Before Lilith could even process what had happened, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed from a distance.
Veen was the first to arrive.
He strode quickly from the end of the corridor, followed by several demons whose names she didn't know. Veen’s expression was perfectly controlled; his brow was slightly furrowed and his lips were pressed thin, displaying the exact amount of tension expected of a loyal guard captain upon learning his sovereign had been attacked.
“Your Majesty!” He came to a halt at the edge of the ruins, his slit pupils quickly scanning the scene. “Are you alright?”
Lilith looked at him, a faint, mocking smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She sneered inwardly, “Heh, quite the actor.”
As for who had sent the assassin? She didn't care in the slightest. She had only released a tiny fraction of her magic, yet it possessed such devastating power.
This realization made one thing clear to her: she didn't have to take anyone's crap anymore.
“Why am I even still pretending?” Lilith’s mood improved instantly.
If she wanted to, she could turn this entire palace into rubble with a wave of her hand.
“I'm fine,” she said, her voice flat as she brushed the dust off her robes.
Veen’s gaze lingered on her for a second before shifting to the surrounding wreckage.
“Where is the assassin?”
“Dead.”
“...It was my failure to provide adequate protection. I await Your Majesty’s punishment,” Veen said, bowing his head in a submissive posture.
Lilith gave him a look.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly threw a punch. Veen was caught completely off guard, and her fist punched a hole right through his chest.
Lilith withdrew her hand and shook off the blood, feeling much better. She looked down at the fallen Veen and spoke calmly, “Get up. And summon everyone in the palace to the hall.”
Veen coughed up a mouthful of blood, but the hole in his chest began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“As you command.”
He stood up and gestured to Gregor before quickly disappearing toward the end of the corridor.
Lilith stood her ground, watching their retreating figures. She had wanted to test her strength and punish him, but it seemed largely ineffective; the gruesome wound had closed in just a few seconds.
Half an hour later.
The Great Hall of the palace was packed.
Lilith sat upon her throne, looking down at the dense crowd below.
A high-ranking demon standing in the front row turned his head to speak to the person beside him. A smirk played on his lips, and his voice was just loud enough to be overheard by those around him.
“...Who knows what kind of fit Her Majesty is throwing in the middle of the night. There are military affairs to handle tomorrow.”
The person next to him chimed in, “Exactly. Who calls a meeting at this hour?”
A few light chuckles of agreement followed.
Lilith heard every word of their whispers.
Her face remained expressionless as her finger tapped rhythmically on the armrest. Inwardly, she was debating whether or not to just kill everyone present.
Ultimately, she suppressed the urge. She had only just transmigrated, after all, and she didn't want to cause that much of a scene yet.
More people began to whisper amongst themselves, the volume steadily rising.
Veen stood below the throne to the right, his head bowed, saying nothing.
“Silence, everyone!”
A voice rang out from the crowd, drowning out the murmurs.
The speaker stepped forward—a middle-aged, high-ranking demon. Lilith didn't recognize him, but judging by his posture and the way the others looked at him, he held a significant position within the demon race.
He walked to the base of the throne, turned to face the crowd, and raised a hand.
The room gradually fell silent.
Only then did he turn back to face Lilith, offering a perfunctory bow.
“Your Majesty has summoned us deep in the night. Might I ask what urgent matter requires our attention?” His voice was booming, echoing through the hall. “If there is an assassin to be investigated, we shall naturally cooperate. However...”
He paused, glancing around the room.
“However, could Your Majesty perhaps wait until tomorrow to discuss this? These generals have military duties tomorrow, and the elders are of advanced age; they cannot withstand such exhaustion.”
After speaking, he bowed again and then straightened his back, meeting Lilith’s gaze directly.
His eyes seemed to say: You've had your fun, now end this farce.
Several murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd behind him.
“Indeed, we have things to do tomorrow.”
“It’s just one assassin. Is all this fanfare really necessary?”
“When it comes down to it, she’s just a coward who got a little spooked.”
That last remark was quiet, but it grated on Lilith’s nerves.
A few demons even let out muffled snickers.
Lilith’s finger stopped tapping. Her gaze turned cold.
The high-ranking demon standing below the throne tilted his head slightly to look back at the crowd, a faint, ghost of a smile on his lips. Then he turned back and added one more thing:
“Of course, it is not that we do not sympathize with Your Majesty’s fright. It is simply that...”
He took a step forward.
“If Your Majesty feels that your abilities are lacking and you cannot protect yourself, you may temporarily hand over the administration of state affairs to us. We will naturally arrange proper guards and a secure residence to ensure Your Majesty’s personal safety.”
“What does Your Majesty think?”
The hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence. Every eye was fixed on the throne.
Lilith looked down at the crowd and suddenly let out a low chuckle.
She had endured for so long, yet these fools still hadn't figured out the situation? They actually dared to try and bargain with her?
She slowly raised her eyes, the smile completely vanishing from her face. Her gaze was icy. “What is your name?”
Maurice’s brow twitched.
“I am Maurice.”
“Let me ask you,” Lilith said, rising from the throne, the hem of her black robe sliding down the steps. “An assassin broke into the Demon King’s private chambers with intent to murder. Should this matter be investigated or not?”
Maurice hesitated for a second.
“It should.”
“Good.” Lilith stepped down the first tier of the dais. “I ordered Veen to summon everyone for a meeting. Is there a problem with that?”
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