“Ding—”
The bell of the Cathedral of Dawn rang promptly at noon.
Elenora heard the sound and instinctively stretched.
So boring…
She slammed her pen down on the desk and leaned back in her chair, letting out a soft whimper.
“Ugh~”
She had spent the past week busy spending time with Lilian, barely touching any paperwork, and now all of it had piled up—it was truly tormenting.
She even had to finish lunch early just to catch up on these tasks.
She didn’t want to do this anymore.
Back when she was the Demon Lord, these tedious matters were handled by the demon subordinates.
She only needed to give a nod on important things.
No need to look at these kinds of things.
The image of a girl with dark green hair appeared in her mind.
Lilian…
Elenora subconsciously touched the spot on her cheek where Lilian had kissed her that day.
It had only been the first hour since Lilian left.
She missed her.
What was she doing outside?
After buying what she wanted, happily strolling the streets with Erin, holding hands, sharing their favorite foods?
Sigh.
Elenora also wanted to be like that with Lilian…
Originally, Elenora had planned to go out with Lilian.
The three of them happily walking the streets, joyfully playing for a whole day, how nice that would be.
Damn Derek, it just had to be him visiting today.
Wanting to punch Derek, Elenora thought resentfully.
Speaking of punching…
Oh, right, Clara, Elenora almost forgot about her.
She stood up and said to the head maid, “Bella, bring Clara up.”
Bella nodded and left.
Before long, the red-haired girl was brought into the study.
Clara’s hands and feet were shackled, her face haggard, and she looked at Elenora with terrified eyes.
She didn’t understand why Elenora was treating her this way.
Since the banquet encounter with Elenora, she hadn’t been the same as she was back in the Kohen Territory.
Elenora kept writing something on the paperwork, and the study was silent for a while.
Finally, she stopped, put down her pen, and looked at Clara with a calm expression, as if she were staring at a corpse.
Clara’s breath trembled.
Before, she had called Elenora’s eyes red gemstones—very beautiful.
Now, all she saw was a pair of blood-red, murderous eyes.
Elenora was considering how to deal with Clara.
When she was Demon Lord, such traitors were simply killed.
But today, Lilian went out without her, and she was unhappy.
Unhappy, so no killing Clara.
“Clara.”
Clara’s body trembled.
“I know you think you’re my ‘best friend,’ so you believe I’ll always side with you, right?”
“You sided with Derek because you’re counting on him to ascend the throne in the future. The Kohen family is a thorn in the crown’s side, so you chose in advance the next tree to cling to, right?”
These were the words Lilian had explained to Elenora after Clara’s death in the previous life, analyzing Clara’s actions.
At that time, Derek was nominally her father’s student, so he couldn’t continue attacking the Kohen family.
Most of Clara’s later framing actions were under orders from her underlings—those nobles hostile to the Kohen family.
Once the Kohen family fell, her Ashton Family, with the help of those nobles, might have climbed higher.
Unfortunately, after the Kohen family was destroyed, the Ashton Family was completely divided by those nobles…
Heh.
Elenora continued:
“How many years has your family served as vassals to the Kohen family? Two hundred? Or three hundred? You’re very unwilling, aren’t you? Thinking your family deserves to rise even higher?”
Clara’s eyes widened in terror, her voice trembling with sobs, “No, please, Elenora, I beg you…”
She had thought Elenora would only punish her.
Now it seemed that was not the case.
Elenora just felt bored.
“Bella, write a letter to Uncle Morrow. The Ashton Family has betrayed the Kohen family. Strip them of their viscount title and send everyone in the Ashton Family to the frontlines. As for Miss Clara, find a way to throw her into demon territory. Make sure Miss Clara’s life is guaranteed.”
Clara wasn’t powerful; she was just a simple noble girl whose only merit had been her close relationship with Elenora.
“No, please, Elenora!”
Clara knelt on the floor, wildly kowtowing to Elenora, bleeding from her forehead but not caring.
“Kill me if you want, just don’t send me to the demons, please, please!”
She knew that demons mostly valued strength; being thrown there in her current state was worse than dying here.
Elenora frowned, pressing her aura down onto Clara.
“Don’t call me that. It’s disgusting.”
“Cough cough—” Clara spat blood.
It was over. Completely over. Her face turned deathly pale.
Elenora waved her hand dismissively.
Clara was dragged out like a dead dog, and the study fell silent again.
Elenora didn’t even look at her once more; she picked up her pen and returned her attention to the paperwork, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter.
The pen hovered in the air for a long time but never touched down.
Elenora threw the pen aside, leaned back in her chair, and gazed out the window.
“Why isn’t she back yet…”
It was the second hour since Lilian left.
She missed her.
“Tap.”
Bella bowed and placed a steaming cup of red tea on Elenora’s desk.
“Milady, please rest for a while.” Bella’s voice was gentle, carrying a trace of concern.
Elenora held the cup but didn’t drink, only feeling the warmth of the cup in her hands.
Bella’s skill was impeccable; the cup was warm, but not scalding.
“Are things… arranged?”
“Yes.” Bella replied respectfully, “The letter to Uncle Morrow has already been sent to the Messenger Guild on April Street. It will be delivered to the territory through the fastest magical channel. The orders regarding the Ashton Family’s disposition have also been issued. In a few days, the Ashton Family will no longer exist in the Kohen Territory.”
Bella’s voice was calm at first but trembled slightly when mentioning those cruel orders.
She was shocked when she heard Elenora’s command.
The study sank into silence again.
Elenora stared out the window, lost in thought.
Finally, Bella mustered the courage and sighed softly, “Milady… you’ve changed a lot.”
Bella had watched Elenora grow up and knew what kind of child she had been.
If it had been over half a month ago, she would never have believed Elenora could pass such a judgment on Clara.
In the past, perhaps Milady would have cried and asked Clara why she betrayed her…
Bella couldn’t say if this change was good or bad; people always grow up.
As for the reason—could it be because of Lilian?
Bella could see how uniquely important Lilian was to Milady.
But that didn’t explain Milady’s change…
“People always change…” Elenora’s voice sounded a little weary, as if she had been through something.
Sigh.
Seeing Milady unwilling to say more, Bella could only let out a silent sigh.
Perhaps only Lilian could bring out the soft parts of her heart?
Bella felt a little emotional.
“Krrraarr—”
The sound of wheels rolling over stones came from outside the door.
It was already afternoon.
The Crown Prince Derek arrived at the agreed time for his visit.