After returning to the Demon King's Castle that evening—
Phelan seemed to have some urgent matters to attend to.
After confirming that Lin Ling was simply hungry due to excessive consumption of magic, he immediately left using teleportation magic.
Lin Ling stared at the spot where he had vanished, then silently looked down at her constantly rumbling stomach.
“It is now time for Miss Saintess's grand feast.”
With that, Lin Ling slowly floated toward the kitchen, drawn by the aroma wafting from it.
She looked like a ghost being lured away by the scent of food.
Leticia watched Lin Ling's departing back as she drifted toward the kitchen, wanting to say something.
But seeing how completely captivated the girl was by the aroma, she ultimately kept quiet.
After all, Lin Ling had done a lot today.
Even Phelan had looked like he wanted to dissect her for research.
After a simple dinner, Lin Ling finally looked as if she had come back to life.
Leticia was also shown back to her room.
The Demon King's Castle grew quiet as night fell.
Leticia lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
She kept thinking about what had happened today.
She looked at the light filtering through the window, which had finally been unsealed.
It used to be tightly boarded up.
But now, a bit of the night outside could seep in.
It felt as if this room was finally starting to connect with the outside world.
Staring at that faint light, Leticia suddenly thought of Danasuo.
She was willing to cast a forbidden spell just so her younger brother could live.
What about herself?
If it were her, she probably wouldn't do such a thing.
Leticia thought to herself.
After all, in the past, she had never truly gone to such lengths for anyone.
The Saintess of the White Tower was only taught how to sit high above the rest of the world.
How to be a flawless symbol in the eyes of everyone.
But no one had ever taught her how to give her all for someone.
Nor had anyone taught her how to understand those who, despite being in agony, still wanted others to live.
A faint light flickered in Leticia's eyes.
She looked toward the room next door.
In the adjacent room, a platinum blonde light was being picked up by a purple light.
The platinum blonde light did not resist at all.
Lin Ling was probably already asleep by now.
The purple light cradled her very carefully, moving toward a room further away.
Leticia: “...”
Lin Ling had been carried away by the Demon King again.
And judging by the direction, it was likely the Demon King's room again.
Leticia should have been surprised.
But she was actually starting to get used to it.
She watched the platinum blonde light recede.
What if it were Lin Ling?
If something happened to the demons, would she sacrifice herself without hesitation?
There was no need to even doubt it.
Leticia believed she would.
She was certain.
Lin Ling would definitely do it.
Even though she always claimed to value her own life so much.
The moment someone truly needed her, Lin Ling would rush forward without a second thought.
Just like today.
Even though she couldn't see Danasuo's light, she had still said, “Trust that Miss Saintess will work a miracle.”
And then she had actually performed a miracle.
Leticia slowly closed her eyes.
She still had so much to learn...
With these thoughts, as she watched the platinum blonde light being carried off to the distant room once more, Leticia gradually drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, the night was not going so smoothly on the other side—
In the Archbishop's office within the Holy See of the capital of Camillaya.
“Bishop Karl.”
“It is truly difficult to secure an audience with you.”
Keith stood in the office, looking at Karl, who was currently reviewing documents.
His expression was terrifyingly grim.
Sitting behind his desk, Karl's pen never stopped moving.
He didn't even look up.
“Hmph, the First Prince must be joking.”
“Is there anyone you cannot see with a single word?”
Karl's voice sounded calm.
But that very calmness made Keith's expression look even worse.
“So, this is how you treat royalty?”
“Bishop Karl.”
Keith stared at Karl, who wouldn't even look him in the eye. The veins on his forehead looked ready to burst.
Hearing the suppressed anger in Keith's voice, Karl finally looked up slowly.
Yet, his eyes held nothing but disdain for this so-called First Prince.
“Your Highness, you are not the Emperor yet.”
Karl slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Then, he set the teacup back down.
“And I am the Archbishop, Prince.”
“The Archbishop only takes orders from the Emperor.”
“Do not forget that.”
With that, Karl picked up another document.
He acted as though Keith wasn't even there.
Keith's face darkened completely.
“Karl.”
“I hope you can keep this position in the future!”
Keith slammed his hand onto Karl's desk.
The documents on the desk rattled.
But Karl merely reached out to steady the papers before they could scatter.
His expression barely changed.
“I look forward to seeing you try.”
With that, Karl raised his hand and pointed toward the door.
“Please leave.”
The gesture was unmistakable.
He was kicking him out.
Fury nearly spewed from Keith's eyes.
He had originally come to ask for news about the Saintess.
But provoked by Karl's attitude, he was so enraged that he forgot what he had even come to ask.
“Karl, you will regret this.”
With that, Keith turned on his heel in a rage and slammed the office door shut.
“Bang!”
The sound of the door slamming echoed harshly down the corridor.
Back in the office, Karl stared at the door the First Prince had just exited and let out a soft sigh.
“As expected.”
“This prince is not fit to lead a nation.”
Karl leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
And a hint of disappointment in the prince.
“Furni, you were right.”
This country is rotting.
And Keith will only accelerate the decay.
On the other side.
Just as the First Prince stepped out of the Holy See, he was blocked by several nobles.
Leading them was a man dressed in a lavish outfit.
He was no longer young, and a theatrical smile stretched across his face.
It looked polite, but his eyes were full of calculation.
“Oh! My dear Prince.”
“What brings you to the Holy See so late at night?”
Duke Rozaku spoke in an exaggerated tone.
Yet, his eyes betrayed his contempt for the First Prince.
Keith looked at Duke Rozaku blocking his path, his face darkening further.
“Duke Rozaku, my affairs are my own business.”
He had no desire to deal with these nobles.
Especially not after just being infuriated by Karl.
But Duke Rozaku seemed entirely oblivious to Keith's impatience, his smile growing even wider.
“Oh, that won't do.”
“Since you are taking our money, you must naturally show some achievements.”
“Otherwise, it makes things very difficult for our faction, Your Highness.”
Rozaku's tone sounded jesting, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Keith's fists slowly clenched.
“Hmph.”
“Just give me a little more time.”
“I will definitely crush those wretched savages on the border.”
The First Prince was clearly growing impatient with the hypocritical display of the nobles before him.
But Duke Rozaku merely chuckled.
“Heh.”
“You have said those words many times already.”
“I am starting to doubt whether you actually have the ability to pull it off.”
At this, Duke Rozaku leaned in slightly.
“You won't end up being taken down by those savage demons instead, will you?”
The fury in Keith's eyes could no longer be contained.
“Rozaku, let me tell you something!”
“The guardian dragon of our royal family will never allow such a thing to happen.”
“As a member of royalty, that dragon, loyal to the imperial family, will not turn a blind eye to me.”
“Do you understand, Duke Rozaku!”
Looking at his outburst, the disdain in Duke Rozaku's eyes deepened.
However, he also knew that further provocation would only cause this foolish fellow to throw another goddamned tantrum.
Thus, Duke Rozaku bowed with theatrical flair.
“Quite right.”
“My King—”
He paused abruptly.
Then, his smile grew even more radiant.
“No, my noble Emperor.”
With that, Duke Rozaku and the other nobles bowed to Keith and took their leave.
Keith stood in place, watching the retreating backs of the nobles.
But his expression did not soften in the slightest at the word “Emperor.”
He knew perfectly well that these people wanted a puppet emperor.
And he, indeed, needed their power right now.
Keith took a deep breath.
“Once I obtain the demons' ore.”
“Once I assemble my own magic army.”
“When that day comes, whether it is Karl or these nobles...”
“They will all learn who the true master of this country is.”
As for the guardian dragon they spoke of—
Inside a cargo carriage outside the capital.
“Excuse me, miss.”
“We've reached the capital.”
“Please don't be so careless next time.”
A coachman looked into the carriage with a sigh.
The carriage was piled with cargo.
And nestled right in the middle of those goods, Furni was sound asleep.
Her bishop robes were crumpled into a mess.
Her hair was completely disheveled.
She looked nothing like the grand guardian dragon of Camillaya.
As if sensing someone thinking about her,
Furni let out a sneeze in her sleep.
“Achoo.”
Then, she groggily rolled over.
And went back to sleep.
The coachman watched this in silence for a moment.
Before letting out another helpless sigh.
“Miss, we really are at the capital.”
Furni mumbled sleepily with her eyes closed.
“Five more minutes...”
Coachman: “...”
Just how did this young lady manage to sleep through the entire bumpy carriage ride back?
Rate on N.U.
