Chapter 449: Biological Differences
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 449: Biological Differences
"Yes..."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
Liya’s helpless answer echoed through the room, which was thick with the scent of young girls.
But it didn't just echo in the room. There was another place where that single, forceful word played on a loop, reverberating like a shout in a canyon.
That place was Ariel’s mind.
When that word spilled from Liya’s soft, pink lips, it felt like a bolt of lightning striking Ariel’s crown, piercing the very depths of her soul.
She shuddered, then immediately straightened her back. As if to confirm something, she cast her gaze around the room.
Through the thin white veil of the bed curtains, the entire room was laid bare to her sight.
To ensure this wasn't just a fleeting dream or a hallucination, her sharp gaze swept over her surroundings again and again.
The wardrobe... the desk... the curtains...
Yes, that was right.
At this very moment, there were only... three people in this room.
Herself.
Liya.
And Senior Anna.
As for people Liya was close to—excluding Senior Anna, whom Liya had said she’d only met once—there was only one person left.
And that was... Liya’s childhood sweetheart, the one who shared a deep ten-year bond with her... herself! Ariel Bugard!
In other words, based on Senior Anna’s series of questions, the person Liya loved was...
Her!
In an instant, joy surged from the depths of Ariel’s heart. Her vision blurred as if a raging fire were burning around her, but when she snapped out of it, there was no fire—only her own flushed, burning cheeks, growing hotter by the second.
The frog I’ve been slow-cooking for ten years... has she finally seen the light?
Could it be that my previous hesitations were the only reason this moment took so long to arrive?
Regret and excitement flooded Ariel’s brain simultaneously, causing her to freeze like a crashed computer displaying a "program not responding" message.
"Ariel, you..."
Noticing Ariel’s strange behavior, Liya turned her head sharply. It was as if she had finally confirmed something at that moment; her expression turned odd, and she hesitated to speak.
But Ariel, believing she knew everything, suddenly stood up. She didn't give Liya a chance to speak. Fumbling with her words and looking completely flustered, she stammered:
"This... this is too sudden. Even though I expected it, it’s still too sudden! And... and this kind of thing, I should be the one to say it personally. If you say it first, Liya, then it’s just too..."
"I... I’m going to go outside and cool my head! Let’s end things here for tonight!"
"I had a great time! Goodbye! Goodnight!"
Before her voice even faded, Ariel had already turned into an afterimage, bolting out of the room.
She moved with such speed that it perfectly showcased the combat prowess of someone who could fight their way from one end of a street to the other. Before the other three in the room could even react, she was gone.
Liya’s cherry lips remained slightly parted, but in the end, she didn't say a word.
"Oh my, oh my. I didn't expect something so interesting to happen. Ariel... seems to have misunderstood something."
Anna rested her chin on her hand, watching the scene unfold. She had processed the situation even faster than Liya, and her expression was gradually shifting into that of someone enjoying a good show.
"That little junior... so she’s that type of person. How rare."
"I..."
Liya gave a bitter smile. "I didn't realize Ariel harbored those kinds of feelings for me. I... I always thought she was my best friend."
"Best friends don't almost fly away with excitement after a misunderstanding like that. What are you going to do now? Let her keep believing it?"
Liya thought for a moment and shook her head. "If I tell her now, she’ll definitely think I’m just being shy and trying to cover it up. I’ll wait until she calms down to explain everything clearly. I just hope she won't hate me then."
"Oh? You’re more experienced in matters of the heart than I thought."
Anna narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. "I really did underestimate you before."
"Hmph."
Liya puffed out her cheeks, temporarily setting the matter of Ariel aside. She glared at Anna with feigned ferocity. "I’m not that ignorant little girl I used to be. You’ll trip yourself up if you keep looking down on people, Senior Anna."
"True. It seems you’ve been 'trained' quite well by that bad man."
Anna let out a soft giggle. Her fingers brushed over the surface of the bed. She was facing Liya, yet she seemed to be addressing someone else in the room as she spoke nonchalantly:
"So, since the conversation has reached this point, is a certain someone planning to keep playing the shrinking turtle?"
"..."
The atmosphere fell into a heavy silence.
Liya looked like she wanted to say something again, but she remained silent, puffing out her cheeks as if nursing a secret grudge.
Then, amidst the silence, a certain "golden retriever pig" slowly poked his head out from under the bed, looking up at Anna with a sheepish grin. Anna, for her part, showed no signs of anger.
"Good evening, Senior. What a coincidence. Are you here for a visit too?"
"Yes, what a coincidence indeed, Mr. Muen."
Anna rested her cheek in her palm, her narrow eyes curving into two beautiful crescents. The tear mole at the corner of her eye made her look even more enchanting.
"So, can you explain? As an adult male, why are you in Her Highness the Saintess’s room late at night? This doesn't seem like the appropriate time for official business."
"I..."
"Don't think you can just gloss over this."
Anna extended a long, black-stockinged leg, using her toe to draw circles on Muen’s chest. "It’s not just me; the Saintess is watching too."
"..."
Muen stole a glance at Liya. Though she didn't say a word, her gaze was glued to him.
Her hands were clenched tightly around her skirt—she was expectant, yet nervous.
Muen’s shoulders slumped as he let out the breath he’d been holding. He had prepared many excuses, but at this moment, he couldn't bring himself to say any of them. He could only manage a bitter smile.
"There’s not much to say. It’s exactly what you see, Senior, and exactly what you’re thinking."
"You’ve been unfaithful?"
"I’ve been unfaithful."
"No excuses?"
"No excuses." Muen shook his head. "It’s the truth."
"That sounds like a very responsible statement... unfortunately, it’s coming from a total scumbag."
Anna looked down at him from her elevated position. From Muen’s perspective, he could see her long, black-stockinged legs, her exquisite figure wrapped in a knit sweater, and her beautiful, mischievous face that was as unpredictable as a witch’s.
She was just as he remembered—the same look, the same warmth, the same scent.
"Tsk, tsk. It’s only been a month, and my dear junior has already brought back another little 'green tea' girl. At this rate, in a few years, I’m afraid your family estate won't be big enough to hold all your mistresses."
Her silk-clad toe playfully tilted Muen’s chin up, forcing him to meet her eyes.
"Tell me, what should I do with you, Junior?"
She gave a wicked, devilish smile.
"I... I’m not a 'little green tea'!" Liya puffed out her cheeks from the side, huffing indignantly. "We truly love each other!"
"...Yes. No one intentionally seduced anyone. We truly love each other," Muen answered seriously, looking into Anna’s eyes.
"And what about me?" Anna asked. "You said the same thing to me before, didn't you?"
"That’s right."
Muen caught Anna’s small foot, stroking it as he moved upward, gradually standing up until they were eye-to-eye.
"I love you too, Senior Anna. Past, present, and future—that will never change."
"..."
In her jewel-like eyes, his deep blue pupils were reflected.
She could see no falsehood or lies within them.
Muen slowly leaned in, wrapping his arm around her waist and taking her hand. He felt her presence—her warmth and scent—was so familiar. And wasn't it the same for her?
In fact, she craved it even more.
A complex shadow flickered in her eyes before finally dissolving into a long, helpless sigh.
"Honestly, I can never do anything about you, you scumbag junior."
"I’m a scumbag; didn't you know that already, Senior?" Muen flashed a handsome smile.
"...Yes, I’ve known for a long time."
Ever since this guy had come to offer her salvation while carrying the status of the Princess’s fiancé, she had known his true nature. But... she still couldn't help but reach out and take his hand.
Because it was just so warm.
She was someone who didn't like to compete for anything, yet because of a certain "First Wife’s" provocation, she had been forced to step onto the field and try to kick that arrogant, peerless Princess off her throne.
In the end, it was all because of this bad man.
"You can't keep doing this, okay?"
Anna hugged the lover she couldn't bring herself to truly punish. "I don't want to work so hard to kick your Princess out, only to turn around and find you’ve brought home an entire estate’s worth of 'dear sisters.'"
"..."
Muen’s lip twitched. He didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply tightened his grip on Anna’s slender waist and stroked her smooth, long hair.
"Don't worry. It’s not like I fall for every girl I see. In a way, I’m actually quite... 'devoted.'"
"Giggle, I just love that thick-skinned side of you, Junior."
Anna suddenly leaned in, pressing her entire body against Muen’s chest. Their foreheads brushed, their noses touched, and they exchanged sweet, increasingly rapid breaths. She whispered teasingly:
"However... a junior who has done bad things still needs to be punished~"
"Pun... punished?" Muen swallowed hard. "What kind of punishment?"
Anna didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "It’s been over a month. It seems my junior has grown stronger again?"
"Just a little bit," Muen said modestly. "Just a tiny bit."
"That’s good. I’ve grown a bit stronger too."
Suddenly, as Muen gazed into Anna’s eyes, he noticed a change.
It was as if a misty haze was spreading through her clear pupils, dyeing everything the color of deep night.
When the darkness dissipated, Muen was shocked to see that Anna’s pupils had constricted into non-human slits.
At the same time, he felt a sudden chill on the back of his hand.
He looked down and saw something emerging from beneath her skirt, replacing her long, black-stockinged legs...
"A s-s-snake!"
Seeing that snake tail, Liya’s eyes widened, and her teeth chattered as she let out a cry of shock.
"It seems you didn't know, Junior Liya."
Anna’s snake tail coiled, wrapping around Muen’s neck as she chuckled. "This guy who keeps telling you he loves you... he’s a bigger pervert than you can possibly imagine."
"That’s... that’s going a bit far," Muen said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I’m not that much of a pervert."
"Is that so?" Anna blinked, feigning confusion. "But didn't you say yourself that you’re such a pervert you’d even go for a snake? Though compared to back then, I’m not nearly as scary now, am I?"
True, Muen silently agreed.
On that night, Anna hadn't just had a snake tail for a lower body; her entire body had been covered in fine, hard scales, and she had displayed far more "monstrous" traits.
A normal person would have been terrified by that gruesome appearance, let alone been able to appreciate her beauty.
But the current Anna... her snake tail swayed gracefully, while her upper body remained that of a flawless beauty. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a soul-stealing lamia.
But...
"No... I think you’ve misunderstood something..." Muen said righteously. "I’m not the type who—"
"You don't like it?"
"..."
"Giggle..."
The corners of Anna’s lips curled up. The tip of her snake tail flicked happily against Muen’s waist. "You’re quite honest, aren't you? Now, I have to punish you properly. It’s been over a month; if you can't satisfy me..."
As the snake tail slid across his lower back, Muen felt a chill in his kidneys.
"Wait!"
At that moment, Liya, who had finally recovered from the shock of Anna’s lower body turning into a snake, stood up.
She summoned her courage, as if she couldn't allow her beloved to be harmed like this. Gritting her teeth, she said, "You can't—mph!"
But before she could finish, Anna moved with lightning speed, flicking a tiny spark of mana under the girl’s skirt.
A certain small toy was instantly activated at maximum power. In a split second, the pleasure that had been suppressed all day surged through the Saintess’s body like an electric shock.
Before the Saintess could protect her knight, the witch’s evil sorcery sent her eyes rolling back and her delicate body into spasms, sending her straight to the clouds.
"Holy crap..."
Muen watched this scene, dumbfounded. No way, Saintess, are you really this weak? At least put up a fight!
But before he could say anything, Anna grabbed Muen’s head and forced him to look directly at her, right in front of the incapacitated Liya.
"No distractions. The punishment begins now."
A pair of slender hands wandered skillfully over Muen’s chest.
Soon, his clothes were wide open.
Anna gave Muen a light kiss on the lips, then extended her nimble tongue, licking her way downward.
It wasn't an ordinary pink tongue. What was currently gliding over Muen’s skin was a long, forked tongue, just like a real snake’s.
It was more flexible and far softer.
Then, she went further down.
Anna suddenly tilted her head back, wearing an innocent, naive expression like a clueless young girl, and asked:
"Darling, do you know the difference between a snake and a human?"
"The... the difference? What difference?"
Muen’s mouth hung open; his brain seemed incapable of thought.
"Setting aside other differences for now, there is one in particular..."
Anna ran her finger from her smooth chin slowly down to her throat.
Her forked tongue flicked over her lips as she chuckled. "A snake’s swallowing mechanism is completely different from a human’s. A human’s physiological structure makes it impossible to continuously swallow something... but a snake can."
Muen’s eyes widened.
He watched as Anna lowered her head and then, slowly—like a python claiming its prey—she swallowed.
"Hiss—!"
In an instant, Muen felt as if he were inside a warm, moist cavern. More importantly, that cavern provided a 360-degree, no-dead-angle massage.
It felt as if his soul were about to take flight.
"No... No way!"
At that moment, Liya finally came to her senses. She forced herself up and pounced like a hungry tiger, tightly hugging Muen.
"I won't let you bully Muen all by yourself..."
With that, she leaned in and kissed Muen passionately.
In that instant, Muen’s soul didn't just take flight; it performed a full mid-air gymnastic routine.
Now, there were two warm caverns.
And later, there would be even more.
...