A Truth Uncovered

When the smoke from the magic cleared, the shattered remains of Yue came into everyone’s sight.

Her body was ripped open, half of it blown away by the spell.

New flesh writhed in the gaping wound, but it couldn’t reconnect with the rest of her form.

It seemed that this time, her life had truly reached its end.

Yet she showed no resentment, no fear. Instead, she fixed her gaze on me and smiled a cryptic smile.

“Incredible… Indeed, fighting a formidable opponent is far more thrilling.”

Was this not a one-sided massacre?

“A century ago… when I crossed swords with the Demon Lord, it was the same… he beat me into submission without a fight… how nostalgic. But… your power is nowhere near his.”

“…Are those your final words?”

“From the start… I never expected to return alive… Do it.”

Yue closed her eyes, ready to embrace her fate.

****

Without a word, I summoned an ice blade.

Though she was the murderer of my family, and I harbored a deep hatred for her… I had no taste for torture.

Aiming at Yue’s neck, I swung the ice sword lightly.

Her body had long since returned to the hardness of normal flesh… Such a simple attack was enough to sever her head from her body.

Looking across, the two draconic monsters had also been dealt with by Margaret and the others…

With all threats eliminated, I rushed without pause to the Young Miss.

“Young Miss! Are you alright?”

Holding her frail form in my arms, I saw that her face was terrifyingly pale.

Ever since I kissed her, she’d been like this…

“Alright… wouldn’t say that… but at least not too bad… Don’t worry about me… Eileen.”

Even the Young Miss had lost the strength to put up a brave front.

Why was this happening?

“Let me see.”

Margaret arrived at that moment and pressed her fingers to the Young Miss’s wrist. After a brief check of her pulse, she lifted her eyelids to examine her pupils.

“Nothing serious, just some weakness.”

…Did Margaret have medical knowledge too?

Still, her words set my mind at ease.

Meanwhile, the others gradually regrouped with us.

…Was that Sophina on Adam’s back?

Why was she unconscious too?

Seeing my confusion, Margaret dangled the “Prison Box” before my eyes.

“The capture plan succeeded too. A perfect ending.”

The box emitted a faint purple glow… as if to confirm her claim.

“Anyway, let’s get them to the infirmary first… Hope it hasn’t been blown up…”

“We’re here to help… Huh?”

A voice interrupted Margaret’s orders.

Turning around, I saw the reinforcements…

They were far too late, weren’t they? Everything was already settled.

“You… defeated these monsters and demons?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Margaret replied impatiently.

“This…”

Clearly, they found it hard to believe.

But faced with the devastation around them, they had no choice but to accept.

The leading captain waved his hand and summoned a few soldiers.

“You, escort them to a safe place, arrange for examination and treatment… The rest of you, come with me to investigate.”

“Yes!”

And so, under the soldiers’ escort, we left the scene.

…

“She’s fine… just abnormally weak. Aren’t you her maid? Then you need to take good care of her. Give her nutritious food. Especially now, she needs to build up her strength. By the way, avoid these foods…”

The professional doctor gave the same conclusion as Margaret.

The weight in my heart finally lifted.

“See, I told you I’m fine, Eileen.”

At last, the Young Miss resumed her usual resilient demeanor.

With effort, she raised her hand to stroke my cheek.

“So don’t make a face like you’re about to cry. A smile suits you better, Eileen.”

“Because… I was really worried about you, Young Miss…”

And… it was all my fault she ended up like this…

“Ahem.”

As I wallowed in guilt, the doctor deliberately coughed, drawing my attention.

“The patient needs rest during this period.”

He was subtly telling me to leave.

Perfect timing… I didn’t have the face to face the Young Miss anyway.

“…Then I’ll take my leave, Young Miss.”

“Oh, my.”

No sooner had I exited the medical room than I saw a little black seaweed.

“Yo, little maid, hello.”

She seemed to have been waiting there.

Perfect, because I had questions for her too.

Of course, she saw right through me.

“Seems like you have something to ask me…”

She pointed to a room nearby.

“Let’s change places. After all, it’s not something others should hear.”

“…”

Why all the secrecy?

Still, I followed her into the room.

“Alright, Elizabeth is guarding outside. No one will overhear us.”

After a brief pause, she met my eyes.

Those dead-fish eyes held unprecedented seriousness.

“I know you must be wondering why Katerina turned out like that, right?”

Without a word, I nodded.

“It’s because you… are not entirely human.”

“…?”

What does she mean?

“Although Olivia and the others warned me not to tell you this… under these circumstances, I can’t keep it hidden any longer.”

Shrugging, she continued:

“Your biological father was actually a demon, and an incubus at that. So you inherited some of his traits.”

“…Wait, wait?”

What did she say?

My father was a demon? An incubus?

“You must be joking… Dad was a normal person!”

“Don’t refuse to believe it… Your silver hair is the best proof. Moreover, it’s precisely because of your succubus traits that Katerina ended up like that.”

“…My, my silver hair, though uncommon, can’t be proof of being a demon, right? And I don’t have horns!”

Even as I vehemently denied it, I had to admit my resolve was crumbling.

“That’s because you’re a half-breed; the features aren’t obvious.”

“Then… even so! Dad had relatives too! They all looked like normal humans, didn’t they?”

I could never forget the relative who tried to sell me…

It was because of him that I met the Young Miss…

“According to Olivia, your father helped your grandfather, so he was adopted. Those relatives of yours actually share no blood with you.”

“I… I…”

My worldview was shattering piece by piece.

But I still didn’t want to believe…

“Sigh.”

Seeing me like this, Margaret let out a deep sigh.

“Fine then…”

While my mind was in turmoil, Margaret directly pulled open the small hole in my abdomen—the spot where Yue had stabbed me with her dagger.

Beneath the maid uniform, a strange dark-red pattern was imprinted on my skin.

“Now, can you still talk back?”