Lfriede's eyes flashed dangerously. "Mind your tone, slave."
It was as if a dam burst inside me—a dam holding back two years of rage and despair. "I am not your slave anymore!" I roared, lunging upright in the bed. "I almost DIED because of you! The only thing that kept me going was that money—now give it back!"
Shock flitted across Elfriede's face—she clearly hadn't expected such open defiance. I hardly expected it myself; a part of me quailed, anticipating the familiar paralyzing compulsion of the curse. But something was different—I felt no tightening at my throat, no surge of magical obedience holding me back. The Medusa's Curse… was gone. I could feel it in my bones: the invisible shackles binding my will had vanished.
Elfriede recovered quickly, her surprise twisting to fury. "You dare raise your voice to me?" she hissed. "After all I've done—?"
I didn't let her finish. Before she could react, I lunged across the bed and grabbed her wrist with both hands. Her eyes went wide in astonishment. I had never initiated physical contact with her in two years—never even dreamed of it.
"Give it back," I snarled, tightening my grip on her slender wrist. "Now."
For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. Elfriede's face was inches from mine, her ruby eyes blown wide in shock. She looked almost… afraid. But that surely was my imagination.
Suddenly, a translucent screen flickered into view right between our locked gazes:
❰Status❱
Name: Elfriede Desmund
Level: 35
Strength: 12
Agility: 11
Stamina: 12
Traits: Sadistic, Selfish
Status: Chronic shoulder tension, Cold extremities, Irregular menstruation
My jaw nearly dropped. Was I… seeing Elfriede's stats? I blinked in disbelief at the block of text detailing her attributes and even personal ailments. What in all hells—?
Elfriede ripped her arm from my grasp, her expression now pure outrage. "How dare you touch me without permission!" she snarled.
SMACK!
Her open palm cracked across my cheek like a lightning bolt. My head snapped to the side, and my vision dimmed for the second time in as many minutes. The last thing I saw as I crumpled back onto the bed was Elfriede's face contorted in fury and… perhaps a flicker of hurt pride.
"That's why these black-haired savages—!" I heard her spit in frustration.
Chaos erupted around us—distantly, I sensed the healers rushing over, their voices raised in alarm. But I was already fading into unconsciousness again, swallowed by a familiar dark haze.