"The ultimate... humiliation..."

This was no pleasant phrase.

Especially when the Fourth Prince uttered it, mad with desire, his intentions laid bare.

"Alice... do you even know what you’re doing?" Alice asked.

"I know! Of course I know!"

Wilke snapped back. "I’m perfectly clear on what I’ll do!"

"No. You have no idea what Miss Luluie means to Stellar Abyss Academy."

Alice tried to reason with him: "If you harm her now, your fate will only—"

"Harm *her*?"

Wilke’s furious glare cut her off. "What about *me*? When I was humiliated before everyone at the Night of Stellar Abyss?

Can *you* bear that pain?

Can the Lost Bloodline you brought here bear it?"

*That was your own doing!*

Alice wanted to retort, but Wilke burst into wild laughter again.

"Hah... hahaha... So I’ve got nothing left to lose at this academy!

My future’s ruined—and neither of you will escape unscathed!

If I can’t repay that debt? I’ll collect it from her body. How does that sound?"

"..."

His words made Alice tremble with rage.

"Wilke, you’re the Fourth Prince. My brother—"

"So what? You still believe we share some bond of blood?"

Wilke sneered. "You see me as your brother, your prince. But I’ve never seen you as my sister.

In talent? I surpass you utterly.

In bloodline? My mother was heir to another royal house. Yours? A commoner.

Do you truly think you deserve the name Soulfall Royal Family?"

"..."

"You talk of kinship? It’s laughable."

Wilke rubbed his forehead, mocking her. "You’re just a worthless fool. A stupid, mediocre nobody."

"..."

Wilke had clearly lost his mind.

Amidst the taunts, Alice’s resolve wavered again.

But this time, she didn’t cry.

*"Don’t bow your head."*

A golden-haired girl had once told her that, in her darkest hour.

"Haaah—"

Alice took a deep breath. Lifted her chin.

All traces of shame and sorrow vanished. Calmly, she faced Wilke:

"No, Wilke. The fool here is *you*."

"What?" Wilke’s brow furrowed.

Being mocked by this nobody wasn’t amusing.

"Luluie won’t walk into such an obvious trap."

The girl replied evenly: "You call me foolish and mediocre? To me, *you’re* the blind, arrogant sore loser."

*Thud—*

A dagger grazed Alice’s cheek, slicing strands of hair. It embedded itself in the stone wall behind her.

"Shut your damn mouth!"

Wilke advanced, eyes blazing, voice ragged. "She *will* come!"

"No. She won’t."

"I said—she *will* come!"

"You don’t understand."

Luluie was her master.

Powerful. Calculating. Her bloodline purity rivaled the Emperor’s.

She’d see through this trap instantly.

But Alice? She’d likely endure Wilke’s wrath alone.

Just like old times—bullied by siblings in the shadows.

Yet something had changed.

Someone had taught her to look up at the stars.

"Shut up! SHUT UP!!!"

The Fourth Prince slashed his sword against the chains, roaring: "She’s coming! To be tormented! Enslaved! Broken!

And you’ll watch—helpless!"

He hated Alice’s gaze today. Hated her tone.

He wanted her broken. Weeping.

Then—slow, deliberate footsteps echoed in the darkness.

"Is this the Soulfall Royal Family’s idea of entertainment?"

A calm, lazy voice filled the dungeon.

In the dim light, a pale-gold figure emerged.

"Luyi... Lord..."

Alice froze, mind blank.

Wilke whirled around, grinning wildly, drool dripping from his chin.

"I’m here. Release her."

Luyi stood tall, icy eyes fixed on Wilke.

Her gaze held no warmth—only the cold regard for something less than alive.

A wave of pressure crashed over Wilke, chilling him to the bone.

It dragged him back to that night at the Stellar Abyss Academy.

The shame. The laughter.

*Yes!*

*Exactly this feeling!*

"Hah... hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!!"

He laughed uncontrollably, legs shaking, nearly losing control again.

But this time—triumph drowned the fear.

"See? Our honored guest has arrived!"

*Clank-clank-clank—*

Gears whirred. Mechanisms unfolded beside Alice. Crossbows locked onto her.

*Clap-clap-clap—*

Wilke applauded. From the shadows, Sge appeared, holding a crimson velvet cushion.

Resting on it: iron shackles etched with glowing runes.

Chains stretched from them into the darkness.

"Then kindly wear these first, Miss Luluie."

Wilke’s voice turned silky. "Hesitate even a second... and my dear sister might suffer an *accident*."

"Luyi Lord, wait—that’s—"

Alice recognized them instantly.

*Soulfetter Shackles.* Artifacts from the Soulfall Royal Family’s deepest prison.

They could cripple even a Duke’s power.

Luyi was undeniably mighty, her bloodline pure. But she was still young.

If she wore them...

Too late.

Luyi lifted the shackles. Clamped them onto her own wrists.

Without hesitation.

The moment they activated, the crushing pressure around Sge and Wilke eased.

"Eager to save your master? Such a good girl..."

Wilke murmured, giddy with excitement. "Perfect. Perfect!"

"Now—let’s turn this good girl into a broken one."

Lights flared along the dungeon walls.

Dim, dizzying pink hues.

Chains hung from the ceiling.

Tools lined the room:

Candles. Whips. Ropes. Iron frames...

Nails. Engraving needles. Vials. Blindfolds...

Many were unspeakable.

"Wilke, you—"

Alice had never hated him more.

*Exactly as he wanted.*

He grinned, lurching toward Luyi with unsteady steps.

"Hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!! How do you feel now, Miss Luyi?!"

"Do you *like* this? This feast?"

He craved to see her cold mask shatter into pleas.

"Mediocre."

Luyi’s voice was flat. Bored.

*Is this the best the otherworld can imagine?*

Her indifference infuriated Wilke.

But he smirked—breaking her slowly would be sweeter.

"No matter. Soon you’ll learn what ‘the ultimate humiliation’ truly tastes like..."

He sneered.

"The ultimate humiliation? You’ll only humiliate yourself again."

Luyi shook her head slowly. "Right now? You’re not even worthy to touch me."

"Heh... heheh..."

Wilke took it as her last defiance. "Still uncooperative, Miss Luluie? Then let’s start your education.

How about... losing one hand first?"

This dungeon weakened outsiders.

But Wilke had prepared. His power remained untouched.

Magic coalesced in his palm—a sharp, spinning projectile.

With a thought, it shot toward Luyi’s shoulder.

She seemed powerless to stop it.

"Luyi Lord!" Alice screamed.

The bolt struck Luyi’s thin coat—then dissolved into nothing.

"What?!"

Instantly, invisible rules descended upon Wilke.

Too fast to dodge.

An identical energy detonated on his hand.

Blood and flesh tore apart. White bone gleamed.

The force? Exactly half of his own attack.

Pain seared Wilke’s mind.

He looked up—staring at Luyi with utter disbelief.