Head Maid? Coachman? Which side are they on?
Selene, disguised as Princess Eleanor, could barely keep her facial muscles under control.
Sensing this, the “Royal Highness” beside her sent her a message through their connection.
“Selene, calm down. Nolan’s princess already carries the blood of our kin. There’s no reason you should be discovered.”
“I—I understand. But… th-that woman is here…”
She glanced at the Sword Saint—only to find the latter also gazing at her with a look of puzzlement.
Just being looked at like that made the fear rooted deep in her heart surge anew.
Long before humans spread across the continent, the higher demons ruling the Demon Realm had always revered the Demon King as their supreme sovereign.
But beneath the Demon King, there were seven Magus: the Heavenly Demon, Shadow Demon, Dragon Demon, Blood Demon, Beast Demon, Spirit Demon, and Necro Demon—each ruled over their own clan, dividing the entire Northern Demon Realm into seven great territories under their command.
The Magus were the seven strongest beings standing atop the Demon Realm, second only to the Demon King.
It was precisely because they descended onto the battlefield one hundred and seventy years ago—crushing human defenses like dried twigs, razing every city and army that dared resist—that the demons could once dominate the continent.
And Selene was the heir of the most mysterious among the seven clans, the Shadow Demon bloodline—the first in line for the position of Shadow Demon Magus, who vanished three centuries ago and whose seat remains vacant.
With Selene’s noble bloodline and Magic Power a hundred or even a thousand times stronger than any ordinary human, she should never have feared a mere human—
But the problem was, the woman before her was no ordinary human.
In that war where the pride of the high demons was utterly shattered, she once fought the Magus alone, emerging neither victorious nor defeated… and faced not just one, but three at once.
Demons far from the heart of war might sneer at such tales.
Three Magus—each powerful enough to destroy a city or nation single-handedly—surrounding a mere human, only to achieve a draw?
Surely these are lies made up by those shameless lesser races to sap our morale, or deliberate slander meant to smear the name of demonkind…
But Selene knew the truth. She had been there, a witness to that battle.
She’d been far from the battlefield’s center that day… yet she would never forget the chill that froze her blood and Magic Power, nor that surging tide of ice that seemed to freeze the ashen sky of the Demon Realm itself.
The woman who swung a Demon Sword in the sky, casting all into deathly frost—that very woman now stood just a short distance away, sizing her up—
She felt her body almost physically recalling just how cold that day had been.
Clamping her chattering teeth shut, she mustered every bit of strength to force out a smile and a voice: “It’s only because Her Royal Highness has been unwell. If I were to show my demonic traits and aura as openly as usual, I fear it would remind Her Royal Highness of certain wartime experiences, and worsen her condition.”
Saying this, she raised her head, summoning all her courage to face Vera. She swept her Fan before her eyes, revealing her Demon Eyes.
“Hmm… For Her Highness to be so considerate of me, I am truly overwhelmed.”
Hearing Vera speak, Selene finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She was about to recast the spell to hide her Demon Eyes when Vera continued, “But you needn’t go so far. Even if I was once a member of the Brave’s Party, I wouldn’t react to your demonic features… No, it is precisely because I was in the Brave’s Party that I must face your true self.”
“Because it was your father’s wish—to build an age of peace where humans and demons can coexist. As his former companion and friend, I deeply agree with his ideals. So there’s no need to disguise your appearance before me.”
“I—is that so. In that case, I won’t trouble myself to hide it any longer. Oh hoho~”
Selene could only stop her spellcasting. Perhaps to hide her own unease, she let out a shrill, exaggerated laugh.
“Selene, mind your image.”
“None of your business! I—I was scared to death just now…”
The “Royal Highness” gave her a helpless glance. She knew Selene had truly been terrified; even her mental voice had been trembling.
“Since the two of you have come all this way, I should properly entertain you. Let’s head upstairs to talk, shall we? That’s my room. Apartment Manager, please have someone bring Prince and Princess’s gifts upstairs, and show their two attendants to a place to rest… Take the costs out of my rent, if you need to.”
“As you wish!” Although the Apartment Manager was puzzled as to why Her Highness didn’t have the two maids who’d come with her carry the luggage, since it was her own order, he had no room to object.
He quickly ran to the back to fetch some servants, and soon had them carry the gifts Nolan’s party had brought, taking them upstairs ahead.
“Then, how about I prepare some tea and refreshments for everyone?”
“No. Feiyin, stay here and keep Lian company.”
Vera shook her head to decline Feiyin’s offer. She glanced at Lian, who had somehow drifted over to the lobby sofa and was now yawning with boredom, then turned back to Feiyin.
You understand, right? Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her slip away.
“I understand. I’ll wait here quietly then.”
“Do you really understand?”
“I understand. You want to spend the whole day with her, right?”
“Don’t say things you shouldn’t…!”
Vera, face reddening, glanced at Lian sighing on the sofa. Once she confirmed Lian hadn’t overheard, she relaxed. Approaching, she said to Lian:
“Would you mind waiting for me here a while? I won’t be long with them.”
“…Not like you’d take no for an answer anyway, right? Go on, go on… I’m supposed to look after you all day today, after all. Where’s that sword?”
“I’m carrying it safely.” Vera patted the scabbard at her waist, where the imitation Holy Sword hung.
“Good. If anything goes wrong again, you’ll have to handle it yourself. If it really gets out of hand, call someone to fetch me immediately.”
“…Alright.”
Lian waved her hand at her, not even bothering to turn around. Even so, Vera looked delighted.
The “Royal Highness” standing nearby silently observed both Vera’s expression and the exchange between the two.
“……”
“Prince, Princess, please come upstairs with me. I’ll personally serve you tea.”
“Then I shall not refuse. Oh hoho~”
Selene immediately accepted, about to follow Vera upstairs, but noticed the “Royal Highness” still standing in a daze.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and come!”
With Selene’s mental reminder, the “Royal Highness” finally moved her feet.
Yet she glared hatefully at Vera’s back, then turned the same gaze toward the maid drowsing on the sofa.
“A so-called age of peace between humans and demons… That kind of age will never come. As long as I exist, I won’t let it come to pass.”
She murmured thus in her thoughts.
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