“Did you come here on purpose to cause trouble and bully me…?”
Ileya walked up to Melche and slowly crouched down.
“I suppose I’ve figured it out~ A mere verbal warning really isn’t enough, is it…?”
“L-Lady… I-I didn’t know you were here, I’ll leave right away… I… right now…”
Before Melche could finish her words, the red liquid—pomegranate juice—was slowly poured over her head from above, leaving her stunned in place.
“Hmm~ Did I allow you to speak?” Ileya said as she emptied the goblet in her hand. “Looks like the impression I left you last time really wasn’t deep enough!”
Whoosh! Slap! Crash!!
In the next moment, the goblet was flung by Ileya straight onto Lady Melche’s head!
“Ah… ahh…” The blow cracked her head open, blood streaming down as she writhed and howled on the ground.
Thud! Tap tap…
The noblewomen watching around instinctively felt chills run down their spines and instinctively took several steps back.
The murmuring crowd immediately fell silent at the sound of the shattering cup.
No one dared make any noise now—not even a heavy breath.
“Uh… uh…” Coming to her senses, Melche ignored the wounds on her head and swiftly got up from the ground before kneeling heavily before Ileya.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, whether from fear or pain no one could tell.
“Nice to see you again~” But the Lady didn’t spare a glance at Melche kneeling before her.
Instead, she slowly lifted her gaze toward Reliel Wood, the servant dressed in the black-and-white attendant’s uniform.
Reliel’s younger sister opened her mouth to speak but ultimately remained silent, only nodding slightly.
Was she… venting her anger on herself?
“Hmm, which finger did that one use on you just now?” Ileya stepped toward Reliel.
Under the confused gazes of the crowd, she even reached out to straighten the servant’s slightly disheveled collar.
What… was going on?
Reliel herself was at a loss.
“Forgot already?” Ileya tilted her head… and without waiting for Reliel’s reply, she spoke again.
“But the Viscount is appointed by the King~ His wife certainly can’t be killed casually… Jenny~”
“At your service, Lady.” Stepping forward two paces, Jenny, who had been following Ileya closely, responded.
Among the noblewomen present, the only one who remained unflustered was Jenny, the new President of the Ruby Society.
Her face even bore a gentle smile as if she hadn’t witnessed what had just happened.
“Let’s disable both her hands~” Ileya’s words were casual, but to everyone else, it sounded like a heavy hammer crashing onto their hearts.
If both hands were disabled, Melche would be ruined, right?
Not to mention whether Viscount Geli would cause trouble for the Marquis on her behalf.
They knew Viscount Geli had four wives.
First, she lost the presidency of the Ruby Society, and now… if she lost both hands…
She, the Main Mistress…
“Yes… Lady~”
“Wait a minute! N-No… you… you can’t do this…”
Before Melche could beg for mercy, Jenny had already taken the cyan iron rod handed by Yumina and struck down hard on Melche’s left hand without hesitation!
Thunk! Crack!
The dull impact on flesh and the crisp sound of bones breaking echoed!
“Ah?! Aaaaaah!!”
Melche’s five fingers on her left hand twisted and deformed.
Her face contorted grotesquely, tears mixed with snot, making her look frightful.
“One more…” Jenny muttered with a smile, stepping on the former president who was still rolling on the ground.
“Uh? No… no… Jenny… Jenny, I give up… I won’t…”
Whoosh!!
Thunk! Crack!
“Aaaaaah——!!!”
Well, Jenny bore no real hatred toward Melche.
After all, although Melche had targeted her before, she had never caused her any real harm.
But the Lady’s orders had to be carried out.
Even if the Lady asked her to break her own hand, Jenny would not hesitate to swing the iron rod.
As Melche’s low screams echoed and she was nearly unconscious, several servants carried her away.
Only then did Ileya raise her gaze slowly and scan the crowd.
Sigh…
At that moment, everyone instinctively lowered their heads even further.
It seemed as if making eye contact with the Lady was a terrifying thing.
“Heh…” Ileya let out a light laugh, then reached out and gently pinched a somewhat bewildered little face.
“Work hard~ I’m off now.”
“You…” Reliel suddenly lifted her head and spoke.
She wanted to ask why Ileya helped her out.
They hadn’t gotten along well before.
“Why help me…?”
In the end, she managed to ask.
But Ileya maintained her smile, leaning close to Reliel’s ear.
“I get really mad when I see others bullying you~”
Eh?
Reliel’s heart beat a little faster at those words.
It was the first time someone had said such a thing to her… Why?
Before she could react, the Lady softly finished the sentence—
“Because… only I’m allowed to bully you♡~”
Ha…?
Before Reliel could even process it, Ileya flicked her sister on the head!
Pop!
“Ugh…” Watching the girl clutch her head and retreat, the Lady waved her hand.
With the crowd instinctively making way, Ileya left the ballroom’s main floor.
After a moment of silence…
The party resumed its previous clinking of goblets.
But now, no one dared to ask the servants for more wine…
And everyone had gained a deeper understanding of the Bloodblossom Demon and her Demon’s Retainer.
Perhaps… the Ruby Society was really about to change hands.
“Little mute! Where did you run off to just now?”
Bena was a little confused as she looked at Reliel, who had suddenly disappeared then suddenly returned.
She had of course heard the commotion inside.
But with only her guarding the door, unless many people were crying for help or the room was in utter chaos, she wouldn’t leave.
After all, having lived as a mercenary for years under her father’s teachings, she knew it was best not to meddle too much in noble affairs.
The more you know, the sooner you die.
Strangely though, her father only taught her this and never taught Reliel.
When she asked why, he simply said, “It’s none of your business. She’s different from you.”
Really…
“It’s nothing.” For the first time, Reliel—her fair forehead slightly flushed—answered Bena directly.
Her heart was in turmoil.
Only Ileya could bully her… What did that mean?
Did she have some sinister intent?
Then why did she help her?
What a strange… good person?
No, no, no!
Even though she helped her out, she was still… a strange bad person!