Chapter 252: The Invincible Academy Head Falls, and the Succubus Queen in the Grove... (2)
The incessant questioning was like a siren's call in his ears, leaving Shia frozen in place.
Caught between the two, the pressure from both sides made him feel like he was sinking into a whirlpool of temptation, unable to escape.
Diana, observing Shia's strained expression and inability to respond, gritted her teeth in frustration.
How could he not tell the difference?
Her skincare regimen was clearly more effective—wasn't it obvious?
It seemed she had no choice but to use her trump card.
Diana pressed herself closer to Shia, her ample chest squishing his face, forcing it to deform against her softness.
Her crimson lips parted, releasing a sultry, heated breath laced with a subtle, intoxicating fragrance directly into his ear.
"Little one, tell me, isn't my charm greater? Hmm~"
The final hum escaped her throat like a bewitching melody, her lips grazing his ear, sending shivers straight to his core.
Her deep red eyes shimmered with an intoxicating, misty light, brimming with allure.
If comparing skincare wasn't yielding a clear winner, then she would lower the bar, making it easier for the boy to appreciate her superiority firsthand.
That was the best way to settle this, wasn't it?
Mentally patting herself on the back for her cleverness, Diana's soft hand slid down to rest against Shia's chest.
The delicate sigh she let out was enough to make Shia's knees weak.
In that instant, she sensed a subtle change in his demeanor.
Her gaze flickered downward briefly, and she smirked with satisfaction.
Her charm was, without question, irresistible.
Feeling triumphant, Diana shot a taunting look at Eden.
When it came to winning Shia's affection, she was determined not to fall behind.
She knew all too well how flustered the little guy became when faced with her.
Raising a delicate brow, Diana's silent message to her best friend was clear:
'I've already got him wrapped around my finger. Can you do the same?'
Skincare? That was just a means to maintain charm.
If Shia couldn't tell who took better care of themselves, they might as well compete on raw allure.
Eden, the Succubus Queen, wasn't one to doubt her own abilities. She was confident in her charm.
But in this situation, being evenly matched was practically a loss.
As a succubus, she was naturally adept at bewitching men. Yet, against Diana, a deity with an innate ability to captivate others, Eden had to concede that she was at a slight disadvantage.
Diana's series of calculated moves left Eden momentarily speechless.
What could she do? At this point, it felt like she was merely picking up the scraps Diana left behind.
The three of them were pressed so closely together that Eden could hear Shia's erratic heartbeat.
It was infuriating!
How was it that the Academy Head, of all people, was better at this than her, the Succubus Queen!?
She pouted and momentarily retreated, giving Shia a bit of breathing room.
Instinctively, Shia leaned toward the newly created space, seemingly seeking refuge.
To an observer, it might even look like he was voluntarily moving closer to Eden.
Diana, however, wasn't about to let this slide. She smirked triumphantly and quickly pulled Shia back into her embrace.
"Little one, you're not going anywhere~"
Her voice was dripping with magnetic allure, laced with a mischievous undertone.
Shia felt like he was on the verge of losing his mind.
Why was he the only one suffering here!?
While Diana continued basking in her apparent victory, Eden didn't seem the least bit concerned. Her trump card was still in play.
Casually brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with the grace of a seductress, Eden gave Diana a relaxed, almost lazy smile.
"My dear friend, did you forget? He's my daughter's boyfriend."
Diana glanced at her briefly, dismissing the comment.
Taking advantage of Eden's momentary retreat, Diana pulled Shia closer to her side, fully reclaiming him.
Of course, she knew that. She also knew Eden's daughter wasn't particularly fond of her.
But so what? The last time they clashed, Diana had emerged victorious, even against a two-on-one scenario.
Was Eden now trying to play the family card after losing ground?
But Eden's next words made Diana freeze.
"So, doesn't that make him my son-in-law?"
Eden lazily inspected her nails, her sharp gaze flicking toward Diana with amusement.
She knew exactly what her best friend wanted most in life—a child of her own.
Shia might attract women easily, but Diana would never be satisfied unless he became hers completely.
Yet, as things stood, he was already romantically tied to Eden's daughter. By extension, that made him her family.
And wasn't that the one thing Diana could never achieve?
The blow landed with pinpoint precision.
In an instant, Diana's mind raced, piecing together the implications.
Fury bubbled to the surface.
Diana stared at Eden, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"You wretched old hag! Did you really have to hit where it hurts!?"
Eden simply smiled, savoring her victory.
And Diana soon discovered that Eden wasn't finished.
The Succubus Queen leaned in, her voice soft but cutting.
"In other words, he's the perfect son you've always dreamed of having but could never have~"
Diana stood motionless, as if struck by lightning.
A Crushing Blow!
Diana wanted to ignore it, she really did.
But Eden's words spun in her mind like a curse, echoing over and over.
Even someone as carefree and invincible as the Academy Head couldn't stand against her best friend's precise knowledge of her vulnerabilities.
She'd lost. Completely and utterly.
This round's victory went decisively to Queen Eden, restoring the balance in their ongoing rivalry.
Even Shia couldn't bring himself to look directly at Diana. This mental assault, aimed directly at someone whose lifelong wish was to have her own child, was simply too cruel.
Diana turned her head toward Shia, her eyes full of complex emotions, yet she couldn't voice a single one of them.
The confident, sultry energy that had defined her earlier completely faded.
Her captivating gaze lost its sparkle, and her soft, alluring figure slowly slumped against the sofa, sliding down until she was left kneeling on the floor.
Her expression was hollow, and her vibrant aura dimmed.
She had always longed for familial love, yearned for a child of her own.
Unlike Eden, who at least had an adopted princess as a daughter—and now even a son-in-law—Diana had no such blessing.
It was her ultimate desire, her deepest heartache.
Yet her so-called best friend had shamelessly struck directly at that vulnerable spot.