Returning to the carriage, the coachman tugged on the reins, and the vehicle began its slow journey towards Joiy’s mansion, bathed in the tranquil moonlight.
Few houses remained lit in the deep night. Occasionally, a few bats flitted across the dark sky, the rustle of their wings surprisingly clear and distinct.
The streetlights flickered on and off. Inside the carriage, Lena drew back the curtain, silently observing the night view of Saint Serl outside the window. Lilith remained quiet for a moment before turning to look at her.
“Lena, why are you helping Ruila?”
“…What do you mean?”
The sudden question bewildered Lena. Lilith had not been like this just moments ago; she had been just as eager to help Ruila.
“Among the many demons I’ve encountered, most despise humans. Even if Ruila were pitiful, they wouldn’t feel any sympathy for her.”
Lilith explained, then asked with keen interest, “But Lena, you’re quite special. Has something happened to you?”
Just as humans harbored animosity towards demons, demons harbored animosity towards humans. In all her years living among demons, most she had met held a deep aversion to humanity, with very few showing kindness.
Lena’s willingness to help Ruila had, to some extent, exceeded Lilith’s expectations.
“Aren’t you all the same? I’m not the only one who wants to help Ruila. Aren’t you and those demons you speak of just like me?” Lena lowered the curtain, deftly avoiding the question.
Lilith offered no reply. She simply chuckled, her crystal-bright eyes glinting with even deeper curiosity. “I’m growing more and more intrigued by you.”
“Sometimes, too much curiosity only invites trouble.”
Far from diminishing, Lilith’s gaze intensified after the subtle warning. Yet, she did not press Lena further about her past experiences. Instead, she abruptly changed the subject.
“Aside from Ruila, did you notice anything else tonight?”
“Are you referring to the fake Silverbloom Sword Princess?”
“Yes.”
“She’s most likely a witch in disguise. Tomorrow morning, we can seek out the witches of Saint Serl and ask them. Joiy should know where they are.”
“A witch in disguise? How did you know?”
Lilith tilted her head, astonished that Lena had discerned the fake Silverbloom’s identity while she herself had been completely oblivious.
A powerful wave of frustration momentarily choked her. The silver-haired beauty before her now seemed even more enigmatic.
‘Indeed, anyone recognized by Meli is no simple individual.’
“She is inextricably linked to witches. The magic array in Ruila’s sister’s room is something only witches know, and the true Silverbloom Sword Princess never studied anything related to witches.”
“So that’s how it is.”
For most demons, the profession of ‘witch’ was rarely heard of, so it was natural for them to be unfamiliar. However, as Lena spoke, Lilith keenly detected a subtle anomaly.
‘But how do you know the true Silverbloom Sword Princess never learned these things?’
Lena had spoken with such certainty, as if she had personally witnessed the Silverbloom Sword Princess. This only fueled the burgeoning curiosity within Lilith.
Observing Lilith, who had transformed into a walking question mark, Lena gazed out the window and replied with feigned composure, “She has never displayed it in public.”
“Oh.”
Lilith nodded, seemingly accepting her explanation.
However, her concise response left Lena unable to decipher her thoughts. After all, despite lacking some knowledge of human affairs, the girl’s keen perceptiveness always reminded Lena of Aurora.
****
After these words, silence once again descended upon the carriage. Lilith seized the opportunity to scrutinize Lena.
She seemed to recall something. After a long period of restraint, she finally couldn’t hold back, leaning close to Aelin’s ear and whispering, “Miss, I’ve noticed you seem very concerned about the Silverbloom Sword Princess.”
“Hmm, I suppose so.”
When asked this question, Lilith’s delicate frame trembled almost imperceptibly, but she quickly regained her composure, her momentary abnormality unnoticed by anyone.
At the same time, she turned her head to look at Aelin, her expression practically screaming the words “Shut up.”
She disliked others discussing the Silverbloom Sword Princess with her. After all, that was her mother, and she loved her dearly. Yet, she herself was a demon, placing her in opposition to her mother’s identity.
‘Admitting to demons that I adore a hero? Or turning against my own kind for a hero?’
Either choice would inevitably lead to trouble.
But Aelin was unaware of any of this. At that moment, her mind was solely occupied by her own confusion, completely oblivious to her young mistress’s darkening expression.
“‘I suppose so’? Miss, many of your decisions seem to be influenced by the Silverbloom Sword Princess. Could it be that you idolize that human hero?”
“If your mother, the Demon Lord, were to find out about this, your backside would surely be in for a painful lesson, wouldn’t it? Perhaps you’d even be re-educated…”
Aelin couldn’t imagine what expression the Demon Lord would wear upon learning her daughter idolized a hero, but it would certainly be unpleasant. The princess, who had received several punishments for mischief in the past, would likely relive the agony of her childhood.
Lilith’s mouth twitched. At Aelin’s words, even though the days of being spanked were long past, a phantom ache resonated through her tender backside.
Yet, she wasn’t angry. Instead, she looked at Aelin, her smile growing even sweeter.
Then, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, she covered Aelin’s eyes with her left hand, while her right hand firmly pinched Aelin’s cheek. She pursed her lips into a smile, bringing her right hand close to Aelin’s ear, and feigned surprise. “Aelin, you have something dirty on your ear.”
“Really?”
Aelin instinctively recoiled, simultaneously reaching out to touch her ear. Alas, these movements were gently stopped by Lilith.
“Don’t move, I’ll help you.”
“Oh.”
For some reason, the closer Lilith’s small hand came, the faster Aelin’s heart pounded. This fluttering sensation was like, like…
Lilith’s small hand touched the edge of her ear while she was still lost in thought.
“Ow! It hurts! Hiss, Miss is bullying me!”
Her ear had been twisted. The sharp pain made Aelin quickly cover it, her pretty face contorted in discomfort.
She remembered now. This fluttering sensation was a premonition of danger.
Every time she was about to be pranked by her mistress, she would feel this way.
The gentle Lilith only existed in her imagination; the real Lilith was merely a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Therefore, whenever she displayed tenderness, it meant Aelin was about to face misfortune.
‘So mean, Miss is truly too mean.’
‘She herself must learn from her mistakes. Next time Miss acts gentle, she won’t fall for it again!’
“What do you mean, how did I bully you? There really was something dirty.”
Lilith tilted her head, her smile sweet, and even her tone became much cuter, like an innocent maiden.
Seeing this, Aelin, foolishly, believed her a little.
“Then let me see.”
“I wiped it off.”
“You’re still lying!”