raknovel 050. A Small Punishment
050. A Small Punishment
The moment the magic circle was completed, Xinlai released her grip on Sylvie.
He got up, let out a breath, stood in front of the bed, and looked down at the woman curled up in the corner.
Sylvie's clothes were disheveled. She clutched the corner of the blanket and shrank deep into the bed. Tears still clung to her pale face. Her gaze toward Sinlai was fragmented, filled with fear and wariness.
Xin Lai felt his throat was a little dry. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, slowly rubbing the lid against the rim a few times, making a soft, grating sound.
The rustling sound relentlessly assaulted Sylvie's fragile mental defenses in the silence. When Sinlai noticed that Sylvie's eyes were somewhat unfocused, he knew it was time.
"Does Skechers usually invite you to their parties?"
Sylvie's pupils suddenly contracted.
Suddenly, my whole body began to tremble uncontrollably, as if I had guessed something, but I dared not think about it too deeply.
After a long silence, she managed to squeeze out two sobbing responses:
"meeting……"
Have you been invited recently?
"..."
Sylvie fell silent.
She knew in her heart that every word she uttered at this moment could become a blade aimed at young Master Skechers.
If she remained silent, the man before her could disfigure her with a single spell.
By then, what right would she have to see Master Skechers?
Sylvie fell into a deep struggle and entanglement.
Xinlai noticed the hesitation in her eyes, chuckled, and understandingly pierced through that thin veil:
I know what you're worried about.
His tone was calm, as if he were soothing a frightened bird:
"My target isn't your young master, nor the Tanstin family. Just tell me the truth, and I won't use the magic, okay?"
"..."
Shock flashed across Sylvie's face; Sinley had seen through her thoughts so accurately.
But precisely because of this, she understood even more clearly,
How could someone who dared to forcibly inscribe a deadly spell on her body in broad daylight, under pressure from the Tanstin family, let her go so easily just because she confessed?
I fear that once she says what she needs to say, the next moment she will become a disfigured woman.
Sylvie's eyes flickered, and she finally stammered out:
"The day after tomorrow, at the Leto Opera House, young Master Skechers is hosting a masquerade ball..."
Xinlai didn't move or speak.
He simply looked down at her, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Before he came, he had already inquired about all the venues in Guna City that could hold banquets recently, including the Leto Theater that Sylvie mentioned. Not only were they all booked, but none of them were related to the Tanstin family.
That's why he came to find Sylvie.
"Miss Sylvie," Sinley sighed, a hint of regret in her voice.
"It seems I'll have to punish you a little before you'll tell the truth."
Before he finished speaking, he abruptly threw off the covers.
Sylvie's curled-up legs, her skirt that had slipped down to her thighs, and her bare lower body were all exposed to the air.
Her body trembled, and she hurriedly covered herself with her hands, her face filled with grief and indignation: "You...you can't do this..."
"Please, Mr. Sinley..."
Ultimately, Sylvie was nothing more than a prostitute.
Xinlai didn't feel she needed to be as careful, gentle, and patient as she had been with Eve.
Besides, since she's not very valuable, she should create some value to be worthy of that gold coin, right?
He grabbed Sylvie's arm, pulled her off the bed, and forced her to kneel.
Sylvie didn't know where to put her hands, so she obediently placed them on her knees, tilted her head back, and looked on in shock.
"Mr. Xin... Xinlai..."
"Hmm..."
"Just grab my leg, do I have to teach you even that??"
……
……
Xinlai leaned back on the sofa, her expression one of utter satisfaction.
He looked with satisfaction at Sylvie kneeling on the ground, her head bowed, her cheeks bulging, as she swallowed with difficulty.
"So, Sylvie? Can you tell the truth now?"
"vomit……"
Sylvie looked up and gave him a resentful glance, then crawled to the trash can and began to dry heave.
After Sylvie finished vomiting and regained her senses, Xinlai got up and walked to her side, slowly squatted down, grabbed her hair, gently lifted it up, and met her beautiful eyes:
"Time is running out, lovely Sylvie. Think carefully before you speak~"
Sylvie's eyes had lost their luster.
Now her mind is filled with guilt towards Skechers and despair over those beautiful memories...
All hope for life was crushed in that moment.
A year ago, her father, a businessman, was heavily in debt, and the family fell into poverty. She was then sold into this Peach Blossom Garden.
I thought my life would never see the light again, but little did I know that on my very first day as a prostitute after learning to play musical instruments, I would meet Mr. Skechers...
Skechers treated her very well.
Every time he came, he would only look for her and give her twenty silver coins, but he would never touch her. He would just sit quietly on the sofa and listen to her play music.
Later, he even redeemed her from her slave contract, stipulating that she could only play musical instruments and sing, and could not do anything else.
He said that once he became the head of the Tanstin family, he would redeem her and take her as his concubine...
It sounded like a mirage, but it was enough to ignite a glimmer of hope in her despair.
But now, even if she could still see Mr. Skechers, how could she accept his affections with a clear conscience?
"Kill me..."
"Kill you?"
Xinlai smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes:
"Sylvie, you're so loyal to Master Skechers, you wouldn't even speak up even if it meant death?"
The two stared at each other for a few seconds.
Xin Lai let go of her hand and sat back on the sofa with a relieved expression.
"In that case, make good use of the remaining time. Didn't you say you can do everything?"
He pointed to the piano in the corner: "Play a piece for me to hear."
As he spoke, he adjusted his posture, adopting a stance that suggested he was truly ready to appreciate the moment.
Sylvie stared at him for a long time, and when she realized that he hadn't done anything further out of line, she quietly straightened her disheveled clothes and wiped the salty taste from the corner of her mouth and the wetness from the base of her legs with a tissue.
She knew in her heart that the Fissare family, to which young master Skecher belonged, was now at the height of its power, and once the Tanstin line completely collapsed, he would soon become the head of the family.
Therefore, it was not without reason that people targeting Tanstin approached her.
If she were to die now, she would not only never see Master Skechers again, but she wouldn't even be able to do anything for him...
No.
She has to survive.
She had to hold out until at least the day Mr. Skechers came to see her.
Xinlai watched as the woman regained her composure and sat down at the piano with a restrained air.
"Mr. Xinlai... what... would you like to hear?"
He glanced at the piano; it was a high-end piece imported from the music capital, presumably Skechers's creation.
"Hmm... what does Skechers usually listen to?"
Sylvie's throat bobbed, as if she hesitated.
But then she thought of her only value now, closed her eyes, straightened her back, and sat upright on the piano bench.
Long, slender fingers landed on the piano keys, creating a beautiful melody.
Xinlai rested her chin on her hand, but her gaze went past her and towards the window.
The carriage bearing the Tansten family flag slowly came to a stop at the entrance of Peach Heart Garden.
A figure he had seen in the daily newspaper was stepping out of the carriage.
Xin Lai's lips curled up slightly.
Skechers... arrived just in time...