Chapter 31: The Two of Them’s Dinner

At sunset.

Everything that had happened in the morning seemed like an unreal dream, as if it had never existed.

The new Demon Lord had ascended, without excessive formalities or lengthy speeches. E

verything proceeded as usual, orderly and calm.

The ministers tacitly agreed to never mention the morning’s events again, lowering their heads to focus on their own duties.

They knew that speaking ill of the Demon Lord behind her back was strictly forbidden.

The previous Demon Lord had ended quietly, like a setting sun.

Dinner time arrived.

Landis was dazed as the head maid led her into the great hall.

Her eyes were dim, swollen red from crying, and tears still clung to her face.

Strands of hair stuck to her pale, delicate cheeks, dampened by her tears, making her look disheveled—so different from the morning when she had met Princess Pangruo.

When she arrived, she was still trembling and sobbing quietly, like a violet flower soaked by rain, its petals trembling lightly with the random rhythms of raindrops, glistening and evoking sympathy.

The long table in the hall was almost completely covered with food—such extravagance was rare even at grand banquets.

Yet now, only Landis was here to enjoy it.

She sat at the far end of the long table, a mountain of dishes piled before her, devouring the food without pause.

As if noticing Landis standing at the door, she stopped eating, swallowed what was in her mouth, and wiped the grease from her lips with her thumb.

Pointing a chicken leg at her, her tone was flat but probing, with a faint trace of amusement: “What… is your name?”

“…Landis Eberhart.”

Landis replied, her voice trembling.

The eyes of the unknown woman burned with anger and hatred, but deep beneath, there was fear and unease…

Sensing the hidden emotions within her, the woman’s gaze took on a playful glint.

She stood from her chair, her tall, curvaceous figure stepping closer to Landis, a gentle and harmless smile on her face.

“You seem very afraid of me.”

Behind her, six soft tails swayed gently, while two pairs of fluffy cat ears on her head stood erect.

Yet facing this woman’s invisible pressure, Landis felt those tails were like six thick tentacles capable of twisting out her insides, and those ears like bottomless voids that could listen to the deepest secrets of her heart.

She lowered her brows, too afraid to meet those dark green eyes, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, her voice shaking as she answered, “I… am not.”

“Is that so?”

Suddenly, a cold, slender finger pinched her chin, forcing her head up to meet those enchanting eyes.

Tears welled in Landis’s eyes, and the fear and unease caused them to flow uncontrollably.

She dared not make a sound, fearing this woman would kill her on the spot.

She forced herself to hold the gaze, trembling and quietly sobbing.

The only sound in the hall was Landis’s sobbing, rising and falling.

The unknown woman forced her to maintain eye contact for a long time, her deep eyes silently appraising her.

After a long while, Landis could no longer bear it.

Her body slackened, and she collapsed to the floor.

“You look so fragile—are you really the daughter of that Demon Lord?”

“However… hmm, you’re somewhat qualified.”

“What… qualified?”

Landis asked fearfully but received no answer.

The woman casually dragged a chair closer, crossed her legs, and sat down.

Then, she lifted her toes to rest on Landis’s chin, meeting those moist eyes once again.

“According to tradition, since I killed your father, I should inherit everything of his, including his family. You know what that means, don’t you?”

Landis didn’t want to look into her eyes.

She feared that the anger within them might provoke the woman’s wrath.

Just as she tried to look away, the pale, soft toes pressed against her chin forced her to look back.

Helpless, she bit her lip and nodded.

A smile curved the woman’s lips again, and she said teasingly, “Then what should you call me?”

“…Father, Father Lord…”

Landis barely managed to squeeze out the words through clenched teeth, her face full of humiliation.

“…Pfft!”

Unexpectedly, the woman burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as melodious laughter echoed through the hall.

To Landis, the laughter sounded like mockery.

She gripped her bright red skirt tighter, clenching her teeth even harder.

The woman laughed until tears streamed down her cheeks.

Finally calming down, she wiped the corner of her eyes and lifted Landis’s chin again with her toes.

“Forget that title. I want something nicer. You think of one.”

“If you make me happy, I’ll spare you tonight. If not…”

She picked up a beast’s heart from the plate, opened her sharp teeth, and bit lightly into it.

Her sharp eyes remained locked on Landis’s, as if warning her.

That gesture mirrored how she had eaten Father Lord’s heart that morning.

That was how she had ended his life completely, stripping away all his dignity as Demon Lord. And now, her target was Landis herself…

Landis swallowed nervously, then whispered two words: “Si…ster.”

“Mm… Sister…”

The woman muttered the words repeatedly, seeming troubled.

“Hmm, fine. I quite like ‘Sister.’ From now on, call me Sister. Miss one word, and I’ll eat your heart. Understand?”

“U-understood… Sister.”

A satisfied smile bloomed on the woman’s face.

She tossed a chicken leg to Landis.

“Eat quickly. Cold food doesn’t taste good.”

Then she grabbed a piece of meat herself and began devouring it greedily.

Landis glanced at her cautiously, slowly getting up from the floor to sit at a distance.

Sister didn’t seem to mind, continuing to devour the food voraciously, clearing more than half of the table’s dishes.

Landis wondered how she fit so much into her stomach—magic, perhaps?

Noticing her gaze, Sister turned her pupils toward Landis.

“Are you curious about me?” she asked coldly.

“No, sorry, Sister.”

Landis quickly lowered her head, nibbling on the chicken leg, afraid to meet those eyes again.

The voice by her ear suddenly stopped, and a lock of dark hair fell before her face.

She looked up sharply and met those emerald green eyes inches away.

“I am quite curious about you.”

“Tell me, what is your desire?”