“That’s good. Prepare yourself, because the true honored guests have arrived.”
After saying this, Laite straightened up and checked his appearance again.
Not far behind Bert’s group, a completely snow-white carriage approached.
Both coachman and attendants were soldiers with solemn expressions.
Each crisp military uniform was embroidered with a Blue Ice Crown.
Lian braced herself as well.
Even she recognized that emblem—the frozen blue crown, the insignia of Nolanstia, the kingdom perched atop the Border Mountains that divide the Human Realm and Demon Realm, on the northern continent’s Everfrost Tundra.
Only those of the Royal Family of Nolan had the right to display that symbol on their carriage.
Could it be him? Lian’s heart thudded rapidly.
Sixteen years had passed; he should have already married and had children.
If he, as King of Nolan, were arriving, surely the procession would be far grander than this.
The first to descend from the carriage was a young man dressed in a spotless white military dress uniform, his snow-white short hair immaculate.
His handsome face was as cold and still as a midwinter ice lake, and his deep violet eyes swept dispassionately across the grand entrance of XÄ«long Pavilion.
“I am Prince Julian Nolanstia.”
“Your Royal Highness, Prince and Princess. Your arrival brings great honor to XÄ«long Pavilion.”
He did not bow to Laite; his status was simply too lofty.
Following closely behind him was a young lady in splendid attire—with the same snowy long hair as her brother, yet her eyes were a bewitching shade of crimson, glimmering with an unnatural light, and a subtle, almost demonic smile played at her lips.
She was even more striking than her remarkable brother, clad in an elaborate deep blue gown that shimmered as she walked.
“I am Princess Eleanor Nolanstia. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Unlike her brother, who showed no formality, she offered Laite a slight curtsy, but her head remained proudly raised, making no effort to lower her bearing.
Standing to the side, Lian frowned slightly at the siblings.
She couldn’t see through the young man, but the girl was obvious—the crimson demonic eyes unmistakably revealed her Demon Race heritage.
She made no attempt to hide it, boldly displaying those eyes to the sunlight and to all around.
Yet this was consistent with what Lian remembered about the King of Nolan’s family. Nolanstia was the royal surname.
During the Holy Crusade War, Nolan was the front line, the crucial juncture between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm.
To maintain peace after the war, he married a Princess of the Demon Race, causing a great uproar both domestically and abroad.
Even when Lian and Meliya married and retired to Yilansiya, unrest in Nolan had yet to settle.
At that wedding, where all the survivors were supposed to be present, he couldn’t come in person, only sending envoys with greetings and apologies.
Big Brother Roland… your daughter can now walk openly in the Human Realm without hiding her identity?
And from the reactions of those around, it seemed no one thought it remarkable that the honored guests had Demon Race blood.
Coexistence between humans and demons—his once seemingly unreachable dream had finally come true.
Lian smiled with genuine relief. Even in this bewildering and overwhelming timeline, such good things could still happen.
It was the first time she truly felt this way.
“Oh? That smile of yours is lovely. What’s your name?”
A flirtatious whistle snapped Lian out of her warm reverie.
Following behind the royal siblings, two young Nolan nobles descended the carriage.
The first was a tall, slender young man with slicked-back black hair.
He held an umbrella, strikingly out of place, a habitual flirtatious smile at his lips.
His gaze kept circling Lian, like a predator eyeing its prey.
“I believe it’s proper etiquette to introduce yourself before asking someone else’s name, isn’t it?”
Lian felt annoyed. The man’s Demon Race aura was overwhelmingly strong—he was pure Demon Race.
Unlike the princess who flaunted her heritage before all, this one aimed his aura solely at her, and with intent.
“Haha, bold, aren’t you? I’m Vlad Chesterton. Pleased to meet you—”
He strode up to Lian, lowered his umbrella, and with great flourish took her hand, intending to plant a deep kiss—
“Eek!”
Lian jerked her hand back as fast as lightning, face contorted as if she’d eaten a fly.
Startled, the young man quickly recovered, retreating gracefully. “It seems this maid isn’t used to physical contact. My apologies for being too forward.”
“You are a Blood Demon, correct? We’ve prepared a special luncheon for you.”
Though her reflex had been a vestige of her former male instincts, Lian’s reaction was quite improper in the current situation.
She braced for a reprimand—but instead, the Housekeeper Laite’s response surprised her.
“Such thoughtfulness.” Vlad bowed deeply to Laite, at once withdrawing the aura that had so discomforted Lian.
“Mind your manners. Do you want to embarrass His Highness?”
The last man to step down was far larger and burlier than the others—matching even the Housekeeper in stature.
His dark brown hair stuck up like a hedgehog, a deep scar running from his left brow to his cheekbone—clearly, a wound that could have blinded him.
Yet his left eye shone keen and sharp as a blade. He wore a military uniform too, but his was earth brown, marking him as belonging to a different corps.
He radiated a warrior’s unyielding strength. After admonishing his companion, he stood straight as a spear and saluted the Housekeeper.
“I am Oak Eisenhardt of the Third Army Group of the Kingdom of Nolan. An honor to meet you, sir.”
“Tch.”
The Blood Demon Vlad, who had not been angered even when Lian rejected him like a fly, now made a sour face at his companion. It was plain he held only contempt for Oak, from the heart.
“Thank you again for your arrival. Lian, escort His Highness and his party to their prepared Royal Suite.”
“Understood.”
So, the Prince of Nolan and his group were her charges for today.
It was certainly preferable to serving as the errand girl for the Young Master of the Nav… whatever family.
She was just about to lead the way when the Housekeeper gave her a searching look—
Are you alright? Are you alright? Are you alright?
He seemed to ask this three times over. To reassure him, Lian nodded so vigorously it was like pounding garlic.
…
……
…………
Thud!
Outside the door of the Royal Suite prepared for the Nolan party, Lian gave a hollow smile to the empty corridor. Behind her, the doors were tightly shut.
Wait outside—
That was the princess’s direct command. She didn’t even look at Lian as she spoke.
Before Lian could say a word in reply, the soldier Oak had simply closed the door in her face.
Was it because she’d pulled her hand away from Vlad the Blood Demon? Or had her response to his aura earlier been too rude?
“Wuu… Meliya… being a maid is just too hard!”