Chapter 99: Caught in the Act - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

## Chapter 99: Caught in the Act Lo Xiu waved his hand dismissively. "It's not that great, just that it's late, and it'd be bad to catch a chill." He leaned back, resting against the chair, and looked at the girl with a gentle smile. "You're here so late, is there something you want to discuss with me?" Upon hearing this, Selina shook her head and took a quiet step forward. "No, I just wanted to come and see you." Lo Xiu didn't say anything, merely reached out to pat the girl's head. Selina was like a well-behaved little cat, her silky hair hard to let go of. Retracting his hand, Lo Xiu suggested, "Now that you've seen me, and it's getting late, why not go back to your room and rest?" He sighed, "I assume you haven't had much chance to get a good night's sleep before this." Having once lived on Blue Star, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of pity and anger when facing a persecuted girl like this. This wasn't about gender. Furthermore, due to his status and position, Lo Xiu was fully aware. The so-called symbol of disaster and misfortune was merely a stigma the Church deliberately branded on 'witches'—a tool to consolidate its own power. This method was exceedingly malicious and ruthless. Once public opinion was shaped, it resulted in oppression continuing for hundreds of years. The Church feared the 'witches.' They feared the terrifying power these women wielded once they came of age, a significant threat to the Church's standing. Selina, however, didn’t obediently leave as suggested. Her eyes moved slightly, and she stepped forward to grasp the man's hand. "Lord Lo Xiu, may I stay here a little longer?" Although puzzled, Lo Xiu did not refuse. He nodded, "Of course." He then turned his attention back to the letters on the desk, picking up a pen, and continued to worry over them. From time to time, he would write something, only to pause again quickly. Selina stood quietly beside him, not prying into the letters, just watching the man's profile in silence. His focused expression and occasional furrowed brows made Selina want to reach out and smooth them. "Lord Lo Xiu, are you troubled about our situation?" Selina, being clever, had a general idea of the content of the letters even without peeking. Lo Xiu didn't conceal anything and responded with a simple "Hmm," saying casually: "The matter of forcibly bringing you back is a bit tricky with the Church, but with my current position, they probably won’t act rashly." As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something and looked up at Selina. "By the way, I might need your cooperation when the time comes." Selina blinked, a little confused. "Cooperate how?" After a moment of contemplation, Lo Xiu explained, "The official reason I've given is that I'm bringing you back to the manor for a personal trial, so it's highly likely that inspectors from the Church and the Empire will come to investigate." "So when the time comes, we’ll have to put on a show for them." Perform a play? Selina's mind quickly understood Lo Xiu's meaning. "Lord Lo Xiu, are you saying we’ll enact a scene where you personally judge us?" "Precisely." Lo Xiu looked somewhat worried, "The people from the Church won’t be easily deceived, so the acting may need to be quite realistic." Understanding his concern, Selina stood a little straighter and assured, "Lord Lo Xiu, you've helped us a lot. I will do my utmost to cooperate with you." "Whether it's lashes or..." She bit her soft, red lips and lowered her head. "You needn't pity me, I can endure it..." Seeing this, Lo Xiu ruffled Selina's hair, smiling as he comforted her, "It's not as extreme as you think. We don’t even know if the Church will send anyone." "It's just a heads-up so you can be mentally prepared." After speaking, Lo Xiu intended to withdraw his hand. However, halfway through, the girl caught it again. She took the warm hand and gently brushed it along her cheek. "Selina understands." She responded softly. Outwardly calm, her heart was racing intensely—the sudden boldness bringing her heart into her throat. Contrary to prior fears, she felt no revulsion—only a strong sense of security. Like a stray kitten, she had finally found her haven. Lo Xiu, momentarily stunned, didn't rush to pull his hand away, waiting until she looked up before teasing, "My dear Miss Selina, have you rubbed enough?" Despite her boldness, Selina's face flushed as red as fire, and she hurriedly released his hand, twirling her fingers bashfully. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper, "I'm sorry, Lord Lo Xiu, excuse my impertinence." The moonlight shone brightly, illuminating her flawless, translucent skin, enhancing her charming allure. The room was large, yet somehow they had ended up quite close. Lo Xiu hadn’t moved from his chair; it was Selina who had approached him. Despite this closeness, Lo Xiu felt no inappropriate thoughts, merely smiling warmly. "Why apologize?" "To be accepted by such an adorable girl as Miss Selina is my honor." As Lo Xiu spoke, he caught something in his periphery, glancing casually toward the window. As expected, there was a pair of wide eyes staring back. It didn’t take much thought to realize it was Ailene, lurking by the window, secretly watching. An idea to tease sparked within him. Lo Xiu deliberately extended his hand to gently caress Selina’s cheek. Naturally, the girl didn’t resist, even rising slightly to make it easier for him. When Lo Xiu glanced back at the window, Ailene’s eyes were red, and she seemed on the verge of a breakdown, clawing at the window frame. This widened his grin. So cold to me during the day—let's see how mad you get now. Caught in the act... The room ambience remained tranquil, candle flames flickering. Yet, the girl's pristine neck visibly reddened. The blush crept up her neck, eventually consuming her ears. In the end, Selina couldn't bear the unusual sensation any longer. She shyly excused herself. Watching her retreating figure, Lo Xiu chuckled softly and called out, "Remember to have sweet dreams." Selina paused in her steps, fighting embarrassment as she turned. Gracefully, she greeted him one last time. "Lord Lo Xiu, you too." As the door opened and closed, Ailene, who had been waiting outside, quickly approached Selina. She scrutinized her friend with red eyes, exasperated, "That pervert, pervert!" "I'm so mad!" "Selina, how could you let him bully you like that!" But Selina merely kept her head down, walking forward without a word. Falling behind, Ailene bit down on her lip. What kind of spell has that pervert cast on her friend Selina...? (End of chapter)