to stabilise my condition. This wicked scent is affecting me."

"As you wished." Ludmint lightly hit her chest and clenched her fists. An uncomfortable feeling circulated her body. She hated this unfinished heat that kept bothering her, yet she could not do anything lest Iris might hate her.

The awkward atmosphere permeated the torture room while Ludmint checked on Barineer, who sweated and bled so much the damp spots below her merged into a dark stain. She wanted to touch her face, but the chains prevented her.

"Be careful. Your injuries are too strange. Your wounds open up from the inside, but you didn't seem to do anything." Ludmint tapped Barineer's forearms, abdomen, forehead, neck, and thighs. Her silvery Corruption Power entered Barineer, dressing the wounds. "Don't move. Let me unchain you."

As if she were a doll, Barineer stayed motionless. She did not resist nor express anything when Ludmint's Corruption Power invaded her body. If Ludmint wished, she could have turned Barineer into a Monster Girl, and Barineer would not resist either.

After unlocking the chains, Ludmint slowly put Barineer on the ground and bandaged her wounds. The silvery Corruption Power mended the cuts and regenerated blood veins, but it could not heal the injuries of the soul; only sufficient rest and care could rejuvenate the mind.

"Now, may I know the full story?" Ludmint said, still not turning to Iris. "You, what happened?"

Barineer grabbed her right forearm and lowered her head. "I don't know. I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"What about Lady Iris? What is your relationship with her? Why did you become so attached to her? How dare you trick—"

"Ludmint," Iris said, her voice calm. "You're flustering. I'll explain everything, so don't stress her out."

"How can I trust you now?" Ludmint gradually turned to Iris, but she kept her hands covering her eyes. "I need a confirmation that the scent didn't influence you."

"Then I have bad news for you. The scent infects me because . . . because . . ." Iris narrowed her eyes. She could not mention Bewitch. Her body and soul lost the motivation to leak any information about the Evil Goddess. "The origin of the scent is something extraordinary. I can only stop it from taking over me, but I cannot get rid of it completely, at least until I become stronger."

"What are you trying to say?" Ludmint stepped closer to Iris, worry evident in her eyes. "Don't resist. I want to make sure you aren't hurt."

Chortling, Iris got up and raised her hands to her sides. She let Ludmint infiltrate her body with the silvery Corruption Power, feeling the tingling, naked sensation. Her slime quivered as sparks of electric pleasure jolted her, but she kept her mouth shut, though her cheeks could not conceal their pink shades.

Once Ludmint confirmed Iris’s safety, she retracted her Corruption Power then hugged Iris, who also hugged back. The two stayed inseparable until they realised Barineer was sitting on the floor, staring.

"Now, Iris, tell me: are the prior words true?"

"The bewitching scent is not something you can dispel easily. Its origin is . . . astonishing. Unfortunately . . . nevermind. I cannot tell you."

"No. I wasn't asking about your condition. My trust in you is not that fragile." Ludmint parted her fingers, revealing her smouldering eyes. "I'm asking about your invitation. Iris, do you still to be mine?"

Iris averted her gaze. "Now is not the time. Keep your priority straight."

"But I'm not straight. Your kiss has bent me all over you."

"Listen carefully, for I will not repeat myself."

"Now you’re acting like a princess. Do I need to fall asleep for you to kiss me?"

Clenching her fists, Iris walked toward Ludmint, who stepped back. Despite her taller figure, Ludmint felt small and brittle, a prey to Iris's voracious gaze. Something about this headstrong Iris gave off a foreign feeling, an otherworldly, ethereal impression.

Ludmint collected herself, leaned ahead, and closed her eyes. She waited for the sweet, sweet kiss, but Iris walked past Ludmint. Her destination was Barineer.

"How do you feel?" Iris crouched down.

"You made me realise many things, even though I'm your enemy."

"You were my enemy. Now, we're more like friends." Iris raised her right hand. Her Virtual Space Ring brought out an exquisite dagger and an elixir. "And as a friend, I’m willing to give you a choice."

Barineer raised her hands but failed to choose between the two. "Lady Iris, though you saved my life, The Order also saved my life. They indeed used me, but that is the price for my revenge."

"What about their attempt at taking your life?" Iris moved closer to Barineer. "They tried to take your life, hid a part of your memory, and infected you with that scent. Do you still trust them?"

Barineer clutched her tattered cloth. Her silence said it all.

"Very well. I cannot force you, nor can I turn you into one of us. Nevertheless, I can still let you live."

"May I ask why?"

"We’re friends. I cannot bear to kill you when your experience . . . resonates with me."

For a moment, Barineer reached out to the dagger, but her trembling hands didn’t take it. "I'm willing to place my loyalty on you. Please give me that vial."

"Are you sure? There will be no going back."

"My life will be in your hand. Even if you don't want it, please consider it. For the sake of the Court."

Iris smiled as she retrieved the silver dagger and handed the vial to Barineer. The liquid inside glowed green, swaying viscously.

Fearlessly, Barineer grabbed the vial and drank the liquid in one gulp. Once she endured an intensely bitter taste, fires spread throughout her body. Her muscles and bones ached everywhere, and her vessels felt like stretching, breaking, reconnecting.

Like a boiling lake, her flesh bubbled and shuddered. She collapsed on the ground, her vision blurring. Everything she touched was pain. Every breath she inhaled was agony. Under this misery, she could only grit her teeth and reach forward, hoping to gain some comfort from her last friend.

"Endure it." Iris grabbed Barineer's hands. "It will be over soon. Because of your severe injuries, the regeneration is much more intense than normal."

"What . . . do you mean?" Barineer felt the pain subsiding. A gush of refreshing wind coursed through her mind. "What did you give me?"