“What did you say?”

“Nothing. You may go.”

After Liang Lin left, Liang Di stood alone before the window, gazing at the full moon. It glowed increasingly crimson—like a corpse drenched in blood.

“The Langwendi Family will rise to glory again.”

“Sister Liang Lin… wouldn’t it be fine for you to make just a tiny contribution to the Langwendi Family?”

Moonlight wrapped around Liang Di. Bathed in its glow, she slowly rose from her wheelchair. She didn’t walk—she wriggled her feet forward, unaccustomed to using legs. Every muscle strained. As one foot touched the floor, needle-sharp pain shot through it. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

This was the first time in sixteen years she had stood on her own two feet.

In Auston’s study, his mood was light. Doris had confirmed Liang Lin took the poison. He eagerly awaited his “precious daughter” to eliminate Liang Di—that thorn in his side, that splinter in his flesh.

*Knock, knock, knock~*

“Enter.”

Head maid Belica pushed the door open, carrying a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. “Madam asked me to bring these. She requests your presence in her room after you finish.”

Auston drained the milk in one gulp. Cheerful, he joked, “Haha~ Belica, isn’t Miranda unusually warm today?”

Belica smiled, eyes crinkling into slits. “When the mistress is happy, I am too.”

“Belica, I see your loyalty. Once this crisis passes… I’ll raise your wages.”

Nearly forty yet with taut, well-kept skin, Belica’s ever-present smile never wavered. Softly, she murmured, “Duke Austen… I wasn’t speaking of Madam Miranda.”

Auston’s smile froze. *Did I mishear?* “You… what did you say?”

“Your Grace, have you forgotten?” Belica stepped back. “I am the little girl Lady Meredith rescued on that rainy night twenty years ago.”

*Meredith…* The name sent waves of dizziness through him. He tried to stand, to point and call her that bitch—but staggered, lurched forward, and collapsed.

His eyes rolled white. Body convulsing. Froth tinged with blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Belica knelt, smiling sweetly. She unclasped her necklace locket—revealing Lady Meredith’s portrait. A blush warmed her cheeks; her eyes shimmered with devotion.

“Lady Meredith… if you watch from heaven, seeing me become your daughter Liang Di’s most loyal dog… you’d praise me, wouldn’t you?”

“Just hearing your praise… would fill me with joy.” She nuzzled the portrait tenderly.

She tilted her head at the unconscious Auston, stood with quiet satisfaction, and closed the door softly behind her.

“Miss. It is done.”

“Well done, Belica.”

Belica had always been the one relaying messages from the Langwendi Family mansion to Liang Di in the Demon Spire. Meredith’s most devoted follower—her love had twisted into a pathological obsession.

Before dying, Meredith revealed the Family’s curse to calm Belica’s frenzy. Otherwise, she would have assassinated Auston immediately. But the time wasn’t right. He hadn’t trusted her fully.

Thankfully… she waited.

Thus, Liang Di always knew Auston’s plans. That gemstone necklace gifted to Liang Lin? A whim. A game.

If Liang Lin had forced the poisoned milk down her throat—*she* would be dead now. But she smashed it. Unexpected. A flicker of conscience? Moved by a tiny necklace? Unlikely for a villainess~

Recall their first meeting: Liang Lin’s arrogance, her haughty tone, her grating words. What if this villainess young lady were broken into a dog panting on the floor? She’d surely considered killing her. Liang Lin never hid her schemes well.

Liang Di had finally shed her hypocritical mask. She was never a gentle, compassionate lady. She was a villainess who loved acting, who delighted in toying with others like puppets.

As a tentacle girl, her nature craved release. But breaking the taboo before her legs fully formed could trap her forever in tentacle form. So since childhood, she endured—bitterly, patiently.

As for Liang Lin bearing her child? *Unworthy.* Entrust motherhood to such venom? Never. Impossible.

Next day.

Dawn.

“AAAAH!!!”

A shriek shattered the morning calm. A maid stumbled from Auston’s room, babbling incoherently. Other maids rushed over—one glance inside—and screamed in unison.

“MADAM!!!”

“HEAD MAID!”

“MISS!!”

Chaos erupted. Maids scattered. Some fainted.

“What’s happening?”

Belica approached calmly, unruffled—as if she hadn’t served the poisoned milk hours ago.

She caught a trembling maid. “What occurred? Why aren’t you working?”

The maid’s face was bloodless, lips quivering. “H-Head maid… the D-Duke… he’s… collapsed! He… he isn’t breathing!”

Belica feigned shock. She pushed past, rushed in, and knelt beside the others.

“Go! Alert the young mistress and Madam! Fetch the doctor—now!”

Maids scattered. Within a minute, Miranda burst in, skirts hitched high.

“My dear!”

She fell beside him, trembling hands brushing his tangled hair. A pale, lifeless face. Eyes wide open—but only white remained. No blue iris.