Chapter 166: The Queen Flirts Boldly Before Rong, Suddenly Taking on the Hidden Wife Persona (3)
The trio passed through the bustling heart of Dreamland Enchantment, eventually reaching quieter areas.
Though the succubi here still cast curious glances, they weren't as overtly bold as those they'd encountered earlier.
Arriving at the Queen's palace, they sat down.
A servant brought wine, but as she handed the glass to Shia, her fingers lingered, drawing two circles on his palm before retreating with a mischievous smile.
Even such blatant gestures didn't warrant a comment from Queen Eden.
"Your Majesty, shall we discuss the details of our cooperation now?"
Shia's tone was steady, but Queen Eden raised her hand to halt his words.
"There's no rush to discuss business just yet. I have a question I'm more curious about."
She leaned closer, her slightly husky voice lowering to a murmur.
"What's the relationship between you two?"
Her sharp gaze never left Shia, though everyone present knew she was asking about his relationship with Rong.
"And, what's your opinion of the succubi race?"
Her deep eyes locked onto Shia like a predator zeroing in on its prey, ready to pounce at any moment.
The earlier flirtatious atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a suffocating pressure that made it hard to breathe.
This breathtakingly beautiful succubus queen now radiated a genuine regal aura, one that stripped away all pretenses and left no room for lies. It felt as if she could see through his soul and dismantle any façade.
This wasn't a question one asked of a business partner.
It was clear she had begun testing him.
Business partners sought mutual benefits. Personal relationships and opinions about one's race were secondary concerns.
After all, Dreamland Enchantment was the most profitable establishment on the continent, yet it was still scorned by the masses, despite their obvious hypocrisy. The succubi, well aware of this double standard, bore no resentment toward society's duplicity.
Shia remained composed, confidently introducing himself.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Shia, a first-year student at the Seven Shields Academy, and Rong is my classmate."
The Queen wasn't surprised by his answer.
Her gaze stayed fixed on him, waiting for his response to the second question.
Clearly, Rong's whereabouts hadn't escaped her notice. She had been fully aware of her daughter's enrollment at the academy and had likely already done her homework on Shia.
Her impression? Honest. Not bad.
But Shia's next move caught her off guard.
He didn't directly answer her second question. Instead, he spoke his own thoughts:
"To establish a sanctuary for the succubi on human lands, a space they can take pride in—this achievement is entirely thanks to Your Majesty's efforts."
"This has nothing to do with my question," she remarked, narrowing her eyes.
"That's because you don't need my opinion."
Shia's calm smile didn't waver, despite her piercing gaze.
"I simply hold deep admiration for you."
A race's queen hardly needed anyone else's judgment to validate her kind.
Shia wasn't foolish enough to fall into that trap. He avoided the dangerous question entirely.
Queen Eden arched a brow, her tone laced with mild amusement.
"Are you trying to flatter me?"
She had expected him to offer some shallow sympathy or declare his belief in equality—empty, insincere words at best. But to outright flatter her for approval? That was a new level of audacity.
"No, I'm not."
Shia shook his head firmly.
He truly admired her.
This was a woman who epitomized what it meant to be a business queen. The so-called great guilds and merchant associations paled in comparison to her accomplishments.
Were it not for the limitations imposed by her succubus lineage, she would have expanded her commercial empire across every corner of the world.
Even with these constraints, she had built Dreamland Enchantment from nothing, overcoming prejudice and adversity to create a thriving haven for her people.
How could he not respect that?
The two stared at each other silently.
Shia's clear, honest gaze reflected nothing but admiration—a sincere acknowledgment of her strength.
There was no flattery, no guilt. His reverence was genuine, untainted by ulterior motives.
Queen Eden gazed deeply into his eyes and saw the unfiltered sincerity within.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It had been so long since a human's approval had touched her.
She had heard words of praise before, but always with hidden agendas or selfish desires. Despite her strength, years of cold stares and disdain had left their mark.
Now, faced with an earnest acknowledgment, she couldn't help but feel moved.
Her affection for this young man surged.
'No wonder my silly daughter, who normally despises men, has softened and even reverted to her true succubus form for him.'
'He's an exceptional match.'
A wicked thought crossed her mind: 'Why not drain him dry tonight as thanks?'
She didn't voice this idea, leaving Shia and Rong oblivious.
Instead, Queen Eden leaned back into her chair, her eyes still fixed on Shia.
Her voluptuous figure relaxed into a lazy, seductive pose, her body language exuding both allure and dominance.
Then, with no hesitation, she lifted a black-stockinged foot and rested it on Shia's knee.
Rong's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
'What the hell is she doing?!'
The Queen slipped her foot out of her high heel, revealing a perfectly arched foot wrapped in sheer black silk. A faint, enticing fragrance wafted from it as her toes lightly tapped Shia's leg.
The delicate texture of the stockings, soft yet resilient, was undeniable.
Queen Eden's eyes narrowed slightly, her chin lifting in a gesture of challenge as her long, shapely leg boldly rested on Shia's lap.
Shia's expression turned peculiar, while Rong clenched her fists tightly, her face burning with indignation.
'Shameless!'