Liana's Natural Enemy

A corrupted Divine Tree?

So the favor Sletta asked for was to help prune the Divine Tree's branches and leaves.

This sounded like something Xia Lun... or rather, Aina could do.

After all, the Divine Tree was in the Spirit Realm. It was quite difficult for him to enter the Spirit Realm on his own right now, let alone fight in it.

But for Aina, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Xia Lun gently squeezed Aina's soft little hand.

He felt they should help. After all, Aina had taken the Divine Tree's heart in the past, so she owed it a favor.

However, he probably couldn't achieve that level yet, so this matter had to be entrusted to Aina... He wouldn't agree on his own; obviously, he had to listen to Aina's opinion.

Xia Lun's family structure was clearly very democratic (even though there were only two of them), and Xia Lun was not a dictatorial person.

If Aina had a different opinion, they could discuss it.

As for exactly when and where to discuss it... that was another matter.

In short, Xia Lun would use his own methods, appealing to emotion and reason, to bring his and Aina's thoughts into agreement.

As for what methods to use, and how to make the willful Demon King willing to reason with him... that was also another matter.

"I can agree to this," Aina replied to Sletta, her beautiful eyebrows raised slightly.

"Thank you for your mercy, Lady Aina... On behalf of the Divine Tree, I sincerely thank you for your help." Sletta seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Please do not take offense. That entity only relies on instinct to seek advantages and avoid harm, which is why it chose Miss Liyana as the next Elven Queen..."

No matter how you looked at it, the Divine Tree was using them.

"You are an avatar of the Divine Tree, not its consciousness, so I don't blame you," Aina said indifferently. "No matter how large the Divine Tree grows, it still cannot escape the category of living beings in this world... However, if you want my help, I have conditions."

Conditions? Sletta was slightly taken aback.

"Please give your orders. No matter what it is, as long as it is within my power, I will arrange it," Sletta said respectfully.

"The Elven Queen's bedchamber... vacate it for Xia Lun and me to stay in temporarily." Aina held Xia Lun's arm, her tone as casual as if she were merely asking for a premium room at an inn.

Sletta was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Aina's request to be such a simple, trivial matter.

"Of course, Lady Aina... Do you have any other requests?" she quickly responded.

Aina: "Hmm... nothing else for now. I'll tell you if I think of anything... When do we depart for the Spirit Realm?"

"It will take a few more days. The Divine Tree can temporarily suppress it, and it is still gathering the medicinal properties within its body into one place."

This was only a temporary fix. Even if Aina removed most of the corruption within the Divine Tree this time, as long as the elven race was still being poisoned by the drugs, it would sooner or later revert to the current situation.

"Umm... Sletta, if the bedchamber is given to Aina, where will I live?" Liyana suddenly asked.

Sletta glanced at Liyana. Now that Aina had agreed to help solve the problem, Liyana was no longer important... Not to mention, Sletta had never held any expectations or hopes for her in the first place.

Sletta said flatly, "There are plenty of servants' rooms in the royal palace. Liyana, you can just pick any of them."

"Hey! I'm the Elven Queen, you know!" Liyana's emerald eyes widened as she immediately protested in dissatisfaction.

"Or you could just go home and live there, that's fine too." Sletta was unmoved, her tone devoid of any fluctuation, looking as if she couldn't care less.

"Sletta, what's with that attitude! Earlier you were calling me 'Lady', and now you're just calling me by my name?" Liyana's voice rose a few pitches.

Sletta's eyes narrowed slightly, and Liyana immediately felt the other party's powerful aura suppressing her.

Stare—

Before Sletta even opened her mouth, under her sharp gaze, Liyana chickened out first.

"Tsk, fine, do as you see fit... It's not like I wanted to be the Elven Queen anyway," Liyana muttered softly. "Why are you glaring so fiercely..."

"Lord Xia Lun, Lady Aina, please follow me." Sletta displayed a waitress-like smile and led Xia Lun and the others away.

"Blehh—" Liyana made a face at Sletta's back.

As if she had eyes on the back of her head, Sletta suddenly turned around, locking eyes perfectly with Liyana's grimace.

Liyana blinked and immediately pretended nothing had happened, starting to whistle.

"Liyana, as the Elven Queen, you cannot show such a childish side in front of others." Sletta's gaze scrutinized Liyana. "It seems that when I return, I will need to properly teach you court etiquette again."

"There's no need for that, hey! You don't even treat me like a Queen anymore!" Liyana said anxiously. "Besides, once Xia Lun and the others solve the problem, I'll be free, right? Continuing to learn all that is just a complete waste of energy!"

She had been tortured quite a bit these past few days, trained by Sletta to the point of almost developing psychological trauma.

"But you are still in this position right now... This was not decided by me. My lovely Queen, you need to have some self-awareness." Sletta's hands rested crossed in front of her, an indescribable gleam flickering in her eyes that made Liyana shrink her head. She felt like Sletta was looking at her the way one looks at a toy.

"Wait for my return, Liyana."

If it were any other woman, such suggestive words might have excited Liyana... but since the other party was Sletta, Liyana only felt a chill run through her entire body.

That girl was her nemesis! An emotionless monster wearing human skin!

Unlike Xia Lun, who would spoil her; but facing Sletta, if she disobeyed, she really would not hesitate to strike her directly!

Liyana touched her buttocks. Previously, because she tried to run away, Sletta had caught her and whipped her. It still throbbed with pain... Even now, Liyana remembered the other's frenzied laughter while brandishing vines to whip her.

It wasn't actually that painful and was completely bearable; it was more about the psychological humiliation.

Liyana seriously suspected that the girl had sadistic tendencies.

No, there was no need to suspect—she definitely did!

However, her strength was also terrifyingly great. With Liyana's own strength, she was actually no match for her at all. Even if she wanted to resist, she was powerless... But thinking about how she was an avatar of the Divine Tree of Life and the Chief Astrologer of the Elven Race, it didn't seem so surprising anymore.

What should she do next?

Liyana was not the type to obediently accept her fate.

Hmm... there was only one last resort left.

Just lie flat!