The cafeteria.
Lulu’anna kept her head low like a guilty thief, nibbling on a piece of dry, hard bread. She dodged the disdainful glares of her classmates, looking for all the world like a hamster sneaking a midnight snack.
Just then, the Aries Witch approached her, carrying a tray laden with several freshly baked egg tarts.
The aroma of milk, eggs, and butter toasted at high temperatures was thick and sweet. A single breath of it sent the scent spiraling through the nasal passages and into the brain, making one feel as though they were drifting among the clouds.
Several girls, already weak from prolonged starvation, felt their vision swim. They collapsed on the spot, causing a minor commotion.
The Aries Witch placed the tray in front of Lulu’anna and said warmly, “The new school uniforms you designed are truly beautiful. Everyone wants uniforms like those—and the women wearing them. Lady Lilith said she particularly liked the Disciplinary Committee version and wants you to design a few special editions for her.”
The scent was becoming unbearable for Lulu’anna. The allure of freshly baked egg tarts placed before someone on the brink of starvation was unimaginable.
“Please, help yourself,” the Aries Witch said with a smile.
The young woman was already a peerless beauty; her rounded face and soft features made her appear even more kind and approachable.
Lulu’anna swallowed hard. She thought to herself: I’ve already taken the New Church’s bread, so what’s a few egg tarts? As long as I hold my ground and don’t actually believe in Granahl…
Gritting her teeth, she reached for the plate, only to have her hand pinned down by the Aries Witch. Then, words like a demon’s whisper echoed from above.
“Who said you could use your hands? Please, be a good little dog and use your mouth.”
The Aries Witch tilted her head, a pair of adorable dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were misty and full of a strange desire.
She loved toyed with this aristocratic little girl. Watching a pampered young lady forced to eat sludge—the rejection, the disgust, the grievance, yet the absolute necessity of putting it in her mouth—was simply darling.
To see her sell her dignity for a few egg tarts, stretching out her snowy neck and soft hair to scramble in a food bowl like a hungry pup… the thought alone was enough to give the Witch an excited nosebleed.
Leona sat directly opposite them, her teeth grinding audibly. She was at a breaking point.
The atmosphere turned icy. Around them, students stopped their spoons and turned to watch the scene unfold.
Instead of breaking, Lulu’anna grew calm. She composedly withdrew her hand, a sudden burst of pride radiating from her. She sneered, “Take them away. These tarts are as nauseating as you are. I think I’m going to be sick.”
Leona let out a soft breath of relief, a gratified smile spreading across her face.
The Aries Witch left, looking disgruntled.
Lulu’anna flashed a small smile at Leona and gave a quiet “V” for victory.
Leona’s nose stung with tears. She frowned and whispered, “I’m sorry… It’s because I’m useless… I can’t get any food…”
“Don’t worry. Once I’ve made up my mind, I’ll follow you to the end—even if I starve to death,” Leona reassured her.
Lulu’anna took Leona’s hand and gave the back of it a playful lick like a puppy, making Leona giggle.
However, the aristocratic girl was only putting on a brave face. As soon as they returned to their dorm, she collapsed.
She looked incredibly frail, her eyelids barely able to stay open, her breath as thin as silk.
Their roommate, Wei Ning, brought over hot water and tucked a wet towel against Lulu’anna’s forehead and temples.
Leona paced nearby, frantic with worry.
“Lulu… is getting bigger…” Wei Ning murmured in confusion.
She watched as Lulu’anna’s body began to swell. Her face and arms were particularly bloated; if a finger pressed into her skin, it left a lasting indentation.
“It’s… hunger-induced edema… Ah… No…”
Seeing this, Leona’s pupils trembled violently in panic. Her head shook slightly as a desperate cry escaped her throat.
She suddenly turned and stumbled out the door!
She burst straight into Room 202 across the hall, screaming, “Wang Yue! Is Wang Yue here?!”
Leona looked up and saw the young black-haired girl sitting on the balcony, chin in hand, lost in thought. Leona lunged forward and fell to her knees at Wang Yue’s feet, her voice thick with strain.
“Lulu… she’s not going to make it… Please… just a bite of food… I’ll do anything…”
It was too late to join the New Church. Faith required a hollowed heart and a quiet environment to concentrate; in her current state of burning anxiety, concentration was impossible.
As a rival class leader, Leona had long known that Wang Yue was a person of means and the leader of the Orthodox students. She was willing to bow her proud head and beg for help.
Wang Yue steadied Leona’s shoulders. Her palms immediately felt the supple elasticity and the violent tremors of the girl’s body. This was a girl brimming with latent energy and vitality.
“Don’t panic. Take me there.”
Wang Yue’s voice was gentle yet firm, acting as a pillar of strength that poured into Leona’s heart.
Leona felt a sense of stability and fullness return to her chest. Her shaking gradually stopped as she looked at the young black-haired girl with hope.
Wang Yue went to Room 203 to check Lulu’anna’s condition—it was indeed hunger-induced edema, caused by a protein deficiency leading to an imbalance in osmotic pressure.
Lulu’anna’s usual diet was too refined, and her absorption capacity was poor. Even if she ate a couple of extra pieces of bread each meal, it didn’t provide enough protein.
It was like a Ragdoll cat accustomed to high-end kibble and canned meat suddenly being cast out into the wild. Telling her to lick dirty water and eat rats was impossible; her body simply couldn’t digest it, and she would quickly waste away.
Wang Yue mixed a small cup of concentrated milk and fed it to the aristocratic girl. She then instructed Leona to take her to the bathroom frequently to help drain the excess fluid.
Seeing her beloved friend’s condition slowly improve under the nourishment of the milk, Leona was overjoyed, nearly jumping for joy.
But her distress soon returned.
Food was still the ultimate problem.
Only by defecting to the New Church could she get enough food to keep Lulu’anna alive, but she hadn’t yet fulfilled her promise to Wang Yue.
Leona was caught in a dilemma.
After a moment of thought, she suddenly stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Wang Yue. She raised her palm and swore:
“If you can provide the food to keep her alive, I will pledge my loyalty to you! I swear it upon my soul, my dignity, and my honor!”
Compared to betraying her teachers and classmates to join some unknown entity like Granahl, Leona would much rather choose to serve Wang Yue.
Hearing this, the aristocratic girl on the bed shivered. Large tears welled in her eyes and rolled down onto her small ears.
Wang Yue’s heart skipped a beat.
This was a windfall.
Leona was a “Shiny 6V”—perfect stats, perfect nature. She was prime material for a team mainstay, a right-hand woman. Trading a few Nutrition Sticks for her was an absolute steal.
She could even lie to herself and say she’d bought Leona for twenty ounces of gold. Trading a few snacks for a “clumsy maid” character? Yeah, that’s a profit, she thought, her internal scales tipping into a satisfied balance.
However, in a secret room within the dormitory, Medeili and Dina were currently mass-producing Nutrition Sticks, which were about to be distributed to everyone.
Accepting Leona’s loyalty at this exact moment felt a bit like a shady merchant pretending there was no sale coming, only to drop a massive discount right after a customer paid full price.
Was that right?
No, it wasn’t.
Wang Yue shook her head, leaned into Leona’s ear, and lowered her voice to tell her about the upcoming distribution.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to sell your freedom or your dignity. There will be food, and there will be victory.”
Though Wang Yue said the words, her heart was bleeding—it felt like sending a Shiny 6V Pokémon back to the Professor.
Professor Oak: Thank you! This will help my research immensely!
Leona let out a long breath. Her tensed spirit relaxed, and her eyes sparkled with an unusually bright light. She stared intently at Wang Yue, her heart touched by the girl’s sincerity. An indescribable emotion surged within her as she murmured, “Student Wang Yue… you really are an incredible person…”
Then, she thought seriously and made a monumental decision.
Leona’s gaze shifted. She lowered her head again and piously took one of Wang Yue’s slender hands, placing it on her own shoulder. She leaned her cheek against Wang Yue’s arm and said with firm earnestness:
“Please accept my loyalty, Excellency Wang Yue. This time, it is of my own personal volition. A person such as yourself is worthy of a lifetime of service.”
Wang Yue pursed her lips tightly, suppressing a smug, self-satisfied grin.
What was lost at the start was gained ten-fold in the end.
This feeling was truly wonderful.
Heh heh heh…
