It was hard to imagine that those words had just come from a single person's mouth. What kind of person could say such outrageous things with such seriousness? And judging by their expression, it didn't seem like they were joking at all.
Instead, it felt like they were earnestly explaining the truth of the game to me, as if giving a science lecture. The sheer conviction was so strong that Shui Zhongmeng found it utterly baffling.
He'd long known this person was crazy, but the severity of their condition still came as a surprise.
Shui Zhongmeng's facial muscles twitched, completely at a loss for words. He had a temper too and wanted to lash out with harsh words, but considering this was Sin standing before him, he hesitated and held back.
Just then, another sharp scream pierced through the room.
"AHHHHH! What are you people talking about?"
"Why don't I understand? Why can't I understand any of this?"
Shui Zhongmeng startled, thinking "Oh no"—they were still in the princess's chambers after all.
But then...
"What are you yelling for?!"
"Don't shout in my room. If you can't behave, get out. I've tolerated you to the maximum limit—don't push your luck."
The princess: "......"
The hysterical princess instantly quieted down, meekly collapsing sideways onto the bed and rolling over as if deeply wronged.
Shui Zhongmeng: !?
What the hell? Why?! What exactly is your status in this game?!
Why am I here playing the submissive while you get to be the boss? And why did you call it 'your room'? Did I miss some game rules somewhere?
Are you cheating? No wonder you're the top player—how is anyone else supposed to compete like this?
Shui Zhongmeng's face was practically twitching now. After staring at Lu Ce for a long moment, he could only turn away in resignation.
Slowly, he approached the princess's bed, controlling his emotions as he spoke softly:
"Prin... Miss, you seem unwell. I know some medicine—may I check your pulse..."
"My health is perfect!" The previously pitiful princess suddenly sprang up, lashing out at Shui Zhongmeng.
"Uh... If you're fine then..."
"I'm absolutely not fine!"
Shui Zhongmeng: ???
Physical contact was crucial for him—it was key to utilizing his abilities. Yet despite such a simple requirement, since entering he hadn't been able to lay a finger on either Sin or the princess. It was downright depressing.
"Your presence alone makes me feel terrible! Get out! Out, out, OUT!"
With that, the princess went berserk again and pressed a button. Immediately, the doors burst open as two guards rushed in. Without a word, each grabbed one of Shui Zhongmeng's wrists.
"I..."
Powerless to resist, Shui Zhongmeng tried to say something but was already being dragged away. He could only accept his fate for now—he wasn't ready to clash with the game's native entities yet.
The room quickly settled back into silence. Lu Ce hopped down from the large stone and began wandering about, while the princess resumed picking at her bedding.
Amidst the quiet, a bell tolled.
The doors opened again.
This time, both Lu Ce and the newcomer froze momentarily.
Xie Antong walked in wearing a maid's outfit, her white half-helm gleaming.
So she's the second one?
Lu Ce showed no reaction, his golden mask as aloof as ever—it almost seemed like he didn't recognize her at all.
Xie Antong, however, was completely stunned. Of all the possibilities she'd imagined, never had she considered that Sin would be sharing a room with the princess.
Were they going to end up sharing a bed too?!
She stood rooted in place for several seconds until strange laughter sounded behind her once more.
"Hehehehe..."
"Could you pick a different sound effect? Must you always start with that creepy laugh?" Lu Ce turned to remark.
The princess: "......"
The laughter cut off abruptly.
Xie Antong also snapped out of it. Despite her initial shock, seeing Sin still here actually gave her some reassurance.
No matter what outrageous things this guy might do, he was still an absurdly powerful teammate.
Without exchanging a single word with Sin, she walked past Lu Ce straight toward the princess.
The All-Seeing Eye dispersed through the air as data streams flowed across her lenses—she was quickly getting into character.
This time, she hadn't taken any drugs.
"Greetings, Princess."
"I said I'm not a princess! How many times must I say it—I'M NOT A PRINCESS AAAAAH!"
Another sharp scream erupted as the poor princess had another stress reaction to the new attendant.
Yet Xie Antong showed neither frustration nor surprise. Instead, she smiled gently and said:
"That's right. I've always known elder sister shouldn't be confined by that identity. It's all just nonsense from others, isn't it?"
The princess stiffened, lifting her head in confusion as if trying to see the speaker clearly.
She didn't seem to have heard such words before.
"Heh... Princess... What more could a princess want? Confined? It's glory... it's riches and honor..."
The princess lowered her head again, muttering sorrowfully to herself in evident mental turmoil.
Xie Antong didn't follow her train of thought. Among all the attendants, she had indeed studied the manual most carefully.
But unlike the others, she could discern something different beneath the surface.
Smiling, her expression showed a hint of inexplicable heartache as she continued:
"True, how many girls wish they could be princesses? A discontented princess really makes people grit their teeth in frustration."
"Everyone praises the wildflowers outside the window while looking down on the blooms in the greenhouse."
"But flowers don't choose to grow in greenhouses."
"Ordinary girls yearn to become princesses in vain, but when a princess wants to stop being one, isn't she equally helpless? Elder sister."
The madness in the princess's eyes faded slightly as she gazed bewildered at the woman before her.
"Who... are you? What do you want... to coax me?"
"No, I want to ask you a question," Xie Antong said.
"Ask away," the princess murmured, head still bowed.
"Do you love him?"