Chapter Fifty-Two: The Playground of the Twins

“Now it’s time for Vivi and Anna’s game, Your Highness, you must play with us properly,” said the twins of the night, standing atop a giant teddy bear, grinning with delight.

At their words, the amusement rides that had been motionless began to operate. Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet shifted; the earth vanished, replaced by winding tracks. Not far away, a thunderous rumbling echoed, steadily drawing closer.

“Your Highness, you’d better run or you’ll get squashed,” Anna said with a mischievous smile.

“Your Highness, be careful or you’ll be sent flying,” Vivi chimed in, her voice bright with glee.

With their words, I finally understood the source of the roaring sound—a colossal roller coaster was hurtling toward me at breakneck speed, and I was standing directly on its track, about to collide with the incoming train.

“So this is an amusement park? Fascinating,” I watched the roller coaster approach, making no attempt to evade it. “Do you know I regret not riding the roller coaster with those two last time? Is this your way of making it up to me, so I can bid farewell to the past?” I asked the twins perched atop the teddy bear.

“Roller coasters are so much fun,” Anna giggled.

“It’s such a pity if you’ve never tried one,” Vivi added, grinning.

“Is that so? Then let me experience it—let’s see if this roller coaster is truly as marvelous as you say.” As the train screeched closer, I leapt lightly and landed atop its front.

“You won’t be disappointed, Your Highness!” Anna exclaimed excitedly at my action.

“It’s really thrilling,” Vivi echoed.

“Please enjoy it to the fullest, Your Highness,” they said in unison, their laughter ringing out.

I stood atop the speeding roller coaster, gazing ahead. The tracks were littered with all manner of obstacles—flames, chainsaws, hammers, broken rails, even a section that plunged straight downward, a dizzying spectacle. “Can this still be called a roller coaster? Aside from the train racing beneath my feet, nothing resembles a typical ride. It seems I’ll never experience an ordinary roller coaster as humans do,” I sighed inwardly.

Flames were easily dodged, chainsaws and hammers shattered beneath my blade, broken rails supported by my magic… The coaster plunged down the vertical track, but my feet stayed firmly planted, unmoved. “What a marvelous sensation,” I murmured, feeling the fierce wind whistle past my ears as I followed the train into an endless abyss.

When the roller coaster finally crashed, I found myself back at the entrance of the amusement park.

“Your Highness is truly remarkable,” Anna exclaimed in awe.

“You’re the first to finish the whole ride,” Vivi said joyfully.

“All the others ran away halfway, refusing to play with us till the end. How annoying,” the twins complained in unison.

“So, what’s next? Surely this isn’t the end?” I smiled, addressing the twins.

“Of course not! We have so many games to show you!” they replied with pride. “Your Highness, let’s begin the second game,” they looked at each other, then announced together, “Welcome to Vivi and Anna’s Maze.”

With those words, walls rose from the ground, enclosing me in a vast labyrinth.

“Your Highness, you must hurry and find the exit,” Vivi said with a cheerful smile.

“Otherwise, you’ll soon be crushed by that iron ball,” Anna pointed behind me, where a massive iron sphere was rolling rapidly toward me.

“A maze? I’m not very adept at these,” I complained, eyeing the approaching iron ball. “Well, as long as I find the exit.” I raised my scythe, slashing the wall before me into fragments. “This will do,” I stepped through the opening, watching the iron ball roll past.

“Your Highness, you broke the rules! Anna is very angry,” Anna said furiously.

“Your Highness, you violated the agreement! Vivi is upset too,” Vivi huffed.

“You’ve made a mistake; you must accept punishment,” the twins said together, hand in hand, “Teddy!”

At their command, the giant teddy bear’s eyes glowed red, and it raised its massive paw to strike me.

I dodged nimbly, watching the enormous imprint left on the ground. “Impressive strength, but far too slow,” I said disdainfully, then turned to the twins atop the bear. “I only agreed to play your games, not to follow your rules. No one in this world can dictate rules to me—I obey only my own.”

“Anna doesn’t care! Mistakes must be punished,” Anna retorted angrily.

“It’s all Your Highness’s fault for not following the rules,” Vivi complained.

“Teddy, squish her!” the twins ordered, furious.

The teddy bear’s paws slammed down again and again, growing faster each time. In the confined space, I dodged with increasing difficulty.

“Hmph,” I scoffed. This time, instead of dodging, I swung my scythe at the descending paw, severing the plush, cotton-stuffed limb, which tumbled to the ground.

“Teddy!” the twins cried out in distress at their wounded companion.

“To harm Teddy is unforgivable,” Anna said, her anger mounting.

“Teddy is our best friend, Your Highness is a villain,” Vivi sobbed.

Then, hand in hand, the twins attacked, umbrellas in hand, from left and right. Their coordination was flawless; each time I blocked one, the other’s umbrella followed instantly. All the while, the wounded teddy bear swung its remaining paw, making the fight chaotic. Yet their attacks could not truly hurt me; soon I was familiar with their rhythm and launched my counterattack.

When my scythe hovered at Vivi’s throat, the twins and teddy bear had no choice but to halt.

“Don’t move, or I can’t guarantee I won’t strike. You wouldn’t want to see her harmed, would you?” I said, mimicking their tone, smiling.

“Princess Liliana, please show mercy. They are only children, without malice,” came the illusionist’s voice in my ear.

“Ha, when they tried to kill me just now, their actions were hardly those of ordinary children,” I replied with a smile.

“Princess Liliana, we admit defeat,” the illusionist said.

“Then withdraw the domain first. Afterwards, we’ll discuss the spoils,” I said.

“Very well, I understand,” came the illusionist’s resigned reply.

As the illusionist spoke, the dense mist surrounding me gradually dissipated, revealing the surroundings. Liliel had released her own domain, the rose garden, to oppose the illusionist’s nightmare realm; though she could not triumph, she remained unharmed. As the illusionist’s domain faded, Liliel’s expanded. Ashus had blended into the shadows; despite being affected by the domain, the illusionist could do nothing against the mass of shadow. Ang was entirely unaffected, though the mist blocked his sight and prevented him from finding me, so he remained still. Once the mist cleared, he rushed to my side.

“Sister Lilith!” Liliel exclaimed with relief upon seeing me unharmed.

“Miss, are you all right?” Ang asked with concern.

“Are you underestimating me?” I replied coldly to his concern.

“I wouldn’t dare. Forgive my rudeness,” Ang answered respectfully.

Watching our exchange, Liliel’s joy faded to gloom, muttering under her breath.

“Now, shall we discuss the spoils I am owed?” I said with a smile to the illusionist, who appeared before us.