"Ugh!"

Ledyah’s heart stuttered. A wave of emptiness flooded her body—not the kind that craved filling, but the hollow ache of something vital ripped away.

"N-no! That’s not necessary!"

She turned her face away from Noah’s gentle smile, her trembling legs refusing to hold her. Though vivid memories of that heated moment churned in her mind, she forced down the stiffening sensation and addressed Astolfo:

"Weren’t you saying a guest arrived earlier? Take me there now."

*Otherwise, I don’t know how much longer I can hold on,* Ledyah thought bitterly.

*I’ve lost. Truly, utterly lost. Pushing further would only harm my own body.*

"Understood, Your Majesty. I’ll escort you."

Astolfo bowed slightly, catching Noah’s nod from the corner of his eye. "This visitor is one of the Court Sovereigns—the ruler of Succubi and Banshees."

.....

"...Did you memorize all the rules I just explained, newbie?"

The stern head maid lectured the petite maid before her. With delicate limbs and doll-like features, the girl looked like a porcelain figurine.

"Y-yes! I remember!"

Dressed in a maid uniform, Isaac replied in a shy, childish voice. He flawlessly recited every rule under the head maid’s sharp gaze.

Relief softened the head maid’s expression. "Sharp memory. And well-mannered too. Probably some noble daughter from a remote lord’s estate. Avel’s recommendation wasn’t bad." She crouched down, her tone turning warm. "What skills do you have, little one? Since you know the rules, I won’t assign you to restricted areas. Tell me your strengths—I’ll find you suitable work."

"Eh? Um... Isaac is good at butchering meat... and hunting?"

Isaac clutched his skirt hem, heart pounding. His words carefully masked his true nature.

"I see..." The head maid’s sternness melted completely. "Start by maintaining rifles in the armory. When needed, I’ll send you to assist in the kitchen. Light duties for now—you’re still new. Is that alright?"

"Mhm! Isaac will do his best!"

Though Isaac’s eyes flickered with unease, the head maid accepted his cover. After a brief skills test, she assigned him simple tasks to ease into palace life.

From today, Miss Isaac officially became a scullery maid in the Demon King’s Castle.

"*Phew*... That was terrifying..."

Joshua’s mechanical owl emerged from under Isaac’s skirt. After scanning the empty corridor, it chirped at Isaac, who was already disassembling a rifle with practiced ease.

The owl’s hollow frame conserved energy for long flights—until now, it had been folded compactly like a Swiss Army knife, hidden beside Isaac’s double-barreled pistol beneath his skirt.

Though the position offered glimpses of white thigh-high stockings, Joshua had no mind for such distractions.

"I was terrified too... What if we’d been exposed?" Isaac whispered, wiping gun oil from his hands. Memories of overeager maids swarming the "adorable new sister" made him shudder. Trained for stealth and assassination, he’d barely survived their affection, shielding his skirt—and the hidden weapons beneath.

"Joshua-nee... Do you trust that sister named Avel?" Isaac asked quietly. They’d forged a temporary alliance after last night’s talk. Now, he needed her judgment.

"Not trustworthy," the owl’s head shook. "But if things turn dire? She might be our most reliable accomplice."

Joshua recalled Avel’s words from their midnight meeting:

"Do you know the Demon King’s succession trials?"

"In this empire, any Demon Race member can become Demon King—even royal heirs must pass three trials."

"*Dark Pilgrimage*. *Court Trial*. And finally, *Challenging the Demon King*."

"Victors claim the throne. Losers become the empire’s foundation."

"No challenger has cleared the Court Trial yet... but several have survived the Dark Pilgrimage."

"For ambitious demons, it’s a rite of passage. This ritual, led by Court mages, grants immense power upon success."

"*Why tell us this?*" Joshua had pressed.

"Patience," Avel had smiled. "The main act is coming."

"Citizens of Mandor Empire fall into three classes:

"First—common demons. No horns, human-like appearances. Though stronger than humans in body and magic, they live primitively."

"*They are represented by the Demon King.*

"Second—the Court nobles. Ancient bloodlines. Supreme intellect and power. They rule the empire’s apex."

"*Their leaders are the Court Sovereigns.*

"Third—demons who evolved by devouring vast resources. Their forms reflect consumed energy and soul essence."

"*Unstable. Unpredictable offspring. Prone to rampages.*"

"*They are the Demon Lords—regional governors.*

"And among them... some who’ve passed the Dark Pilgrimage now eye the throne."