In the Nevermore dormitory at night, moonlight filtered through the stained glass, casting distorted and colorful shadows on the floor.
On the pieced-together "super bed," the three of them occupied their own spaces in a delicate balance.
Enid lay on her side, her azure eyes sparkling with curiosity in the dimness, staring unblinkingly at Victor, who lay on the outermost edge.
This guy had been incredibly quiet throughout the entire process, from finishing his washing up to lying down obediently.
He didn't try to squeeze into the middle, didn't clamor for a hug because he was cold, and didn't even lean over to give her or Wednesday a goodnight kiss on the forehead before sleeping as he usually did.
He just lay there flat, hands folded over his chest, breathing steadily with his eyes closed, in a standard, serene posture of "I am asleep, do not disturb."
This was way too abnormal!
Enid couldn't help but whisper to Wednesday, who was lying in the middle and also staring at the ceiling with open eyes:
"Wednesday... what's with Victor today? Why is he being so... well-behaved?"
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief and a subtle sense of loss that she hadn't even noticed herself.
"I was all mentally prepared for him to act up, play the victim, and then try to push his luck... but he just fell asleep like this?"
It felt like gathering all one's courage to face a storm, only to find the moon bright and the stars sparse outside, leaving one feeling empty inside instead.
Wednesday's pitch-black eyes turned toward Enid in the darkness, calm and rippleless, her cold voice like night wind brushing over ice:
"What~"
She tilted her head slightly, her pale face looking like exquisite porcelain in the moonlight.
"Are you hoping Victor would do something to you... that you've been secretly looking forward to in your heart?"
Enid's face flushed bright red instantly, fortunately shielded by the darkness.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she almost bounced off the bed, her voice rising half an octave with the shame of having her thoughts exposed:
"Wh-what are you talking about! Who—who's looking forward to it! How could I possibly want to do—do that kind of thing with Victor!"
The more she spoke, the more her confidence wavered, and her last few words were almost swallowed in her mouth.
The corner of Wednesday's mouth curled into a faint arc, yet it was enough to make Enid's heart skip a beat.
"I didn't specify what kind of thing," she said flatly, her words like a precise scalpel. "Why the intense reaction, Miss Sinclair?"
"You!"
Enid was speechless with frustration. She indignantly grabbed a pillow, wanting to throw it, but was afraid of making too much noise and waking—or rather, exposing—the "deeply asleep" Victor over there.
She could only hug the pillow resentfully and punch it twice with force.
"Hmph! I'm ignoring you! Go to sleep!"
A few seconds later, Wednesday spoke:
"I promised him that if he behaved himself while sleeping at night and didn't cross the boundary at will, then the next morning when he woke up, I would give him a small surprise."
"That's it?"
Enid's eyes widened into perfect circles, her slender fingers unconsciously twisting the lace edge of her nightgown.
"Victor doesn't seem like the type to be so easily pacified. Are you sure this'surprise' can keep him settled all night?"
Wednesday didn't answer immediately.
She turned her head to look at Victor.
On the pieced-together "super bed," Victor was already lying flat in his own territory in an extremely exaggerated "serene" posture, hands folded over his chest and breathing steadily, yet his eyelids were trembling slightly from the effort of pretending to sleep.
"Delayed gratification of desire is often more seductive than immediate indulgence."
Wednesday's voice was as cold as the night wind, yet it carried a hint of unquestionable control.
"Especially for an individual with 'excessive curiosity' like Victor, an 'unknown' reward is the best sedative."
At midnight, only the steady breathing of the three remained in the dormitory.
Victor strictly observed the "Chu-Han border" Wednesday had carved into the bedsheet with her dagger.
But Enid keenly noticed that every once in a while, Victor would secretly open his eyes a crack and quickly glance toward Wednesday, like a night watchman dog calculating the hour of dawn.
Even his black hair, which always stuck out in every direction, seemed to radiate a forced, calm anxiety at this moment.
"See, I told you he wouldn't last long."
Enid whispered to the seemingly sleeping Wednesday beside her, her tone carrying a hint of "I knew it" helplessness.
Wednesday's long eyelashes fluttered imperceptibly. She didn't open her eyes, but the corner of her lip curled into an extremely faint arc.
Psychological expectations had been successfully guided. All his energy was now spent on anticipating 'tomorrow' rather than disrupting 'tonight.' Mother's strategies occasionally had their merits.
Just then, a very slight "creak" came from Victor's side.
He seemed to be carefully adjusting his posture, trying to get closer to that "boundary line," yet not daring to actually cross it.
A barely audible sigh, a mix of grievance and longing, escaped his throat, clearly discernible in the silent night.
Enid almost couldn't help but laugh out loud, but she was stopped by Wednesday's cold hand lightly pressing on her wrist.
"Don't move."
Wednesday's voice was as low as a whisper.
"The prey's patience must be exhausted in stillness."
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"