“A-a coat?”
Nerves prickled like thorns, but Yue Liuyi still reached out and took the little dress’s blazer, blue as a slice of sky.
It wasn’t a trap. The azure mini-dress was Yue Liuyi’s. It sat in Purple Illusion’s hands because—
Huh? Little Yue, why’s your coat in her hands?
Whoa! LittleSnow, don’t get the wrong idea. I—last time I saved her and… mm… I forgot to take it back.
The last time she met Purple Illusion, Yue Liuyi left like a startled sparrow and forgot her own coat on Purple Illusion’s shoulders.
Returning lost property to customers is our café’s creed.
Huh…?
The violet-haired girl really had come just to return it. Once Yue Liuyi took the coat, she turned her face away like a moon slipping behind cloud.
Purple Illusion Café always welcomes you—not only as a customer, but as a headliner…
A h-headliner?!
That’s right. If you came, you’d earn a lot.
The girl in lilac hair glided off, that pale-purple cascade swaying like a stream at dusk, and her figure thinned into the dark.
Seeing it, the black-haired girl’s brows knit tight, like ink drawn to a point.
Wait, Teng Ying!
Dixue’s voice rang soft but firm, halting Teng Ying before she could sprint.
Dixue could taste lies like iron on the tongue—she’d heard none from the girl.
Which meant Purple Illusion likely truly believed the subway tunnel was her playground, and truly wanted to guide them out of the maze.
LittleSnow, aren’t we chasing her?
We will. But no rush. We’ll follow the prints.
Dixue pointed at the ground where Purple Illusion had gone. Bare soles had pressed a trail of crescents into dust.
Ugh! She’s shady. She screams villain!
Mm, Lidashi feels something’s off too, but… Sister Yue Liuyi, what’s a headliner?
Nngh! I am not a headliner! That brat was just spouting nonsense—said I’d be the number-one maid in a maid café… Like that could ever happen!
Yue Liuyi shook her head hard, panic fluttering like trapped birds. She still had to keep up her big-brother image—keep up the boy disguise—
Mm! Right! Seems she thinks like me… what a formidable player.
Huh? LittleSnow?!
Lidashi, your Sister Yue Liuyi is so gentle and considerate. Tease her, toy with her, and she won’t even get mad. The perfect maid in all the world.
Whoa! LittleSnow, what are you saying! I do get mad. Like right now—I’m already mad!
Even her tsundere flare-ups aren’t scary. Truly, the perfect maid~
Ahhh! I am not tsundere!
Fluster first, then flailing—Yue Liuyi launched a paper-tiger attack at LittleSnow. It did nothing. Dixue simply scooped her into a full-body hug.
Wah! Put me down! Put me down!
Look, Lidashi—see how happy your sister is?
Lidashi stood there, stunned as a statue, as if he’d just glimpsed a whole other side of his big brother.
…
After the play-fight, the girls followed Purple Illusion’s trail.
One: no exit in sight—better to tail than wander. Two: tailing might reveal what Purple Illusion was setting up in these tunnels.
They hadn’t expected—
A corridor this opulent under a subway.
Violet carpet rolled over the floor like a river of dusk. The walls wore soft velvet wallpaper, plush as moth wings.
Purple magic crystals replaced bulbs, shedding a dreamy, amethyst glow.
Some unknown flowers bloomed with black petals even in darkness; their pale-lilac stamens stretched like newborn fingers, breathing a faint, dizzying perfume.
Following Purple Illusion’s trace, the girls pushed an old emergency door. It groaned open, and they stepped into another world.
Yikes—this is really a subway tunnel?
Yin Mu and Lidashi gasped first. Though only three meters wide, this violet corridor and the outer tunnel were worlds apart.
From the specs, this should be a service passage beside the tracks, Teng Ying said, eyes sweeping like a hawk’s. Linelor City usually builds one for safety.
Oh…
Little Yue, do you recognize these flowers?
The black-violet blooms clinging to the walls caught Dixue’s eye.
Huh? Very rare magic flowers…
Yue Liuyi moved a step closer. As she neared, the flowers trembled, as if saluting their little queen.
Anything special?
Their mana index is very high. No true intelligence yet, but they’re advanced… Doesn’t feel native to Dreamwood Star. Someone planted them here.
Planted, huh…
The silver-haired girl nodded, thinking, then slipped to the front like a blade of moonlight.
Um, Your Majesty! What do we do next? Keep going along this path? But… Purple Illusion’s footprints seem to have vanished.
It’s fine. A passage like this must lead somewhere.
Huh?
We follow it, and we’ll find our answer.
…
They walked on soft carpet, silent as cats.
The corridor’s beauty branded itself into memory—the dreamy amethyst light, the half-there flowers—like a crystal palace’s stalactite cave that exists only in dreams.
After ten minutes, sound finally rippled from ahead.
How is it still not open? I’ve waited three hours! (a deep male voice)
Seriously! I came on a friend’s recommendation. If you keep me waiting, I’m leaving a bad review! (a mature woman)
Goshujin-sama—Master—please calm down~ (a sweet girl)
Master, your heart-shaped omurice is coming right up! (another sweet girl)
My Queen, please whip me! (an… elderly male voice?)
Woof, woof, woof! (???)
Dear guests, please be patient. The gate to the Dark World will open soon. (clear female)
People were clustered up ahead, hidden by the corridor’s bends. But that last voice—no doubt Purple Illusion.
Huh? There are people up there!
Shh! Yin Mu, don’t talk!
Yue Liuyi clapped a hand toward her, but with the masked edgelord look Yin Mu wore, the shush failed.
Sound carried like water in this narrow tunnel; even a whisper skimmed to the crowd.
Huh? Two girls’ voices! So pretty! (deep male)
Ah! Not the Queen! (elderly male)
Back off, you deadbeats! That’s obviously my sweetheart! (mature woman)
WOOF WOOF WOOF!!! (male voice)
Please, everyone, a moment. Allow Purple Illusion to make the preparations… The feast of darkness is about to begin~!
Purple Illusion’s voice rang crystal-clear, nothing like her usual lilt.
She’s spotted us!
Lidashi clutched Yue Liuyi’s skirt, nerves thumping like drumbeats, as footfalls thudded closer up the passage.
What do we do, LittleSnow?
Everyone, on guard…
Heehee… You really followed me, didn’t you?
The violet-haired girl appeared at the corridor’s end, dressed in lavish Western frills, like a night-blooming flower lit by amethyst.
