She asked this with a cold laugh.
Celia slowly sat in her seat and crossed her legs, habitually lifting a slender leg clad in black stockings, her gaze suspicious and full of scrutiny.
As usual, Ansu's eyes instinctively swept over the fair skin faintly visible between her hemline and her black stockings.
Only then did he quickly shift his gaze upward to look directly into Celia's deep purple eyes.
He couldn't help it, he really didn't mean to turn on 'auto-aim'.
Because Celia's seat was exceptionally high, resembling a magnificent throne, every time she sat down and habitually crossed her legs, he would involuntarily... be drawn to the beautiful scenery of the witch's absolute territory.
"I'm asking you a question, what are your eyes wandering for?" Celia usually ignored Ansu's offensive glances, but today she was particularly angry.
She snorted coldly and glanced at Ansu with a hint of mockery.
"Does it look good?"
"It does." Ansu spoke his thoughts out loud instinctively.
Only then did he suddenly react, looking with a wry smile at the witch, who was wearing a faint, knowing grin.
"I remember you used to be quite fond of peeking at my legs." Celia sneered. "You were so sneaky, did you think I didn't know?"
Ansu's smile became even more awkward.
"Come here!" Celia commanded.
Ansu walked forward in confusion.
Celia shifted on her spacious 'throne' and patted the empty space beside her.
"Sit down!"
Ansu had no choice but to sit obediently beside Celia, a faint, lingering fragrance surrounding his nose.
"Since you like looking so much..." Celia flashed a mischievous, wicked grin. "Then I'll punish you by letting you look all you want~"
A slender, beautiful leg clad in a black stocking was slowly lifted and presented before Ansu's eyes.
Seeing that restless little foot resting on his lap, Ansu was stunned for a moment. "Huh? What for?"
Celia leaned back lazily on the other side, completely using Ansu as a footrest. "What do you think? Massage my legs. I walked so far today, I'm exhausted."
"Don't you usually take a carriage..." Ansu muttered under his breath.
"That's also exhausting!" Celia commanded unquestioningly. "Massage them, now!"
"Alright, alright..." Ansu stared intently at the black-silked leg right in front of him, unable to look away for a moment.
How was this a punishment? This was clearly a reward!
Ansu's eyes suddenly grew heated, so he gently held Celia's small foot and let his hand slide up the curve of her slender calf...
"It's massaging! Not touching!" Celia glared at Ansu's restless hands and snapped.
"Doesn't it have to be from top to bottom, My Lady Witch?" Ansu chuckled and finally began kneading the witch's thigh.
Feeling the gentle pressure of his massage, stroke after stroke, Celia closed her eyes in comfort.
"Speak. Why did you stop me from reporting to Teacher just now?"
"I think Cult Leader Samantha's heart is currently full of finding the Chosen One, and she is busy reorganizing the cult, so she likely has no time to focus on other matters..." Ansu said seriously as he appreciated Celia's legs while massaging them.
Celia's legs were slender and perfect, fair and tender, not the excessively thin 'chopstick legs' of an internet celebrity, but with a well-proportioned fullness that felt great to massage.
"During this period, her most important task is to use this opportunity to win over more elders, so she will indeed be very busy." Celia questioned while enjoying herself. "But that's no reason to hide it from her. We cannot allow the demon army's treasure to be found by the Empire or our mortal enemy, the Church."
As she spoke, she slowly opened her eyes, her deep purple gaze fixed on Ansu.
"I know that's definitely not the reason. Ansu, are you hiding something from me?"
Ansu stopped the massage and suddenly threw a question back at her.
"My Lady Witch, I'm curious. In your heart, what kind of person is your teacher?"
"What kind of person is she?" Celia frowned and answered directly.
"At least among the members of the Truth faction, she is highly respected, wise, and learned. Her very existence has spanned a long time, and the cult members have been replaced through several generations..."
But Ansu clearly didn't want that kind of answer, and he silently watched Celia.
"But having been with her for many years, I know that her image is actually something she intentionally crafted in front of the members." Celia added. "Samantha is insidious, cunning, profit-oriented, and has less of a moral bottom line than anyone else..."
"Oh... It seems My Lady Witch knows what kind of person she is. Then I'm relieved." Ansu continued kneading her leg.
Celia was suddenly speechless. "Don't answer a question with a question! Ansu, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Ansu smiled and said, "Since Cult Leader Samantha is such a person, then why is she so good to you? Isn't it also because there's something to be gained?"
Celia froze for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "If you say there's absolutely nothing, that's impossible."
"She brought me back to the cult, taught me systematic magic, and sent people to instruct me in noble etiquette... All because I am useful."
"I can be the sharpest blade in her hand, or the most outstanding executor, perfectly infiltrating the Empire's noble circles..."
After hearing this, Ansu thought to himself that Celia still thought too highly of the old hag...
She only thought the other party was utilizing her, unaware that Samantha had the most sinister intentions for her. Celia was completely viewed as a vessel for extending her life by the old hag...
Current Celia, while far from 'naive', indeed held unrealistic and beautiful fantasies about Samantha.
After all, she had a childhood of wandering and fleeing. She lived in darkness and lacked that sliver of light.
So no matter what she encountered that could save her, she would grasp it tightly, like clutching a piece of driftwood in a current...
But she was different now, the current Celia had a lot.
Ansu's next plan was to let her slowly see her teacher's true face, and he didn't mind sowing a little discord between them.
Celia was not one for blind loyalty. With a little guidance, she would surely notice Samantha's scheme.
Thinking of this, and seeing Celia's suspicious expression, Ansu spoke slowly. "My Lady Witch, you must know that you possess demon lineage, and the Demon Calamity War caused by the demon army was the direct cause of the magic decline."
"As the successor to the Magic Empire, the Echoes of Truth must harbor hatred toward the demons and even you. It was already incredible that Samantha could withstand all opposition to keep you. If you suggest searching for the treasure left by the demon army for their descendants to make a comeback at this time, it will inevitably arouse much suspicion."
Ansu believed the reason he fabricated was very realistic. After all, Celia's identity was indeed controversial within the cult, as could be seen from the late Elder Hall.
"So I believe you should leave the matter of the demon army's treasure to me for a separate investigation. There is still time, and I can report it after I have verified it."
After saying this, Celia fell into a long silence.
"What you say is not without reason, and you are indeed thinking from my perspective..."
"But..."
At some point, her eyes had turned crimson, and a magical aura faintly appeared.
"Ansu, you are far too strange today."
At the moment she cast Hypnosis, Ansu felt strangely conflicted.
Test me, then!
Let's see what you can find out.
Previously, when Ansu had used various maneuvers and deceptions in front of the vile witch, he had been very nervous about this move, fearing she would see through him.
But now, when he truly wanted what was best for her, Ansu didn't want her to test him...
Humans are such contradictory creatures...
"Was everything you just said what you truly thought in your heart?" Celia asked softly.
"Yes." Ansu nodded stiffly.
"You actually really think so..." Celia was suddenly a bit troubled.
She began to mutter to herself, "I don't know where your hostility toward Teacher comes from. You only met her for the first time today, how strange..."
It's not the first time I've met her, Ansu thought.
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment, and Celia suddenly didn't know what to ask. Ansu had left her mind in a mess today.
After a long time, she looked at the dull-eyed Ansu and finally spoke again.
"Ansu..."
"What are your... current thoughts about me? Tell me."
Celia asked this question once again.
She didn't dare ask too outlandishly. She probed cautiously, afraid of getting an answer she didn't want...
After asking, Celia was a bit nervous and waited for Ansu's answer with a hint of anticipation.
Rate on N.U.
