To enter the game by becoming the bait herself.
Only Aililan could pull something like this off. She clearly knew that Ginea was a succubus; acting so flirtatiously in front of a pervert like that—how was it any different from a sheep walking into a wolf’s den?
Following Aililan’s orders, the estate purchased a vast amount of ingredients. Rumors whispered that since they had been in Atester for so long, the Saintess felt grateful for everyone’s hard work and intended to reward them.
Naturally, the main hall was off-limits, but the side hall had been set up with long tables. The cooks worked with extra enthusiasm because they, too, were invited to the banquet.
As night fell, under Aililan’s command, a banquet hosted by the Saintess began in the side hall, with the maids leading the way followed by the rest of the servants.
The tables were laden with wine, delicacies, and precious fruits. Yarandale, the Head Maid, announced loudly, “Everyone, give thanks for Lady Saintess’s kindness!”
Another maid raised her glass, saying excitedly, “This toast is to the Saintess! I have never seen a Saintess who cares so much for her subordinates.”
‘Long live the Saintess!’
‘I will serve the Saintess with my life in the next world!’
‘Haha, I’ve been a cook my whole life, making food for others. I never thought there’d come a day where I could sit at the main table, and by the Saintess’s invitation no less.’
‘I’m just a lowly laborer…’
‘I will always love the Saintess.’
‘Drink up, drink up! Who wouldn’t love our pure Saintess? If anyone doesn’t, I’ll be the first to beat them up!’
The Saintess inviting servants?
This was a bit too unconventional. Strictly speaking, it was something a Saintess was neither allowed nor supposed to do, but Aililan didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it. There was no need to be overly strict with internal staff. One should reward and punish as appropriate; it was both a display of the Saintess’s dignity and a means to win people’s hearts. Of course, the real purpose was to lure that succubus out.
Halfway through the banquet, Aililan finally made her appearance.
She wore a pure white evening gown. Her slender legs were occasionally outlined beneath the long skirt, and her slender waist was cinched by a white silk scarf. Her long golden hair was divided into two strands, gently resting over her chest, making her look elegant yet modest. Her pure face made one want to worship her… or perhaps, drag her into the abyss?
In the crowd, the succubus Ginea furrowed her brow.
She felt the saliva secreting in her mouth. The moment she saw the Saintess, it nearly overflowed. A succubus’s saliva was a potent drug, and they usually chose when to use it on their prey.
But Ginea discovered that the pure, elegant, noble, yet modest Saintess before her was the only being who made her unable to stop producing so much saliva. She wanted to devour the Saintess.
‘Everyone.’
‘It has been some time since we arrived in Atester. I am very grateful that you followed me to this remote place. You have helped me a great deal, and I thank you for your constant support.’
Aililan raised her glass.
‘Tonight belongs to you.’
The many servants raised their glasses in return.
‘Tonight belongs to the Saintess!’
The succubus Ginea licked her lips. A trace of uncontrollable saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth. A strong thought flashed through her mind: she longed to leave her saliva on that Saintess, and she longed to see the Saintess twisting and wailing beneath her.
‘I can’t take it…’
She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
‘Saintess, Saintess…’
Ginea smiled faintly, her red lips parting slightly. A great deal of saliva flowed in her mouth—a sign of craving prey.
The laughter around her added to the atmosphere, making Ginea almost unable to resist releasing her succubus nature and turning everyone here into slaves of desire.
‘No.’
‘That would startle the prey.’
‘What if I’m discovered? Then my infiltration would be a total waste.’
But…
Ginea swallowed her overflowing saliva again. Making everyone experience pleasure and release their nature was simply unrealistic. She had been struggling to get close to the Saintess, but wasn’t this banquet an opportunity? A perfect chance to get close to Aililan.
The banquet was buffet-style, which was more conducive to socializing. Ginea had been watching for a long time and finally approached the table where the drinks were placed.
She poured herself a glass. A drop of saliva falling from the corner of her mouth happened to land right into the bottle of wine specially prepared for the Saintess.
Now she just had to wait—wait until someone poured a glass for the Saintess from that bottle.
Later, Aililan took a small sip.
The wine in this world was actually quite good. Especially this expensive variety; its alcohol content was much higher than grape wine. A light fruity aroma lingered in her mouth, and the texture was extremely mellow. The taste was surprisingly decent. After all, these were drinks blended around alcohol. To say that what an ordinary person drank in the previous world was better than what nobles drank in this world would be self-deception.
Gulp.
Aililan finished the glass in one go. She felt a momentary daze. It was that feeling of lightheadedness suddenly surfacing. She couldn’t help but feel that this wine had quite a kick.
‘Wait…’
‘Why does Head Maid Yarandale suddenly look so good? She looks delicious… or perhaps, very tasty?’
The saliva the succubus had dropped into the wine was already affecting her invisibly. Aililan felt more and more off, because she realized that every girl—as long as they were female—looked so beautiful, so… delicious.
‘Wait.’
Gulp.
‘No, this is very wrong.’
Aililan began to realize something.
In the crowd, Ginea had been waiting for a long time. Now was the best time to approach Aililan. Before the Saintess’s symptoms fully manifested, she just needed to make the Saintess choose her.
She slowly walked toward Aililan.
However, someone was one step faster. “Saintess Aililan, are you… are you alright?” Theresa didn’t care much for the food or drink, and she hadn’t seen Aililan’s abnormality, but it was precisely because she was blind that she could feel the unusual fluctuations in Aililan’s emotions amidst the laughter.
Ginea: ?
‘Dammit, my prey is being snatched.’
‘That annoying blind girl, get lost!’
It was time to take the center stage. Just as Ginea was about to push Theresa aside, she was pulled back by Head Maid Yarandale.
Yarandale scolded, “Ginea, how dare you! Don’t you know Miss Theresa is the Saintess’s honored guest? As a maid, trying to upstage an honored guest—how did you learn your maid’s code of conduct? Are you trying to get yourself fired?”
Ginea: “…”
She didn’t know if she was going to be fired, but she figured the Saintess and that blind girl were about to have a very “heavenly” time. But… why wasn’t it her?
Aililan felt her head getting heavier, and a strange desire welled up in her body. She exhaled a breath of hot air and said, “Theresa, you look so beautiful today.”
Theresa was stunned. “Huh?”
Aililan continued, “Theresa, you are the most wonderful girl I have ever met.”
“Saint… Saintess, you’re joking.”
“Perhaps. I might be drunk, but I have some words I want to tell you.”
Aililan took her hand and led her outside.
“Saintess?”
“Theresa, don’t you want to listen?”
Theresa paused, then chose to follow.