“You’re late, Commoner.”
Judging from her cold demeanor, it was her sister, Miona.
“I thought I was on time… Didn’t you say before lunch was fine?”
“Draco family lunchtime is at 10 AM. You are an hour late, Commoner.”
How was I supposed to know that?
She lowered her head slightly and entered the mansion. The interior was as dark as an underground parking garage. Most windows were tightly covered with curtains, with only scattered candlelight and the faint glow of chandeliers barely illuminating the general outlines.
Scattered bone fragments and portraits of humans screaming in terror were enough to make any normal person’s sanity plummet and their mind instantly descend into chaos.
‘Does Cthulhu live here?’
The Big Guy’s frequent mockery of the Draco family—”those gloomy folks always hiding in the dark”—suddenly made perfect sense to the girl. Spending every leisure weekend in such a terrifying place, she didn’t believe anyone’s personality wouldn’t become twisted and mean.
But how could Erika possibly be scared by such a setup? So, she decided to bring out her secret weapon prepared in advance.
“This is a token of gratitude for your invitation to the great Draco family villa. A humble gift, but… filled with sincerity!”
“Swish—” It was a fan made from deep blue feathers.
The Blue Falcon tail feathers obtained while cleaning Professor Borbeck’s office yesterday had been crafted by the girl into a fan. Erika thought Miona, who always carried a small fan, might like it.
“This is more tasteful than I imagined.”
Indeed, a subtle flicker of curiosity passed through Miona Draco’s eyes as she took the fan. She gently fanned it a few times, as if suddenly noticing something. “When waved, it brings a cool breeze. It must be made from Blue Falcon feathers, right? I hear these birds only inhabit the southern grasslands and are quite rare…”
“Your discerning eye is truly admirable.”
People who receive gifts generally don’t dislike them, as long as the gift isn’t useless or carries some hidden meaning.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll prepare some tea and snacks.”
Miona, seemingly to reciprocate the gift she had received, quietly disappeared into the darkness of a corner.
“Hmm.”
After she left, Erika, left alone in the spacious mansion hall, looked around and confirmed that indeed, furniture and sculptures made from skulls were everywhere.
Furthermore, she noticed one more thing—
‘…’ There was absolutely no movement here. To be precise, no movement from living people.
It seemed only she and Miona Draco were in this villa. Even with her keen Half-Elf Hearing, she couldn’t detect any sound…
‘Is that rumor true?’
It was said that the Draco family, who ultimately betrayed the Noel Royal Family, had their lifespans stripped away by the Demon King’s Curse. For the last few generations, they’d all been short-lived heads of the family. What reason could have made them choose betrayal even at the cost of such a curse? Erika sat in the villa’s reception room and had many conversations with Miona, though most of the content was official business.
“Commoner, you are about to become a warrior who will enter Ark Academy to study for the revival of the Kingdom. Understood?”
“Is that the setting? I understand.”
“You will play the role of a fallen royal descendant.”
“Like the Noel Family?”
“…”
During their conversation, Erika casually inserted probes. The Draco family was originally the right-hand man and steadfast support of the Noel Family.
Because of this, Miona Draco still considered Queen Evelyn an illegitimate usurper, neither submitting to her authority nor acknowledging her status.
Perhaps she, Erika Noel, could benefit from exploiting this remnant loyalty.
“How about setting the reason for the fallen royal family as internal betrayal and rebellion within the country, like the Noel Family?”
“As you wish.”
She agreed without objection, but Erika could sense Miona Draco’s mood seemed somewhat displeased—probably because they were discussing the topic of ‘Noel’.
“However, thinking about it now, there are many suspicious points. With such formidable power and deep resources, how could the Noel Family collapse overnight?”
“There must have been sufficient reasons… Even the Demon King Solomon couldn’t withstand the alliance of the Four Great Families.”
“But isn’t that strange? Draco was supposed to be Noel’s loyal ally. What was the reason for their sudden betrayal…”
“Is discussing this important for us now? Please do not overstep, Commoner.”
“…”
‘As expected, such half-baked tricks don’t work. Because the person before me is also a villainess no less than Emil or Evelyn.’
‘Let’s set aside regrets and questions for now and focus on gaining trust first…’
“The Draco family never betrayed Noel. Perhaps fools like you and those idiots will never understand.”
“Never betrayed Noel?… What does that mean?”
“It’s just…”
“Just?…?”
Miona Draco’s face was half-hidden by her silver hair. By the faint candlelight, Erika could catch a flicker of hesitation and uncertainty surfacing.
“Didn’t the Draco family also participate in overthrowing the Demon King Solomon together? Why do you say they didn’t betray Noel?”
“My grandfather, Alabes, indeed performed great deeds in defeating Solomon Noel. But that doesn’t mean he betrayed the Noel Family…”
‘Then why? What was the real reason?’
“Then, may I ask what was behind it…?”
“…That is none of your concern, Commoner.”
‘No, how is it not my concern! I am the last bloodline of Noel.’
‘Should I say it directly? Impossible. Thinking calmly, that’s far too dangerous.’
‘Although I don’t know the hidden true meaning behind Draco’s statement of ‘never betraying Noel,’ the head of the Draco family was indeed present on the day the Demon King died.’
‘When Solomon’s body was torn apart and burned, he stood right there.’
‘Why did these people ultimately choose to abandon Noel?’
‘If I can’t find the ‘trigger’ for the Draco family’s betrayal, recklessly exposing my identity would likely lead to nothing but death.’
‘Regardless of whether this so-called ‘difficult circumstance’ truly exists or not.’
One was lost in thought, the other immersed in reminiscence.
At that moment, the reception room door was suddenly flung open, and a living corpse draped in a black cloak with cascading white hair appeared at the entrance.
“Hallow.”
‘This environment, this scene…’ Erika felt the blood in her entire body turn ice-cold. ‘An undead… No matter how many times I see it, one can never get used to such an existence.’
The visitor was probably Miss Miona’s father—Arest Draco.
He swept his icy gaze across the room, then opened his dry, bluish-purple lips: “Veuillez goûter quelques desserts.”
The former head of the family walked in carrying a tray of desserts and gently placed it on the reception room table.
A cake that looked quite good—a cheesecake drizzled with dark chocolate cocoa syrup. Needless to say, it was surely delicious. Two forks were placed beside it, indicating he intended for her and Miona to share.
‘Miona Draco is quite polite when it comes to entertaining guests.’
With this thought, Erika’s mood gradually calmed, and she wanted to try the Draco family’s culinary skills.
“Who told you to bring in desserts without permission? I never asked for this! Get out immediately!”