The early morning was veiled in a light drizzle, a hazy mist enveloping the world in indistinct layers.
Standing by the window, Landis stared unblinkingly at the outside world, her gaze vacant as if sinking into the mist itself.
At this moment, everything in the world seemed as unreal as the murmurs in a dream.
If only this were truly just a dream…
Within the fog, she saw once again the scene of her father’s death from the day before—the scarlet blood, the beating heart, and… that terrifying yet exquisite face of the cat demon.
All the memories seemed to surface with the mist.
Her father was the only family she had in this world; he had once been able to pluck stars and moons for her, able to find anything she desired.
Until now, she had believed he was the strongest being in existence.
But now…
Hatred stained the depths of her eyes, blurring her vision even more, now veiled by the white mist of tears streaming down her cheeks.
She clenched her teeth and fists tightly, yet more than courage, there was fear in her eyes.
She lacked the will to strike back, not even daring to entertain the thought of “killing her.”
Every time she thought of that face, hatred and strange emotions intertwined into a web that wrapped tightly around her already confused heart, refusing to let go.
The tangled feelings continued to ferment inside her, the turmoil in her chest intensifying, and the hatred in her eyes deepening.
She didn’t know what she might become if this went on.
But for her, there should have been only hatred, right?
Where did these strange feelings come from…
“Knock knock.”
A knock sounded at the door, followed by the maid’s voice outside: “It’s time to leave, Your Highness… the Demon Lord awaits you.”
“I know.”
Her voice was hoarse, the tear stains on her cheeks revealing she had likely cried through the night.
Dressed in the white Glaze Dress her father had given her and wearing a silver crown, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and followed the maid to the Demon Lord’s hall.
Today was the first day the new Demon Lord would hold court.
As the maid led her through corridor after corridor, the drizzle seeped in, soaking her attire.
The biting cold wind froze her thoughts, quieting the restless pounding of her heart, which she didn’t understand herself.
Finally, they arrived at the hall.
The hall was deathly silent.
The courtiers all bowed their heads low, but at the center lay several bloodied corpses.
They were all courtiers.
Landis’s entire body trembled uncontrollably again.
She bit her lip hard, trying to suppress any sound born of fear.
The morning drizzle made the hall dim, the stained glass windows casting cold hues over the silhouette on the throne.
She lifted her eyes slightly and finally saw who was on the throne.
Mochi, dressed in a black velvet robe, reclined sideways upon the throne.
One hand propped up her head, the other held a biscuit between her teeth.
Her bare, pale feet rested on the throne’s armrest, her jade-like toes twitching intermittently.
Her eyes were heavy with lethargy, six tails lazily swaying behind her, and the fluffy ears atop her head twitched from time to time.
She looked utterly bored—lacking even the slightest dignity befitting the Demon Lord.
Their gazes suddenly met, and a teasing smile curved Mochi’s lips, as if finally having found her prey.
Landis’s heart trembled with that smile, though she couldn’t tell if it was fear or something else…
Mochi dismissed most of the courtiers, leaving only about a dozen behind.
Seeing Landis’s fearful demeanor, Mochi spoke softly: “Why do you keep such a distance from me, little sister? I won’t eat you now; it’s no harm to come a little closer.”
“…Yes, sister.”
Landis replied faintly and cautiously tiptoed forward, inch by inch.
“Closer. Come to my side.”
Mochi suddenly stood and straightened her posture.
Landis fearfully raised her eyes and saw that lethargic gaze, though it now seemed laced with a smile.
She didn’t dare disobey Mochi’s command.
Swallowing hard, she trembled as she slowly moved toward the throne.
When she reached her side, something soft wrapped around her waist.
Before she could look down, she was yanked roughly and stumbled, falling into Mochi’s embrace.
The scent of warmth and sweetness enveloped her; her hands brushed against something large and soft.
Nervously, she raised her eyes and met the face so close to hers.
Her heart jolted again.
“I’m sorry! I…”
Panicked, Landis tried to pull away, but as soon as she stood, several tails wrapped around her waist pulled her back into Mochi’s arms.
“Don’t be so anxious. I still want to get closer to my little sister.”
Her heart pounded wildly like a drum.
She didn’t dare meet Mochi’s eyes, glancing left and right, looking utterly pitiful.
Mochi chuckled lightly, then wrapped her arms around Landis’s waist, seating her firmly in her lap.
She rested her chin on Landis’s right shoulder and gently pinched her chin, forcing her to look at the bloodied corpses sprawled before them.
The crimson sight struck Landis’s mind harshly.
She seldom saw fresh blood—even when her father executed prisoners, he forbade her from watching.
Now, faced with this carnage, she felt an intense unease.
Instinctively, she shut her eyes, but once she glanced, her mind involuntarily began to imagine the scene, causing her to retch uncontrollably.
“Why close your eyes? Such a rare and wonderful scene—open them wide and look closely, my little sister.”
Mochi breathed softly into her ear, her voice warm yet playful, stirring Landis’s ear drum.
Yet the words tightened Landis’s heart.
She refused to look and shook her head desperately.
Mochi’s eyes darkened slightly.
She reached out and forced Landis’s eyelids open.
“Look carefully, my little sister. One day, you will learn to appreciate the beauty within.”
Her stomach churned violently; nausea flooded her mind until she could no longer hold it in and vomited.
“Ha ha ha! You truly are delicate. Is that all it takes to knock you out? Don’t worry, this is just the simplest step.”
Mochi squeezed Landis’s cheek again, pointing at the group of courtiers.
“Little sister, do you know who these corpses belong to?”
Landis nodded tremblingly, her pupils still shaking as she stared at the mess.
“Then do you know why I killed them?”
She shook her head weakly and whispered, “No… I don’t know.”
“Because they dared to oppose me, dared to question me. I see through their thoughts—they’re all traitors.”
“Now, if I told you I intend to wage war against the humans, would you object?”
“No…”
“Good.”
Suddenly, the six tails behind Mochi shot forward, wrapping around the courtiers and pulling the dozen of them out.
“P-Your Majesty, spare us!”
“Your Majesty, we are loyal to you! We harbor no ill intent!”
Ignoring their pleas, Mochi glanced sideways at Landis and softly said, “I’ve specially saved these for you…”
“For me…?”
“Yes…”
Mochi’s voice was intoxicating.
“By killing them, I can grant all your wishes, including…”
As she spoke, Mochi suddenly grasped Landis’s hand and pressed it to her chest.
“I know all your desires clearly. You have needs from me, right?”
She slid her finger into Landis’s mouth, gently swirling it against her soft tongue.
Mochi had long held the same desire but never found the right person.
She wondered if Landis could satisfy her.
Landis’s mind was utterly blank; her breathing quickened as she instinctively cooperated with the finger’s gentle stirring.
When the finger withdrew, it dragged out a translucent string of saliva.
Mochi put her finger back into her own mouth, her bewitching eyes locked on Landis’s.
Inside her embrace, Landis felt her heart pounding like a drum that wouldn’t stop.
She knew—the bait had been taken.
A silver dagger glinted as it fell into Landis’s lap.
Mochi whispered in her ear, “Kill them, and I will fulfill all your desires. Kill them, kill them, kill them…”
“Kill… them…”
Landis began repeating the demon-like chant involuntarily, her eyes dull and empty, her consciousness hazy.
Slowly, she raised the dagger and stepped toward those people…
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