As the one experiencing it firsthand, Faust could swear that the flames in Cinderella's eyes were dead serious.
This state was absolutely abnormal. The original Viviana could be described with countless virtues.
Dutiful, capable, dignified, elegant, upright, decisive...
Viviana almost never revealed her inner feelings, always maintaining that cool, melancholic demeanor.
Even Faust had assumed his childhood friend was naturally aloof, never imagining such deep obsession simmered beneath the surface.
Ten years of accumulated longing, desire, resentment, and hatred... The "Cinderella" born from all that, even if she wasn't a true second personality, just a mask, was terrifying enough.
Faust seriously doubted whether he could withstand it. After all, Viviana's [Royal Guard] path was an ancient [Hero] class with a long heritage. This path had no special features except for one: absolutely brutal stats.
He was about to experience unimaginable intensity (tragic).
"What are you talking about?"
Cinderella smiled sweetly and bit his earlobe.
"You're the one who said you'd find me, Your Highness. You started this, so you have to take responsibility."
The girl spoke words that made the prince of Aurum shudder, all in an incredibly gentle, tender tone:
"Besides, didn't you always treat Viviana like a servant? If that's the case, then let me take care of everything for you. You just need to look at me, look at me... just keep looking at me."
"Viviana will accept everything you take from her without limit. And I will take from you without limit. That's fair, isn't it?"
Faust's face went pale. "Hey, can we negotiate?"
"At this point? Your Highness, surely you're joking?"
Cinderella smiled as she tied her long hair into a ponytail and crouched down.
...
In the basement of the Roselyn estate, a place where no signal could reach, where no one could find them.
This had originally been Viviana's private research lab, but now it had become a "prison."
His Highness was here to properly endure his punishment.
Don't misunderstand. It wasn't because "Cinderella" bore him any ill will.
To be fair, after Viviana put on the "Cinderella" mask, she wasn't some terrifying yandere.
At least from Faust's perspective, Cinderella couldn't be called a yandere. She acted more like a simple, sweet girl in love.
Just too intense.
As if making up for all the lost romance and sweetness, in this small underground world, Cinderella did exactly what she'd promised.
Taking.
Taking without limit.
Sometimes she kissed Faust's skin and cheeks, whispering sweet nothings, confessing her love.
Sometimes she sat shoulder to shoulder with Faust, holding up a poetry collection, sharing favorite verses and plays.
Sometimes she played instruments, singing softly by his ear with a voice as beautiful as a nightingale.
Sometimes she cooked pastries and dishes he liked, feeding him bit by bit.
...
Every minute, every second had to be spent with her beloved.
On the sofa, in bed, in the bathroom, under the dining table... in every appropriate and inappropriate place and time, greedily taking.
As if she'd obtained a long-coveted treasure, Cinderella played with it constantly without rest, inseparable and clinging.
It might sound tolerable. After all, Faust wasn't an ordinary man.
With the [Lustful Sovereign] mystical trait, no matter how intense the demands, they should be paradise for him.
But things weren't that simple.
Because while Cinderella's care was meticulous in every way, she absolutely wouldn't allow Faust to ignore her.
Just as she'd said before, she wanted Faust to keep looking at her, always. Whether love or hate, affection or disgust, everything had to be conveyed to her.
Which meant the poor prince of Aurum could barely rest. Countless times, Faust had just closed his eyes only to be jolted awake by bright lights and loud noises.
Sometimes hot water had barely touched his lips before Faust passed out, only to wake and find it still warm.
"Please, let me sleep for a bit. Just a little while. I'll agree to anything you say after I wake up."
Faust looked at his childhood friend sitting in his lap, speaking weakly.
Her pale gold hair fell messily and lazily around her shoulders. Cinderella tilted her head in confusion, then immediately leaned down to suck on the prince's collarbone.
Well, in this state, Viviana probably didn't have much rationality left. Pleading was useless. He'd just have to wait for her to completely calm down.
"How long has it been?"
[Since Viviana's elaborate trap and Faust's descent into the underground chamber, three months have passed.]
Mephisto's gleeful voice emerged in his mind, making Faust laugh bitterly:
"It's already been that long? Well, at least it hasn't been years."
Confined to the basement day after day, Faust had nearly lost all sense of time.
Cinderella had brazenly taken him away from the palace. Logically, that should have attracted attention immediately. Being discovered the next day would be considered slow, let alone after three whole months.
The regent prince and his personal guard had vanished for three months. Could the entire kingdom really have no reaction at all?
Faust almost cursed his subordinates as a bunch of incompetent fools. If only Viviana weren't a [Witch].
But because she was a witch, there really was no helping it.
After all, [Witches] were fate's favorites. The world's natural laws could be casually overridden by them, especially when within destiny's script. Everything they did was divinely assisted.
Don't ask. When the plot demands it, distorting natural laws and human will is perfectly normal.
[You don't seem very resentful, despite being treated this way.]
"It's definitely uncomfortable, but this isn't Viviana's fault."
Faust shook his head. Even after enduring what could only be described as inhuman treatment, he held no resentment toward Viviana.
Thinking about it from her perspective, Viviana's actions were completely understandable. What Faust had done to her before was a hundred times worse!
[So, it's your fault?]
"Of course it's not my fault!"
Faust gritted his teeth, absolutely refusing to take the blame.
The prince of Aurum had one virtue: he never engaged in self-recrimination. He immediately identified the true culprit:
"It's all fate's fault!"
Without the influence of the Wheel of Destiny, how could he have failed to notice Viviana's feelings? How could he have treated his childhood friend so harshly? How could such deep resentment have accumulated in Viviana's heart?
Viviana was such an elegant, well-behaved girl, yet under fate's manipulation, she'd been driven to the brink of madness.
Damn, how could destiny be so cruel!
[Even if you blame fate, it's just an abstract concept that cannot receive your resentment. Unless... you plan to defy fate?]
Mephisto's tone was somewhat peculiar. Rather than accusation or warning, it carried a hint of expectation, as if hoping Faust would become a defier of destiny.
The prince of Aurum answered without hesitation:
"If resisting being toyed with and twisted like this is called defying fate, then I have no choice but to defy it!"
But the prince of Aurum was truly exhausted, his thoughts growing sluggish, unable to think any further.
Even knowing he'd be woken up, he couldn't help but close his eyes.
...
When Faust regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was comfort and satisfaction flooding his entire body.
Even with the [Lustful Sovereign] trait, going so long without proper rest had really worn Faust down.
Wait, I actually fell asleep?! No, I should say... I was actually allowed to fall asleep!
After a brief moment of confusion, Faust immediately realized this and opened his eyes to see a tranquil, gentle face. The girl's eyes were closed, beautiful as a painting.
He was resting on a pair of elastic, firm, shapely thighs.
"Viviana!"
Faust's movement caught the girl's attention. When she opened her eyes, the prince of Aurum actually felt relieved.
Because those violet eyes no longer burned like flames but were calm and melancholic as usual.
Her delicate, soft face no longer wore that sweet smile that had terrified him, returning to what Faust was most familiar with: a static beauty like a doll or painting.
Meaning this Viviana was no longer in "Cinderella" form.
Understanding this, Faust spoke with obvious relief:
"You're finally back to normal?"
"I'm sorry."
Her pale gold bangs couldn't hide the girl's gaze. Viviana nodded lightly to Faust:
"What she did was too much. It was torture for you. When I never wanted to hurt you, no matter what..."
A complete disavowal!
The first thing Viviana said to Faust was to separate yesterday's self from today's self.
As if the "Cinderella" who'd spent three months practically draining Faust's marrow wasn't her.
Never mind whether "Cinderella" was just Viviana's mask. Even if it really was a "second personality," it still made Faust laugh in disbelief.
Having your fun and then pretending not to know him? What's this about forgetting yesterday once the sun rises?
Viviana! I don't remember you becoming like this!
Faust almost blurted out his complaint, but learning from last time, His Highness swallowed the words at his throat and nodded instead:
"I know. After all, you're a good girl who believes companionship is the longest confession of love. What bad intentions could you have?"
The girl's deep purple eyes widened slightly. "Companionship... is a confession?"
"Ah, during this time, I completely understood your feelings."
Faust tried his best not to say this through gritted teeth.
Hearing the words she'd dreamed of, the knight's eyes lit up. She helped Faust sit up, studying His Highness carefully as if seeing him anew.
Viviana clasped her hands to her chest. "Your Highness, I'm so happy you said that... truly, so happy."
"So now, can we leave here?"
Faust asked tentatively. Now that Viviana had vented ten years of pent-up emotions, there should be room for discussion.
Hearing this, Viviana remained silent for a long time. After an eerie pause, the girl spoke:
"And then?"
"What?"
Viviana reached out to brush Faust's cheek, arranging his hair. Her already melancholic eyes grew even sadder:
"Once we leave here, you'll probably stop pretending. Your Highness, I know you too well. You can say any sweet words against your heart, you can laugh off your own suffering."
"Perhaps deep down you've always thought I was easy, that I'd accept any task you gave me. But on this one matter, I don't want to follow your will."
"Your Highness, Your Highness, Faust... how can I believe you've truly changed?"
So she doesn't trust me?
Very reasonable. Faust understood his own character. His childhood friend knew him too well, sometimes better than the prince of Aurum knew himself.
Doubting his sincerity was perfectly justified. If he hadn't learned the truth, he really would do exactly that!
Seeing Faust fall silent, Viviana's eyes immediately dimmed:
"If we're going back to those years where you used me as a tool and treated me coldly, I'd rather keep you bound here. At least your disgust and hatred can belong entirely to me."
"!!"
Faust broke out in a cold sweat.
If he couldn't convince her, it wasn't hard to imagine what would happen.
No matter how harmonious and happy "Cinderella's" ending might be, being confined for three to five years would be unbearable. And his grand ambitions would die before even beginning.
Think, quickly! Think of how to convince Viviana. He needed to offer something heavy enough, heavy enough to dispel all her doubts.
Passionate vows of eternal love? But the girl had always seen through whether Faust's words were true or false. She just never called him out before because she enjoyed hearing them. That wouldn't work in this situation.
Promises of wealth and glory? Don't make Sister Viv laugh. If Viviana wanted, who sat on the throne of Aurum would be anyone's guess.
Even the position of princess consort probably wouldn't satisfy Viviana, since that was already within "Cinderella's" grasp.
What other promise could there be?! What other conditions?! What could prove his determination?!
Under tremendous pressure, Faust thought frantically, and then... he found the perfect answer.
The prince of Aurum took a deep breath and said:
"I'll give up the throne."
"Mmph!"
The moment those words fell, Viviana's eyes widened in disbelief. Of all the possibilities she'd imagined, she never expected Faust to say this.
Faust continued:
"After we get out, I'll yield the heir's position to my sister. I won't become king of Aurum. I'll just stay a prince."
Viviana's gaze locked onto Faust's face, trying to read his expression for any hint of deception. She couldn't believe Faust would do this.
But the pale-haired girl couldn't detect any lies. Based on her understanding of His Highness, his words were completely sincere, without a trace of verbal trickery.
"Why?"
The knight bit her lip, asking involuntarily:
"You would actually... pay such a price?"
No one understood better than Viviana what the throne and power meant to Faust.
Through countless sleepless nights, Faust had poured in endless effort, all to become a great monarch.
In a sense, Faust's harsh treatment and distance from her had all been because of this reason.