“It’s not that I can’t help you.”
Gabriella had originally wanted to say that Simona was human, while Liya was a genuine demon—one who, no matter her past as some so-called Heavenly Herald, was now an evil spirit loyal to the Evil God.
But Gabriella didn’t voice those words.
After all, the former Silver-White Sword Empress was still living among demons!
For a brief moment, Gabriella felt like she was turning from an upright human into an accomplice helping demons fulfill their sordid little desires.
Yet when it came to romance, Liya seemed so pure and adorable that it hardly qualified as sordid.
Then she realized the real problem.
She couldn’t refuse Liya’s request.
It wasn’t a matter of logic failing her.
Gabriella still wanted to protect humanity and keep Simona pure.
She simply felt that helping Liya was her duty—as a friend of five years, or as her superior, she ought to be kinder to her… rather than going along with Simona’s somewhat hasty plan.
Moreover.
Liya was also a faithful servant of the Demon King, an indispensable general.
If it was her request, Gabriella couldn’t outright refuse.
“Lady Gabriella, you really don’t have to take it so seriously~”
As Gabriella pondered, Liya added that as if she understood something.
Gabriella nodded and bid her farewell, then went to find Simona.
After all, as one of the only four humans left in the inner palace, she needed to check on her no matter what.
Though remembering how Simona and Liya had been kissing in the stairwell made it feel like the plan had already half-failed.
Still, she had to confirm the situation first.
Gabriella found Simona in the first-floor hall.
She was standing guard at the entrance to the residential palace.
Guarding and supervising were the duties of hall maids.
They didn’t need to clean or trim the gardens outside, but they stood watch here like security personnel.
As the Holy Queen, Simona naturally exuded a regal aura at all times.
Her tall, voluptuous figure was enticing, making her perfectly suited for this post.
When Gabriella arrived, the hall maids were just changing shifts.
As Simona left the entrance, two demon maids gave her meaningful glances, as if they shared some strange secret or bond.
But since her entire body was already marked by Liya, it was probably just friendship.
When they saw each other, both lowered their heads in unison and cautiously met one another’s eyes.
“Simona, how have you been lately?”
Gabriella glanced at the golden horns atop her head, suddenly feeling her own words were a bit redundant.
The horns were beautifully black with restrained, straight patterns and elegant structure—majestic yet subtly gentle, like a warm sun radiating comfortable heat.
Simona lowered her head shyly, clearly aware of Gabriella’s gaze.
“I… I’m fine.”
“Have you gone to see Elsa and Tina?”
“Yes.”
Simona nodded.
“Their bodies have already been corrupted, and their minds are gradually shifting toward the demons’ side. But I don’t know which despicable demon turned them into what they are now.”
Gabriella suddenly remembered accidentally infusing Tina with darkness.
She hadn’t even checked on Tina proactively these days—just that Tina was always with Elsa.
Who knows if her idiot sister had already claimed her!
She felt a little guilty.
“That must be really despicable.”
She certainly couldn’t tell Simona that Elsa’s fall was her fault, or that she was the main culprit behind Tina now obeying demons.
That would be far too strange.
But while she was thinking about Simona’s situation, the latter was looking at her with an odd expression… more precisely, at her tail.
Simona cautiously stared at the black heart-shaped tail swaying behind Gabriella, her face full of disbelief.
“That Demon King—what on earth has she done to you!”
“N-Nothing…”
Gabriella felt as if a lead weight hung around her neck; she couldn’t lift her head at all.
Her own circumstances seemed even more tragic.
Yet strangely, she didn’t feel that sad—because thinking of the tail immediately brought to mind that idiot Isabella.
Simona leaned closer, adopting the air of a concerned big sister.
“Gabriella, your demonification has progressed deeper than mine. Is your body really okay?”
But Gabriella felt uncomfortable.
The concern was appreciated, but could you stop staring at my tail already?!
Please, Miss Simona—you’re human! How can you be interested in a demon’s tail?
She quickly flicked her tail behind her body to hide it from Simona’s view.
“I read in books that when corrupted by demonification, it causes heart-rending pain. If you don’t accept your master’s power, you’ll fall even further. There’s no holy water here, no items to lift the curse…”
“I’m really fine~”
Gabriella would never tell Simona that the way to solve it was to directly ask the Demon King for the [Gift].
Besides, her body was more resistant to curses than ordinary humans, and her demonification progressed more slowly!
She just felt too embarrassed to say so.
After all, she had already grown a tail.
It wouldn’t be long before she fully demonified.
Simona, however, seemed to enjoy the feeling of worrying about Gabriella.
In the past, it was always Gabriella helping her.
Now she finally had a chance to help Gabriella break free from the demonification curse!
She let out a long breath.
“Gabriella, if you accept the Gift again, you’ll be beyond saving… Has the Saintess told you about the Fountain of Purity?”
“I think… it’s not the right time yet.”
Gabriella replied ambiguously.
“Miss Simona needs the Fountain of Purity more than I do. Enduring the curse alone for five years must have been really hard, right?”
Simona’s face flushed.
“I-I’m fine as long as I have holy water.”
The two stopped discussing the curse.
Instead, Simona led Gabriella to a secluded corner—to prevent others from overhearing.
She gently tugged Gabriella’s sleeve.
“Gabriella, we now have a way to defeat the Demon King.”
“Defeat the Demon King?”
“Yes.”
The determination returned to Simona’s eyes.
“A [Heavenly Herald] has awakened. She will cooperate with us to seal the Evil God. Perhaps defeating the demons will be easier than we thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“If we can seal the Evil God, we can completely save this world. As the Divine Maiden, if you work with me, we can definitely accomplish it.”
“Hmm.”
Gabriella froze.
Defeat the Demon King?
Seal the Evil God?
Sealing the Evil God… yes, for an unbeatable enemy, sealing her would indeed be the best option.
Was this new Heavenly Herald, like Liya, an ally of the Divine Maiden?
With a powerful ally’s help, sealing the Evil God might not be impossible.
But for some reason, it didn’t feel right.
Gabriella’s eyes grew vacant.
Her heart strongly rejected it—she suddenly felt intense resistance to this abrupt hope.
No.
How could I betray my master?