Lilia’s mind went blank as a buzzing sound filled her ears.
‘I made a mistake… and Lilith has to take the punishment?’
‘What kind of bullshit rule is this?’
“What right do you have!”
Lilia practically jumped up.
Anger made her forget her fear for a moment.
It even made her drop that damned verbal tic.
“The one who does the deed should be the one to pay!”
“I’m the one who did it! It has nothing to do with Sister Lilith!”
“Oh?”
Lucia actually smiled as she watched the girl bristle like a cat protecting its food.
It was a cold, heartless smile.
“You certainly have a sense of loyalty now.”
“Unfortunately, in this game, I am the one who sets the rules.”
She reached out, her long fingertips resting on Lilia’s head, stroking her hair gently.
The movement was terrifyingly tender, but her words made Lilia feel as if she had fallen into a pit of ice.
“I just want to see if you can still be this reckless…”
“…when every one of your whims brings pain to the person you want to protect most.”
A chill traveled from the base of Lilia’s spine straight to the top of her head.
She understood.
Images flashed uncontrollably through her mind.
Lilith bound to a rack by **Magic-Restraining Chains**.
Her body covered in scorch marks from magic lashes.
Lilith stripped of her mana, kneeling on the ground like an ordinary person, gasping for breath.
Lilith being thrown into the Abyss of Chaos, torn apart by twisted monsters…
No!
This was a trap.
One that was malicious to the extreme.
A living hell built specifically for her and Lilith!
Lucia suspected Lilith.
But she didn’t ask, nor did she punish; instead, she set this trap.
She was going to tie her and Lilith’s necks together with an invisible rope.
Then, she would sit on her throne and enjoy watching them in this cruel game.
She would watch how they would be tortured by each other’s existence, and how they would turn from allies into enemies.
‘This pervert!’
‘This lunatic!’
Lilia shook with rage, her teeth grinding together, but she couldn’t utter a single curse.
What was the use of cursing?
She had already fallen headfirst into the trap and had dragged Lilith in with her.
“What is it? Is my little pet not satisfied with this new game?”
Lucia’s voice was full of amusement.
“N… No… Meow…”
Lilia’s chin trembled.
She used almost all her strength just to squeeze those few words through her teeth.
She couldn’t show any dissatisfaction.
The more she resisted, the more excited that pervert would get.
She had to stay calm.
She had to find a way to break this game.
“Good.”
Lucia was satisfied with her “obedience.”
She withdrew her hand and turned toward the exit of the **Treasury**.
“Tomorrow morning, go to the **Central Administrative Hall**.”
“Lilith will bring all the documents you need to handle to you.”
She paused and turned her head slightly, her blood-red eyes shimmering in the darkness.
“I… look forward to your performance.”
Her figure disappeared into the dark passage.
The suffocating pressure dissipated with her. Lilia was left alone in the **Treasury**.
With a thud, she could no longer remain standing.
She collapsed onto the cold pile of gold coins, hugging her knees.
Her mind was a complete mess.
What should she do?
What was she supposed to do?
If she intentionally made mistakes while cleaning up the mess, then Lilith would be punished in her place.
Given Lucia’s methods, that “punishment” would certainly be a fate worse than death.
But if she behaved and perfectly fixed all the chaos, wouldn’t that be the same as personally helping that pervert?
The “victory fireworks” she had worked so hard to ignite… would she be the one to douse them with a bucket of water?
Then what did all her previous efforts mean?
An invisible hand gripped her heart tightly, each contraction bringing a burst of sharp pain.
Lilia buried her face deep in her knees, finding it difficult even to breathe.
This was a dead end.
A stalemate where she would lose no matter what she chose.
Just as she was being completely swallowed by a sense of powerlessness, the slight sound of metallic footsteps echoed from the passage.
It was Lilith.
She walked up to Lilia.
The hem of her always-immaculate maid dress stopped before the scattered gold coins.
She knelt down.
“Miss.”
Lilia jerked her head up, tears already blurring her vision.
“Sister Lilith… I’m sorry… Meow…”
Her voice was hoarse and thick with a heavy nasal tone.
“I… I dragged you into this… Meow…”
“This is not your fault, Miss.”
Lilith’s expression remained the same as usual.
However, her sharp purple eyes were now bottomless.
She knew, of course, that this was a trap set by Her Majesty.
A game to test her loyalty.
She had known from the very beginning that such a day would come.
She just hadn’t expected it to come so quickly and so… decisively.
“Sister Lilith, what… what should we do? Meow?”
Lilia grabbed Lilith’s sleeve.
Lilith looked at her, seeing her eyes red from crying and those hands that were still trembling as they gripped her.
What should she do?
Should she immediately confess everything to Her Majesty and beg for mercy?
Or… continue down this unknown path with this little girl?
With the former, she might save her life, but she would lose Her Majesty’s trust forever.
The very meaning of her existence would completely collapse.
With the latter, they might end up in a place beyond redemption.
But…
Visions flashed through Lilith’s mind—of Lilia in the collection room.
The sight of Lilia’s back as she threw that spatial blade to block for her.
The image of Lilia holding her arm.
The proud look on Lilia’s face when she said in that childish voice, “I’ve got your back.”
She had never experienced this feeling before.
The feeling of being protected, of having someone “cover” her.
It was strange.
But… it wasn’t bad.
Lilith took a deep breath and made a decision.
She reached out and gently placed her hand over Lilia’s, which was still gripping her sleeve; Lilia’s hand was terrifyingly cold.
“Miss.”
Her voice was clearer than ever before.
It was no longer a report from a head maid to her master, but a declaration between equals.
“Her Majesty wants to see us turn against each other, and she wants to see you wailing in your chains.”
She paused, continuing one word at a time.
“We… cannot let her have her way.”
Lilia was stunned, staring at her blankly, even forgetting to cry.
Lilith raised her other hand and used her fingertips to gently wipe away the tear stains on Lilia’s face.
The movement was a bit clumsy, but very light.
“So, please… do not have any reservations.”
She looked into Lilia’s eyes, a small but incredibly bright flame igniting in her own purple pupils.
“Go ahead and do it.”
“Just as you did before, challenge her, provoke her, and turn this world upside down.”
“The rest…”
Lilith leaned close to Lilia’s ear, her voice dropping to a whisper, yet it carried a kind of madness that could burn everything to the ground.
“…leave it to me.”