Oscar Owes Each of You a Little Gold Statue!

The sultry atmosphere in the room had yet to fully dissipate, and the air was thick with a sweet, decadent scent.

Jennifer curled up in Edward's arms like a well-fed cat, languid and content.

The [Threads of Desire] on her body still shimmered with a dangerous gleam, but at this moment, that gleam seemed somewhat dimmer, no longer quite so aggressive.

Her breathing was steady and deep. An alluring flush still lingered on her fair skin, while those blue eyes capable of devouring souls had regained a trace of clarity. Yet whenever her gaze shifted, she seemed even more seductive than before.

"Master..." she called softly, her voice carrying a hint of exhausted huskiness, yet filled with intense clinginess. "I... I don't think I can go on..."

Edward looked down at her, sensing the Succubus energy within her that had been activated, only to quickly fall silent again.

Just now, he had experienced what "energy exchange" truly meant.

Streams of pure life force had flowed from his body into Jennifer's, and in return, an even stranger energy imbued with the characteristics of Charm had flowed back into him.

It was a win-win transaction. Jennifer gained nourishment for her growth, while Edward felt that his mental strength had received an almost imperceptible boost.

Only...

"That was already the limit?" Edward smacked his lips, still wanting more.

His life force was as vast as the sea. The little bit of energy that had flowed out just now was barely worth mentioning to him.

Jennifer, on the other hand, was like a newly manufactured low-capacity power bank. It had barely been charging before it showed full, even overheating slightly from the overload.

"Looks like the Succubus cultivation plan still has a long way to go." Edward sighed helplessly to himself.

He gently stroked Jennifer's silky hair, then carefully laid her on the soft sofa and thoughtfully covered her with the silk blanket beside it.

The impact and conversion of energy had plunged her into deep slumber. It was an instinct of biological evolution.

Looking at her utterly defenseless, breathtaking sleeping face, Edward felt completely at peace.

After the tide of desire receded, what remained was a strange sense of satisfaction, like owning an incomparable treasure.

He did not linger for long and turned to leave Jennifer's home.

Now, it was time to go home and check on those three troublesome "little sisters."

When Edward unlocked his front door with his key, he was greeted by an unexpectedly "heartwarming" scene.

In the living room, a brightly colored children's cartoon played on the television at just the right volume.

A cute strawberry-patterned play mat was spread over the soft carpet.

Lily, Esther, and Emma sat in a circle together.

Before them was an exquisite toy afternoon tea set: a tiny teapot, miniature cups and saucers, and several plates of real cookies and strawberries that looked delicious.

Lily held the little teapot, carefully pouring pink strawberry milk into Esther and Emma's cups.

Her movements were focused and earnest, and she wore the gentle smile of an older sister.

"Esther, be careful, it's hot."

Emma picked up a bear-shaped cookie and held it to Esther's lips, her face full of innocent delight.

"Try this, Sister. Mom bought it today, and it's really delicious!"

Esther, who was being enthusiastically entertained by her two "little sisters," looked somewhat reserved and flattered.

She sat upright with both hands on her knees, wearing a shy, grateful smile.

"Thank you, Lily. Thank you, Emma... You're both so kind."

The scene was filled with sisterly affection, warmth, and harmony, as beautiful as a carefully drawn fairy-tale illustration.

Any parent who saw it would probably be moved to tears.

But Edward stood in the entryway, watching this "touching" scene, and felt his temples throbbing.

"..."

He fell silent.

What was this supposed to be?

Were they acting in a family sitcom?

Or had he opened the door the wrong way and accidentally stepped into some parallel universe?

Just a few hours ago, these three had been at each other's throats. One of them had used illusions to torment the other two to the brink of mental collapse, and they had nearly come to blows on the spot.

And now this was... The Villainesses' Tea Party?

Edward's gaze swept over the three of them.

Lily was the one with the most flawless acting.

The gentleness and obedience on her face were without a single crack, as though she had been born a considerate, well-behaved child.

But Edward knew that beneath that adorable face lay the coldness and cruelty of the demon Malkis.

Her performance at this moment was merely a predator's leisurely amusement while playing with its food.

Emma was the least subtle of them all.

She was smiling very happily, and that happiness came from the heart.

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But her happiness was not because of any "sisterly affection." It was because she found this "game" entertaining.

She looked at Lily, then at Esther. Her blue pupils glimmered with the excitement and fervor of finding her own kind and joining in.

She was enjoying this false performance.

Esther, or rather, Lina Kramer, was the only "real audience member."

Her smile was the stiffest. Beneath that shyness and gratitude lay fear and obedience that she could not hide.

She was like a rabbit raised in captivity by tigers, forced to play house with them. She had to pretend she was happy while constantly worrying that she might be swallowed whole at any moment.

Well, damn.

An award-winning actress, a lunatic, and a trembling prisoner.

Oscar owed each of you a little gold statue!

Edward complained wildly in his heart, but his expression did not change.

"Ahem."

He gave a light cough, breaking the strange harmony in the living room.

All three girls froze at once, then turned toward him in perfect unison.

In that instant, their expressions shifted seamlessly.

"Big Brother!" Lily was the first to cry out. The smile on her face became even brighter, carrying the dependence and joy of seeing family.

"Big Brother, you're back!" Emma called sweetly as well, waving at him.

Esther stood too and timidly called out, "Big Brother."

Edward changed his shoes and walked in, looking at the mess on the carpet... No, the warm and cozy tea party scene.

"What are you playing?" he asked, despite knowing perfectly well.

"We're getting the new sister familiar with the house!" Lily lifted her little face, answering flawlessly. "Mom said we should get along well and become a real family."

As she spoke, she affectionately took Esther's hand.

Esther's body visibly stiffened, but she still forced out a smile and nodded.

"Mm... Lily and Emma are both very good little sisters."

Seeing her expression, as though she was about to cry, made Edward feel tired on her behalf.

"Is that so?" The corner of Edward's mouth twitched. He walked over to the sofa and sat down, leaning back into its softness.

He did not want to interfere.

Really.

As long as these three little demons did not tear down the house, get anyone killed, or bring some enormous disaster down on him, they could play whatever palace-intrigue games they wanted in private.

In a sense, this was also a kind of ecological balance.

Having Lily, the ultimate demon lord, keep the other two in check was far easier to manage than letting all three run wild and cause trouble everywhere.

"Big Brother, do you want some milk?" Emma held her tiny cup and ran up to Edward on her short little legs, looking up at him expectantly.

Edward glanced down at the toy cup, which was barely bigger than his thumb and held about one mouthful of strawberry milk.

He picked it up between two fingers as though lifting a chess piece, then drained it in one gulp.

"Mm. It's good." He gave his evaluation with a blank expression.

"Hehe!" Emma beamed at the praise and happily ran back.

Edward watched the three of them sit back down and continue their tea party full of false pleasantries, and his headache only worsened.

He was exhausted.

Jennifer's side was much less troublesome. She might be a Succubus who needed charging, but at least she was obedient, and... pleasing to the eye.

Unlike these three in front of him. Every one of them was a better actor than the last, and every one of them was more dangerous than the last.

"All right, you girls play slowly." Edward rose to his feet, feeling that staying another second in this "warm" atmosphere would be torture.

"I'm a little tired. I'm going upstairs to rest."

After tossing out those words, he prepared to go upstairs.

"Bye, Big Brother!"

"Rest well, Big Brother!"

Lily and Emma's sweet farewells came from behind him, and Esther quietly added, "Bye, Big Brother."

Edward did not turn back. He merely waved and headed straight up the stairs.

He casually reminded them, "Don't play too late, and don't make the house too messy."

After saying that, he entered his room and shut the door with a bang.

As the sound of the door closing echoed out, even the cartoon in the living room seemed to grow quieter.

The smile on Lily's face instantly vanished. She picked up her cup and drained the strawberry milk in one gulp, her pitch-black pupils utterly indifferent.

Emma's smile became even stranger. Looking at Esther, she softly said, "Sister, the game isn't over yet."

Esther shuddered all over, and even the hand holding her little cup trembled.

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