Tanya sighed deeply, a sense of resignation in her eyes.

"Why can't you just leave obediently? Why do I have to be the bad guy and force you to go?" Tanya murmured softly, her thoughts drifting to Alexander’s aggressive demeanor, stirring up a surge of anger within her.

"Help! Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!" Tanya wrapped herself in the blanket and called out. A few rows of guards entered the room, and upon seeing Tanya wrapped in the blanket, with Heliam lying on a pool of blood, they immediately understood what had transpired.

"The assassin is a eunuch who interrupted my intimate moment with the emperor," Tanya said, feigning fear as she added, “Cry, cry, cry, I’m so scared.”

She couldn’t help but shiver a little.

[Fans]Forget-Me-knot: Holy crap!

[Fans]Teddy House: Host, your acting skills deserve an Oscar!

[Fans]Niker: …

[Fans]Pink Doll Dress: Playing hard to get, hee hee, I like it.

Upon hearing this, some of the guards crouched down to check under the bed for the assassin, while others stood by the window, scanning the outside. Just then, Heliam stirred on the ground. Tanya paused for a moment but still went over to help him up.

Sigh~ The mission must go on.

Heliam rubbed his head and asked, “What happened?”

Tanya wouldn’t easily let go of the chance to win his favor, so she rolled up her sheer long sleeves and knelt down on both knees with a soft thud.

At such a moment, pretending to be loyal was undoubtedly a great way to increase affection!

“Your Majesty, just now, while I was being intimate with you, an assassin broke into the room. I exerted all my strength to protect your life and ask for your punishment.”

Tanya put on a pitiful demeanor, her big eyes filling with tears, appearing utterly heart-wrenching.

Heliam frowned tiredly, remembering he was supposed to have relations with Tanya, but Alexander’s intervention had thrown Tanya’s earlier resistance to the back of his mind, and he merely nodded slightly.

“And the assassin?”

“I wasn’t able to catch him， he escaped… The guards are already in pursuit,” Tanya said, trembling her eyelashes, trying her best to look tearful.

“You’ve worked hard, Vivienne.” Heliam gently helped Tanya up, his heart aching for her as tears clung to her pink cheeks, captivated by her breathtaking beauty.

In just a few days, she had changed so dramatically, far more striking than Francois Chaise.

Tanya felt a shiver at Heliam’s touch on her cheek， despite her beautiful appearance, she deeply resisted his contact.

“Your Majesty lost blood earlier, so I’ll make you some nourishing soup to warm you up.” With that, she tried to pull away.

Heliam's expression darkened, and he reached out to pull Tanya into his embrace, lifting her chin with one hand. “Vivienne doesn’t need to worry about me.”

Blood still trickled down Heliam’s head, tracing a seductive arc to his ear. His features held a hint of wickedness, not much different from Alexander.

Heliam closed his eyes, his thin lips moving closer to Tanya.

Tanya bit her lip, the sound of commands from outside barely stopping Heliam's impending action.

“Your Majesty, the assassin has been captured and is currently detained in the dungeon.”

Heliam’s eyes cleared as he held Tanya’s delicate hand. “Come, let’s go take a look.”

[Fans]Butterfly Love: What the hell? Alexander was captured?

【Visitor】Bizzard7: +1 for the person above.

【Visitor】Gossip monger: I heard the previous boss has crossed over?

[Fans]Maychao: …

[Fans]Big Whale: …

Tanya numbly followed Heliam, replaying the guards' captain's words in her mind.

The assassin was caught.

Alexander was captured.

The dungeon was dark and gloomy, filled with the scurrying sounds of mice. Suddenly, an inexplicable prayer rose in Tanya’s heart.

She prayed that the one captured wasn’t Alexander.

“Are you nervous, my dear?” Heliam asked casually, and Tanya tilted her head, unable to discern the emotions in his eyes.

She brushed her hair away from her forehead and feigned calmness. “This is my first time in the dungeon, so I’m a bit nervous. I’m afraid the assassin might hurt the emperor.”

After a moment, Heliam scrutinized her before turning his gaze away.

“I will protect you.”

Tanya bowed slightly, followed by two squads of guards, and they ventured deep into the dungeon. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, and it was so dark that they could barely see until the guards lit a fire to illuminate the area.

Alexander, dressed in blue, had his collar stained with deep red blood, merging with the dark surroundings.

The intricate patterns on his clothing were obscured, and Tanya couldn't help but freeze, overwhelmed by the sight of his injuries.

“Your Majesty.” The guard beside Alexander bowed to Heliam, wielding a vine whip stained with blood that dripped onto the ground, creating a faint sound.

“Continue.” Heliam's expression remained cold as he spoke, his words icy.

Tanya’s gaze lingered on Alexander， he lowered his head, his thin lips pressed tightly together, a knot forming on his forehead.

After a moment, he lifted his gaze and glanced at Tanya standing in front of him, a slight curve appearing on his lips.

The guards complied with Heliam’s command, snapping the vine whip, sending blood and smoke splattering from Alexander’s body.

Tanya’s heart quivered in response.

“Shh—shh—”

Cold sweat beaded on Alexander's forehead, his face pale, yet the smile on his lips didn’t fade.

Heliam remained expressionless, the flickering flames casting a deeper shadow on his face.

Only because Tanya showed a reluctant expression did it aggravate his discontent.

“Have this assassin beaten to death!”

The guards dared not slack off, whipping Alexander several times. When they saw he still showed no reaction, they bowed to Heliam, picked up the salt bucket from the corner, and poured it over Alexander.

A faint scent of salt lingered in the air.

[Fans]Starry Sky: Ouch… Isn’t this Eastern romance? Why is it so terrifying!

[Fans]takingblame: Please, system, don’t kill Alexander…

[Fans]Mark Rabbit: Ah… I used to really like Heliam… but now I suddenly hate him!

Tanya turned her face away, wiping away the tears from her eyes.

“Are you tired, my love?” Heliam gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his voice incredibly tender, yet the grip of his hand seemed ready to crush her shoulder.

Tanya tried a few times, ultimately managing to smile, “How could I be tired accompanying the emperor? I just have never seen such a scene， it’s only natural to feel a bit flustered.”

“Then let my love rest well with me.” Heliam said with a smile, guiding her toward the exit.

After taking a few steps, he paused. “Continue， just keep him alive.”

Tanya had no time to think as she numbly followed Heliam out of the dark prison.

The bright light outside made her squint. Tanya bit her lip, not wanting Heliam to see any cracks in her facade.

“Would the emperor like to sit in my chambers?”

Heliam’s gaze fell on her, as if weighing something, but he eventually turned his eyes away, his tone remaining the same.

“I see you are tired, my love. Today, I won’t disturb you， rest well.”

After saying this, he walked a few steps, “Next time I see you, I want you to be full of life.”

Tanya softened, watching Heliam leave, her gaze shifting back to the dark prison.

Alexander… must be suffering unbearably…

Tanya’s mind was in turmoil as she returned to the palace, dismissed Verdant, and leaned against the window, lost in thought.

Her eyes felt a bit sore， the sheer sleeve of her dress hung half outside the window, rippling in the gentle breeze.

Light and ethereal, it felt close yet far away.

Like her relationship with Alexander—clearly not meeting, yet somehow entwined in a crisis.

“My lady, the emperor asked me to brew you a cup of floral tea.” Verdant entered, holding a teacup, gently stepping behind Tanya and presenting the porcelain cup.

Tanya took the tea, a fragrant aroma wafting up, and casually asked, “What kind of flower is this? It smells delightful.”

“Replying to my lady, it’s forget-me-not.” Verdant’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons, “The emperor still thinks of you， forget-me-not—who knows if it’s a reminder for you not to forget the emperor or if the emperor won’t forget you.”

Tanya blew on the foam atop the tea and took a sip.

【Visitor】Visitor#2353: Don’t be discouraged, streamer! Think of a way!

[Fans]Silk Ribbon: Why not just assassinate the emperor and let Alexander be the emperor?

【Visitor】Visitor#2353: Jajajaja! That sounds good! I want to see the streamer conquer Alexander!

[Fans]Little Sticky Rice: Sob, I feel for the streamer, I feel for Alexander. I beg the system not to torment them!

Tanya, feeling troubled, eventually set down the tea and turned back toward the direction of the dark prison.

This time it felt much easier. Tanya felt her way in the dark until she reached the distant light.

But the wooden frame was already empty, leaving only a room filled with the smell of blood.

Tanya stopped a guard with blood on his face, “Where’s the assassin?”

Seeing it was Vivienne, the guard didn’t dare be negligent, “Replying to my lady, that assassin is dead.”

Tanya’s brows shot up, as if her heart had been fiercely squeezed by a big hand.

“How could he be dead? Didn’t the emperor order you to spare him?!”

Seeing her furious, the guard immediately knelt on one knee, “Replying to my lady, not long after you left, the emperor ordered us to flay the assassin and peel his skin. This… is his remains.”

The guard lifted the black cloth covering the ground, revealing a skinned corpse.

Tanya’s stomach churned, tears rolling down her face uncontrollably. She turned around, her steps faltering.

The guard couldn’t help but follow, having stewed over it for half the night, he only managed to say, “My lady, please return to the palace to rest.”

Tanya brushed off her sleeves, “I’m fine.”

Of course, she was fine， she had to be fine.

Alexander was merely a bug caused by a deviation from the previous world. She still had her tasks to complete， she needed to conquer Heliam and fight the mistress, resisting Becky.

How could she feel disheartened because of Alexander, someone from her past?

Tanya faced the sunlight, feeling the reality of the game for the first time.

No, it should be the second time.

The first time was when Alexander had the car accident.

Alexander’s cold eyes seemed to still look down on her disdainfully, calling her the “washing toilet maid,” saying she didn’t know what was good for her.

So real it was hard to distinguish between truth and illusion.

[Fans]Mario: Streamer… seems to be crying…