After Meliya nodded in agreement, Lian was led out of the dining room and into the corridor by Feiyin.
“You’re being far too solemn… is that some family spell of yours? If it is, you don’t have to tell me.”
Lian followed behind her. Seeing that she had no intention of stopping, Lian scratched her head as she spoke.
“No, it is not a family spell. It is merely a trivial trick. I am taking you to a place where it is convenient for me to demonstrate.”
The Head Maid did not look back, continuing to lead the way. Eventually, the two of them arrived in front of a tall, floor-to-ceiling window. The sunlight streamed brilliantly through the glass, casting two long shadows onto the red carpet.
Feiyin stood still before the window. Lian stared at her, wondering what she was up to.
“You…”
Lian suddenly felt an extremely ominous aura rushing toward her.
She instinctively lowered her head and took a few steps back, but someone immediately supported her shoulders and whispered in her ear:
“Do you know how I did it now, Lord Lian En?”
“…!”
Lian felt as if she had been struck by lightning. On her arms, the Heavenly Silver armguards instantly manifested.
She swung her right fist toward the maid who had crawled out of her own shadow —
Feiyin caught her fist with ease. Thick, deep shadows surged from her palm, contending with the brilliant light of the Heavenly Silver.
“That’s Shadow Shift… you’re a Shadow Demon.”
Lian surged her Magic Power, and the glow of the Heavenly Silver became even more dazzling.
However, the shadows pouring from Feiyin’s palm also swelled, pressing against each other.
“You are truly cruel. How could you attack me without a word? And you even used such a terrifying thing.”
Feiyin’s tone was as calm as ever. Lian saw her smile slightly… Her eyes were no longer the deep blue of the sea, but had turned as red as blood.
“How much do you know about this?!”
“Are you referring to your transformation? I know everything. After all, I am the one who turned you into this appearance.”
“Change me back right now! Instantly!”
“Unfortunately, I cannot do that. To be precise, it is beyond my capability.”
“… Don’t joke with me!”
In a fit of rage, Lian swung her left fist — her left arm was also covered by a Heavenly Silver armguard.
Yet, Feiyin still blocked it easily. Even with the pincer attack of both arms covered in Heavenly Silver, the maid’s slender wrists did not budge an inch.
“If you go to this extent, even I will find it a bit difficult. Why don’t you calm down first? Look, a child is coming over there.”
Feiyin glanced at the corridor beside them. Lian followed her gaze and found that a maid was indeed running toward them with a clear purpose.
“Head Maid, Head Maid! Something terrible has happened! You must go see the Duchess immediately…”
The maid shouted for Feiyin as she rushed over in a panic.
Consequently, Lian had to temporarily cease her struggle and dispel the Heavenly Silver covering her arms.
“Eh… what were you two doing just now? I thought I saw something shiny… No, that’s not important at all!” The maid ran to their side, panting.
She first looked at Lian in confusion, then shook her head and reported to Feiyin, “Something terrible happened in the city! A street near the Imperial Guard Barracks was attacked by the Demon Race, and several buildings have collapsed!”
‘The street near the Imperial Guard Barracks?’
The color instantly drained from Lian’s face. She remembered… Vera’s residence was on a street right near there!
“Feiyin…!”
“Are you certain? This is not something to joke about. I must inform the Duchess immediately. Do you remember the name of that street?”
“I think it was…”
Ignoring Lian’s burning, fierce gaze, Feiyin calmly confirmed the details with the maid.
After the maid’s frantic explanation, Feiyin confirmed the location once more.
“It is the street where Lady Vera lives. This is bad. The Duchess is in the dining room; go and report to her right now.”
“Me? I’m going?”
“Yes. I still have a few words to say to this sister. After I am finished, I will see the Duchess immediately.”
The maid then ran quickly toward the dining room, leaving Lian and Feiyin alone. Lian did not attack again, but she still glared at Feiyin fixedly.
“If you dare take one step toward the dining room… I will kill you instantly.”
“Please calm down. I have no intention of doing anything to the Duchess. As you know, I have served her since I was a child and grew up with the Lady. If I wanted to harm them, I wouldn’t have waited until now.”
“… You might not even be the Feiyin who grew up with them.”
“You know I am. I know you have more questions than there are stars in the sky right now… and you are also considering using violence to force me to submit. But from the situation just now, you should have realized — if you do not give your all, you cannot defeat or kill me.”
“… Are you so certain I can’t do it?”
“Yes. I am very certain. I am not questioning your strength, but rather, I believe you will not take such an impulsive action again.”
She really did know everything… including the fact that Lian had been attacked by that youth in white at the Mansion that day.
And Lian had to admit she was right — she couldn’t fight to the death here. From that brief exchange, Lian already understood that her power was unfathomable. It was likely second only to the Demon King she once fought in a battle of life and death.
Moreover, the simulated Heavenly Silver seemed to have no effect on her. Lian certainly had many other methods she could use, but those methods were impossible to use in a place like the Duke’s Household.
Because they might level the entire Palace to the ground.
“Furthermore, compared to forcing me to submit, you should have something more important to do now, shouldn’t you? Are you going to keep Vera Her Highness waiting for you again this time?”
Her words pierced Lian’s heart like a sharp arrow. Lian asked with a trembling voice:
“Did you arrange this? Did you arrange for people to attack her?”
“It was me. How about it? Having a villain like me who answers every question, aren’t you happy?”
“… Just because I can’t kill you now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to kill you later. If anything happens to Vera, or anyone in the Duke’s Household… I will leave you without a place to be buried.”
“I cannot guarantee that the people in the Duke’s Household will be fine. However, I can make a Soul Oath with you — ‘I, and my subordinates, will never personally harm anyone in the Duke’s Household.’ Do you accept?”
Feiyin reached out her hand toward Lian, and a crimson six-pointed star surfaced with her movement. Lian was stunned… because this was the most formal contract made by the Demon Race, deeply bound to their souls. If she violated this Soul Oath, her soul would immediately turn to ashes.
“… What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Hmm… if I had to say, it’s to give you, and myself, a chance. A chance to realize one’s own wishes. You should go now, shouldn’t you? Don’t make Vera Her Highness wait too long.”
Her words and gaze, which seemed to know everything, left Lian feeling lost and helpless. In the end, she grabbed Feiyin’s hand and accepted the contract.
“You stay right here. After I deal with things on Vera’s side, I’ll come back and deal with you immediately.”
“I shall look forward to it. I wish you luck in battle.”
Lian didn’t waste any more words on her. She crouched down in front of the window to build momentum, then crashed through the glass, soaring into the air toward the street where Vera was.
“Well then… I should also go and proceed with the next preparations.”
Watching her back disappear into the sky, the corners of Feiyin’s mouth curled slightly as she vanished into the shadow beneath her feet.