How did she come back so quickly?! Wasn’t it supposed to take several days?
A sudden, icy chill swept over Seraphina’s entire body, far worse than the stabbing pain in her abdomen.
Sending Lina to block Movira was as futile as hoping a mantis could really stop a chariot—at least the latter had a sliver of a chance…
Sure enough, the bedroom door was pushed open silently.
Movira was still dressed in that luxurious black robe, dusty and worn yet no less imposing. Her night-dark eyes immediately caught Seraphina’s unusual expression, and a playful curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
“Oh my, I was gone less than two days, and my dear Princess Regent Seraphina has already reduced herself to such a pitiful state?”
She approached slowly, her fingertips brushing the sweat-dampened strands at Seraphina’s temple. “I heard you nearly got killed by a mere human girl? How fragile of you! Do you miss the sense of security I gave you when I was by your side?”
Her gaze then fixed on the slightly ajar door, through which Lina stood outside with her head lowered.
“Looks like the surprise I prepared for you was indeed a bit unruly, but I didn’t expect you to tame it so quickly.”
Movira withdrew her gaze and returned it to Seraphina. Then, leaning down close enough to almost whisper into her ear, her voice low and seductive:
“The ‘Transformation’ inside your body… has it made you unable to handle even the slightest provocation?”
Seraphina stiffened all over. She had known this had to be Movira’s doing again!
Movira straightened and clapped her hands. “But it’s okay. Boring paperwork clearly isn’t suited for you right now. I found you a new task—much more interesting than what you’re doing.”
But how much of what Movira said could be trusted? Seraphina’s alarm bells rang loudly. “…What?”
“The Border Outpost sent word that a group of reckless Abyssal Lesser Demons think they’re far from the emperor’s reach. Their claws are itching again, and they’re stirring trouble, dragging a small human faction along with them.”
“You’re going to handle it.”
“What?!” Seraphina shot up, momentarily ignoring her stomach pain. “You want me to handle a border conflict?! And with those Lesser Demons involved…”
Those fiends were notorious for chaos and savagery, utterly untamable by any teachings. Only absolute power could temporarily subdue them.
Seraphina’s current strength wouldn’t even be enough to crack a nut against them!
And once she went to such a place, surrounded by wilderness, human fugitives, Demon Race criminals, and Abyssal Lesser Demons that could appear out of nowhere—
There would be no chance of escape! For her, that place would become another Demon King’s Castle imprisoning her!
“Why… me?”
“What? Princess Regent Seraphina can’t even handle such a small matter?” Movira raised an eyebrow. “I’ve already laid waste to the entire Demon Realm back in the day. Now I’d rather not solve problems by force, so I’m sending you, a mere Minister, instead.”
Her body leaned close again, her warm breath tickling Seraphina’s nose.
“Or would you rather stay here, let me ‘take care’ of you personally, and try out some new games I’ve been learning recently?”
Seraphina’s complexion drained further. Facing cruel Lesser Demons and the outside humans was terrifying enough, but Movira’s ‘games’ were far worse.
Besides, the former could be avoided with protection, but the latter… no one would protect her!
“…Fine, I’ll go.”
“Good~!” Movira smiled with satisfaction. “To make your journey more pleasant, that Lina will accompany you!”
She glanced again at Lina outside the door, giving the girl yet another fright.
“I remember she was stubborn just yesterday, and now she’s so timid. Looks like your training’s been effective.” Movira’s smile grew wider. “Prepare yourself—departure is at noon tomorrow. I’ll assign five hundred Elite Knights as your escort. That should be enough to hold the line.”
Movira turned to leave, but paused at the door as if remembering something and added, “A friendly reminder: the pain you’re feeling now will come once a month from now on! Consider it an early adaptation.”
Once-a-month pain… that meant…
The door gently closed, leaving Seraphina alone with the lingering weight of Movira’s words. The crushing despair that surged instantly eclipsed the rising abdominal pain.
She finally collapsed onto the bed, staring at the Demon Realm’s dim purple ceiling, her mind in turmoil.
Did she really escape the Demon King’s Castle? That was a definite yes. But something felt off…
Just admit it—you didn’t really get out!
Heading to the dangerous borderlands to handle a violent conflict while her body underwent a strange ‘Transformation’…
What on earth was going on?
Yet, a faint and barely acknowledged hope quietly sprouted within her heart.
Leaving this gilded cage, even if it meant going to a far more perilous place, seemed somehow better than staying with Movira and awaiting the irreversible ‘Metamorphosis’.
At least, maybe there the effects of the medicine would slow down…
***
The next day arrived quickly.
There was still morning work to handle, but Seraphina found it much lighter than usual. She finished reviewing everything in just over an hour.
“Is that all?” Seraphina asked the demon maid beside her.
“Yes, Your Highness. It seems His Majesty intercepted most of it for you… I’m not exactly sure.”
“Well… His Majesty is considerate, then.” Though Seraphina disliked praising Movira, she was still a subject of the Demon King by nature, so politeness was necessary.
Besides, the abdominal pain had gradually faded last night and was completely gone today.
With nothing pressing left, it was time to prepare for the journey.
Within the Princess Regent’s Palace, the atmosphere was so tense it could be wrung dry—if one ignored the Demon King herself, who clearly enjoyed the moment.
Seraphina wore an expression cold enough to freeze people, while Movira leisurely “inspected” the list of supplies prepared for the trip.
Lina stood farther away with her head bowed, trying her best to shrink into an unnoticeable shadow.
“Hmm, preparations are fairly thorough.” Movira closed the list and lightly tapped her fingers on the table. Her gaze, sticky like cobwebs, latched onto Seraphina. “My dear Princess Regent Seraphina, your first long journey away—I really am… reluctant to see you go!”
Seraphina felt her stomach churn. How could such sickly sweet words come out of that foul face?
But she maintained a deadpan expression, thinking bitterly: You’re the one who sent me away! Now that I’m leaving, you’re reluctant?
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