The Unveiling and the Interrogation

Confronted with Edith’s relentless gaze, Daphne felt no will to resist. She could only remove her ‘Blood Disguise’ right before Edith’s eyes.

A dark crimson bat mark slowly surfaced between her brows. Fresh blood began to seep from her hair and cheeks, subtly altering the girl’s entire appearance.

Having never witnessed such a transformation, Edith involuntarily recoiled a half-step, her grip on Daphne loosening as her hemophobia flared.

Daphne’s long, snow-silver hair reverted to its original dark pomegranate red. Her slightly pointed face softened, becoming rounder and more delicate.

Between her slightly lifted eyelids, a vibrant rose-red shimmered.

In an instant, the Grand Exorcist Ellenore Perkin transformed back into the half-blood maiden, Daphne.

“It really is you.”

Although Edith now regarded Daphne as her savior, it was only upon seeing her true face that she truly confirmed the half-blood maiden she had seen on the battlefield yesterday was indeed Daphne.

“The half-blood sister Gwynevere mentioned is you too, isn’t she?”

Daphne had never seen Edith so fierce. She could only nod repeatedly, whimpering in admission.

Realizing her attitude had been rather harsh, Edith cleared her throat with a light cough. Her voice softened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so aggressive.”

She looked into Daphne’s slightly trembling eyes.

“Tell me, tell me the truth. Do you know where Father—” Edith paused for a moment, then rephrased her question. “Do you know where Pope Bertram went?”

Finally, the question had been asked, and Daphne’s heart was tormented.

She was tired of living in constant fear as a lowly half-blood. She also wanted to escape her current predicament, forced to be Edith’s plaything.

However, she also had to consider the troubles that revealing her true identity might bring. How many people would believe this absurd truth?

How would the Church deal with her, the former Pope, now a half-blood maiden? How should she proceed with the plan she had intended to implement using her identity as the Pope?

Daphne could not stake such a crucial step, one that affected the fate of the entire world, on the uncontrollable premise of expecting Edith to keep her secret.

Exposing her as a half-blood and exposing her as Bertram were two completely incomparable matters. The latter was her absolute bottom line.

Ultimately, this fabricated familial affection was merely a prelude and a means to resist the coming Twilight of the End. Daphne had no need to overly concern herself with Edith’s feelings.

“I don’t know. I don’t know that person.”

After a long period of tearful sobbing, the half-blood maiden gave a negative answer, her tone neither light nor heavy.

She could see the hope and expectation vanish from Edith’s eyes, and the disappointment and loss that flickered across Edith’s face. Yet, she could not waver from her bottom line and principles.

“Why would Sister Gwynevere think so? How do you two know each other? Why was she chasing you?” Edith detected no hint of dishonesty in Daphne’s eyes, yet she was unwilling to give up so easily. She pressed on with further questions.

“That ruin.” Daphne began to fabricate her past. “I was sealed there by some magical item. Her Highness, the Saintess, must have triggered some mechanism to release me.

I don’t remember anything from before. I only know that the item held me captive for a very long time.”

“So, Sister Gwynevere thought you were connected to Father’s disappearance, but in reality, you knew nothing. You merely regained your freedom from a magical cage due to Sister Gwynevere’s unintentional actions.”

Edith understood quickly. “That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”

Daphne nodded repeatedly.

“No wonder you wore such a shameful magical item. It must have been the sick pleasure of the one who imprisoned you.”

Edith’s gaze drifted downwards with ill intent, a smile playing on her lips. “But now, your master is me. So, please do your best to satisfy my demands from now on.”

“Ugh…”

Without Daphne needing to explain further, Edith had already concocted a tragic past for the half-blood maiden: from one person’s toy to another’s. Essentially, she couldn’t escape the fate of being a toy.

“Speaking of which, you truly are beautiful like this. As expected, you’re the most suitable race for a s*x s*ave.”

Edith extended a slender finger and gently hooked Daphne’s chin, forcing the half-blood maiden to look up and meet her gaze. “Miss Ellenore was more dignified and elegant, but you are cuter and sweeter. A different flavor, indeed.”

Daphne’s heart pounded wildly.

The more Edith admired Daphne’s delicate appearance, the more flustered she became. To put it crudely, it felt as if a little deer was frantically bumping around in her chest. It was the first time she truly understood the exquisite aptness of that metaphor.

“From now on, transform back whenever we’re… doing it.” After imagining the alluring experiences that night might bring, Edith swallowed hard. Then she corrected herself, “No, what form you take is up to me. You must be whatever I want you to be, understood?”

“Mm, mm, I understand…” Daphne, not permitted to refuse, could only accept. Otherwise, Edith would surely force a kiss upon her immediately.

“Sister Gwynevere seems very interested in you too. It’s the first time I’ve seen her look so excited and expectant. It must be because you’ve fallen in love!” Edith smirked wickedly.

“In, in love!?” Daphne was startled.

In love? With Gwynevere?

Daphne couldn’t believe it. That was the child she had personally raised for twelve years. Gwynevere shouldn’t have such an unhealthy relationship with her.

Moreover, Gwynevere hadn’t shown any expression or emotion since her birth parents were murdered. How could she possibly feel sympathy for a half-blood she had only met twice?

Yet, Edith had high emotional intelligence, a master at subtly manipulating hearts. Daphne couldn’t outwit her. In this regard, Edith was an authority, and Daphne had no choice but to believe her words.

“She shouldn’t know you’ve become my property, right?” Edith’s smile deepened. She stepped closer, pressing Daphne against the wall once more, and the silver bells chimed again.

“This feeling of forcibly taking something my sister coveted is truly wonderful.”

Daphne was stunned. She had thought the sisters had a harmonious relationship, but now, she could practically smell the sourness in Edith’s tone.

Honestly, had her past educational efforts been too much of a failure? Both sisters had major issues, yet she had thought she’d cultivated two pillars of talent…

Daphne couldn’t help but recall the many other girls she had nurtured elsewhere.

With the disappearance of her clones, she had completely lost the means to ascertain their current situations. She hoped they didn’t have such strange quirks as Edith and Gwynevere behind her back.

However, those were matters for later. Daphne should really be focusing on the immediate crisis.

“Such soft, tender lips. My sister won’t get to taste them. I’ll claim them for myself.” Edith licked her lips.

“Ugh!?” Daphne, with nowhere to escape, whimpered softly.