"Mm... it hurts... help me..." Victoria murmured softly.
She felt as though she was suffocating a little.
Something like this had happened before. Once, her golden hair had tangled and knotted in her sleep, nearly strangling her.
Ever since then, the maids had brushed her long hair every day, and she had even commissioned a special pool for washing it.
Victoria only felt that the knot was particularly bad this time. She could break free with a little use of her ability, but she kept her eyes closed, unwilling to wake up yet. After mumbling for a long while, she felt the weight on her growing heavier and heavier, and had no choice but to open her eyes.
Then she discovered Vanessa straddling her, looking down at her expressionlessly.
Victoria froze, then sneered. "Hah, so you're finally going to betray your master? I knew it! Don't think being able to go to the Overflowing Garden makes you anything special, you lucky little dog..."
"I have something important to talk to you about."
Vanessa cut her off coldly.
Victoria paused and looked around. The Library was still pitch-black. It was the middle of the night. "Now?"
"Yes, now."
"How... important? And can you get off me first?"
"Very important. No." Vanessa paused, then went on regardless. "I have a friend..."
"There's no one else here. If you're talking about yourself, there's no need to make up some friend."
Vanessa frowned. What was this woman talking about?
"It's not me. It's my friend. She's run into trouble..."
Vanessa briefly described the situation with Dorothea, Flora, and the others.
Only then did Victoria's expression gradually turn serious. She rubbed her chin and thought for a while. "This friend of yours... what Path is she on?" That question was difficult to answer. Vanessa hesitated