"It's a good thing an unexpected complication like this curse affix appeared," Black Butler said. "Otherwise, who knows how that could have ended."
"It's merely delayed," White Queen said. "We will have to face the problem eventually."
The moment the curse affix's information flowed into her mind, Diya found herself transported to an unfamiliar room.
Compared to Sword Princess and Yaxiu, she was the most grateful for the curse affix.
She had not been mentally prepared in the slightest.
She had truly believed that their "more than friends, less than lovers" state could continue forever, and she had thought that was perfectly fine. Though she liked Yaxiu, she didn't dislike Sword Princess either. After all, Diya had far, far too few friends.
In a way, she was somewhat like Yaxiu. Trapped in a high tower for over a decade, she had been desperate to cling to anyone who could protect her. Yet no sooner had she escaped the high tower than she was forced to confine herself inside an even larger imperial palace.
Voluntarily shouldering the emperor's responsibilities also meant she had to endure the emperor's solitude.
Her interpersonal world had ultimately been set in stone during those two months of drifting in exile.
Deep down, she had never truly thought about where their relationship should lead. Even though she was slightly older than Sonia, she was still the princess from the high tower at heart: innocent and naive.
She had a favorite person and a favorite color.
As long as she could be with Yaxiu, and as long as everyone was happy, that was enough.
Yet it seemed that aside from her, everyone else was suffering. If Sword Princess's pain was something she had vaguely anticipated, Yaxiu's guilt was something she simply couldn't comprehend.
"I thought he would be very happy..." Diya murmured. "After all, two super cute, beautiful girls both like him."
White Queen: "He was happy at first, but later it turned into agony."
Diya asked, "Why? It's not like we fought."
Red Apostle: "Because he sensed your sadness."
Diya asked, "Am I sad?"
"Both you and Sword Princess are very good at disguising yourselves," Black Butler said. "She's good at deceiving others, trying to pretend she can be tolerant; you're good at deceiving yourself, trying to pretend you don't care at all."
"You like acting spoiled because you realize you will be favored; and you act sensible because you fear being abandoned."
"Even without body heat or scent, contact between hearts is the hardest thing to conceal," White Queen said. "I noticed several times that whenever Xiu interacted with Sword Princess, he consciously watched your reactions."
Diya said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I actually... actually only cared a tiny bit, but not so much that I couldn't bear it."
"Impossible," White Queen said decisively. "The essence of love is sacrifice, possessiveness, sensitivity, and delusion. Its symptoms are clinginess, jealousy, suspicion, and irrationality. You can bear it right now only because you know you're at a disadvantage, so you merely wish to take one step further. But once you have the upper hand, you won't be any more generous than Sword Princess."
Diya said weakly, "You don't have to be so certain..."
Black Butler: "Besides, Ah Xiu is just like you, Secret Princess—rejoicing in others' joy, grieving over others' sorrow... The more you wrong yourselves to be good to him, the more grieved and self-reproachful he becomes. If Sword Princess broke off this ambiguous game to claim more, he only wanted to halt this emotional torment so you would lose less."
"It's just that his psychological scars leave him unable to harden his heart against those who love him, which is why things escalated to this point."
"If he could bring himself to be cruel, we wouldn't have stood a chance from the start. Even if we were more outstanding, more beautiful, and stronger than Sword Princess, coming first is the golden rule of romance."
Red Apostle: "How ridiculous. How pathetic."
Yes, it was ridiculous, and it was pathetic.
If Yaxiu didn't have such issues, Diya could never have broken past the boundary of teammates to secure a place in his heart, forcing him to care about her feelings. Yet precisely because he had these issues, he possessed only the courage to hand them the blade, but lacked the power to make a choice himself.
*Clack!*
The laboratory door suddenly opened. Diya looked up and saw 'Yaxiu' walk inside.
"What I equipped for you is the 'Prismatic Relic: Night Comet.' Its effect causes every targeted miracle to erupt into a torrent of comets, which, combined with your dense threads, is enough to instantly kill any ordinary enemy." 'Yaxiu' proved his identity first, then asked, "Witch, I've actually wanted to ask you for a long time... why do you like me?"
Diya paused, then shook her head. "I can't tell you, but I truly do love you."
"Is that so..." 'Yaxiu' smiled. "Thank you."
"Well then, should we go look for Sword Princess, or wait here?" He gave a wry smile. "Though if we run into the real Sword Princess, she'll probably charge straight at me with her sword."
"Then have you thought about how to resolve this, Watcher?" Diya asked.
"I'm really just taking it one step at a time." 'Yaxiu' sighed, observing the laboratory as he slowly moved closer to the Witch. "In my heart, I've long prepared myself for neither of you accepting me."
"That won't happen." Diya shook her head. "No matter what you become, I will always love you as before."
"Even a me like this?"
"Even a you like this," Diya said softly. "Even if I'm not the only person you love, it doesn't matter. As long as I can be with you forever, that's enough."
'Yaxiu' slumped, letting out a soft sigh. "What could I ever do to repay your feelings?"
"What about Sword Princess?" Diya asked. "She isn't like me. She won't put your feelings first. In her heart, her own feelings are just as important as yours."
"I don't know," 'Yaxiu' murmured. "But if she truly can't accept me no matter what, I'm ready to make a clean break with her. We'll go back to being the most familiar teammates, and the most distant friends..."
*Boom!*
The instant 'Yaxiu' drew his sword, Diya had already unleashed the miracle Empress's Gaze. Threads erupted from 'Yaxiu's body, each thread accompanied by a torrent of comets powerful enough to pierce a Sanctuary, instantly annihilating 'Yaxiu' into foam.
"Yaxiu would never abandon Sword Princess," Diya said softly. "Because doing that would hurt her the most."
Collecting her emotions, the Witch stayed no longer and opened the door to explore other areas. Soon after pushing open a door, she found 'Sword Princess' waiting inside.
'Sword Princess' quietly summoned her Frost Crystal Shoes, and Diya also summoned her Night Comet.
Yet both knew this action was not enough to earn each other's trust.
"Sword Princess, before we got separated," Diya asked, "had you already made up your mind?"
'Sword Princess' nodded. "I originally planned to lay all my cards on the table tonight and force the Watcher to make a choice—or rather, force him to choose me and abandon you."
"I just didn't expect him to have a similar intention." 'Sword Princess' rested her hand on her hilt, her face bitter. "And I expected even less that he wouldn't choose me."
"He didn't abandon you, either."
"How is that any different from abandoning me?" 'Sword Princess' gave a bitter smile. "I can no longer play this ambiguous, jealous game with you two... If this goes on, sooner or later I will come to hate you both. Both you for intruding, and the Watcher for failing to refuse you."
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life drowning in a whirlpool of resentment, or even sacrifice everything just to get revenge on you two," 'Sword Princess' murmured. "I once read a line: 'Any relationship that hurts you is one you need to discard.'"
Diya looked dazed. "Sword Princess, do you mean..."
"You two shameless scoundrels can just stay joined at the hip. I won't bother you anymore," 'Sword Princess' said coldly. "Even without romance, I'm still a Sanctuary Sorcerer. Without the Watcher, is it possible I couldn't find someone who loves me?"
This was the best possible outcome Diya could imagine.
Sword Princess stepping aside, leaving Yaxiu all to herself—at least exclusively within the Void Realm for a time—and once Yaxiu returned to the Gospel, they could move toward a happily ever after.
Moreover, this fit Sword Princess's personality very well. She had always been jealous and decisive by nature. Back on the Time Continent, she had tried every possible way to speak ill of the Watcher in front of Diya, terrified that Diya might develop even the slightest fondness for him, all to keep him to herself.
Now that she knew she could never possess exclusive love, giving up made complete sense. What was more, she had achieved fame and success in her own country as a young female Sanctuary Sorcerer. Could she really lack admirers?
And yet...
*Boom!*
Amidst the wild bombardment of comets, Diya drew back her hand and walked past the 'Sword Princess' dissolving into foam.
"Sword Princess would never give up on the Watcher," she said softly. "And she would never concede defeat to me."
After slaying two more deceptive 'Yaxius', Diya opened another door and found a 'Sword Princess' sitting and resting.
Before Diya could offer proof, the woman spoke up: "Whether you're real or fake, act like the Witch and simulate her reaction for me."
Diya paused, then nodded. "All right. What do you want to talk about?"
"I just killed several 'Watchers' and 'Witches.' My head has cooled down, and I've rethought the dynamic between us," 'Sword Princess' said. "Since the Watcher can't make a choice, we will decide for him."
"What do you want to do?"
"First, we must realize one thing." 'Sword Princess' looked at Diya. "We have actually lost the right to love anyone else."
"Unless we're willing to quit this team, our only options are loving the Watcher or staying unmarried. Never mind teaming up in the Void Realm—those secret poisons alone dictate that we must stand united and cannot form intimate ties with anyone else."
"The Watcher is the sole exception. Because he is the bedrock and creator of this team, no matter how many intimate partners he has, it won't threaten the team's safety. Or rather, even if he wants to do that, we have no way to stop him."
"But we operators are different. If you or Weise took a lover, unless you were utterly irreplaceable on the team, I would immediately demand the Watcher kick you out—even if you swore oaths through Contracts not to betray us. The power of love is just as terrifying as miracles."
"I can't get wholehearted love from the Watcher; this time, I misjudged him." 'Sword Princess' looked at Diya. "But at least I can obtain greater power."
"Witch, let's serve him together," 'Sword Princess' said. "That said, we can't let him push his luck. We have to find ways to restrict his personal relationships. Even if others like him—say, Weise or future new operators—as long as we ensure that you and I hold the most important positions in his heart, that will be enough."
"However, I must have the largest share of his love." 'Sword Princess' propped her chin in her hand, eyeing Diya sideways. "Witch, you can only be second. Are you willing?"
Diya blinked as she listened.
This was actually the ideal plan in her heart.
Since Sword Princess wouldn't leave and Yaxiu refused to let go, they could all live together.
Although Diya cared to some degree, she had long prepared herself to share. If nothing else, the ones who loved Yaxiu were the four Witch sisters, not just her alone.
Whenever Diya managed to separate White Queen, Black Butler, and Red Apostle, Yaxiu would have four partners at the very least. Even if the four of them were viewed as one, adding Sword Princess made it only five. Diya felt very little resistance to the idea.
At least for now, she didn't.
More importantly, this plan was the best for Yaxiu. He wouldn't have to hurt, and he wouldn't have to give anyone up.
Yaxiu's happiness was what mattered most.
Just as Yaxiu couldn't bear to break the Witch's heart, how could Diya bear to see him suffer?
Furthermore, this 'Sword Princess' was logical and thorough. Every point she raised was something Diya hadn't thought of. Given Sword Princess's vain nature, turning toward the pursuit of power and choosing the most cost-effective option was indeed plausible.
And yet...
*Boom!*
Diya withdrew her threads, not sparing a glance at the 'Sword Princess' blasted into foam by comets, and walked straight out of the laboratory.
"Sword Princess isn't a rational person who bargains over love," the Witch said. "Don't insult her."
Chapter 606