Chapter 25: Late Night Conspiracy

Late at night, Nightfall City was plunged into complete silence. Sylvia nestled deep within her soft blankets, sleeping soundly.

Her silver-white hair sprawled across the silk pillow, her breathing light and even.

The bedroom door opened silently. Two figures slipped inside without a sound.

One sat to her left, the other to her right at the bedside.

Ophelia wore a simple black nightgown, her blood-red eyes glinting faintly in the dark. She gently stroked her daughter’s silver hair.

Her touch was as delicate as if caressing the world’s most precious treasure.

Avira, meanwhile, was dressed in a deep crimson night outfit. She toyed with a finely crafted dagger in her hand.

The blade reflected a cold gleam under the moonlight. Her eyes burned with fiery excitement.

Yet she deliberately kept her breathing low, fearing to wake her younger sister.

“Mother, what’s the situation on the human side?” Avira whispered, licking her lips.

“The human army has already gathered.” Ophelia replied softly.

“About one million troops, advancing toward Bloodshed Valley.” Avira’s excitement deepened in her eyes.

“A bunch of reckless insects.”

“Mother, let me handle this time.” She lightly traced the blade of the dagger.

“I promise to twist every single one of their necks and use them as fertilizer for Sylvia’s garden.”

“Little sister will surely love those beautiful flowers.”

Ophelia shook her head slightly.

“Avira, that’s too bloody—it will scare Sylvia.”

She pondered for a moment, her voice still calm.

“Instead, why not directly alter the climate of Bloodshed Valley?”

“Summon a Hundred-Year Wraithstorm.”

“Let them perish in despair.”

“Clean. Quiet.”

Avira pouted in dissatisfaction.

“That’s too boring!”

“Sister will be unhappy!” Her voice carried a nervous excitement.

“She needs a grand fireworks display!”

“She needs peaceful sleep.” Ophelia said faintly.

Their gazes locked in the air, an invisible tension filling the room.

Sylvia, wrapped in her blankets, was actually wide awake.

Her eyes clenched shut, cold sweat soaking through her pajamas.

Her heart pounded wildly, her breath nearly stopped.

“Oh my god!” Sylvia screamed silently inside.

“One wants to bring disasters, the other wants to massacre.”

“Are you competing over who’s more creative?” She fought to control her breathing.

“I used to be a Knight!”

“A protector of the people!”

“And why do you think I’d be happy seeing fireworks?”

“Am I some kind of antisocial personality disorder?”

***

Outside, the dull roar of troop movements drifted in.

The Eternal Night Empire’s army was urgently assembling.

Avira’s breathing grew more rapid with excitement.

“Mother, we cannot let those humans pollute Sylvia’s world.”

Avira whispered fiercely, her killing intent thickening.

“How dare they say they want to purify my sister?”

“They’re begging for death.” Ophelia nodded.

“They truly deserve to die.”

“But it must be done elegantly.”

She extended her hand, and shadows in the room began to twist.

“I can let the Devouring Night swallow the entire valley.”

“No pain, no struggle—just eternal slumber.”

“Too gentle!” Avira disagreed.

“They insulted Sylvia, they should experience the most agonizing death!”

Sylvia almost burst out yelling. “What do you mean ‘too gentle’!”

“Also, Mother, what is this ‘Devouring Night swallowing the whole valley’ nonsense?”

“Do you always go for earth-shattering moves?”

She felt her worldview being violently shaken.

Sure, she’d fought in wars before and seen bloodshed.

But this casual talk about annihilating millions of troops was way over the top.

“Then how about this.”

Avira’s eyes darted.

“We split the work.”

“Mother, you create the right environment, I’ll handle the execution.”

“I guarantee they’ll understand what happens to those who covet Sylvia.”

Ophelia considered. “Alright.”

“But keep it low-key.”

“Sylvia doesn’t like noise.”

“Of course!”

“I’ll be very quiet!”

Avira made an excited gesture.

Sylvia’s mind completely unraveled.

“Your idea of quiet and mine are not even the same thing!”

“I just want to be a lazy good-for-nothing!”

She curled deeper into her blankets, trying to block out the terrifying conversation with the soft quilt.

But she dared not move too noticeably.

She forced herself to play the role of the peacefully sleeping, oblivious good girl.

She could resist swords.

But this world-shattering love? She could only lie flat and endure.

“Oh, right.” Avira suddenly remembered something.

“How’s the Dessert Chef’s development going?”

Ophelia gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

“Twelve new flavors have already been made.”

“Tomorrow, Sylvia can try them.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Avira beamed like a child.

“Little sister will definitely like them!”

Sylvia silently cursed inside.

“Switching seamlessly from massacring millions to worrying about what dessert I eat?”

“Can you guys keep your topic jumps a bit smaller?”

“And calling Dessert Chefs in the middle of the night just because of my one complaint? That’s some next-level prioritizing!”

She felt like she was going crazy.

On one hand, an imminent massive battle; on the other, custom-made sweets just for her.

The stark contrast left her unsure whether to cry or laugh.

Ophelia noticed her daughter stir beneath the covers and immediately stopped talking with Avira.

She bent down and pressed a cold yet gentle kiss on Sylvia’s forehead.

“Sleep, my child.” Ophelia whispered.

“When you wake up, all the noise will have vanished.” Sylvia screamed inside.

“The biggest noise source is you two!”

“I just want to quietly be a lazy good-for-nothing, why is that so hard!”

Avira leaned closer and kissed her sister’s hand.

“Good night, Sylvia.”

“When you wake up tomorrow, the world will be a better place.”

Sylvia:

“Sis, when you say better, you don’t mean the million-strong army all disappearing, right?”

“Your ‘better’ and mine are completely different things!”

The two crept out quietly.

The moment the door closed, Sylvia snapped her eyes wide open.

Gasping for breath.

She stared at the ceiling, her mind a mess.

Outside, the night grew darker still.

The distant sounds of troop movements continued.

Sylvia turned over, burying her face in the pillow.

“Please, just let me rest for a while…”

She let out a despairing moan.

“Tomorrow’s going to be another day full of ‘surprises.’”