It was not until late at night, long after Lin Ling had fallen asleep, that the bedroom door was gently pushed open.
The light from the hallway was blocked by the door, leaving only a faint sliver of light to spill into the room.
Ivelia stood at the doorway, quietly looking toward the bed.
Lin Ling was already fast asleep.
And she was sleeping in a rather ungraceful manner.
The blanket she had so solemnly referred to as “Mr. Blanket” had been kicked onto the floor at some point.
She lay diagonally across the bed, her platinum blonde hair scattered over the pillow, her pajama collar slightly pulled open from tossing and turning, exposing one of her shoulders.
Ivelia looked at her exposed shoulder, her brow twitching ever so slightly.
First, she picked up the blanket on the floor and set it aside.
Then, she picked up the pink blanket and gently draped it over Lin Ling.
The pink blanket fell over her, covering her exposed shoulder.
Lin Ling seemed to feel the warmth; her eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she did not wake up.
Ivelia stood by the bedside, watching her less-than-elegant sleeping posture.
The girl who was always smiling during the day was now as quiet as a soft, fluffy little animal.
No one would ever guess that such a person harbored a level of magic within her body that was akin to the incarnation of a god.
Nor could anyone tell that her Health Points were so dangerously low, reduced to that glaring number.
Ivelia's gaze lingered on Lin Ling's face.
That scene from the dream surfaced in her mind once again.
Lin Ling standing in the dark forest.
Despite being such a small figure, she had questioned those soldiers with an angry voice.
“What on earth do you people take human lives for?!”
Lin Ling back then was not as noisy as she usually was.
But Ivelia knew very well.
That was also Lin Ling.
She could feel fear.
She would get embarrassed when sincerely thanked.
And she would show a terrifying expression she wasn't even aware of when others were harmed.
Ivelia leaned down.
For some reason, she reached out and gently touched Lin Ling's flushed cheek.
It was very soft.
And held a hint of warmth.
Lin Ling, on the bed, seemed to feel something warm and instinctively nuzzled her cheek against that hand.
“Hehe.”
She mumbled softly with her eyes closed.
“So warm...”
“Whew...”
Ivelia's movements froze.
Her palm rested against Lin Ling's cheek.
Still in her dreams, Lin Ling trustingly rested her face in her hand.
Ivelia suddenly felt her heart beating a little fast.
It shouldn't be like this.
She was the Demon King.
She knew exactly what she had to do.
She was well aware of the plight of the demon race, the dangers of war, and what Lin Ling meant to the Demon King's Castle.
At the very beginning, she indeed only wanted to protect this human girl who possessed special abilities.
Because Lin Ling could help the demon race.
Because Lin Ling's Holy Light Stasis could change the future of the Demon King's Castle.
But since when did the reason change?
Was it when Lin Ling first ate soft bread, her eyes shining as if she had obtained the entire world?
Was it when she stood in the midst of everyone, smiling happily over the success of the experimental field?
Or was it in the bathhouse, when she caught her as she almost slipped, holding that soft, panicked body in her arms?
Ivelia could not remember clearly.
She only knew that, at some point, Lin Ling had ceased to be just "the hope for the future of the demon race."
She would worry about whether Lin Ling was eating well.
She would care when she held hands with others.
This kind of emotion did not suit the calmness expected of a Demon King.
But it already existed.
Quietly, stubbornly, and unignorably existing.
Looking at Lin Ling's face pressed against her palm, Ivelia ultimately did not pull her hand away.
She sat down by the bedside.
Lin Ling seemed to sense the warmth drawing closer and nudged herself even further toward her.
Just as Ivelia was about to steady her, Lin Ling sleepily pressed against her.
In the next instant, Lin Ling hugged her directly.
Ivelia's entire body went stiff.
The girl in her arms was sleeping deeply.
Her soft arms wrapped around her, her head resting against her chest, even giving a very satisfied nuzzle.
“Warm...”
Lin Ling mumbled softly.
And then, she fell silent again.
Ivelia looked down at the sleeping Lin Ling in her arms.
After a long while, she gently raised her arms and hugged her back.
Her movements were incredibly gentle.
As if she were afraid of waking something fragile.
Lin Ling's breathing was steady in her arms.
She had absolutely no idea that the heart of the person holding her was already in disarray.
Ivelia lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently brushing across Lin Ling's back.
Dark red mana flowed silently from her palm.
That was the Demon King's Supreme Protection.
Once before, she had cast it on Lin Ling.
Back then, she could claim it was for the future of the demon race.
To prevent this girl who could change the fate of the Demon King's Castle from dying.
But this time, it was different.
The dark red mana slowly seeped into Lin Ling's body, transforming into an almost invisible mark.
Ivelia held her close, her voice so quiet it seemed meant only for herself.
“This time...”
“It is not for the future of the demon race.”
She looked down at the completely defenseless girl sleeping in her arms.
“It is because of you.”
If Lin Ling were to wake up right now.
If she were to use Appraisal on herself.
She would find that she had gained a new blessing.
【The Demon King's Supreme Protection】
【Caster: Ivelia】
【Permanent Blessing】
【When the protected target takes fatal damage, the caster shall bear the cost in their stead.】
【Note: This is the covenant dedicated by the Demon King to her most precious treasure.】
Of course, as a powerful existence who didn't even wake up while being transported by magic, how could Lin Ling possibly awaken over such minor matters?
She simply held onto Ivelia, sleeping peacefully.
Watching the blessing finally settle securely upon her, Ivelia's tense expression also began to slowly relax.
She gently adjusted her posture to make Lin Ling more comfortable.
Lin Ling naturally curled up closer into her chest.
As if she had found the warmest spot.
Ivelia looked at her, her eyes softening.
Then, holding the girl in her arms, she slowly closed her eyes.
...
Within the pure white space.
“Wow—!”
“Mari-chan, don't block it!”
“I want to see this!”
“I want to, I want to~”
Kavia was rolling back and forth on the floor of the pure white space.
As she rolled, she tried to peer around Marigal, who was standing in front of the light screen.
But no matter how she rolled, Marigal stood precisely in front of her, blocking her view.
The image on the light screen had already been obscured by a layer of soft white light.
Nothing could be seen.
Marigal stood in front of the light screen with a gentle smile on her face.
“Kavia.”
“You cannot watch this.”
Kavia sat up immediately, propping herself up with both hands, the smiling face on her mask looking like a protest.
“Why?!”
“This is a crucial plot point!”
“The development of the romantic subplot!”
“As a great Deceiver, I have the right to watch the continuation of the show!”
Marigal's smile remained unchanged.
“No.”
“You do not.”
Kavia clutched her head.
“Mari-chan is so cruel!”
“You let me watch adorable little Lin Ling turn into a blanket roll just now!”
“Why can't I watch this part?!”
“This is double standards!”
She wanted to keep throwing a tantrum.
However, a hand made of light reached over from the side.
It gently grabbed her by the back of her collar.
Kavia's voice cut off.
She slowly looked up.
The Goddess was sitting not far away, holding a cup of tea that had appeared out of nowhere.
“Kavia.”
“You are being a bit noisy.”
The arm of light tossed her aside casually.
Kavia was once again thrown in an arc toward the depths of the pure white space.
“I shall return—!”
Her voice echoed from far away.
Marigal let out a helpless sigh.
“She says that every single time.”
The Goddess took a sip of her tea.
“Which is why she needs to be thrown further away each time.”
...
Inside Leticia's room.
The night was deep.
Leticia sat by the bedside, having not yet gone to sleep.
Ever since the Goddess had brushed her hand over her eyes, she had been able to see many things she couldn't see before.
The color of light.
The shape of light.
And the subtle distance between different souls.
She shouldn't have looked.
But when that familiar platinum-blonde warm light appeared at the edge of her perception, she couldn't help but raise her eyes.
And then, she saw it.
A deep purple light was quietly pressed against that platinum-blonde warm light.
Extremely close.
So close that it seemed almost ready to wrap the platinum-blonde light entirely in its embrace.
Leticia watched in silence toward that direction.
She knew who that was.
And she knew where Lin Ling was right now.
After a moment, she slowly lay back down on the bed.
She pulled up the blanket.
And tucked herself in.
Yet, for some reason, though the blanket was not thin and there was no wind in the room, she felt that tonight was exceptionally cold.
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