Chapter 53: Big and Little Liars
“Eh?”
Erika froze. Her big red eyes blankly stared at Isana, with traces of grease still on her cheeks.
“I-Illusion magic?”
“That’s right! How could you not be sleepy?”
Isana exclaimed in surprise, “Even though the amount wasn’t much… but by logic, you ate so much roast meat laced with illusion magic—why aren’t you asleep yet? So weird… could it be that you’re immune to illusions?”
“That’s not the problem!”
Erika immediately jumped up from the sofa, puffing out her cheeks with a hint of anger. “The problem is—why would you put illusion magic on me in the first place, Isana?!”
“Of course it’s because…”
As she spoke, a blush appeared on Isana’s cheeks, and a longing smile bloomed across her face.
“To make you fall asleep, then strip you, lay you on my big bed, and finally pull out my sketchpad… heh… hehe…”
“No way! I’m leaving!”
Realizing that coming to Isana’s room was like boarding a pirate ship, Erika immediately moved to leave.
As expected, this woman never had good intentions!
But just then, Isana’s slender arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and her cheek pressed against Erika’s fragrant shoulder.
“Stay and play a bit longer, Erika… please… I… I just want to draw… just one piece, okay…”
As Isana spoke, her red lips nearly kissed Erika’s cheek.
The breath that surrounded Erika’s sensitive spots made her feel a tinge of fear.
“L-Let go of me.”
Being held at the waist, a wave of blush rose. Erika flusteredly reached out to pry the other girl off, but Isana clung on tighter and tighter.
“Hmph! You ate so much of my roast meat, I won’t let you leave so easily.”
“H-How much do you want?! I’ll pay you back!”
“No need. Since you already ate it, pay me back with your body, hehe… come on… be good and take off your clothes.”
As she spoke, Isana’s head kept nuzzling against Erika’s shoulder.
That snow-white hair brushed against Erika’s ear, making her feel itchy.
Her ears were the most sensitive part of Erika’s body.
“Stop it… Isana, we agreed… only food… you lied to me.”
“Yes, I’m a big liar. You’re not getting away today!”
Isana’s hands began to behave badly. Her slender fingers started loosening Erika’s clothes, even brushing against her little tummy, making Erika shudder in fright.
“If you keep doing this… I’ll get mad!”
Erika began to struggle. Having been harassed twice by Isana in one day, her face was now burning red.
“Don’t move.”
Curling her lips, Isana pressed her mouth against Erika’s ear, her voice tender and soft. “This is my house. Since you’re already here, don’t resist.
Outside is full of my guards. If you dare resist, I’ll call them in to pin you down and bully you hard!”
Her words carried an unmistakable confidence.
After spending a whole day together, Isana had cleverly discovered that Erika’s personality was all bark and no bite—a girl who was easy to tease.
Just give her some food, and she’d immediately change her attitude.
Totally in the palm of her hand.
Might as well cook the rice while it’s hot today!
Hehe, today you’ll obediently let me get my way.
Even though Erika hadn’t taken her Dragon Appearance yet and wasn’t in the perfect form Isana imagined, it could still be a good start. Maybe someday she’d become completely compliant?
“Y-You… let go of me!”
Faced with Isana’s threats, Erika had no idea what to do.
Should she use magic to blast Isana off?
But that would hurt her.
Yet if she did nothing, she was really about to be stripped…
“No way! You’re not escaping today, Erika. Sacrifice yourself for my art, hehe.”
No matter what, Isana wouldn’t let go. Her fingers gently brushed Erika’s skin, keeping her tiny body in a constant state of alarm, unable to resist.
“Wait… Isana.”
“No waiting!”
“My stomach hurts…” Erika lied.
“You think I’d fall for that kind of cheap trick?”
Isana didn’t believe her at all and held her tightly. “I’m not that dumb.”
“I-It’s true.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t… lie.”
A soft and weak voice came from Erika’s lips. While it was true she didn’t lie, she was really good at acting innocent.
She bit her lips, her cheeks full of discomfort. “I… I ate too much earlier. My tummy hurts. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Hmm? Really?”
“Really… I’ll be right back.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Something like that… how can we go together?!”
Erika was nearly crying from panic. Isana was sharp and hard to trick. She had to put on an even more pitiful look.
“Your illusion magic made me feel really uncomfortable…” Erika continued lying.
Hearing “illusion magic,” Isana hesitated.
She had been wondering all along why the spell had no effect on Erika. That kind of illusion was commonly used even on battlefields—many physically powerful warriors couldn’t resist it.
Could it be that dragons were immune to mental-type magic?
Seeing Erika still so energetic and struggling now made her start to doubt whether the spell had gone wrong… maybe it damaged Erika’s body?
Isana scanned Erika’s face with her big eyes, tilting her head. “But you don’t look like anything’s wrong.”
“There is…”
Erika squeezed her cheeks with effort. “I feel terrible. Let me go first.”
“…Alright.”
Worried the spell might really have caused some harm, Isana gave in. Her little arms finally released Erika.
But the moment she let go, she regretted it.
Erika, now free, bolted like lightning.
“Erika, you little liar! You tricked me!”
“You lied to me first!”
Flinging the door open, Erika fled at top speed, leaving the guards outside dumbfounded.
Just a moment later, Isana chased after her. Her gaze swept the surroundings, and she shouted at the guards:
“You! Block the gate! Don’t let that little girl get away!”
“Uh… yes, Miss!”
As Isana’s personal guards, they didn’t question her orders and quickly blocked the mansion’s main entrance.
“Hehe, with my father gone, no one can stop me. You’re not getting away, Erika.”
Grinning, Isana chased after Erika like a little devil who wouldn’t rest until she got what she wanted.
Not wanting to be bullied again, Erika saw the main entrance blocked and changed direction, running deeper into the mansion.
The Elfreid estate was enormous, like a mini palace, even boasting three separate gardens.
Erika dashed around chaotically, glancing back as she ran.
“Stop running, Erika! You can’t fly, you can’t escape. Be good and sacrifice yourself for my art.”
“In your dreams!”
Seeing Isana still hot on her tail, Erika panicked and sped up.
With a Dragon Core Crystal, she could fly—but only by partially dragonifying herself, which in broad daylight would reveal her identity.
Reaching a corner, Erika turned sharply and darted into a nearby room without thinking.
The room was unlit and dim, but even with the door closed, she could hear Isana’s footsteps outside.
“Hah… hah…”
Panting, Erika’s heart pounded violently in her chest.
However, the sound of Isana’s footsteps gradually faded—she seemed to have skipped this room and run further away.
“Phew~”
Letting out a sigh, Erika leaned against the door, one hand pressed to her heaving chest, slowly calming down.
But just as she relaxed, the dim room suddenly lit up.
Someone had turned on the light inside!