Chapter 53. Holy Dragon Contract
After a few days of interaction, the servants of Hilton Manor had a general understanding of what their new master was like.
She was exceptionally beautiful, so much so that even the maids felt inadequate whenever they saw her.
She was strict with herself, always waking up earlier than the servants. By the time the servants were awake, she had already completed her daily morning exercises. Although she often went to bed late, she always managed to rise on time the next morning.
She was cold as ice; despite her perfect face, not a single person had seen her smile. She always appeared frosty, like a massive iceberg.
She was kind and magnanimous, never oppressing anyone due to her status. Even when a maid accidentally spilled soup on her, she only lightly said, “It’s just a small matter, it’s fine,” and the incident ended there.
She exuded authority; even without having done anything, no one dared to offend her. Just her presence alone was enough to earn the respect of everyone around.
In just a few days of interaction, the servants’ admiration for her grew even stronger.
But unfortunately, this nearly perfect master had a very peculiar flaw—self-harm.
…
“Ahhhh!”
Inside the locked room, the woman’s screams echoed one after another.
The servants stood outside the door, listening to the wretched sounds, each furrowing their brows.
“Elder Butler, why do you think the master hurts herself?” the head maid couldn’t help but ask.
“I don’t know,” the Elder Butler replied indifferently, with a cold expression.
A new maid, upon hearing this, unconsciously said, “Could it be that she’s a masochist? How strange…”
“If you dare to finish that sentence, I’ll give you a beating and throw you out of the manor,” the Elder Butler glared at the maid who had just spoken, his resolute face like iron. “The master’s kindness doesn’t mean I will be kind too.”
The maid’s expression changed, and she quickly shut her mouth, bowing and apologizing, “Yes, I was wrong.”
“Hmph, don’t let it happen again.” The Elder Butler snorted coldly. He knew the master could not be perverse. The reason she harmed herself was out of helplessness.
Because the Heart-E was just that kind of thing.
And to resist it, pain was indeed a potent remedy.
…
Inside the room.
“Haah, haah, haah…”
Alicia’s complexion was flushed, her body glistening with fragrant sweat as she let out alluring gasps.
On her lower abdomen, the Heart-E glimmered, and the flames of desire were gradually wearing down her will.
The so-called Slave Mark was a curse branded onto slaves; as long as the will of the master was defied, it would activate, punishing the marked individual in various ways: excruciating pain, burning, freezing, paralysis, suffocation… and so forth.
Among them, there was one particularly notorious Slave Mark, commonly known as the Lust Mark.
Its color resembled cherry blossoms, shaped like Cupid’s arrow; as for its effects… well, those who understand would understand.
The Heart-E was among the Lust Marks and derived from the ancient Ogre clan’s ancestral secret formula, extremely potent. While it couldn’t compare to the succubus’s saliva, it was enough to distort a person’s will.
It required the marked individual to be alongside the caster, regularly supplementing the caster’s bodily fluids; otherwise, they would burn to death in an endless cycle of lust.
However, that was a proper hero, a strong will forged over three hundred years, and not someone who could be easily subdued.
Alicia’s eyes widened, fixating on the glimmering magic mark on her lower abdomen.
She was trying to resist the mark’s power with her mana and battle qi, but it still wasn’t enough.
Gritting her teeth, Alicia bit down hard, even though her pristine skin was already covered in scars, she still grasped the bloodied blade beside her.
“I won’t lose to something like this.”
With a swift motion, the slender blade carved another scar into her already wounded leg.
…
“Creeeak…” The iron door slowly opened with a piercing sound.
Alicia leaned against the wall, her head lowered as she walked out from inside the door. “I’ll leave the cleaning to you.”
“Yes.” A few maids behind the Elder Butler nodded and entered the room with cleaning tools, closing the heavy iron door once again.
Alicia glanced at the Elder Butler in front of her. “Have you found the items I asked you to search for a few days ago?”
“All found,” the Elder Butler replied respectfully. “Everything has been placed on your workbench.”
“Thank you.”
“No, it’s my duty.”
…
In the vast garden, Alicia sat quietly at the tea table, her long, fair legs crossed, showing no signs of recent wounds from the blade.
As she sipped her tea, she carefully read the newspaper in her hands.
[The Star of Ruin Falls to the Ground, Hero Defeated, Mysterious Girl Emerges!]
[The kingdom is offering a substantial reward for any information related to the mysterious girl, up to one hundred thousand gold coins!]
[Eighteen theories about the true identity of the mysterious girl.]
[Shocking! The mysterious girl reappears; the true identity of the Mornhart savior is revealed?!!!]
[The messenger of justice, the warrior of love and miracles, Magical Girl Shadie.]
[A single person challenges hundreds of demons; just how strong is Shadie?]
[Gift to the kingdom, the black butterfly that strikes down a Saint Tier mage in one blow.]
[Breaking news, the kingdom’s celebration, the Butterfly Festival, is on the agenda.]
…
“So that’s how it is…” Alicia put down her red tea and newspaper, lost in thought.
Magical Girl Shadie…
It turns out she was the child who shattered the Star of Ruin and saved five million people in the Mornhart Kingdom.
Now, she was completely regarded by the people of Mornhart as a savior and was being sought after.
Alicia softly sighed, memories of the girl fighting in Linshire Village surfacing in her mind.
Though small in stature, her strength seemed boundless.
She was strong; even under optimal conditions, one-on-one, Alicia was still not her match.
But there was nothing to be worried about.
The battle in Linshire Village had convinced her that the girl was goodhearted, and there was no need to worry about her doing something immoral.
Moreover, it seemed she no longer wanted to kill her.
Hmm… No, wait.
Upon careful reflection, she had been wearing Holy Armor at that time and hadn’t revealed her true self.
The target that girl wanted to kill might have been the hero or perhaps… the System.
Alicia’s fists clenched tightly, as if an inferno burned deep within her eyes.
That damn System had controlled her at such a critical moment, forcing her to do those inhumane things.
And spouting about heavenly will, it was infuriating.
Indeed, that day’s events were not so simple.
An unexplained meteor appeared, wielding Divine Magic…
Unbeknownst to where it came from, it obstructed the mysterious darkness of the meteor single-handedly…
Suddenly going berserk, the inexplicable System…
Unknowingly, the girl whom I (the System) killed…
And last but not least, the mysterious girl who appeared like a savior.
Alicia sensed a taste of conspiracy, and her instincts as a former hero told her that a great calamity was likely brewing behind all this.
And the only one who might have the ability to explain everything to her—the Magical Girl, Shadie.
She had to find her, no matter what.
Not just to uncover the truth of that day, but also for her own life.
Alicia gently touched the Heart-E on her lower abdomen.
She truly hadn’t expected that her reckless comment that day would lead to the formation of the Heart-E, nor did she anticipate that it would be so resilient. Despite her vast experience accumulated over three hundred years, combined with her invincible Eye of Truth, she still couldn’t eliminate it.
Given the current situation, it seemed that to remove this Heart-E, she would need that child’s help; otherwise, even a sage wouldn’t be able to save her.
But the problem was, where could she find her?
She had read all the recent news about Shadie, but none mentioned where she might be!
This was quite frustrating.
Just then, a flash of golden light appeared, and an ancient rune appeared on the back of Alicia’s hand.
Alicia was momentarily stunned; she recognized this rune all too well. It signified connection, bond, the existence known as the “Holy Dragon Contract.”
She covered her mouth, staring blankly at the rune on her hand.
Tears of crystalline brilliance flowed down her cheeks, and an involuntary, incredulous yet joyous voice escaped her throat.
“Tia, is that you…?”
