Volume 3 Chapter 3 – “Don’t Overestimate Yourself”

"You went so far as to deliberately befriend me, knowing I'd be the only one left in the Crown Mansion tonight. For the sake of killing me, you really did plan everything well, Yimi." Teresa pinned Yimi down with her knee against her back. While she usually showed care for children, the one beneath her clearly wasn’t your average child—this one needed a firm hand.

"Alright, this game has gone on long enough—and frankly, you've taken it too far." Teresa glanced at the blood still trickling down her thigh. "Who sent you? Why do you want to kill me? How much do you people know about my identity? And who are you? You're a Gold Elf—why are you at Coleman Academy?"

"You talk as if only true villains could want you dead," Yimi snapped, still unyielding despite her pain. "I failed. I’ve nothing more to say. Do what you will."

"Yimi, don’t act like you're some noble assassin sacrificing yourself for a higher cause. No matter how righteous you pretend to be, the people pulling your strings can’t see it. And what you're doing isn’t justice—at best, it’s aiding evil. At worst, you’re just a clueless pawn being manipulated."

"In your logic, anyone trying to kill you must be evil?"

"Whether they’re evil or not, I can’t say. But anyone who draws a blade at the slightest disagreement certainly isn’t good."

"So you’re still not going to tell the truth."

"You want the truth? Fine, I’ll tell you. The assassination attempt was my idea. No one sent me. No one has the right to."

"Then why? We’ve had no grievances—"

"No grievances?" Yimi scoffed. "You really don’t remember a thing, huh?"

"Then go ahead—enlighten me. What have I done?"

"Trying to get me to talk, are you? No matter. I’ll indulge you."

"Even if you’ve lost your memory, I can tell you this with certainty: you used to be a villain steeped in sin." Yimi bit her lip.

"Oh? Do elaborate."

"You’re the sinner of the Elf Tribe. You betrayed your kin, deceived your people, and caused the deaths of thousands."

"When the demons invaded, the Elves would have relied on the forest’s protection. But it was you—you—who lifted that protection. You opened the gates for the demons, letting them flood in. The earth of the Elves Forest was drenched in Elves blood because of you."

"No one ever imagined the sacred soil of the forest would one day run red with its own blood." Yimi’s face showed no signs of lying.

Teresa listened calmly, her expression unreadable. "Then tell me—why would I do that?"

"How would I know? Your own twisted greed and perversion—only you can explain it."

"Mm-hmm. And what did I gain from that? You don’t even have proof it was me who opened the gates."

Teresa chuckled. She had no memories of the original Teresa, nor did she believe she should be held accountable for that past. Even if it were true—what did it have to do with her, a transmigrator from Earth?

"I have a question about you, too. How did you end up at Coleman Academy?"

"I’m not obligated to tell you that," Yimi said, looking away.

"Just kill me already. One more dead Elf won’t change anything."

"My dear child, can you please stop acting like a righteous martyr? Martyrs die for a cause. You failed as an assassin and now you're trying to create some tragic ambiance?" Teresa knocked lightly on Yimi’s head.

This Gold Elf clearly hated her guts. But Gold Elves were so rare nowadays, probably fewer in number than the hairs on a balding middle-aged man’s head. If they died out completely, even the Sacred Tree of the Elves might go bald.

Still, Yimi had tried to kill her—and even spat on her face. That was not something she could just let slide.

"Thinking of letting me go? I’d advise against it. Even if you pretend to be merciful, I won’t give up on killing you. One day, I will—"

"Shut it." Before Yimi could finish, Teresa shoved her face-first into the floor. "Yimi, don’t flatter yourself. You nearly stabbed me, then spit in my face. And you think I’d just let you go? Really?"

"Then what do you want?"

"Silence." Teresa dragged Yimi to the bed by the wrists, sat down on the edge, and gave her ankle a light kick, forcing her to kneel and stick her butt up, back facing her.

"Mm!"

"Now it hurts, huh?" Teresa chuckled softly. She slowly rolled down her bloodstained stocking, barefoot pressing firmly on Yimi’s rear, holding her in place.

"You?!" Yimi fumed, humiliated by the position she was forced into. But bound by Verdant Fragrance, she couldn’t resist—left to lay there, shamed.

"Stay still. This is your fault. My legs hurt, and using you as a footstool isn’t too much to ask, right?" Teresa said as she applied alchemical ointment and bandaged her wound.

Thankfully, she kept medical supplies in her room. She’d thought she’d never need them.

"Get your stinky foot off me!" Despite being defeated, Yimi still had no sense of humility—ranting about honor and dignity.

Teresa ignored her. Humming an unknown tune, the louder Yimi raged, the slower Teresa worked.

She was taking her time—just to irritate her.

When Teresa finally finished, Yimi had worn herself out, her voice softer.

Teresa didn’t flinch once—not even when Yimi threw every foul insult in the book at her.

Seeing this, Yimi gritted her teeth. She would now unleash her ultimate insult—the harshest, most devastating, most unthinkably cruel word she knew:

"Idiot!" she shouted in a cute but furious voice.

Still, Teresa didn’t move.

Unbelievable! Was this woman shameless to her core?

"Tell me, Yimi—how did you sneak into Coleman Academy?"

"None of your business," Yimi snapped, still kneeling like a tiny warrior, refusing to yield.

"Fine. Doesn’t bother me. But just know, if someone else finds out who you are, I’m not responsible for what happens."

"At least you weren’t dumb enough to show your true ears." Teresa reached up and removed the soft cover over Yimi’s ears.

"Give it back!" Yimi’s human ears vanished, revealing her Elves' ones.

"I’m not interested in your gadgets." Teresa replaced the ear cover.

"What I’m more curious about... is what you know."

Why was a Gold Elf at the academy? Where were the rest?

She didn’t know why she was so fixated on Gold Elves lately—but it was clear Yimi had no plans to give her answers.

"Hey, what happened to the other Gold Elves?"

"I don’t know. And even if I did, why would I tell you—a traitor?"

"You want to talk? Fine, but face-to-face is basic etiquette for a proper conversation."

"Trying to hypnotize me by making me look you in the eyes?" Teresa grinned. "Sorry, Yimi, not falling for that."

"What kind of Elf War Goddess are you, afraid of looking me in the eye? You’ve already tied me up—what more do you want?"

Teresa remained silent, refusing to rise to the bait.

"But I’m curious. How did you know I lost my memory? Or who told you I did?"

Yimi didn’t answer.

Teresa knew continuing would be pointless—Yimi wasn’t going to say a word.

She removed her foot, wrinkled her nose at her bloodstained stocking, tossed it into the laundry, and returned.

"You seem to lack Divine Authority, yet you have remarkable talent for a Divine Child."

"You're following the Wugu route too. That’s a bit troublesome. Keeping you around means more chances for you to escape."

"You’re planning to keep me around?" Yimi laughed, incredulous.

"Letting you loose is like releasing a tiger back into the mountains. I don’t have the patience to chase you down every time."

"Then just kill me."

"Kill you? I can’t do that. If the Sacred Tree of the Elves weakens, I’ll be affected too."

"You don’t want to talk. So until you do, I’ll keep you close."

"Fine. I don’t mind. Just don’t be surprised if one night, you go to bed and never wake up."

"Oh, I’ll sleep just fine. But you? Maybe not." Teresa ruffled Yimi’s hair, her smile sending chills.

"Enough talk. It’ll be morning soon. I have a carriage to catch to the Empire tomorrow—can’t be late."

"Sleep well."

"Wait—shouldn’t you untie me first?"

"I think you misunderstood something, Yimi." Teresa crawled into bed with a sweet smile.

"I’m going to sleep. You’re not involved."

"You—you’re making me kneel here all night?!"

"Why not? You’re an elf, not a human. Missing sleep for one night shouldn’t hurt." Teresa casually reactivated Verdant Fragrance, binding Yimi again. She knelt beside the bed, butt raised.

"If you think you can sleep peacefully like this, be my guest."

"Good night. See you tomorrow." Teresa rolled over, tied her hair into a bun, and lay down.

Soon, steady breathing filled the room.

"?! She’s asleep?!"

This woman had either enormous guts—or she just didn’t care.

Actually, Yimi was wrong. Teresa fell asleep so easily because she didn’t take Yimi seriously.

"Just sleep. I’ll break free of these cursed vines and end you before dawn."

In case Teresa was faking, Yimi waited in silence.

Once sure she was truly asleep, Yimi began to struggle.

The vines looked fragile—but every movement sent waves of pain through her body, as if needles pierced her from head to toe.

She bit her lip, refusing to cry out.

Trying again, she found the vines stretchy like rubber—but impossibly tough. After a long struggle, she’d barely moved.

And still, the pain remained excruciating.

Damn that woman!

She looked at Teresa’s sleeping back.

Was all of this calculated? Just to torment her?

Teresa, you monster.

Exhausted, Yimi tried to relax. But the moment she let her guard down, pain lanced through her again. She gasped, her back arching, golden hair messy, her tiny body trembling.

So this was the punishment…

To kneel like this until dawn. Not allowed to rest. Any slip-up met with pain that pierced her soul.

How cruel.

But she could endure one night. There would be chances for revenge later.

"Father… Mother… everyone..." she murmured, eyes low under the moonlight. "Please wait. I will get justice for all of you."

Bathed in moonlight, Yimi briefly became that little girl running through wildflower meadows, cradled in her mother’s warm arms, sleeping soundly in a village full of laughter.

But the cold sting of pain brought her back—reminding her that the scar on her heart had never faded.

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