Chapter 16: Returned

Watching Ailus’s retreating figure, Finihiya suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out to stop her.

“Could you please wait a moment?”

Ailus turned her body to look over, then walked back to the door.

“Yes, Lady Finihiya, may I ask what you need?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Finihiya turned and walked straight to the dressing table, then picked up the Wooden Box placed before it.

Handing the Wooden Box to Ailus, she spoke softly with an apologetic tone.

“Could you please return this to Darlian-sama as well?”

As soon as her hands felt the heavy weight of the Wooden Box, Ailus knew that the Cookies inside had not been eaten.

She raised her head and gazed into Finihiya’s eyes, clear and dazzling like sapphires.

After hesitating for a moment inwardly, she finally asked.

“This may be a personal question, but may I ask Lady Finihiya something?”

“… Miss Ailus, please go ahead.”

“Are the Cookies not to your taste?”

“No.” Finihiya gently shook her head, responding with a serious yet somewhat bittersweet smile, “They were very, very delicious.”

Ailus could tell that Finihiya’s earnest expression was not a lie, but she also sensed that beneath that bitter smile lay an unspeakable pain.

“I see. As long as you liked them, that’s good.”

She bowed again to Finihiya, then silently turned and walked back.

Finihiya watched Ailus’s fiery red hair flow as she disappeared around the corridor’s corner.

Only after the maid’s figure vanished did Finihiya gently close the door.

***

Taking out the dried meat she had hidden away, Finihiya poured herself a glass of half-cooled black tea.

After sipping the dark tea lightly, she returned to her previous spot, her gaze still lingering on the group of Beastmen gathered around the campfire—seemingly more in number than before.

Two Lizardmen were standing on the tavern table, enthusiastically dancing a foreign tribal dance.

“They look quite happy…”

Staring at the raucous celebration, a faint longing appeared in Finihiya’s eyes.

Staying alone in her room was far too boring.

At this delicate moment, if she wanted to leave the room and stroll through the streets, she wasn’t sure if the Demon Race would approve.

However…

Even if they did, she probably wouldn’t have the courage to step outside.

It wasn’t hesitation that might trouble the Demons unnecessarily; the Demon Town was simply unsafe at night.

Knock, knock, knock…

As her thoughts wandered aimlessly over these trivial matters, a sudden knock came from the door.

The familiar, harsh, and rough knocking immediately made Finihiya guess who was outside.

Wrapping the dried meat in a silk handkerchief embroidered with red roses, Finihiya went straight to the door and opened it.

“Dinner.”

“Thank you.”

The maid shoved the tray into her hands with a cold expression, then turned and left without another word.

Carrying the tray back into the room, Finihiya sat down at the pale gray desk and chair by the window.

Looking at the strangely white-molded Black Bread on the tray, Finihiya let out a small, sharp exclamation.

“Molded…”

Black Bread is a long-lasting food.

For it to become moldy like this, how long had it been stored?

“Sigh—”

A long, heavy sigh escaped from Finihiya’s cherry-red lips.

She pushed the spoiled Black Bread and sour soup aside and took the dried meat out of the handkerchief again.

Luckily, she had anticipated this and stocked up plenty of dried meat.

Chewing on a small piece, Finihiya’s face fell in frustration.

Even the dried meat tasted off, and biting into it made her jaw ache.

If only she had some cumin powder, maybe it would taste better.

At this thought, Finihiya tilted her head slightly and gazed through the window at the night sky dotted with only a few stars.

Night was gradually seeping into the noisy streets.

The swaying shadows of trees cast by the pale moonlight stretched into the dimly lit room.

A silver-white candle quietly burned on the Triangular Candlestick, its warmth dispelling the gloom within.

Darlian sat still at the office desk made of pomelo wood, a quill pen in hand, occasionally marking notes on official documents.

The fatigue accumulated from days of paperwork weighed heavily on her mood, and she sighed softly.

If she had known how hard it was to be the Demon Lord, she might have hesitated to defeat Rolaikes in the first place.

Just as Darlian was lost in these thoughts, the door creaked open gently.

She lifted her gaze and glanced over; seeing Ailus, she lowered her head and continued reading.

“Darlian-sama.”

“Hmm.”

She nodded lightly, then raised her head again to glance at the plain Wooden Box in Ailus’s hands.

“What do you have there?”

“A brocade box containing Cookies.”

“I see. Why are you bringing this?”

“It was returned by Lady Finihiya.”

“Returned?”

“Hm?” Hearing a name that piqued her interest slightly, Darlian raised her head and asked with curiosity, “Returned?”

“Yes.”

Tilting her head in puzzlement for a moment, Darlian gestured for Ailus to place the Wooden Box before her.

She opened it quietly, murmuring softly.

“Could it be that these Cookies were not to her taste?”

When Darlian opened the Wooden Box, she found that the Cookies inside were the ones sent a long time ago—not the recently delivered tea Cookies.

Her eyes scanned the box casually and inadvertently fell on a Cookie with a small bite taken out of it.

Picking up the bitten Cookie, Darlian examined it calmly.

In the dim, faint candlelight, the rough texture and bitten portion of the Cookie appeared hazy.

After studying it for a moment, she withdrew her gaze and looked at Ailus standing nearby.

“And the ones sent just now?”

“Lady Finihiya didn’t accept those either.”

Confusion and puzzlement quickly spread through Darlian’s mind.

Recalling how delighted Finihiya had been eating Cookies and sweets before, she could not understand this strange situation.

If it were a matter of disliking the flavor, that wouldn’t be the case.

Because these Cookies had been among Finihiya’s favorites.

Chaos…

Could it be that the texture of the Cookies was off?

Staring at the bitten Cookie in her fingers, Darlian, troubled by the mystery, took a bite herself.

Pressing her lips together, she chewed carefully, then swallowed.

The taste was not bad.

But due to the long storage, the Cookie had become slightly soft and damp.