Gabriella had personally locked the restraints on Elsa.
A thick collar circled her fair neck, its chain splitting into two branches that bound her left and right wrists, making her look exactly like a prisoner captured by demons.
Isabella seemed to understand everything and cooperated perfectly with Gabriella’s actions.
She kept smiling, as if to say, As expected of my wife.
Under Gabriella’s personal escort, Elsa was brought to the base of the Demon King’s Castle.
They rode a platform made of black stone, slowly rising under the push of magic.
To prevent the Holy Knight Grand Commander from escaping or any accidents during transport, they were surrounded by elite demon soldiers.
Some of the soldiers secretly stole curious glances at Elsa and Gabriella, noticing that the two actually looked somewhat alike.
But the demon soldiers were too embarrassed to ask what was going on; they could only imagine what kind of delicate relationship existed between them.
Elsa was escorted all the way into the inner palace.
Along the way, she observed the demon city.
She had once imagined what this place would be like, pictured where her sister might be kept, but never dreamed that one day she would be personally marched into the Demon King’s Castle as a captive by her own sister.
The Holy Knight Order most likely still had no idea what had happened.
When they reached the doors of the residential palace, the guards all saluted Gabriella and stepped aside.
In their place, Head Maid Liya and two maid guards stepped forward and took positions on either side of Elsa.
“She is…”
Liya’s eyes widened.
She suddenly felt the human girl in front of her looked very familiar.
She glanced at Gabriella, then at Elsa, and seemed to understand something.
Gabriella stepped forward and quietly explained the situation to Liya.
After listening, Liya clasped her hands together, tilted her head, and smiled sweetly.
“Ah~ So Lady Gabriella still cares so much for her little sister.”
Gabriella didn’t know how to respond.
She only saw the guilt on Elsa’s face deepen.
At that moment, Liya walked up to the shackled Elsa and gently patted her head.
Elsa glared at her with pure hatred, like a furious little kitten.
Sorry, my dear little sister.
This is all just necessary acting. I hope you’ll understand later.
But right before entering the residential palace, Gabriella suddenly felt a slight heat in her chest and lower abdomen.
…That strange feeling was back!
She suddenly remembered she hadn’t checked the pattern on her belly today.
It couldn’t be that the demonic corruption had worsened, could it?
“Gabriella, what’s wrong?”
Isabella, walking behind her, immediately came forward, took Gabriella’s hand, and pressed it to her own chest.
“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”
Gabriella opened her mouth to speak, but the sudden physical contact instantly warmed her entire body.
It felt as though her body, starved of something, was finally about to receive it and was eagerly preparing in advance.
Such a strange sensation.
Gabriella suddenly remembered everything about the [Gift].
Demonic corruption would turn her into the Demon King’s kin, a true demon.
And during the process, if she didn’t receive the Demon King’s [Gift] regularly, she would go mad!
It can’t be…
But no matter what, Gabriella had no intention of telling the Demon King about this.
So she pretended to know nothing and answered calmly, “I’m fine… I was just thinking about what to cook for you… You still haven’t had lunch.”
Gabriella had assumed that would be the end of it. After all, the current Isabella was an obedient, lovesick fool of a Demon King.
If she said she’d cook, the Demon King would patiently wait for a delicious meal.
She would listen to her.
But unexpectedly, Isabella suddenly wrapped her arms around Gabriella’s waist and pulled her into a hug! Right in front of the maids and Elsa!
“Gabriella, you’re pushing yourself again. I order you to rest today.”
She shot Liya; standing behind Elsa; a look. Liya smiled sweetly in understanding and accepted the task of replacing Gabriella.
Gabriella panicked a little.
Why was Isabella suddenly disobeying? Ordering her to rest; had she noticed her secret?
Normally, Isabella would have yielded step by step like a lovesick girl whenever Gabriella acted strong.
Yet now it felt like their roles had completely reversed.
No, she was just too fond of me. Making me rest; wasn’t that a form of care?
So, I have to respond properly~
Respond to her love, keep raising her “favorability.”
But suddenly she didn’t know what to say.
Her heart raced the moment her waist was held.
Her body seemed to crave something.
The closer the Demon King got, the less she could resist.
Her mind went blank.
…If this continued, she’d be pushed further just like last time.
No, not this time; she absolutely could not kiss!
She would never accept the [Gift]!
“Lady Isabella… not… like this…”
Gabriella placed her hands on Isabella’s arms and gently pushed outward.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes darting away, quickly turning her head so Isabella wouldn’t find an opening to kiss her.
Yet from the outside, it looked exactly like a shy wife playing hard-to-get; a loving couple flirting and sharing sweet nothings.
And every single moment of it was witnessed by Elsa.
“Why has it come to this…” she murmured.
She realized her sister had fallen even further than she had imagined.
Elsa didn’t dare think about what her sister had gone through, nor did she know what to do.
The only reason she was being so obedient was because this gave her a chance to stay close to her sister, Gabriella.
The entire purpose of this expedition had been selfish; to find her sister.
In truth, the reason she had become a knight in the first place was largely because of her sister.
But now that she saw Gabriella had become the virtuous wife of the evil Demon King Isabella, faint cracks of doubt began to appear in her heart.
Her eyes grew hollow as she recalled the words she had spoken to the Holy King before departing.
She had said that this northern campaign would surely intimidate the Demon King and at the very least uncover traces of the Silver-White Sword Empress.
At that moment, Liya placed a hand on top of her head.
“Elsa, are you worried about your big sister?”
“That’s none of your business,” Elsa replied coldly.
But Head Maid Liya only smiled mysteriously.
Her lovely, gem-like eyes gazed gently at Elsa’s face, as if she could see through everything.
“You really don’t need to worry about Lady Gabriella at all.”
“What?”
“She is truly happy with the Demon King. This is where she belongs.”
New ship, Elsa and Liya😚