“Dong, dong, dong.”
The sound of knocking accompanied Jiu Yue Jiu’s voice.
“Your Majesty the Empress, Elma’s body has temporarily recovered. She has urgent business and requests an audience.”
As Simon opened the door, the two outside quickly entered the private room.
The moment Elma stepped inside and saw Alexia, she let out a helpless sigh.
“Your Majesty the Empress, it seems that anyone who enters the Empire’s borders ends up harboring hostility toward you!”
Even though the body she currently occupied was made by Jiu Yue Jiu using magic materials, seeing Alexia still felt the same as before.
Yet she still remembered the feeling she had when she saw Alexia in her soul state.
Actually, she didn’t really hate Alexia.
It was just that their positions made them natural adversaries.
“Elma, enough idle chatter. What is this urgent matter you mentioned?”
Alexia leaned on the sofa, looking up at Elma.
“Your Majesty is straightforward as always. Whether you believe me or not, I have to defend myself. I did not collude with the Evil God, nor do I know anything about the Evil God’s corruption.”
Elma let out a light laugh.
“That day, the Malice Witch wanted me to probe your strength inside the royal city. All I knew was that the city was in chaos, the defenses were lax, and that’s how I slipped in and got close to you.”
“As for why I developed murderous intent towards you, I think it was also due to the Malice Witch’s influence. Besides, I really wanted to escape from her control.”
The Malice Witch, true to her name, treated everyone with malice.
On ordinary days, even saying a single word wrong could result in punishment for no reason.
Elma had suffered plenty under her as a subordinate witch.
But what could she do?
As long as the Malice Witch remained her superior, Elma had no way to resist, unless she could attain a formal seat.
Only then would she be equal to the Malice Witch.
Otherwise, even if she could overpower the Malice Witch, the difference in rank would still crush her.
It was precisely because of such a strict hierarchy that the Witch Council had managed to remain hidden from public view to this day.
Alexia frowned, puzzled.
“If the Evil God’s corruption has nothing to do with you, then who is responsible?”
To be honest, when she saw Elma’s pure soul underground, she had already sensed this.
But she had subconsciously wanted to push the blame onto Elma.
Too many things were happening at once.
Even she was struggling to keep up, let alone sort out all the unresolved issues.
She was human, not a god—she couldn’t handle everything at once.
Elma shrugged.
“Then Your Majesty will have to investigate yourself. I’m only here to inform you, so you don’t end up blaming me. It could even be another witch jealous of me.”
She wasn’t the only subordinate witch in the Witch Council eager to climb the ranks.
“The Witch Chairwoman would never allow such things to happen, Elma. Do you think she knows nothing?”
Jiu Yue Jiu suddenly interjected.
“If any witch dared to collude with the Evil God, the Chairwoman would appear instantly. She would never allow another witch hunt to begin.”
“You sound very familiar with the affairs of the Witch Council.”
Elma turned to Jiu Yue Jiu.
“Come to think of it, the moment I saw you, I felt a strange familiarity…”
Jiu Yue Jiu lowered her head, her voice shrinking.
“I’ve seen the Witch Chairwoman before…”
“Then you’re amazing!”
Elma clapped her hands in disbelief.
“I’ve been in the Witch Council for hundreds of years and never once saw the Chairwoman.”
The moment she spoke, she realized the critical point.
“Wait, how are you still alive after meeting the Chairwoman?!”
The Witch Chairwoman’s whereabouts were always mysterious.
There was a rumor that anyone who saw her died.
Verifying the truth of such stories was nearly impossible, and information about the current Witch Chairwoman was almost non-existent.
Most of the records were about other witches.
But anyone capable of holding the Chairwoman’s position among so many powerful witches was no simple being.
“Because…because…”
Jiu Yue Jiu hesitated.
Because she was once the Thirteenth Seat of the Witch Council?
She really couldn’t say that to the people here.
Who knew what would happen if she did?
Ever since leaving the Witch Council, she had resolved to cut ties completely.
“Jiu Yue Jiu, if you have nothing else to say, you can go back to your research.”
Alexia could see Jiu Yue Jiu’s discomfort and stepped in to help.
Besides, Jiu Yue Jiu really wasn’t good at conversation.
Their agreement had always been that Jiu Yue Jiu only needed to focus on her research—Alexia would handle everything else.
Social matters like this were not her concern.
Jiu Yue Jiu let out a sigh of relief at Alexia’s words.
“Elma, this body of yours was hastily made by me. Be careful not to use any abilities that drain too much mental energy, or it might collapse easily.”
After reminding Elma, she hurried out of the room.
“…Jiu Yue Jiu is kind of cute.”
Elma said helplessly.
“Simon, you don’t have to glare at Elma so cautiously. For now, we’re in a cooperative relationship. Once the Witch Council is dealt with, we may become enemies.”
Alexia glanced at Simon, standing between her and Elma.
She hadn’t told Simon about the alliance with Elma, so his vigilance was understandable.
“You heard what your Empress said. For now, we have a common goal.”
Elma returned Simon’s unfriendly gaze.
If Alexia wanted her dead, Simon would have to take full responsibility.
She’d taken the risk to enter when Simon was out of the royal city, but hadn’t expected him to return so quickly.
Standing there, he was like a castle wall—impossible to get past.
But for now, peace was the only option.
If she wanted revenge, she had to rely on Alexia’s power.
“Duty comes first.”
Simon stepped aside, hand still on his sword.
If Elma tried anything, he could enter combat instantly.
After all, they had killed her before.
To think Elma bore no grudge would be naive.
Trust, but be wary.
Elma, however, walked a few steps forward unconcerned.
“In gratitude for Her Majesty recreating my body, I’ll share a secret—one even most witches in the Witch Council don’t know.”
“The Witch Chairwoman has been in the Empire for over ten years.”
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