Night had deepened. Silphia, her mood slightly improved, led Rodrika back to the library.

Gao Ying was still buried in books.

After offering a few encouraging words to Rodrika, her bodyguard, Silphia announced her departure.

Her demeanor was gentle, her smile warm like a spring breeze. No one would suspect she was gritting her teeth inside.

Rodrika wasn’t as beautiful as herself, but still quite attractive. Silphia believed the Hero must have been captivated by her looks to specifically request her as his guard.

Otherwise, with so many powerful Holy Knights in the Holy See, why choose her—a traitor’s daughter?

Hmph, his head full of filthy thoughts!

Silphia held him in utter contempt.

Though it was only day one, she knew she hadn’t even made the Hero her lapdog. Their relationship showed not a hint of progress.

His gaze on her held no warmth.

Where had she gone wrong?

The Hero got along fine with that Lindbergh family slut—even a traitor’s daughter, women of lowly status. Why was it different with her?

Wait, lowly status?

Both the Lindbergh and Redel families still held Holy Capital noble titles, but most knew they’d fallen into decline.

Besides, judging by his clothes, the Hero was probably just an ordinary student.

So—could the Holy Maiden’s noble status be pressuring him?

It must be!

The more Silphia thought, the surer she became. The Hero was feeling inferior!

But with fallen nobles’ daughters, he had no such worries. He could act freely.

Convincing herself, Silphia’s mood lifted slightly. Should she act more approachable tomorrow? More proactive?

As she walked, she pressed her jade-like fingers to her rosy lips. A faint smile crept onto her face.

Rodrika was utterly dependent on her now—unable to live without her. With Rodrika spying on the Hero’s every move, Silphia would find his weak spot!

Just wait, Gao Ying. I’ll make you obediently submit to me!

—

When Silphia returned to the Holy Maiden’s residence, it was deep night. Yet the courtyard blazed with light.

From afar, she saw maids standing at the door like patient statues, waiting respectfully for her.

Silphia approached, smiling as always. “Why aren’t you resting? It’s so late.”

The maids exchanged glances. “Rest time hasn’t come yet, Holy Maiden. We don’t feel tired while waiting for you.”

Silphia gave a shallow smile, gazing at their trembling forms. It felt like her heart—wounded by the Hero—was healing.

“Then follow me inside—”

“Yes, Holy Maiden.”

Their voices held a trace of fear and forced sincerity.

Silphia shed her clergy robe and sat before the mirror. Staring at the flawless maiden reflected there, she felt a flicker of self-admiration.

Mmm, truly beautiful. No wonder it’s me. That shrimp-headed Hero only judges women by their chests—so shallow and short-sighted!

She beckoned to the maids behind her. “Elise and Sophia, come comb my hair.”

They stepped forward instantly, no hesitation.

Flanking her, they tended to Silphia’s golden waterfall of hair. Propping her chin on one hand, she called to the last maid: “Stella, take this gold. Buy flour and meat from the market. Keep the change as a tip.”

Stella rushed forward—but her hand trembled. Coins clattered to the floor, rolling away.

Stella’s face paled. She dropped to her knees, forehead nearly touching the ground. “P-please… forgive me… I didn’t mean to drop them!”

Silphia’s smile widened. She nudged Stella’s chin with her toe, forcing their eyes to meet.

Squinting slightly, she laughed. “Scared like this? Do you think I’d devour you over a tiny mistake? Am I truly that cruel and unreasonable?”

Of course she was! The maids knew it—but none dared speak.

Before becoming Silphia’s maids, they’d been Battle Nun Corps trainees—high holy affinity, classmates turned rivals.

Rivals for the Holy Maiden position.

As former competitors, they knew best how vile this smiling woman was.

To claim the title, she’d stopped at nothing: framing, poison, assassination. Every nun who threatened her died mysteriously.

They, the losers, became her maids.

Scolded like dogs. Humiliated endlessly. All to feed her twisted soul.

One comrade had rebelled once—

See the Holy Maiden’s garden? Those vibrant blooms?

Beneath them lay her corpse.

How could they tell outsiders? Silphia’s schemes ran deep, her acting flawless. To the world, she was a perfect maiden bathed in holy light—shadowless.

If servants “slandered” the Holy Maiden, public outrage alone would drown them.

Even rebellion was impossible—

Stella froze, then stammered, “No, I didn’t—”

Silphia’s eyes sharpened. Stella screamed, clutching her stomach, writhing on the floor.

Only her pained moans filled the room.

Elise and Sophia stayed silent as stones, breaths held.

This was the Witch’s secret potion Silphia forced them to drink. One thought from her could make them wish for death.

Only they knew: though Holy Maiden, Silphia consorted with great Witches of the Witch Forest. They supplied her poisons.

With protectors in the Holy Capital, the Witches grew bolder. Their banned drugs flooded human markets. Even the Inquisition Bureau left them alone.

Watching Stella suffer, Silphia laughed—a clear, bell-like sound. It made Elise and Sophia feel shared sorrow.

But they said nothing for their friend.

“Stella,” Silphia purred, “was that silence you badmouthing me in your heart?”

Stella pushed herself up, sweat on her brow. She shook her head. “Stella wouldn’t dare.”

“Good. Now run the errand. Be quick.”

Stella dared not hesitate. Even with the potion making her wet herself—a humiliation outside—the fear of Silphia’s wrath crushed all doubt.

Silphia had planned it.

Humiliating Stella had lifted her mood.

She pondered making the Hero a loving breakfast tomorrow. Fellow transmigrators from Blue Star, same country—he couldn’t refuse home-cooked food, right?

Silphia trusted her cooking skills.

—

The Holy Capital’s night glowed like day. Magical streetlights lined the Avenue of Heaven, row upon row.

Stella, shopping, bumped into Rodrika—the female knight also running errands. Rodrika carried a sack of alchemical materials.

Who sent her out so late?

These ingredients all broke curses…

As they passed, Rodrika called out: “Wait! You’re the Holy Maiden’s personal maid—Stella, once ‘The Spear That Defies Light’?”