Thornwood Forest was beautiful, mysterious, and deadly. Even the world’s bravest adventurers dared not draw near.

This land housed countless demons—all Nightmare Retainers of the Nightmare Queen, yet sharing one other trait:

profound reverence for Suran.

True, as Lyasis’s personal maid, Suran held a status in the Crimson Garden second only to the young mistress herself.

But the Nightmare Retainers of Thornwood respected her for another reason.

Each time Suran returned from an outing, every Retainer who saw her would stand straight, bow deeply, and greet her with honor.

This time, however, their reaction was different.

"Lady Suran, welcome back…"

"Lady Suran, you must be tired…"

Their faces first lit with warm smiles and respect—then, after a second glance, turned hesitant, stammering, eyes wide with tension and fear.

"What’s wrong with all of you? You look pale," Suran asked, puzzled.

"N-nothing!"

Though their behavior seemed odd, Suran didn’t press further. "By the way, I have something to ask—"

"Lady Suran, please ask later! You should hurry back—the young mistress might be waiting!" the Retainers cut in, using Lyasis as an excuse.

"Hmm… alright."

Suran didn’t dwell on it. She *had* been delayed. She couldn’t keep Lyasis hungry. She quickened her pace toward the Crimson Garden.

Once Suran vanished into the distance, the Nightmare Retainers huddled together, trembling.

"Hey… did you feel it too? Lady Suran’s aura…"

"Y-yes… For a heartbeat, that familiar feeling returned."

"I think… *that one* might be awakening…"

…

Back at the manor, Suran prepared a lavish feast for Lyasis.

Perched on a high chair, Lyasis’s black-stockinged feet dangled above the floor. Knife and fork in hand, she hesitated between dishes.

Glancing at Suran standing quietly beside her: "Suran, what are you waiting for? Sit and eat!"

House Virellete custom forbade servants from joining the table uninvited.

Yet Lyasis had already given permission when Suran served the final course.

Still, Suran remained standing, lost in thought.

"Young mistress, forgive me. I feel… a little tired. May I rest briefly?" Suran pressed a hand to her brow, voice laced with quiet apology.

Lyasis studied her, eyes narrowing like a cunning cat who saw all. "Of course. But finish your chores the moment you wake."

"Yes, young mistress." Suran bowed. "I shall take my leave."

The maid exited the dining hall.

The moment she turned the corner—out of Lyasis’s sight—she faltered. One hand clutched her throbbing temple; the other braced against the wall. She barely reached her room before collapsing onto the bed.

A simple errand. A few bandits dealt with along the way. Suran’s body shouldn’t feel fatigue.

What she meant was *mental* exhaustion. Her mind felt starved of air.

Images of Shuran and assassins swarmed her thoughts—a tide that began the moment she left Thornwood Forest.

She’d wanted to ask the Retainers about Shuran. After all, to challenge the Nightmare Queen a thousand times meant surviving Thornwood Forest just as many.

But they’d urged her to return to Lyasis.

She never expected the thoughts to cling—growing sharper through the garden gates, the manor halls, the greetings, the cooking.

She’d held on. Now, she couldn’t anymore.

It felt like a Curse. Shuran had invaded her mind, twisting her will, her thoughts.

"Get out… GET OUT! You haunting pest—get out of my head!!"

For the first time in eight years serving House Virellete, Suran had sworn.

Her skull pounded. She clutched her head, thrashing on the bed.

Vision blurred. Strange scenes flashed:

Skyscrapers blazing with light. Rivers of "iron beasts" on streets. People in utterly foreign attire. Beneath a blood-red moon—Shuran challenging the Nightmare Queen again and again, defeated each time by the queen who reveled in suffering.

Images flickered. Dizziness. Ringing ears.

Just as her nerves threatened to snap—darkness swallowed everything.

She plunged into endless night. A whisper curled at her ear:

"Wake up. You don’t belong here. Return to your true home."

"This is her trap! You’ve sunk too deep—but it’s not too late. Rebel *now*."

*What… is this thing saying?*

*I am… a maid of House Virellete. Blessed by the Nightmare Queen. Sworn to serve the young mistress forever.*

*Loyalty… Resolve… Never betray…*

*You won’t… break my will…*

As if hearing her thoughts, the voice replied: "Then… witness the truth with your own eyes."

Vision cleared. The headache faded.

"Was that… a dream?"

Suran froze.

She was no longer in her room.

Before her stood the forbidden chamber—its door sealed with countless talismans.

Now torn free, clutched in her own hand.

From the slightly open crack, a scent of secrets drifted out, pulling her forward as if possessed.

*This is wrong. A maid must never enter without permission.*

Yet her body moved on its own.

She stepped inside.

Her face paled instantly.

It wasn’t a dream.

The "truth" the voice spoke of… now lay before her eyes.