Chapter 56: I Will Never Sell My Body
The indignant voice rang throughout the estate. Isana’s voice was loud enough that the surrounding guards couldn’t help but glance in that direction.
They all shook their heads helplessly. It seemed they were used to the sisters’ quarrels and didn’t intervene.
...
“Give her back to you?”
Otilia was unfazed, her expression calm. “Are you treating Erika like some sort of commodity?”
“Erika is mine! She’s my best… friend!”
Isana shouted angrily, though she never stepped into the room and remained standing at the doorway.
“I won’t give her to you! Absolutely not!”
Her voice remained loud and emotional.
“I was the one who invited Erika to come hang out! I was the first to know her! She was mine from the beginning! I won’t let you steal her from me—!”
She was angry.
Very angry—that much was clear to Erika.
But why? Why was she angry over her, and at Otilia, no less?
“Isana…”
Erika softly called Isana’s name. She was worried and tried to calm her down.
Otilia remained silent beside her. She only furrowed her brow, glancing at Isana, then at Erika, before letting out a light laugh.
“Hah. You call Erika your best friend, but I’ve never heard of anyone putting illusion magic into their friend’s food.”
At those words, a blush crept across Isana’s face. Still, she kept up her anger, gritting her teeth and giving Erika a look—as if blaming her for tattling.
“That’s none of your business!”
Isana shouted back, “Erika’s not affected by illusion magic! This has nothing to do with you! Stop acting like a grown-up lecturing me! You coward!”
“Watch your tone, Isana,” Otilia’s voice turned cold.
“So what!”
Isana refused to back down. “You’re the one who stole my Erika and hid her away!”
“I didn’t. I just had something to say to her.”
“You did! When I got here, you even told me she wasn’t here!”
“That’s because I didn’t want you to keep acting so spoiled. Because of your bad habits, you’ve already brought trouble to our house!”
“Those aren’t bad habits! It’s art!”
Isana grew even more furious. “What do you mean trouble to the house? I always paid them to keep quiet!”
“Exactly why I say you’re spoiled.”
Otilia shot her a cold glance. “You think money can solve everything? That it can guarantee silence? You little lunatic.
Did you know people came to the door while you were away at Wode Academy? If father hadn’t apologized nicely, your ‘bad habits’ would’ve been exposed long ago!”
“You… you’re lying!”
“Ask father yourself if you don’t believe me.”
...
The two of them went back and forth, leaving Erika flustered. She bit her lip and shouted at both of them.
“Stop fighting!”
At her cry, the sisters finally quieted down, though both their gazes still held traces of resentment.
Isana still hadn’t stepped inside the room from the start.
“Erika…”
She called softly, her face stiff. “You… Come out, please. I was just joking earlier. Don’t stay in that woman’s room.”
“…”
Erika said nothing and couldn’t help glancing at Otilia, who was frowning back at her, leaving her momentarily frozen.
Seeing this, Isana forced a smile. “Hey, I’ve got yummy snacks. Look.”
She pulled out a big bag of dried beef jerky from her clothes, which looked quite tasty. She even waved it in her hand.
“Really tasty. Come on, it’s all yours.”
Before Erika could say anything, Otilia interjected, “What are you doing? Luring a child with snacks?”
“Uh…”
The jerky did tempt Erika…
Ignoring Otilia, Isana opened the bag, pinched off a piece, and popped it into her mouth.
“See, Erika? No illusion magic this time. I’ve got loads more.”
“Really… no illusion magic?”
“Really!”
“You won’t try to take my clothes off again?”
“I won’t! Just come out.”
...
What should I do… I really want that jerky…
Erika looked at Otilia, then at the jerky in Isana’s hand. She wavered.
Both seemed to be waiting for Erika to choose for herself.
After a short stalemate…
“Sigh…”
Otilia was the first to sigh. She smiled gently at Erika. “If you want to eat, go ahead. I never said I’d stop you.”
“I-I never said I wanted to eat…”
“Your eyes have been glued to the jerky since just now.”
Otilia chuckled. “Go on. Your temperament is a bit different from Vivi’s. I hope you’ll show up at the banquet in half a month.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Finally able to eat, Erika ran over to Isana without hesitation and didn’t even use her hands—just bit straight into the jerky.
Watching the little girl snatch food from her hand, Isana finally smiled. She glanced at Otilia, lips curled proudly, as if claiming victory.
Otilia said nothing more. She just shrugged, as if she didn’t mind.
“Let’s go, Erika. Let’s get out of here.”
“But…”
Erika wanted to say goodbye to Otilia, but Isana forcibly pulled her away by the arm. “Come on, come on, there’s more jerky waiting.”
Dragged away by Isana, Erika didn’t even get to say goodbye to Otilia.
This time, Isana didn’t take Erika back to her room but led her to a small garden in the estate.
Flowers bloomed on the lawn. It was a pretty nice view.
Handing over all the jerky she had, Isana lowered her head, face turned aside like something was on her mind.
“Isana?”
Munching on jerky, Erika called tentatively.
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
She apologized…
Erika was a little surprised.
“I’m sorry, Erika——!”
Isana looked up, her eyes glimmering. Her red lips pressed together.
“I shouldn’t have put illusion magic in your food. It was my fault. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m really sorry! Please forgive me!”
“Ah…”
The sudden change caught Erika completely off guard.
“Please, Erika… forgive me…”
“It’s okay… I didn’t pass out. I was just scared you’d strip me, hehe.” Erika responded with an awkward laugh.
“I won’t take off your clothes again,” Isana said softly.
“You don’t want me to be your model anymore?”
Erika thought she had given up.
But Isana continued, “No, I’m not giving up on making you my model. That’s my beloved art. I won’t abandon it.
It’s just…
Otilia was right. You’re my best friend. Friends should be sincere with each other. I shouldn’t have forced you—that was all because I was too selfish.
But…
I’ll find a way to make you agree!
No matter what!”
Hearing that, Erika quickly looked away.
So she was still thinking about it.
Heh. Give it up. Not gonna happen.
I will never sell my body!