Chapter 228: The Princess Commits a Crime Under Her Aunt’s Nose

The woman appearing on Nia's screen at this moment had an exquisite face with flowing lines, exuding the aura of a powerful and mature woman.

Her entire being radiated an air of restraint and composure.

Her features bore some resemblance to Nia's—those same long elven ears—but what stood out the most was the pair of gold-rimmed glasses, adding an intellectual yet tantalizing charm to her demeanor.

Faced with her formidable aunt, Nia's confidence shrank by a solid three notches.

“I-I was just about to take a bath!”

Nia tried to remain calm, quickly coming up with an excuse to dodge scrutiny.

Her wide, innocent eyes blinked rapidly, her soft lips pouting ever so slightly as her voice took on a coy, playful tone—she was practically begging for leniency.

Although her aunt was known for her strictness toward herself and others, her tone softened, as the young woman before her was still family.

“How have you been lately? How’s your health?”

The deep, cool voice of this reserved, magnetic beauty was full of concern.

Nia responded with a sweet, obedient smile.

“I’ve been doing really well lately, Auntie! No need to worry about me~!”

“You? Taking care of yourself properly? I can’t bring myself to believe that.”

Her aunt’s tone, though calm and steady, carried a trace of helplessness and an unmistakable doting affection.

Nia lowered her head, shyly smiling.

“Even if you haven’t noticed anything unusual, you still need to be cautious.”

Her aunt's earnest concern echoed through the phone.

Nia nodded obediently, but a hint of unease crept into her heart.

“When I return, I’ll personally give you a thorough check-up.”

Her aunt’s words brimmed with care, yet Nia’s expression froze for a moment. A stifled gasp escaped her lips.

On the other end of the call, the bespectacled beauty paused abruptly.

“Nia? Are you sure you’re alright?”

Her voice was laced with genuine worry.

Nia’s blush deepened. She bit her lip and fanned her flushed face with a small hand, her voice coming out more hurried.

“I-I’m fine! Really! I just exercised a little too much and got tired, that’s all.”

As she spoke, another soft moan escaped her lips.

Her body slumped slightly, her grip on the phone nearly faltering.

At that moment, she held her phone high so that the camera could only capture her face and neck.

Below her slender neckline, however, chaos reigned.

Shia, her "victim," was suffocating under the pressure of her body. The lack of oxygen drove him into a panicked struggle, desperate for air.

His movements caused Nia’s expression to redden even further. She clenched her small fists tightly, though her punches on his body were as gentle as a kitten’s taps.

Those light taps served as a signal: "Hang in there! Don’t make a sound!"

Her aunt had sharp ears—any tiny noise would instantly alert her. If her aunt discovered there was a man nearby, especially in such an intimate position, Nia knew she’d be utterly doomed!

She could only mentally apologize to her "master." 'Sorry! Just endure it a little longer!'

“Auntie, have you already finished handling the council's affairs?”

Nia desperately shifted the topic, trying to divert her aunt's attention.

On the screen, her aunt's eyes softened with a hint of relief.

She adjusted her glasses and nodded.

“Just trivial matters. The subordinates fear responsibility, so every decision has to be run by me first.”

“I’m more worried about you…”

Nia’s gaze grew a little dazed. The unfamiliar sensations assaulting her body made her tense up further.

'Oh my god, am I really doing this under Auntie’s nose?'

The absurdity of the situation made her want to cry. Her free hand gripped the edge of the couch so hard that she nearly ripped the fabric.

Her expression, however, remained blank, her thoughts scrambling to keep her composure. She knew the slightest slip would lead to her aunt catching on.

Across the call, her aunt wasn’t surprised by Nia’s occasional spacing out.

This was why she always worried about her niece. That natural daze made her far too vulnerable to deception.

And considering the other “complications” around her...

Her aunt silently resolved to finish her current work and return to personally ensure her niece’s well-being with a comprehensive health check.

Given Nia’s habit of zoning out, her aunt patiently repeated her advice to make sure it stuck.

What could Nia do?

Her aunt’s care and love were genuine, and she couldn’t bring herself to brush it off.

All she could do was put on her sweetest smile and nod along.

But slowly, her body began to feel weak, her energy slipping away. She was reaching her limit—barely holding it together.

Her hand trembled, her legs turning to jelly. Every nerve in her body was hypersensitive. Yet she had to keep chatting with her aunt as if nothing was wrong.

Her free hand moved from gripping the couch to pressing Shia’s head down, urging him to stay silent and still.

Her senses were teetering on the edge. The tiniest additional stimulus, and she knew she’d completely lose control.

It took every ounce of her willpower to maintain a calm façade, suppressing the chaos threatening to spill over.

Finally, her aunt spoke again, her tone gentle but firm.

“Alright, since you need to bathe, go ahead.”

Hearing this, Nia felt a burst of relief.

Her aunt ended the call, and Nia couldn’t help but feel triumphant.

'She didn’t notice anything! Haha, I’m such a genius!'

Nia placed a hand on her chest, her breaths coming quick and shallow as she celebrated her narrow escape.

“It’s over now, Master. Everything’s fine.”

With a radiant smile, she collapsed completely, her soft body sinking into Shia’s embrace.

But the boy in her arms remained unmoving.

“Master?”

Nia held Shia's head, gradually sensing that something was wrong.

"Idiot! Moron! Just look at what you’ve done!"

Finally, Lia couldn't hold back anymore.

Nia lifted Shia's face, only to find his eyes shut tight.

Clearly, from prolonged suffocation and lack of oxygen, he had already passed out in Nia's embrace.