"Well, this young lady will demonstrate first," she said, her voice slightly flustered. She closed her eyes and began to chant softly like a song: "With my heart, pierce through the haze... Wait, someone's hiding behind the window! Who is it?!"

Suddenly, her rising pitch gained a hint of anger, then inexplicably shifted to panic. I, sneakily eyeing half a Longwen Fruit on my plate, still didn't know what happened. But from her tone, it was clearly bad news.

At the same time, under the Contract's "guardian" effect, I started casting the "Frost Arrow" before I could even think.

"With... mmm... mmm..."

But the moment I raised my hand, before I could chant the spell, sharp-eyed Miele rushed up and covered my mouth. My unspoken words turned into muffled grunts. As I instinctively struggled, I saw a dark shadow dart past the window. It vanished in a blink at blinding speed, leaving only a gust of wind rustling the leaves.

"Tch," her voice reached my ears. For some reason, I sensed a trace of resentment in her tone. "As expected, it's one of Third Sister's agents."

Third Sister... probably the Third Princess they mentioned earlier.

I recalled hearing from those maids that the Third Princess was her biggest obstacle in the Throne Struggle. After all, her Contract Beast was the Crimson Dragon.

When flipping through that Contract Beast book, I'd noticed the Crimson Dragon section. Unlike the Angel, which got only a brief mention, pages were filled with legends of its contractors. I remembered the opening line clearly: "As the legendary Contract Beast at the continent's pinnacle, the Crimson Dragon..."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. No need to be so anxious," Miele said, her voice steady but still carrying a hint of panic, as if she hadn't recovered from the shadow's shock.

"But... he'll report Yiyi's details to Third Sister. If she learns my Contract Beast is an Angel and prepares for it, our chances in the Throne Struggle..."

"No need to worry, Your Highness. There's a Contract Beast called the 'Milo Beast.' Have you heard of it?"

Milo Beast... I'd seen it in the Contract book. It looked almost identical to an Angel.

"Just create a small illusion, Your Highness. Make the Third Princess believe your Contract Beast is the 'Milo Beast.' Everything will be fine."

Hearing Miele's lowered voice, her tension visibly eased. I even heard her let out a long breath.

"Still, Your Highness, your behavior this afternoon was... I know you've endured much, but now isn't the time to act out."

"I know. It's my fault. If I hadn't lost control this afternoon, Third Sister wouldn't have sensed anything off."

Listening silently, I pieced it together: she and the Third Princess had a strained relationship. Their argument this afternoon must have prompted the spying.

It seemed the master... that person wasn't a simple... Ugh, headache... Damn Contract.

"Yiyi," she suddenly said, fiddling with my hair. I wanted to struggle, but the Contract held me still as she styled my strands into silly shapes. "So, wake up early tomorrow, Little Yiyi. Review support magic tonight."

What's it to me...

Before my mind caught up, I instinctively blurted: "Mm, Yiyi understands. I'll wake up early tomorrow."