After tidying herself up and waiting for the crimson flush on her cheeks to completely fade, Erika carefully adjusted her outfit and returned to the banquet hall, acting as though nothing had happened.
“Erika, I have been looking for you,” Evelynn said in a rather stiff tone the moment they met.
A faint blush graced her face, likely from drinking the low-alcohol wine specially provided by the Order; she seemed a bit tipsy now. A drunken Evelynn resembled a queen who held the power of life and death, issuing high-handed and aggressive interrogations.
Well, she actually was a queen, after all.
Erika looked around her surroundings and replied, “Is the conversation with the priests and nuns over?”
“That could hardly be called a conversation. It was nothing more than a recital praising my beauty. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Emil anywhere since a moment ago. Do you know where she is?”
“…” Erika felt as if she had been touched by a hot iron, her heart trembling violently.
If Evelynn found out about the conversation she just had with Emil, what kind of expression would this cold queen — who had always viewed Erika as her private property — make? How would she react?
Just thinking about it was enough to send shivers down her spine.
Though Erika was also curious to see how Evelynn would view the news, as it might expose her true feelings toward Emil and Erika…
But Erika was not nearly foolish or reckless enough to test it herself.
“I heard that Emil left her seat at the same time you did. Do you really not know where she is?”
“Well… we parted ways halfway through. She probably went to the restroom?” Erika brushed it off casually, her intense guilt suppressed entirely by her acting skills.
However, Evelynn shook her head without hesitation. “Why would Emil go to such a place? She has no need for it.”
‘Is there actually someone who doesn’t need to use the restroom?’ Come to think of it, Evelynn seemed to be the same way. Yet she clearly ate food normally, so it wasn’t like she was some sort of ascetic who lived on air.
‘Is it because I’m not cute enough that I haven’t reached the level of not needing the restroom?’
While Erika’s mind wandered toward these strange points of focus, Evelynn spoke again. “I heard there is an event being held specifically for Emil… Fine. Since I cannot see the Saint, there is no point in staying at this so-called banquet.”
The Black Rose swirled her evening gown, which was as gorgeous as a field of flowers, and turned to leave. “I am going back to my quarters to rest. You are coming with me.”
“Ah, all right.”
Essentially, she was being told to lead the way. However, since the group had arrived via Teleportation Magic not long after waking up this morning, it didn’t seem like there was a need for a specific rest, did there?
‘Maybe using powerful magic makes one feel exhausted,’ Erika guessed idly while nodding her head.
“That over there is Her Majesty Evelynn’s bedroom. Although it is temporary, it is said to be the best room that can be found in the temple.”
The room prepared by the Order was as spacious as two lecture halls joined together. Though Erika didn’t understand why there was a fountain in the room, everything from the antique furniture and the pure white velvet carpets to the exquisite famous paintings hanging from the ceiling was flawless. Did these things really qualify as “temporary”?
*Swish — *
“I am going to rest.”
Without even changing out of her magnificent gown, Evelynn kicked off her shoes and dove straight onto the large, soft bed.
Although it was still far from nightfall, seeing her cover her mouth and yawn like a small child suggested she really was exhausted.
Rather than physical fatigue, it was likely more mental exhaustion. It seemed that dealing with flattery was truly taxingly work.
Tucking herself under the covers, Evelynn half-opened her eyes to look at Erika. Her obsidian-like eyes, dark and clear, were always so deep that they were difficult to read — like a black hole that would suck in and crush any lie, making people feel a sense of awe and dread.
“Erika, what is the schedule for tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, the Queen’s schedule is — “
“No, I am asking about your schedule.”
‘My schedule for tomorrow?’
Tomorrow, Erika would likely walk around the central district of Regtaya, the Order’s great city, with Emil. But with the words at the tip of her tongue, the girl suddenly shut her mouth for some reason.
She was thinking that if she told the overbearing and dominant Evelynn — who treated Erika almost as her sole confidante — that she was going on a shopping date or even making a life-long commitment to another girl, heaven only knew how Evelynn would react.
Erika had absolutely not forgotten what that big guy said today — biting the back of the neck was an act of seeking intimacy. Come to think of it, she had indeed heard that felines liked to bite the back of the neck to express a desire to mate…
Emil had previously taken advantage of Erika’s ignorance and often liked to do that to her, whereas Evelynn preferred to have Erika do it to her instead…
To be honest, Erika couldn’t figure out how Evelynn viewed her. Were these just unconscious actions, or was she expressing intimacy?
‘She wouldn’t happen to be hinting at something, would she? …No, no, that’s impossible! Erika, you really have too much of an ego!’
‘How could this country be so abnormal that girls only like other girls? If that were the case, why hasn’t there been a population decline!?’
‘Besides, as powerful as Evelynn is, how could she let me take the lead… Hmm, she probably just trusts me. After all, the back of the neck is a very vulnerable vital point.’
Erika decided to just give a vague excuse for now. “Tomorrow will probably be busy because I have to handle enrollment procedures and meet with the high-ranking officials of the city and the Order.”
“I see. Erika, you are always so busy… Your devotion to duty is truly admirable… I must reward you another day…” Evelynn opened her rosy lips and let out a large yawn.
Although the gesture might have seemed unladylike, because it was the Black Rose of Noel doing it, even the yawn appeared charming and lovely.
The rare sight of Evelynn looking so innocent and vulnerable made Erika feel a surge of affection, making it difficult to suppress the urge to poke a finger into her mouth to tease her.
“Now… I am going to sleep. I plan to read in the bedroom tomorrow. Remember that…”
Slowly, Evelynn’s eyelids could no longer stay open and closed completely; her breathing gradually became steady and even. Once she fell asleep, Evelynn would not wake up easily; she would likely sleep until dawn.
Even Erika’s tense heart was smoothed over by that cute sleeping face. She turned to leave the room, but just as the door was about to close, she suddenly remembered something — what did Evelynn’s status window look like?
Now was a chance to peek at it. Since Evelynn was asleep and her guard was at its lowest, did that mean it was safe to view her information?
Behind the crack in the door, a pair of red eyes like those of a night-dwelling vampire princess glowed faintly. Erika activated her talent, **[Eye]**, taking this opportunity to learn about the skills, classes, and aptitudes Evelynn possessed.
***
Name: Evelynn la Calista Level ??
Class:
Queen Level 2
Ruler Level 7
Ice Beauty Level 9
Saint Level 6
**[Locked]** Level ?
Talents: **[Locked]** **[Locked]** Calista
Tendency: **[Locked]**
It is best to kneel and salute the Queen of all things.
It is best to lower your head deeply, piously kiss her toes, and pray for her mercy and affection.
She is hiding a fatal truth from everyone.
***
As Erika expected, a lot of the content was locked. Perhaps it was due to the massive level difference between her and Evelynn? But just like with Emil, the revealed information alone was enough to sense her extraordinary nature.
First, the class column was dazzling. Those words weren’t even in ordinary black font, but golden! Anyway, they were high-level terms shimmering with golden light, clearly different from others in terms of special effects.
‘What is this? It’s practically like the effect of a pay-to-win item. You can tell at a glance that these are all rare, hidden classes that are extremely difficult to obtain. Could they be the kind of classes that can be promoted, like the ones Circe mentioned before?’
The succubus nun had said that one could promote from a succubus to a Great Demon. Perhaps it was a similar type of promotion.
**[Analyzing the situation calmly! Experience points obtained through talent [Calm Thinking]. All class experience + 5]**
‘I knew it.’
Queen, Ruler, and Ice Beauty were all understandable. In fact, she felt that the class names given by the system weren’t even fancy enough.
Since she was called a “Seductress,” then the equally beautiful and even more dignified Evelynn could easily be called a “Peerless Beauty” or “World-Toppling Fairy.”
‘But what on earth is a Saint?’
These were all details Erika wanted to verify personally. However, as expected, what caught her eye most was that final sentence —
A fatal truth hidden from everyone?
What could it be?