Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 208: ... You are so... delicate."

Panic clawed at his insides, urging him to call for help, but as he opened his mouth, his throat was inexplicably blocked. It was because of a spell woven by Loviatar, sealing away his voice.

Frustration and terror mingled within Qie Xieling, his mind racing for alternatives. In that moment of desperation, Qie Xieling recalled the system so he called out to it.

The system was quick to respond but even it was useless in this matter. It couldn’t intervene. Its job was to display assigned side missions, punish and issue warnings. Every other feature was blocked.

’I can’t really help you and every defence spell you have is being suppressed by the magic suppression cuffs,’ it replied and Qie Xieling realised at that moment that he was all alone.

Qie Xieling’s eyes widened in sheer terror as he lay on the bed, his body drenched in sweat. The room seemed to close in around him, the air growing heavy with an oppressive aura. Loviator’s eyes gleamed with ethereal light, and a cruel smile played on her lips.

Qie Xieling’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. He struggled to catch his breath, but the stagnant air seemed to suffocate him. His gaze fixated on Loviator’s hand, her fingers adorned with claws that glinted in the dim light. The sight sent shivers down his spine.

As if sensing his fear, Loviator slowly moved her hand, the claw-like tips of her fingers grazing against his throat. Qie Xieling’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously as he swallowed, the sound echoing loudly in the silence of the room. The chill of her touch sent a wave of icy fear coursing through his veins.

Her voice, a haunting whisper, filled the room, resonating in Qie Xieling’s mind. "No one can help you. I made sure of it." Qie Xieling’s blood ran cold in fear. He didn’t want things to end this way but in this moment he couldn’t save himself.

Staring at him obsessively she continued to say, "No wonder my daughter is so protective of you. You are so... delicate."

Qie Xieling, "..."

Protective? The witch orchestrated Eling’s murder and succeeded so what did she mean by protective? He didn’t realise that Eling’s death was merciful compared to what Loviatar would do to him.

"Do you wish to come with me?" she asked, the words more of a command than a question. The weight of her gaze bore down on him, her power palpable and suffocating.

But Qie Xieling found himself still unable to respond. The silencing spell still held him captive, rendering him voiceless. He couldn’t even talk his way out of it.

Loviator’s grip tightened slightly on his throat, the cruel smile on her face growing bigger. She seemed to relish in his fear, in his vulnerability. Her voice, laced with a venomous sweetness, dripped with malice. "Great. Let’s go. We have a whole lot of fun things to do," she uttered, her words carrying a finality that chilled him to the core.

Qie Xieling’s mind raced, his thoughts a jumbled mess of desperation. He fought against the invisible restraints, his body trembling with the effort. But no matter how hard he struggled, he remained imprisoned, at the mercy of the goddess who held him captive on the bed.

As Loviator leaned closer, her breath cold against his ear, Qie Xieling’s terror reached its peak. The realisation of his powerlessness settled upon him, and he braced himself for the unknown fate that awaited him.

***

Yunning paced back and forth in front of the grand window of the royal study, her mind racing with anxiety. She knew that time was slipping through her fingers like sand, and she had to keep King Luo from returning to his room. The plan had been set in motion, and she had devised the perfect excuse to lure him out discussing their next plan of action.

King Luo, unaware of the turmoil raging within Yunning, stood by the ornate desk, lost in deep thought. Boran stood by his side and pored over the intricate maps spread across the table.

They had just completed the easiest part of the plan. Luring Loviator out in the open was the hard part. "Sneaking into the palace will not cut it. We might need to use a more direct approach," suggested Boran.

King Luo’s senses felt something was off and he couldn’t shake the feeling. As they discussed the details, Yunning’s heart pounded against her chest, threatening to give away her secret. She fidgeted anxiously with the edge of her sleeve, her eyes darting to the clock hanging on the wall.

King Luo suddenly knocked the table absentmindedly as he said, "I will come up with a plan. Let’s reconvene later."

Yunning knew she couldn’t let King Luo return to his room before the trap was set. She cleared her throat and said, "Your Majesty, can I speak to you alone ... please," mustering all her courage to project confidence. "It is imperative that we address it now."

King Luo’s brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Yunning. "Can it not wait? Eling is waiting for me."

Yunning’s heart sank, but she refused to let her resentment spill over. "It’s really important," she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.

Boran, sensing the urgency in Yunning’s words, chimed in. "I will go prepare breakfast."

King Luo paused, his brows furrowing, sensing a disquieting energy hanging in the air. His instincts whispered to him that something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. In his heart, a flicker of suspicion emerged, cautious but undeniable.

With a touch of wariness, he replied, "We can talk while we walk. But make it brief."

Relieved yet anxious about her dwindling chances to stop the unfolding of her treacherous plan, Yunning matched her pace with King Luo’s determined stride. Every step felt heavy with the weight of her deceit.

As they walked through the dimly lit corridors, Yunning’s words stumbled out in an attempt to express remorse for the events of the previous day. But before she could finish her sentence, the King interrupted her, his voice laced with indifference and detachment.

"Save your apologies," he coldly uttered. "You should direct them towards Eling not me."

His words struck Yunning like a dagger to the heart, igniting a fierce jealousy within her. The small remnants of guilt she had clung to up until this point evaporated in an instant. All that remained was her desperate desire to reclaim King Luo’s love, no matter the cost.