Chapter 296: Deception
Luo Xiu let out a sneer and said coldly, “My affairs do not require the Saintess’s concern.”
Ichitia’s expression also turned cold. She gazed at the man and solemnly warned him, “Regardless of what happens, I will report all of Lord Luo Xiu’s actions today to His Eminence the Pope truthfully.”
Luo Xiu chuckled and waved his hand dismissively, “As the Saintess pleases.”
After speaking, his gaze briefly swept over the perfect figure beneath the woman’s white robes. He suddenly smiled and said, “If the Saintess has nothing else, please return. I need to continue judging these two little witches.”
Upon hearing this, Ichitia slightly lowered her eyes, effectively concealing the disdain in them.
She shook her head and asked, “Lord Luo Xiu, would you permit me to wander around the manor?”
Luo Xiu was somewhat surprised but did not object.
He turned and walked into the room, his back to Ichitia, and casually said, “Please do.”
Then he closed the room door, as if burying the filth hidden within.
Ichitia stood in place for a moment before turning and leaving.
She explored the second floor and soon arrived at Luo Xiu’s study.
The study door was ajar, not fully closed.
Without hesitation, Ichitia pushed it open and entered.
Her gaze swept across the simple and unadorned furnishings.
Only on the desk lay a thick book.
It was old and yellowed, looking quite ancient.
Ichitia moved closer.
A gentle breeze from the window happened to blow, fluttering the pages and revealing one of them.
It detailed the steps for a wizard’s ascension ritual.
Luo Xiu was the youngest Grand Mage in the Maya Empire’s history, only one step away from becoming a demigod.
It was normal for him to be interested in such content.
However, it was the two words written by hand on the page that caused Ichitia some confusion.
“Deception.”
What did it mean?
Although Ichitia rarely ventured out, she had lived in the Church for a long time and devoured many books. She had even flipped through this very book on Luo Xiu’s desk before.
So, what did the word “Deception” represent?
The fact that the ascension ritual was clearly recorded meant it wasn’t anything particularly rare.
But no matter how she looked at it, the content of the book seemed unrelated to the word “Deception.”
Ichitia thought that perhaps His Eminence the Pope would know the answer.
…
…
In the dimness, the man slowly approached.
He first helped Selena, who was lying on the ground pretending to be dead, to her feet and spoke softly.
“Selena, it’s alright. Get up. I’ve troubled you.”
Luo Xiu’s tone held a hint of pity.
This pity was different from the one he showed Ichitia, a stark contrast in choices.
Selena responded to Luo Xiu with a fervent embrace.
She tightly hugged the man before quickly letting go.
She mumbled, “Lord Luo Xiu, I’ve told you not to say such things…”
After speaking, Selena hurried to the cross and tried to untie Eileen.
However, she wasn’t tall enough and could only anxiously stand on tiptoe beneath the cross.
Actually, according to their original plan, she was supposed to be the one hanging there. But in the end, neither of them could refuse Eileen’s insistence, so they let Eileen take her place.
As for Eileen’s wounds, they were indeed from real whiplashes, not some sort of trick.
No one dared to be certain whether Ichitia would personally inspect them.
Or, if she wasn’t as simple-minded as she appeared, perhaps Luo Xiu would truly have to whip her a few more times in front of her.
Luo Xiu quickly walked forward and reached out to remove the iron chains binding Eileen’s hands and feet.
Her boneless, delicate body fell directly into his arms.
He smoothly pulled her into a full embrace.
The girl was naturally petite and light, and holding her felt like cradling a pitiful kitten.
However, at this moment, perhaps because the previous whipping had been too severe, her body was trembling slightly.
Luo Xiu gently stroked her hair, his expression apologetic, and said softly, “I’m sorry, Eileen. If I had known she wasn’t going to come in and thoroughly investigate, I shouldn’t have used so much force earlier.”
Eileen remained silent, but for the first time, she didn’t push Luo Xiu away. Instead, she leaned closer.
She pressed her cheek against Luo Xiu’s chest, breathing in a pleasant scent that filled her nostrils.
It was clean and clear, refreshing, and made her feel incredibly safe.
Eileen couldn’t help but want to inhale deeply.
She was no stranger to this scent. It was the same pleasant aroma from that sudden embrace late one night a few days ago.
Luo Xiu looked down and saw a small iron ball stuffed into the girl’s mouth.
When she was on the cross earlier, she had kept her head down, and he had almost forgotten about it.
Luo Xiu quickly reached out and removed the iron ball.
After the iron ball was removed, seeing that the girl in his arms was still silent, Luo Xiu’s guilt deepened.
It was impossible to say that Luo Xiu wasn’t feeling guilty.
After all, the whip marks on the girl’s body were all inflicted by his own hands, blow after blow.
To dispel Ichitia’s suspicions, they had strived for realism in every strike.
They couldn’t possibly have actually injured this little “witch,” could they?
He couldn’t help but worry, “Eileen, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
As Luo Xiu was fretting, Eileen spoke.
Her voice was weak and barely audible.
“I’m fine…”
Luo Xiu was deeply skeptical of this.
He reached out to wipe the dust from the girl’s face.
This was a kind gesture, but as his fingers just touched Eileen’s skin, the girl’s body trembled violently.
She tightly closed her eyes, her soft white hands clenching Luo Xiu’s clothes.
She mumbled unconsciously.
“No, no…”
Luo Xiu was startled. He wondered what “no” meant. He was just wiping her face; what was she refusing?
At this moment, he also noticed that the girl in his arms was burning hot.
Even through their clothes, he could feel the astonishing heat radiating from her body.
Luo Xiu frowned and reached out to touch Eileen’s forehead. It was burning hot.
“What exactly is wrong…”
Luo Xiu was somewhat perplexed.
At this moment, Selena, who had been observing, let out a startled cry.
She pointed at Eileen’s calf and exclaimed, “Lord Luo Xiu, look quickly.”
Luo Xiu didn’t put Eileen down. He turned his head to look.
He saw that on the girl’s smooth and delicate calf skin, mysterious lines were faintly glowing.
They intertwined, forming intricate patterns.
Luo Xiu couldn’t understand the patterns, but he could still feel their mystical and eerie nature.
Luo Xiu turned to Selena and asked with a frown, “Selena, what is going on?”
He had assumed that Selena, as another witch, might know something.
To his surprise, she shook her head, her expression full of bewilderment.
“I don’t know…”
Selena pursed her lips and then lowered her head to lift her skirt.
On her calf, beneath the skirt, were patterns very similar to Eileen’s.
However, her patterns were dim, barely visible to the naked eye even in the dim room.
(End of this chapter)
