Chapter 10: Direct Supervision

The sun was already high in the sky.

The triumphant convoy returned to Eisenburg.

Sunlight filtered through the specially crafted glass dome, casting dappled shadows on the floor of the palace’s side hall.

Mili was curled up in the corner of a soft, oversized bed, sleeping uneasily.

Even in her dreams, she couldn’t seem to shake off the suffocating sense of oppression…

Her long lashes trembled faintly like the wings of a startled butterfly, her petite nose twitched, and her brow furrowed slightly.

The heavy metal door was pushed open silently—Seraphina walked in.

She hadn’t even bothered to change out of her bloodstained combat uniform. The dark fabric, speckled with dull stains, looked even more jarring under the bright light…

Seraphina took a deep breath, carefully savoring the faint scent of soap and the girl’s light body fragrance in the room. Her delicate brows seemed to ease a little.

—This is how it should be.

She nodded slightly to herself, apparently satisfied.

But with her every step, the faint smell of blood and gunpowder began to subtly permeate the room…

She walked to the bedside and looked down at the sleeping Mili from above.

The view here was far clearer than in the observation room.

Long black hair spilled over the snowy-white pillow, making her tiny, palm-sized face look even more pale.

Perhaps out of unease, the girl’s body curled up tightly under the blanket, like a frightened little animal trying to hide itself—only a fluffy little head peeked out.

Her breathing was shallow and even, her sleeping face serene and innocent. Her long lashes cast a fan-shaped shadow on her eyelids.

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on her face for a long time.

Then, as if driven by some strange impulse, she took off her boots and stepped directly onto the bed, crouching beside the girl’s little fortress of pillows…

Then she reached out, her slender fingers gently brushing through the girl’s soft hair.

But her fingertips still carried traces of blood from the earlier battle.

As the locks of hair slipped through her hand, dark red marks were left on the once-clean strands…

The strange sensation startled Mili awake. Her drowsy blue eyes slowly opened.

Still half-asleep, she turned her head—and found herself staring straight into a pair of mismatched eyes, frighteningly close…

“Ah—?!”

The girl gasped in terror, jolting upright like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She scrambled backward on all fours…

She only stopped when her back hit the cold, hard wall, trembling in fear.

“You… you, you, YOU…!!!”

She stared wide-eyed.

The woman before her looked like a demon straight out of hell—especially with those large, clearly visible bloodstains on her cheek and forehead. Mili was so terrified she couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

Had she just come from a slaughterhouse?!

“You’re awake?” Seraphina said coolly, half-lidding her eyes, as if the girl’s panicked reaction wasn’t worth her attention.

“Seems like you slept well last night.”

Mili: “……”

Do I look like I slept well?!
I almost died of fright!

She frantically pulled the blanket around herself, shivering uncontrollably, her blue eyes filled with fear and guardedness.

Seraphina seemed quite amused by this little frightened-deer act. The corners of her lips curved up…

But there was no warmth in her expression—only a deeper chill, like a devil’s smirk.

“Why didn’t you eat properly yesterday?” Seraphina asked as she casually sat down on the pile of pillows, crossing her legs, while lightly peeling off a dried scab from her brow and flicking it away.

“I… I did eat…”

“Not hungry?”

“……”

A cold snort escaped her lips. She crossed her arms, resting her chin on one hand. “Well then, let’s test what you learned last night.”

Mili swallowed hard, feeling a chill crawl down her spine.

Although…

Still…

Why did she have to learn this stuff?

It wasn’t even relevant!

It’s not like this was her job…

“I… I read… some of it…” Mili stammered, trying hard not to look at the horrifying blood stains on the woman’s body.

“Some?” Seraphina raised an eyebrow, gazing down at her arrogantly. “I gave you seven books. How many did you read?”

“I… just…”

“Answer me.” The cold snap of her voice sliced through the air like a blade.

The girl flinched, clutching the blanket tightly. Her voice was barely audible:

“Just… just a little bit… from one…”

Seraphina was silent for a few seconds.

Then she suddenly yanked the blanket aside. A book fell out from between the folds.

She picked up the copy of Fundamentals of Old-Era Botany and flipped it open at random.

“What are the main characteristics of plants from the Solanaceae family?”

“I… I don’t know…”

“What effects does soil pH have on crop growth?”

“N–no… I don’t know…”

“What are the three basic conditions for seed germination?”

“……” Mili’s lips pressed tightly together, her face going even paler.

Seraphina closed the book.

From the corner of her eye, Mili caught a glimpse—

She was smiling.

No… wait…

Was that a smile?

The woman turned her head, eyes sharp and gleaming. Her lips were indeed curved upward—but the expression was stiff and twisted, sending chills down Mili’s spine.

“What were you doing last night?”

“I… I really was reading…” Mili’s voice trailed off into a whisper.

Seraphina looked at her pitiful appearance and, oddly, found it funny.

This little thing couldn’t even lie properly. Too dumb to be angry at.

“Hmph…” She exhaled through her nose and stood up from the pile of pillows.

“Looks like I treated you too well last night—so much that you forgot your place.”

The girl lowered her head. Her bangs obscured most of her face, but her eyes were red, and her chapped lips trembled slightly.

She had been taken here against her will…

But she didn’t dare complain. She chose silence.

Seraphina stood before her now, looking down at the tiny figure cowering beneath her—barely reaching her knees. Her gaze was sharp and piercing.

That stare made Mili feel completely exposed, like she was being stripped bare under the spotlight…

“In that case…” After a long pause, Seraphina’s lips curled into a darker, colder smile:

“It seems… you need closer guidance.”

“Starting today, I will personally supervise your learning.”

“…?” Mili’s eyes widened.

“Don’t understand? From now on, every move you make will be under my watch,” Seraphina said as she bent down and forcefully pulled Mili’s face out from under the blanket.

“Eating, studying, sleeping—even going to the bathroom. I’ll be there.”

“Th–that’s not okay…!” Mili cried out in disbelief.

“This is to make sure you don’t waste the opportunity I’ve given you…” Seraphina’s tone was calmer now, but the menace beneath her words was chilling.

“You belong to me. I have the right to decide how you’re used.”

At those words, the girl began to shake uncontrollably.

She clutched the blanket tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

A life without privacy at all…

It was worse than death.

Seraphina watched the terror in Mili’s eyes, a strange sense of satisfaction flickering within her own.

That feeling—of absolute control over another person’s fate—

It thrilled her.

“Now. Get up. Wash up. And eat your breakfast,” she ordered coldly.

“I’ll be waiting here.”