Before the Demonlord’s palace.

Two werewolves knelt on the ground, one behind the other, heads bowed in utmost reverence. Before them, a figure draped in an eerie violet robe sat upon the throne. The cloak, radiating a sinister aura, pooled across the floor, its shadow concealing a fair, youthful face.

The Demonlord half-lidded her eyes, one leg crossed over the other, gazing down at the kneeling werewolves.

“So, according to you two… Lilith was solely responsible for the Hero’s escape?”

Her crisp, melodious voice echoed through the hall, laced with a faint, enchanting electronic resonance. At her words, the werewolves kowtowed frantically.

“Yes, yes! It’s all that Dragonmaid’s fault! Great Demon King, please see justice done!”

“That crucial prisoner escaped solely because she abandoned her post! This is a grave offense!”

“I propose severe punishment for such incompetence—to set an example!”

“Your Majesty’s wisdom must not tolerate slackers who sabotage Demonkind’s noble resistance!”

Lucy on the throne narrowed her eyes slightly, her cheeks flushed. She parted her cherry lips in a dainty yawn and raised a petite hand to silence them.

“Alright, alright… I’ve heard enough.”

Champagne fumes clung to her. She looked thoroughly drunk, dark circles under her eyes even more pronounced than during her last meeting with Lilith.

“Summon Lilith.”

…

Lilith entered the hall with trepidation and immediately knelt.

“Hail the Great Demon King!”

Something about Lucy—perhaps the exquisite violet robe and regal cloak—made the petite girl she knew in private radiate an entirely different aura atop the throne. Lilith couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

“Lilith,” Lucy drawled, elbow propped on the armrest, chin resting on her knuckles. Her tone was calm, languid. “You’ve been accused of abandoning your post during duty hours, allowing a vital prisoner to escape. Your defense?”

“I did not—”

Lilith’s gaze snapped to the two smirking werewolves beside her, her brow furrowing.

Xiao Wei had warned her earlier: the Hero was deliberately released by these two.

Yet here they were, twisting the story and pinning the blame on her—

She adjusted her stance.

“I was summoned by a superior to receive new work assignments. I did not leave my post without cause. I beg Your Majesty’s discernment.”

Lucy gave a slight nod. Before she could speak, the werewolves erupted.

“Preposterous!”

“You overslept on duty, let the Hero escape, and now you lie! ‘Following orders’? Hah!”

“That so-called superior is likely involved too! I demand a full investigation—this reeks of collusion with humans!”

“Probably took bribes from the Kingdom! Staged this whole charade to free the Hero!”

Faces flushed with righteous indignation, they hurled accusations at Lilith, oblivious to the Demonlord’s shifting expression—from drowsy boredom to icy severity.

When their tirade finally subsided, Lilith glanced at the throne and smiled faintly.

“Finished? Then it’s my turn. At the time, I was—”

“You needn’t speak.”

Lucy cut her off. The weariness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a chilling glare.

“This morning, *I* summoned Lilith. By your logic… am *I* at fault?”

“Ah? We… uh…”

The werewolves exchanged panicked looks.

*How? The Great Demon King was in seclusion until we reported this!*

“Lilith captured the Hero and imprisoned her in the high-security dungeon—a great service. I summoned her to bestow a reward. Are you implying *I* took bribes and conspired with the Hero?”

“We dare not! We dare not…”

“Dare not?” A cold scoff escaped Lucy’s lips. She flicked her cloak.

“Take them to the dark confinement cell. Let them reflect.”

In a blink, two black holes materialized, swallowing the werewolves whole. Not even a scream escaped before they vanished from the hall.

Lilith shuddered.

*So this is the Demonlord’s power…*

No matter how childish or irresponsible she seemed off-duty, Lucy remained the supreme ruler of the Darklord Citadel.

“Lilith. Come here.”

With the werewolves gone, Lucy crooked a slender finger.

“…Yes!”

Lilith scrambled over. A thick wave of alcohol washed over her.

Dark red wine seeped slowly down the Demonlord’s collar and robe front, staining the delicate fabric. The soaked chest wrap clung transparently to her skin, faintly outlining two small, flat contours.

*Truly… zero curves…*

Even her black stockings hadn’t escaped. Dampened by wine, the once-glossy fabric turned sheer, clinging to her slightly plump thighs. Liquid dripped steadily from her toes into the discarded knee-high boots beside the throne.

*Wait… are those… blue and white stripes…?*

Lilith blinked rapidly, flustered by this unexpected intel.

“Eyes front!”

A bare foot—previously resting on the crossed knee—kicked Lilith’s cheek, leaving a wine-stained footprint.

“…Your Majesty? How may I serve?”

Lilith touched the mark on her face, swallowing her anger, head bowed low.

“Their accusations were nonsense,” Lucy murmured, placing a delicate foot on Lilith’s back, applying gentle pressure. “But *I* know the truth.”

“You brazenly freed the escaped Hero on the main street.”

“This…” Lilith faltered.

“Not only that—you personally guided her to the gates and watched her leave. How should I punish you~?”

Though laced with drunken playfulness, Lilith had no doubt Lucy could flatten her into “Lilith paste” with a real stomp.

“Your Majesty! I did this for the Darklord Citadel… and for *your* future—”

“Oh?”

The pressure on Lilith’s back eased slightly. She seized the chance.

“My plan was actually—”

“I’m tired.”

“Huh? Eh?”

Lucy withdrew her foot and rose from the throne.

“As punishment, carry me to my chambers. You may explain on the way.”

“…Yes!”

Lilith hurriedly hoisted the Demonlord onto her back. Warmth and wine enveloped her.

“Your Majesty, please listen—freeing the Hero was part of my plan to…”

…

Lucy half-closed her eyes, watching the young dragon’s careful steps beneath her. She listened to Lilith’s elaborate analysis of the Kingdom, the Church, and public sentiment, a sly smile playing on her lips.

*Heh heh~ Naughty woman… I may not outplay you, but I can outplay your daughter~*

*Just wait… What you did to me, I’ll reclaim tenfold from your precious daughter!*

*This… is only the beginning~*

…

…

Alquett wasted no time. With sharp memory and direction sense, she reached the Kingdom’s border city—Flameglow City—before dusk.

Standing once more before the city gates, everything felt familiar.

The drawbridge. The gates. The scenery, the trees…

Seemingly unchanged from her departure the previous night.

Yet something felt off.

Sparse pedestrians passed through military checkpoints. As Alquett approached the guards, a hand grabbed her arm.

She turned. A figure shrouded in tattered robes stood there—face veiled, head crowned by a purple wizard’s hat. The curves beneath the fabric suggested a woman.

“You’re Alquett.”

The masked voice was low, raspy, deliberately disguised.

“Hm? You know me? What do you want?”

“Don’t enter the city.”

The figure paused.

“It’s dangerous.”

“…What do you mean?”

Alquett pulled her arm free.

“The city’s buzzing with talk of you—”

Before the stranger could finish, guards on the wall spotted them.

“Alquett!”

Their voices held no reverence, no respectful greetings. Only alarmed shouts.

“Alquett’s back?!”

“Alert! Code Red alert!”

“Quick! Notify the Bishop!”

Chaos erupted at the once-orderly gate. Soldiers scrambled into formation, weapons drawn, facing Alquett. Her eyes widened in confusion.

*What’s wrong…?*

Everything was familiar—the places, the people, some whose names she knew by heart.

Yet now, blades pointed at her.

As if she no longer belonged to the home she’d known since childhood.