From Pawn to King: Ruling a Harem of Chaos
Chapter 194: The Princess’s Lament—Everyone’s Watching, You Can’t Do This (3)

Chapter 194: The Princess's Lament—Everyone's Watching, You Can't Do This (3)

Shia sighed gently. "Looks like you still need more practice. Don’t worry, I’ll stay right here to guide you."

The other students looked on with even more admiration.

Shia’s talents, strength, and patience—combined with his kindness—made him seem like the perfect partner. Their gazes were filled with envy as they watched him dote on Violet.

Yet Violet felt anything but lucky. This "happiness" they envied felt like pure torment.

She felt like she wasn’t herself anymore—her entire body growing softer by the second.

When she felt his hands becoming increasingly unrestrained, her heart skipped a beat, a trace of struggle flashing across her face. One hand left the seasoning brush, reaching beneath the grill to grab Shia’s wandering hand.

Violet’s eyes were slightly hazy, and her voice, barely louder than a mosquito, trembled as she whispered, “Don’t…”

Despite her effort to stop him, her resistance had little effect. Realizing his intentions might go even further, her heart pounded wildly, panic flooding her. Through clenched teeth, she forced out a single phrase:

“I... don’t have a replacement for my stockings.”

Shia’s movements paused at her words, giving her a moment to catch her breath. His voice, low and teasing, whispered into her ear.

“When you’re out in the field, you should bring extra stockings. How else will you manage?”

Violet gritted her teeth, gripping his hand with more force. Yet, her body was so weak that her resistance felt more like an invitation, her efforts akin to a half-hearted rejection.

And then she heard his final remark:

“If you’re not careful, you might end up with athlete’s foot.”

Ever the gentleman, Shia kindly abandoned his mischief. Instead, he shifted his focus, supporting Violet by her slender waist. His hand lingered for a moment, brushing over her toned abdomen, soft and warm beneath his fingers.

A stifled moan escaped her lips, unbidden and far too delicate.

Her hazy eyes betrayed her vulnerability, and her voice carried a sweetness that only made her appear more enticing.

Shia’s hand moved lightly, tracing the faint lines of her toned stomach, savoring the soft texture as her breathy sighs reached his ears. His lips curled into a satisfied smile.

Another weakness, discovered.

But fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—he didn’t press further. Just as Violet felt she was at her limit, her composure hanging by a thread, and the risk of being caught grew imminent, Shia retreated at the perfect moment.

“There, I’m done teasing you,” he said softly, his breath warm against her ear, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

Violet’s face turned beet red. She bit her lip, her eyes welling with frustration.

Taking advantage of her and then acting all magnanimous—how utterly despicable!

Violet felt defeated, as if her ability to resist such outrageous behavior was steadily eroding. She glanced down at her long, beautiful legs. Even they, those uncooperative traitors, seemed to show signs of surrender whenever she faced him. They felt weak, like overcooked noodles.

She stomped her feet indignantly. 'Why didn’t you kick him, huh? Why are you so spineless?'

“Alright, let me take over,” Shia said, giving her a light pat on the rear before stepping into her spot at the grill.

Violet found herself nudged aside, glaring at Shia with an expression of suppressed fury. She didn’t dare voice her anger, but at least she was finally free from his clutches.

Looking at the large plate of grilled food he had prepared, Violet decided to channel her frustration into eating. Skipping over the skewers she’d burnt, she focused entirely on the ones Shia had cooked.

With a skewer in each hand, she dug in, juices running down her chin.

Watching Shia diligently grill more skewers, she felt a flicker of triumph. 'Hmph, let him keep working for me—serve me, slave!'

She couldn’t help but chuckle to herself, savoring the feeling of "enslaving" him.

“What’s so funny?” A voice startled her, causing her to jump.

Turning her head, she found herself face-to-face with Rong, her expression calm yet unnervingly direct.

This was Violet’s first one-on-one encounter with the flat-chested princess. Violet immediately recognized her as Shia’s loyal "tail."

Giving her a quick once-over, Violet let out a derisive snort.

“What, are you going to tattle on me? Go ahead, I’m not afraid!” she retorted, chin held high. 'So what if I was mocking him for working for me?'

Rong’s response was cool and composed. “Your body’s shaking, though.”

Violet glanced down to see her hands trembling, the skewers she held quivering along with them.

'Damn it!'

Her body was betraying her again. She was the very definition of a tsundere—her words said one thing, but her reactions screamed the opposite.

Humiliated, Violet resolved to ignore Rong completely. If she pretended no one was there, no one could judge her, right?

But Rong wasn’t about to let her off the hook so easily. She’d come with a purpose.

“You actually... like him, don’t you?”

Her words struck like a bolt of lightning, shattering Violet’s fragile denial.

“I-I don’t! No way!” she blurted out, her voice rising.

“How could I possibly like someone as awful as him?!”

"Whoever likes him, I'll mock her for three years!"

Violet fired off her denial, rejection, and mockery in quick succession, her tone flustered and almost desperate.

But her heart was racing faster than her words, and her mind was a whirlwind of memories flashing by like a flipbook. All the confusion she'd felt seemed to align into an explanation.

An explanation she refused to acknowledge—it was too terrifying to accept.

Her reaction was undeniably over the top.

Rong observed Violet’s panicked expression with growing concern. 'Master’s charm is just too powerful,' she thought. 'Attracting so many girls like this—it’s a recipe for disaster. If things keep up, it’ll turn into a full-blown battlefield of jealousy.'

Determined, Rong’s gaze turned resolute. 'I have to manage them properly for the sake of Master’s peace.'

Her usual social anxiety took a backseat as her newfound sense of duty drove her forward.

Violet, feeling guilty under Rong's piercing stare, instinctively wanted to escape. But Rong was already prepared. She reached out and grabbed the back of Violet's neck, halting her retreat.