Ilyse’s breathing almost came to a standstill. Under the moonlight, Eliana’s figure stood silently by the bed, positioned right at the boundary between the silvery light and the darkness.
One half of her face was illuminated by the moon, while the other half was hidden in the shadows, creating a spine-chilling sight.
“E-Eliana? Why are you here?”
Ilyse stammered, her back already drenched in cold sweat.
“Did you have a nightmare? I heard your moaning and thought I would come check on you.”
Ilyse nodded stiffly, her throat too dry to make a sound. She gripped the bedding tightly. The cool touch of the silk helped her regain a bit of clarity, but it also made her realize how vulnerable she was. After all, she was only wearing a thin nightgown and was completely defenseless.
“Miss, why don’t you tell me about the dream? Maybe you will feel better if you speak it out.”
While speaking, Eliana had already walked to the side of Ilyse’s bed and leaned over slightly.
A shadow loomed over her, bringing with it a unique fragrance — a blend of soapberry and a certain flower. It was a scent familiar to Ilyse, but right now, it made the hair on her neck stand on end.
‘How could I say it?’ Ilyse thought to herself.
‘If I tell her I dreamed she killed me, would she drop her act and kill me on the spot?’
Ilyse forced a smile and shook her head slightly.
“I’m sorry, Eliana. I don’t really remember it.”
“How pity… Then, Miss, have you ever dreamed of me?”
A cool hand reached out, and her fingertips gently brushed away the sweat-dampened silver-white hair from Ilyse’s forehead. The movement was gentle and considerate, making her seem like a completely different person from the demon in the dream who had sliced open her bodice with her nails.
But Ilyse’s pupils suddenly contracted.
Aided by the moonlight, she saw it clearly. When Eliana mentioned herself, her eyes had shifted into **Vertical Pupils**!
“N-No…”
“Is that so?”
The corners of Eliana’s mouth curled into a perfect arc, showing a mix of concern and a hint of helplessness.
“You have been sleeping restlessly lately. Do you need me to warm a glass of milk for you? Or… tell you a story?”
“N-No need for the trouble, Eliana. You should go to sleep too. I want to rest for a while longer…”
Ilyse avoided her gaze and pulled the covers back up.
Silence — a suffocating silence spread through the room.
Ilyse could feel that gaze still lingering on her face, moving slowly and meticulously, like a cold blade measuring her silhouette.
“Very well, as you wish, Miss.”
Eliana finally spoke, her voice still soft. She straightened up, took a step back, and merged back into the shadows.
“I wish you a pleasant dream.”
She turned, the hem of her maid’s dress swirling silently as she walked toward the door. However, when she reached the entrance, her footsteps stopped.
Immediately, Ilyse’s back, which had just begun to relax, tensed up again. Had she noticed something wrong? Or did she want to finish things early —
“By the way, Miss,” Eliana said, as if suddenly remembering a trivial matter. “The new **Silver Dining Knife Set** just arrived at the kitchen. Which one would you like to try for breakfast tomorrow? The patterns are all very exquisite.”
Ilyse could feel the other woman’s gaze fixed on her face, but she didn’t dare look up. If she did, the terror on her face would be completely exposed!
“Just pick whichever one you like best.”
Ilyse spoke in a muffled voice, buried deep under the covers.
“Understood.”
Eliana nodded slightly. This time, she truly opened the door, and her figure disappeared into the deeper darkness of the hallway.
The door closed gently, and the sound of the latch clicking shut was exceptionally clear in the silence.
Only then did the girl dare to poke her head out. She collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Cold sweat had long since soaked her back, and her chest ached from the pressure of fear.
‘Damn it, as expected of a demon. She’s so suspicious! If my words were even slightly off, she would surely have killed me immediately!’
Furthermore, she had to be careful. According to the game’s setting, the demon could use **Hypnosis Magic** before regaining her full power. Although this magic was useless against the protagonist, she had to stay alert at all times to prevent the other party from discovering her anomaly.
Lying in bed, Ilyse felt for the first time that the night was incredibly long…
***
The next day, the arrival of morning brought neither sunshine nor peace. Ilyse walked to the window. Although Eliana had not arrived yet, the rainy weather already made her feel nervous.
Standing before the ornate floor-length mirror, Ilyse still felt a bit strange, even though this wasn’t the first time she had seen herself after the transmigration.
The girl in the mirror had long white hair that was messy from the night’s panic, draped over her shoulders and chest. A few strands had even playfully crawled into the slightly open collar of her nightgown, resting on that shockingly fair skin.
The **Lavender Silk Nightgown** made her complexion look even more translucent. The lace at the collar rose and fell gently with her breathing, outlining the soft curves beneath that could not be ignored.
Ilyse took a deep breath and slowly began to untie the ribbons at the back of the nightgown.
Her fingers were clumsy and wouldn’t listen to her. The fingers that had been incredibly agile when tapping on a keyboard before her transmigration were now like those of a child learning to tie knots for the first time, tremblingly fumbling with the smooth silk ribbons.
Finally, the ribbons came loose. The front of the nightgown fell open slightly, revealing a startlingly white expanse deeper within.
“Ugh…”
Feeling a chill on her chest, Ilyse looked away. Her chest heaved. Just by untying one ribbon and exposing this much, the never-before-experienced sensation of skin being exposed to the cool air, combined with the direct visual impact, made her almost want to give up.
‘Damn it, it’s not the first time.’ She closed her eyes, grabbed the hem of the nightgown with both hands, and gently lifted it upward.
The silky fabric rubbed against her arms and the top of her head, carrying her faint fragrance as it was completely stripped away. The cool air instantly enveloped her entire body, bringing a wave of fine shivers. She could even feel the goosebumps instantly rising on her arms and back.
The weight in front of her, now freed from restraint, made her feel a slight pressure, trembling slightly with her nervous breaths.
There was an indescribable, subtle stimulation from being exposed to the air that she had never experienced before.
A slender waist, long and straight thighs, a full and seductive figure… Every curve was laid bare, absolute perfection.
If one ignored the heavy dark circles under her eyes, the girl in the mirror was an absolute beauty.
‘Damn it, it’s all that hateful Eliana’s fault…’ the girl thought as she let out a yawn.
Just as she was about to put on the clothes beside her, a knock sounded at the door. The voice that had kept her awake all night echoed once more.
“Miss, it is I, Eliana. May I come in?”
Ilyse’s heart almost stopped beating.
“W-Wait!”
Her hands frantically grabbed the nearest garment — a **Morning Gown** draped over the back of a nearby chair.
The silk material was cold and smooth. She hurriedly shoved her arms into the sleeves and tied the belt into several dead knots with trembling fingers before it was barely secured.
Her chest rose and fell with hurried breaths. The collar of the **Morning Gown** was wide open, exposing a patch of snowy skin and the deep shadows of her collarbones, but she couldn’t afford to care about that now.
The door was pushed open a crack. Ilyse could feel that familiar gaze landing on her once again…