Chapter 14: Now I’m Really Breaking into a Sweat
As the person involved, Faust could say with absolute certainty—the blazing fire in Cinderella’s eyes was no joke.
This state was completely abnormal. After all, the original Vivian could be described by countless virtues.
Dutiful. Independent. Reserved and elegant. Upright and decisive…
Vivian had almost never revealed her inner thoughts, always maintaining a cold, melancholic demeanor.
Even Faust had believed that his childhood companion was naturally detached. He had never imagined that such a deep obsession had been brewing within her heart.
Ten years of suppressed longing, desire, resentment, and hatred… The “Cinderella” born from all of that—even if not a true second personality, merely a mask—was terrifying enough.
Faust seriously doubted whether he could endure it.
After all, Vivian’s path, the “Royal Guard Knight,” was an ancient “Hero” class. It had no particular gimmicks—its defining trait was simply its overwhelmingly cold, crushing stats.
What awaited him next would likely be a level of suppression beyond imagination.
(Tragic.)
“What are you saying, Your Highness?”
Cinderella smiled sweetly as she bit lightly on his earlobe.
“Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to find me? You were the one who tempted me first. So you must take responsibility.”
In a voice so gentle it sent chills down his spine, she continued,
“Besides, didn’t you treat Vivian like a maid before? In that case… let me take care of everything for you. You only need to look at me. Look at me… keep looking at me.”
“Vivian would endlessly accept your demands. But I… will endlessly demand from you. That’s fair, isn’t it?”
Faust’s face turned pale.
“…Can we reconcile?”
“At a time like this? Your Highness, you must be joking.”
Cinderella laughed as she tied her long hair into a ponytail and crouched down.
In the basement of the Roselin estate—a place where no signal could reach, where no one could find them—
What had once been Vivian’s private research laboratory had now become a prison.
And the prince… was here to endure it all.
Do not misunderstand. It was not because Cinderella bore any malice toward him.
Strictly speaking, after donning the “Cinderella” mask, Vivian was not some deranged yandere.
At least in Faust’s eyes, Cinderella could not be called that. On the surface, she was more like a pure, lovestruck girl.
Just… far too suppressed.
As if trying to reclaim all the romance and sweetness she had once lacked, within this small underground space, Cinderella fulfilled her own words—
To take.
To take without limit.
At times, she would kiss Faust’s skin and cheeks, whispering softly, confessing her love.
At times, she would lean against him shoulder to shoulder, holding a book of poetry, sharing her favorite passages and plays.
At times, she would play music and sing softly in his ear with a nightingale-like voice.
At times, she would cook his favorite pastries and dishes, feeding him bite by bite.
Every moment, every second, had to be spent with the one she loved.
On the sofa. On the bed. In the bath. Beneath the dining table…
At every place, at every time—whether appropriate or not—she demanded without restraint.
As though she had obtained a long-sought treasure, Cinderella clung to him without pause, indulging herself completely.
It might have sounded acceptable.
After all, Faust was no ordinary man.
With the mysterious trait of the “Monarch of Greed,” no matter how excessive the demands, they should have felt like a gentle paradise to him.
But things were not so simple.
Because while Cinderella’s care was meticulous in every way, she forbade one thing above all—
Faust must never ignore her.
Just as she had said before, he had to keep looking at her. Whether it was love or hatred, liking or disgust—everything had to be directed at her.
Which meant that the pitiful Prince of Qingxi could hardly rest at all.
Countless times, just as Faust’s eyes began to close, he would be jolted awake by bright light or sudden noise.
Sometimes, he would fall asleep with hot water still in his mouth… only to wake and find it still warm.
“Please… just let me sleep for a while. Just a little. After I wake up, I’ll agree to anything you say.”
Faust looked at the childhood friend sitting in his lap and spoke weakly.
Her pale golden hair fell in a lazy, disheveled cascade. Cinderella tilted her head in confusion—but soon lowered her head again, pressing her lips to his collarbone.
Alright. In this state, Vivian likely had very little rationality left. Asking was useless…
He could only wait for her to calm down completely.
“How long has it been?”
【Since Vivian carefully laid her layered trap and Faust mistakenly entered this underground hall… it has already been three months.】
Mephistopheles’ gloating voice echoed in his mind.
Faust let out a bitter laugh.
“So it’s already been that long… Well, at least it hasn’t been years.”
Confined in the basement day after day, he had almost lost his sense of time.
Cinderella had brazenly taken him out of the palace. Logically, it should have drawn attention immediately—being discovered the next day would already be considered slow.
Yet three entire months had passed.
The regent prince and his personal guard had vanished without a trace for three months—had the entire kingdom really not reacted at all?
Faust almost wanted to curse his subordinates as useless fools—
If not for the fact that Vivian was a “witch.”
But because she was a witch, there was truly nothing to be done.
After all, witches were favored by fate. The ordinary rules of the world could be casually bent by them.
Especially within the script of destiny, everything they did seemed aided by divine will.
No need to ask—if the plot required it, even twisting natural laws and human will was trivial.
【You do not seem particularly resentful, despite being treated like this…】
“…It is indeed painful. But this is not Vivian’s fault.”
Faust shook his head. Even after enduring such inhuman torment, he held no resentment toward her.
Putting himself in her place, her actions were entirely understandable. The humiliation he had inflicted on her before far exceeded what he was suffering now!
【Then is it your fault?】
“Of course not!”
Faust gritted his teeth, absolutely refusing to take the blame.
But the Prince of Qingxi had one strength—he never dwelled on self-blame. He immediately found the true culprit:
“This is all fate’s fault!”
If not for the influence of the wheel of destiny, how could he have failed to notice Vivian’s feelings?
How could he have treated his childhood companion so harshly?
How could Vivian’s heart have accumulated such deep resentment?
Vivian had been such a gentle, elegant girl—yet under fate’s cruel manipulation, she had been driven to madness through suppression.
Ah, what a wretched thing fate was!
【No matter how much you blame fate, it is merely an abstract concept. It cannot bear your resentment… Or do you intend to defy it?】
Mephistopheles’ tone was subtle—not quite a warning, not quite a rebuke. If anything, it carried a faint expectation.
As if he wanted Faust to become one who defied fate.
Faust answered without hesitation:
“If refusing to be toyed with and twisted like this is called defying fate, then I have no choice but to defy it!”
But he was far too exhausted. Even his thoughts grew sluggish.
Despite knowing he would likely be awakened again, he could not help but close his eyes.
…
When Faust regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was overwhelming comfort and satisfaction throughout his body.
Even with the “Monarch of Greed” trait, going so long without proper rest had worn him down.
Wait… I fell asleep? No—more importantly, I was allowed to fall asleep?!
After a brief moment of confusion, Faust snapped awake and opened his eyes.
Before him was a serene, delicate face. The girl’s eyes were closed, her beauty like a painting.
And his head was resting on a pair of soft, firm thighs.
“Vivian!”
His movement stirred the girl. When she opened her eyes, Faust immediately relaxed.
Because those violet eyes were no longer blazing like fire.
They had returned to their usual calm, melancholic state.
Her expression was no longer that sweet, terrifying smile—but the familiar stillness of a doll-like beauty.
Which meant—
This was Vivian again. Not “Cinderella.”
Realizing this, Faust let out a relieved breath.
“You’re finally back to normal?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Her pale golden bangs could not fully conceal her gaze. Vivian nodded softly.
“She went too far… It was nothing but torment for you. No matter what, I never wanted to hurt you…”
A perfect dissociation.
Vivian’s very first sentence was to separate her past self from her present self.
As if the “Cinderella” who had nearly drained Faust dry over the past three months was not her at all.
Even if “Cinderella” were truly a second personality, Faust nearly laughed in disbelief.
So after enjoying herself, she refuses to take responsibility?
Vivian… when did you become like this?
The words nearly slipped out—but remembering his previous mistake, Faust swallowed them and instead nodded.
“I understand. After all, you’re the kind of good girl who believes that companionship is the longest confession. What bad intentions could you possibly have?”
Vivian’s violet eyes widened slightly.
“Companionship… is a confession?”
“…Yes. During this time, I’ve fully understood your feelings.”
Faust tried very hard not to grit his teeth as he said it.
Hearing the words she had once longed for, the knightly girl’s eyes lit up. She helped him sit up, studying him as if seeing him anew.
“Your Highness… hearing you say that makes me very happy. Truly… very happy.”
“…So, can we leave this place now?”
Faust asked cautiously. Now that Vivian had vented the emotions she had suppressed for ten years, there should finally be room for negotiation.
But Vivian did not answer immediately.
After a strange silence, she finally spoke:
“…And then?”
“…What?”
Her hand brushed across his cheek, smoothing his hair. Her already melancholic gaze grew even more sorrowful.
“Once we leave, you will stop pretending, won’t you? Your Highness… I know you too well. You can say any sweet words against your heart. You can even laugh off everything that has happened.”
“Perhaps, in your heart, you have always thought I was easy to handle—that I would accept any task you gave me. But this one thing… I do not wish to obey.”
“Your Highness… Faust… how am I supposed to believe that you have truly changed?”
…So she doesn’t trust me.
That was only natural.
Faust understood his own personality well. Vivian, his childhood companion, knew him even better—sometimes more than he knew himself.
It was perfectly reasonable for her to suspect he was pretending.
If he had not learned the truth, he really would have done exactly that.
Seeing his silence, Vivian’s gaze dimmed.
“If things return to how they were—when you treated me as a tool and regarded me with indifference—then I would rather continue binding you here. At least your hatred and disgust… would belong entirely to me.”
“…!!”
Cold sweat broke out across Faust’s back.
If he failed to convince her, the outcome was obvious.
Even if Cinderella’s ending might seem gentle and harmonious, being locked away for years would be unbearable—and his grand ambitions would die before they even began.
Think. Think!
What could he say to convince Vivian?
It had to be something heavy enough—something decisive enough to eliminate all her doubts.
Sweet vows? Useless. She could always tell truth from lies.
Promises of wealth and power? Ridiculous. If Vivian wanted it, who sat on the throne of Qingxi was still up for debate.
Even the title of Crown Princess might not satisfy her.
After all, that was something Cinderella could already claim effortlessly.
What else was left?
What could prove his resolve?
Under immense pressure, Faust thought desperately—
And then, he found the perfect answer.
Taking a deep breath, the Prince of Qingxi said:
“I will give up the throne.”
“…!”
Vivian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Even in her wildest imagination, she had never expected those words.
Faust continued calmly:
“Once we leave here, I will relinquish my position as heir to my elder sister. I will not become Qingxi’s king. I will remain only a prince.”
Vivian stared intently at his face, searching for any trace of deception.
But she found none.
With her understanding of Faust, she could tell—this was sincere. There was not even the slightest hint of manipulation in his words.
“…Why?”
Her lips trembled slightly as she asked:
“You would pay such a price…?”
No one understood better than Vivian what the throne and power meant to Faust.
How many sleepless nights had he spent striving for that goal?
In a sense, even the way he had neglected and distanced himself from her… had been because of it.