“I still don’t understand. You’ve already occupied all the territories…”
“I know what Miss Saintess is trying to say.”
At these words, Darlian’s perfectly shaped cherry lips curved into a faint smile.
“Miss Saintess thinks that since I’ve taken control of all the human territories, the so-called equal treatment for Demon Race citizens and the trade rights between both sides no longer matter, because the territories belong to me, and I can do whatever I want with them.”
Seeing that Finihiya remained silent without arguing, Darlian smiled and continued.
“But is it really that easy to govern and control them? Humans are the most restless race—constantly falling into new disputes over power and desire.”
“It’s impossible for them to long endure under the rule of any one race.”
“If I were to manage such an unruly race, I wouldn’t agree to it.”
As she spoke, Darlian gently stirred the thick white broth with her fork.
“In fact, these past few years of occupation have proven this true. Humans keep causing troublesome ‘fiascos’ every now and then, and every time, dealing with these problems requires my time and energy.”
“If I truly want to occupy this fertile land for the long term, even permanently, the only way is to completely eradicate the human race.”
At this point, Darlian revealed a steady, almost mocking, strange smile. “However, I have no intention of doing that.”
“Although the hatred between both sides runs deep, I do not hate humans. If possible, I would prefer if both sides could live together more amicably.”
At these words, Darlian lifted her gaze and looked straight at Finihiya.
“Do you understand now, Miss Saintess?”
Finihiya bit her lip lightly and nodded. “Hearing Darlian-sama explain it this way, I understand much more.”
After Darlian put down her fork and stopped eating, Danila instructed two maids to clear the tableware, then placed two small plates of desserts and some black tea on the wooden table.
“My personality is actually quite easygoing, but constant war after war, to be honest…”
Darlian smiled faintly, squinting her eyes as she raised her right hand to pinch her thumb and index finger, “it can be a bit annoying.”
“…Is that also why Darlian-sama became the Demon Lord?”
“More or less.”
Darlian did not deny Finihiya’s words. She shifted her gaze away from the delicate face before her and looked through the kitchen’s tall ventilation shaft at the deep night sky.
A faint smile spread across her lips once again as she turned back to Finihiya and invited with a smile, “The weather’s nice. How about we take a walk outside?”
The moon hung over the sea of night.
Waves continuously crashed against the steep cliffs, splashing cold droplets into the air. The white crests, bathed in moonlight, shimmered with a pale bluish glow.
Slowly…
Unconsciously wandering, Darlian led Finihiya to the shore once again.
The sea’s “shhh” sound lingered in their ears.
Countless white bubbles surged onto the shore, then retreated back into the sea.
Approaching, receding, approaching, receding……
Darlian quietly watched this familiar scene for a while before withdrawing her thoughts and turning to Finihiya beside her.
“How have you been living here?”
The petite face tilted slightly to look this way, then nodded gently in a rather calm tone.
“Thank you, Darlian-sama. I’m very happy here.”
Although Finihiya’s words sounded flat without any intonation, Darlian could faintly feel there was no forced or perfunctory emotion behind them.
“Is that so.”
Because of this, a relieved smile appeared on Darlian’s lips. “Have the servants been bullying you? If so, tell me immediately.”
“No, everyone has been very kind to me.”
Kind?
Whether the dispatched servants were kind, she didn’t really know. But from the few times she had met Finihiya, she clearly knew the Saintess before her had a gentle personality.
Just a bit lethargic.
Her golden hair, smooth as velvet, was blown by the sea breeze. The interplay of light and shadow from the moon gave her hair a dreamy silvery sheen.
Curious.
After quietly gazing for a moment, her eyes unconsciously dropped to Finihiya’s snow-white neck.
A heavy iron Magic Collar still bound that slender neck, stirring a faint pang of pity in her heart.
Her footsteps halted because of it.
Finihiya, who had taken two more steps forward, also stopped. She gracefully turned her body to look this way, her delicate face showing a hint of
“Darlian-sama?”
“It must be very inconvenient!”
“Hm?”
Finihiya tilted her head further in confusion.
At this, she raised a finger to point at her neck, then explained, “Wearing such a heavy collar must be very inconvenient.”
Finihiya lowered her head and lightly touched the collar on her neck with her fingers, then softly smiled in reply.
“It’s okay. I’m more or less used to it.”
The voice was very soft, like a goodnight whisper before sleep, or like floating in the void—seeming so unanchored and lonely.
Darlian took two steps forward and stood in front of Finihiya.
“Let me take off this collar.”
“Hmm?” Finihiya voiced a question, her lake-blue eyes staring straight at Darlian.
“Is… that allowed?”
“Why not?”
Darlian asked in return as she raised her hand and reached behind Finihiya’s neck, slowly and carefully unlocking the Binding Spell inside the Magic Collar.
To be honest, this collar was quite easy for her to undo. She could have forcibly broken the magic array inside with a surge of her magic in less than a second.
Although that brute method was effective, it carried a slight risk of error.
Even though she had never made such a small mistake before, looking at the Saintess in front of her, Darlian didn’t want to take that tiny risk.
So she chose the safest way to slowly unlock it.
If a mistake did occur, it would cause painful torment to the girl before her.
“Why…” Finihiya repeated softly, eyes lowered, “I’m a captive after all. Darlian-sama needs this collar to better track my location, right?”
“If I take it off like this, what if I run away someday…”
“You seem to like this collar.”
“Hm?” Darlian’s sudden words made Finihiya blink dumbly. “Like it? Darlian-sama, what do you mean by that…?”
“Isn’t that so?” Darlian tilted her head as Finihiya had, feigning puzzlement. “Aren’t you saying all this just to stop me from taking it off?”