Chapter 9
"Wahhh... This is so unfair... How did things turn out like this?"
"Sigh... This is all your own doing. I did warn you back then. Anyway, spend tonight in this cell reflecting. I’ll leave your dinner here."
Due to her off-the-wall remarks in the secret passage that morning, Lisbeth had been unceremoniously thrown into the cell by Christia. Hilda, delivering her meal, rubbed her forehead wearily, lamenting her foolish subordinate.
Still, as a personal maid, Lisbeth wasn’t locked in an ordinary cell. Hers was a single room—just an iron-barred door separating it from a regular guest chamber, with no cellmates. Spending one night here wasn’t exactly harsh.
Hilda glanced at Lisbeth, still sobbing softly with hands pressed to her chest. She sighed again, forcing a gentle tone: "There, there. Lord Demon King is angry, but she doesn’t truly mean to punish you. Just stay put tonight. I’ll release you at dawn. Anything you need? I can bring it now."
"Wahhh, old lady! I never expected such kindness now—I’m so touched!"
"You idiot! Still calling me ‘old lady’ at a time like this? Fine. Reflect here alone!"
"H-hey!? Don’t go, old lady!!"
Watching Hilda abandon her, Lisbeth grabbed the hem of her skirt. But furious Hilda yanked it free and stormed out.
"Wahhh... Wahhh... Not a single person cares..."
Though Hilda had left, Lisbeth kept sobbing softly, her helpless expression pitiful to any onlooker. Yet after a moment, her lips curved up slightly into a smile.
"Hmph. Finally gone? Fake crying really is an art."
Just seconds ago weeping nonstop, Lisbeth sprang up energetically from the floor, spun in place, and chirped: "A bit earlier than planned, but this chance is perfect. Let’s begin~"
She snapped her fingers lightly. A faint blue glow sparked at her fingertips. Taking a deep breath, she whispered: "Little Sword~ Can you hear me~"
"Who are you calling ‘Little Sword’! I am the Holy Sword Clotilde! Lady Goddess’s exclusive blade, heir to generations of—"
"Alright, alright, I know~ Honestly, Little Sword’s still so shy~"
"You!"
An angry little girl’s voice crackled from the blue light—none other than the Holy Sword Clotilde, Lisbeth’s former blade as the Hero.
"Hmph. Whatever. But you’re contacting me early. Escaped that bugged room finally?"
"Mm, yes~ I’m locked in a cell now, so I’ll break out soon. Christia really went all out—listening stones are crazy expensive here, yet she filled my room with them and had spies watching me constantly. No alone time at all. But even perfect plans slip up: no guards or stones here. Perfect chance for me~"
Lisbeth had long wanted to contact Clotilde alone but couldn’t under surveillance. Clotilde’s voice echoed again from the glow:
"I’m in the Treasure Vault of the Demon King’s Fortress, sealed under twenty enchantments. Time your escape perfectly. If they find your cell empty before dawn, you’re dead."
"I know. I’m careless daily, but not with this."
Clotilde chuckled from the vault: "Mm, I thought so~ You traveled from two hundred years ahead. Can’t end here~"
"Exactly. No matter what, I’ll find who cursed and killed Christia that day."
