I Believe You My Ass

"Interesting. Far more interesting than This Queen imagined."

Queen Medusa waved her hand, dismissing the Snake-People guards.

But just as the Snake-People guard reached the door, Queen Medusa suddenly called out to him again:

"If he has any further requests, have him come directly to This Queen."

The Snake-People guard froze slightly. Being granted an audience with the Queen—what an honor was that?

If he had not been one of the Queen's personal guards, even getting a glimpse of the Queen would have been extremely difficult, much less for a human.

"Yes." The Snake-People guard nodded.

"Mm. You may leave!"

After the Snake-People guard departed, Queen Medusa said coolly, "Come in!"

As her words fell, a gaunt Snake-People elder dressed in plain robes slowly walked in.

"Elder Ba Lu, you are the only alchemist of the Snake-People Clan. Take a look and tell This Queen about the quality of this pill." With a flick of Queen Medusa's Jade Hand, the brownish pill in her hand flew toward the old man in plain robes.

The elder Queen Medusa had called Elder Ba Lu caught it in one motion. After only a glance, a gleam flashed through his cloudy eyes.

"Though it is merely a first-grade Recovery Pill, its quality is nearly flawless. From that alone, one can see how superb the pill-refining techniques of its maker are, and how exquisite his control of flame is."

"Oh?" Queen Medusa was even more surprised upon hearing this. She then asked, "Elder Ba Lu, as a Three-Star Alchemist, can you refine a pill of such quality?"

Ba Lu shook his head. "Judging solely by the pill's quality, this old man guesses that the person who refined it is at least a Four-Star Alchemist."

"Four-Star?" Queen Medusa immediately sat upright.

"Ah, right. Whose hand did this pill come from?" Ba Lu asked curiously.

"A slave."

Medusa's red lips curved upward, and the smile on her face grew even more pronounced.

"A slave?"

Ba Lu was baffled.

"Chief, we've found out. That human has moved into Her Majesty the Queen's bedchamber."

Atop a sand dune, a Snake-People soldier respectfully reported to Mo Bas before him.

"What?!"

Mo Bas cried out in shock, grabbing the Snake-People man by the collar. "Are you certain you didn't see wrong?"

"There can be no mistake. This lowly one's elder brother guards that human. He is staying in a small room in the Side Hall of the Queen's bedchamber," the Snake-People soldier said tremblingly.

"Hmph, damn it." Mo Bas released the Snake-People soldier and said grimly, "If Her Majesty the Queen hadn't removed me from my post as Royal Palace Guard Commander, leaving me unable to approach the Queen's bedchamber, I would have killed that brat."

The Snake-People soldier did not dare take a deep breath. He knew Mo Bas's hatred for humans surpassed that of every other Snake-People.

After venting for a while, Mo Bas said in a low voice, "Keep a close watch on that human. The moment anything happens, report to me immediately. I'll go speak with the Grand Elder and the others."

"Yes."

Inside the room.

The lamps burned brightly.

Chen Mo took out a wooden tub from his Storage Ring, filled it with water, and added the Restoration Spirit Liquid.

Just as he was about to undress and soak in the bath—

There came a knock at the door.

"Your Highness," the Snake-People guard said.

"Chen... Chen Mo." It was Die's voice.

"Come in," Chen Mo said.

Creak.

The door opened, then immediately shut again.

With her hands clasped behind her back, Die slowly walked in.

"You finally came!"

Chen Mo said excitedly. Since he could not leave, without Die by his side, he had no way to fleece her for rewards.

He had planned to strike while the iron was hot, raise her favorability to one hundred in one go, become Dao partners with her, and level up his host rank while he was at it.

"Y-you missed me?"

Hearing Chen Mo's excited words, a blush immediately spread across Die's cheeks.

She wore a new red gown. Her skin was like creamy jade, and she was radiant and lovely. An antique-gold pendant hung from her fair neck.

If she wore a crown as well, she would be virtually indistinguishable from Queen Medusa without close inspection.

But upon closer examination, the differences were still apparent.

First of all, Die was not as well-endowed as Queen Medusa. She was slightly smaller.

Her face was not as seductive as Queen Medusa's either, lacking a trace of that bewitching charm.

Chen Mo nodded.

Ding! Favorability +1. Obtained 1 Favorability Coin.

Die lifted a lock of dark hair from her forehead with her Jade Hand. Blushing, she asked softly, "How did your pill refining go? I came to see you once at noon, but the guard said you were refining pills, so I didn't disturb you."

"Not bad. Let me show you." Chen Mo took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring and handed it to Die.

Die merely glanced at it before returning it to Chen Mo, covering her mouth as she giggled. "I never expected you to be an alchemist too."

"Haha, didn't expect that, did you? There'll be more surprises for you later." Chen Mo left it at that, then asked, "Now that you've recovered your memories, what is your real name?"

Though Chen Mo already knew, he still asked out of habit.

Die shook her head. "When my sister and I were born, we had no names. Everyone simply called me Your Highness."

"But it's all right. From now on, I have a name. I've decided—I'll be called Die."

As she spoke, Die revealed a dazzling smile.

The sight made Chen Mo's heart burn. He then said, "You still haven't given me an answer about what happened this morning."

"...An answer to what?" Die lightly bit her thin lip, her shyness deepening.

You're asking when you already know?

Chen Mo had no choice but to continue, "Do you like me?"

As soon as the words fell—

Die's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and even the tips of her ears turned red. Her gaze darted away, and she could only lower her head and give a soft hum.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you." Chen Mo had heard her perfectly well. He was deliberately teasing her.

"Mm." Die hummed again, a little louder this time.

"Too quiet. I still didn't hear you."

"What?" Die froze. When she saw the sly smile on Chen Mo's face, she finally realized he was teasing her. Embarrassment and anger immediately surfaced on her cheeks as she lightly slapped toward him.

"You're awful!"

The strike looked so soft that Chen Mo did not take it seriously at all. He grabbed Die's descending Jade Hand in one motion, then instinctively pulled her into his arms and wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

"W-what are you doing? Hurry... hurry and let me go."

Die's body stiffened. Then she struggled while pushing and patting Chen Mo's chest.

Ding! Favorability +1. Obtained 1 Favorability Coin. Intimacy bonus triggered. Obtained Incense Stick's Worth of Enlightenment Time.

"???"

Chen Mo: I believe you my ass.

Chen Mo's arm around Die's waist tightened slightly as he stared at her. A trace of heat unconsciously surfaced in his eyes, while the hand at her waist could not help sliding gently, touching that jade-like—

At once, Die's face turned burning hot.