When Lin Ling woke up, her head throbbed as if she had been struck by a loaf of black bread.
The kind of black bread with a rock-hard crust and incredible density—the kind rumored to be a viable backup material for city defense.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a long time.
Then, she spoke slowly:
“Am I...”
“Still alive?”
The room was quiet.
A soft bed, a familiar ceiling, familiar curtains, and a familiar magic stone lamp.
And the familiar, dim light characteristic of the Demon King's Castle.
Good.
She was still in her own room.
Lin Ling let out a long sigh of relief.
“Looks like I was just drunk.”
“No big deal.”
Just as she was about to sit up, fragmented images suddenly flashed through her mind.
The Head Chef handed her a small glass of red wine.
She took a sip.
It tasted delicious.
Then the glass started spinning.
Then she seemed to see Ivelia.
Then she seemed to lunge forward.
Then...
Then what?
Lin Ling sat on the bed, her entire body freezing up.
Why was there a very suspicious image in her head?
She was being held by the Demon King.
There seemed to be a crowd of people around them.
Someone was gasping.
Someone was whispering in shock.
Lin Ling: “...”
Her face turned pale, bit by bit.
No way.
No way, no way, no way.
What on earth did she do last night?
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
“Miss Saintess?”
Niya’s voice came from outside.
“Are you awake?”
Lin Ling sat bolt upright, her voice weak.
“I-I’m awake.”
The door was pushed open.
Niya walked in carrying warm water and breakfast.
As soon as she saw Lin Ling, she breathed a visible sigh of relief.
“That’s good.”
“The Saintess is finally awake.”
Lin Ling watched her silently.
Niya’s gaze was full of concern.
But within that concern, there was a hint of hesitation, as if she were holding something back.
An ominous premonition rose in Lin Ling’s heart.
“Niya.”
“Yes?”
“Yesterday...”
She swallowed hard with difficulty.
“I didn't do anything... very strange, did I?”
Niya’s movements stopped.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Lin Ling’s heart sank along with the silence.
Don't be silent, Niya.
You can't be silent at a time like this.
Silence usually means things are so serious that you don't know how to bring them up.
Niya whispered:
“The Saintess was just drunk.”
Lin Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh, just drunk.”
“And then you chased after the Demon King.”
Lin Ling: “...”
Niya continued:
“And you lunged into the Demon King’s arms.”
Lin Ling: “............”
Niya’s voice grew smaller and smaller.
“And then you were teleported with the Demon King to the human First Prince’s negotiation site.”
Lin Ling: “..................”
She slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest.
“Niya.”
“Yes?”
“Did you just speak some otherworldly language that I can't understand?”
Niya shook her head.
“No.”
“Then... am I still dreaming?”
“The Saintess is already awake.”
Lin Ling took a deep breath.
Then, her body slowly tilted backward.
Niya was startled.
“Miss Saintess?!”
Lin Ling lay back on the bed, the light fading from her eyes.
“Let me be dead for a while.”
Niya frantically set down the tray.
“The Saintess cannot die!”
Lin Ling’s voice was hollow.
“Don't worry.”
“I’m only dead inside.”
After a long time.
Lin Ling finally sat up slowly.
She grabbed Niya’s wrist, her expression as serious as if she were asking for intelligence on the apocalypse.
“After I was teleported to the humans' side, did I say anything strange?”
Niya shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Lin Ling breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“Well, that’s something.”
Niya added:
“But when the Demon King brought you back, everyone saw.”
Lin Ling: “...”
“Brought me back?”
Niya nodded.
“Yes.”
“The Demon King personally carried the Saintess back in her arms.”
Lin Ling’s breathing stopped for a moment.
Niya recalled seriously:
“Everyone was shocked at the time.”
“The Saintess was fast asleep.”
“The Demon King held you and wouldn't let anyone get close.”
“She even used magic transmission to tell everyone to be quiet so the Saintess could rest.”
Lin Ling froze on the spot.
Niya continued:
“So everyone was very quiet.”
“Even Lord Baroque didn't speak loudly.”
“Lord Phelan seemed to want to record something, but the Demon King gave him a look, and he closed his record board.”
Lin Ling: “...”
It was over.
Completely over.
This wasn't just a common drunken accident.
This was the kind of drunken accident that would be written into the folklore of the Demon King's Castle.
Years from now, the demons might educate their children like this:
Don't drink Demon Red Wine carelessly, or you’ll end up like that Saintess.
Lin Ling slowly got out of bed.
Niya blinked.
“Miss Saintess?”
Lin Ling didn't answer.
She walked silently to the wardrobe and pulled out the small box she used to store miscellaneous items.
Then she started stuffing things into it.
A spare long dress.
A few pieces of soft bread.
An unfinished magic suppression stone.
And a small wooden sign that Cecil had painted “For getting lost only” on at some point.
Niya was stunned.
“Miss Saintess, what are you doing?”
Lin Ling was expressionless.
“Running away.”
Niya: “Eh?!”
Lin Ling closed the box lid.
“I can no longer show my face in the Demon King's Castle.”
“I’m leaving tonight.”
Niya panicked.
“But it’s morning now.”
“Then I’ll leave during the day.”
“But the Saintess will get lost!”
Lin Ling’s body stiffened.
Niya whispered:
“And the Demon King won't hate you for something like this.”
Lin Ling covered her face.
“The point isn't whether the Demon King hates me or not.”
“The point is that I was actually carried back by the Demon King last night.”
“And in front of everyone, no less.”
“How can I face the demons from now on?”
Niya thought for a moment.
“Lord Baroque did say one thing last night.”
Lin Ling looked up.
“What did he say?”
Niya imitated Baroque’s deep tone:
“If anyone dares to give her wine again, I’ll stuff them into the city walls.”
Lin Ling: “...”
Great.
Now even alcohol was banned.
Just as she was about to continue dragging the box out, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Phelan stood at the doorway.
His expression was even more serious than usual.
Lin Ling froze, clutching her box.
Phelan glanced at the box in her hands.
“What are you doing?”
Lin Ling was silent for two seconds.
“Uh, this, well, actually I saw the room was too messy and was tidying up.”
Phelan said calmly:
“Running away?”
Lin Ling: “...”
Why do all of you understand me so well?
Phelan didn't press further.
His gaze swept over Lin Ling and Niya, his voice lowering a bit.
“Stop this meaningless commotion. Everyone, go to the meeting room now.”
Lin Ling blinked.
“The meeting room?”
Phelan nodded.
“An emergency meeting.”
Niya’s expression changed slightly.
“What happened?”
Phelan was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
“There is a high probability that the human First Prince is about to formally declare war on the demons.”
The air in the room suddenly turned heavy.
Lin Ling’s grip on the box slowly loosened.
“...Declare war?”
Phelan nodded.
“Aliviel just brought back intelligence.”
“Gather in the meeting room.”
“The Demon King is already waiting.”
Lin Ling stood in place.
The shame of wanting to run away just now was washed away like it had been hit by cold water.
She looked down at the box in her hands.
Then she looked at Phelan.
Finally, she tossed the box aside.
“I understand.”
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