Muli, the Dark Elf clan’s Demon Lord.
And being invited by a Dark Elf is definitely never a good thing.
“Dark Elves… Have you ever dealt with them before?”
Cecilia asked nervously.
As a Saintess, she had come into contact with Dark Elves more than once.
This race, as one of the demon clans, was notoriously infamous among other intelligent races.
Dark Elves and the current Elf race share the same origin.
The difference is that the Elves nowadays still uphold relative peace and kindness, whereas the Dark Elves…
They appeared outwardly gentle and elegant, almost indistinguishable from Elves just by looks.
The only physical difference was that Dark Elves nearly all had slightly protruding fangs, a sign they had long abandoned the traditional Elf diet of mild flavors and often hunted prey.
But their outward appearance was worlds apart from their true nature.
As the most grudging race among the demons, offending a Dark Elf basically meant endless trouble.
They held grudges deeply—once provoked, they would devise countless ways to exact revenge, and the severity of their retaliation often far exceeded the original offense.
The most terrifying thing was that Dark Elves never showed their offense on their faces.
Sometimes you wouldn’t even realize you had angered them.
When you thought you were having a pleasant conversation, you might be unwittingly walking into a trap.
“I haven’t dealt with Dark Elves before, or rather, since I became a demon, I haven’t exchanged more than a few words with this Demon Lord.”
Via frowned as she entered the Dark Elf Demon Lord’s residence.
The Dark Elf manor looked like a bird-song and flower-fragrance paradise, very similar to an Elf residence.
Cecilia was even stunned—the courtyard bloomed with vivid flowers, trimmed lawns complemented by towering ancient trees, exuding a vibrant breath of life.
Not to mention the vines and pale golden blossoms hanging down the long corridor in the courtyard.
Even the garden at her old church wasn’t as meticulously arranged as this.
Two Dark Elves had been waiting in the courtyard for quite some time.
When they saw Via arrive, the two female Dark Elves respectfully bowed, then led the pair through this sea of flowers.
At the end of the garden path stood a pavilion, reigning supreme over the floral expanse, its occupant sitting calmly inside.
“Welcome to my garden, dear Via.”
The Dark Elf turned her face slightly, smiling at her guest.
Muli the Dark Elf possessed the unique elegance and gentleness of the Elves.
Sitting serenely, every word she spoke was like a gentle spring breeze, soothing to the soul.
Her blue eyes were so clear and bright, as if never tainted.
Even more striking were her healthy, fair legs.
As if aware of their allure, this Dark Elf did not shy away from revealing their graceful beauty, exposing them directly to the open air.
“Thank you for your invitation, Lady Muli,” Via returned the smile, “This is my servant and currently my regent, Cecilia. You must have heard of her.”
“I have heard that Lady Via took the Saintess under her protection. Now that I see her, I understand why even our Incubus Demon Lord was attracted to a mere Saintess. Honestly, I’m a little tempted myself.”
Muli’s sweet smile made it hard to believe she was a Dark Elf.
After all, this woman before them looked more like an Elf than a Dark Elf—no hint of malice or darkness in sight.
She beckoned, and soon a maid appeared to place hot milk, black tea, and some snacks on the pavilion’s table.
“Today is perfect—many flowers have bloomed in the garden. It’s an excellent time for flower viewing. Dear Via, why don’t you have some tea with me and enjoy the flowers?”
“In that case, I won’t refuse your kindness.”
They sat opposite each other, Cecilia standing silently behind Via.
“Oh, Saintess, please have a seat as well,” Muli politely invited her.
Cecilia glanced awkwardly at Via.
As Via’s attendant, she couldn’t appear too presumptuous, at least not without Viya’s permission.
“Since Muli insists, Cecilia, you may sit.”
The three seated themselves, and for a moment, the atmosphere grew somewhat tense.
Via naturally understood why this Demon Lord had summoned her.
Her sheltering of the Saintess was a big deal among the demons.
Anyone harboring ill will could use it as an excuse to slander her or even openly challenge her.
Muli’s invitation at such a sensitive time was clearly an attempt to stir trouble over the Saintess matter.
However, Via wasn’t sure what Muli’s true intentions were.
Dark Elves were indeed grudging, but as Demon Lords, Via and Muli had little interaction.
The only overlap was when Via was a Saint and had killed quite a few Dark Elves—but that probably wasn’t a grave enmity for Muli.
“You probably don’t quite understand why I invited you here today?”
Muli spoke first, pouring milk slowly into her tea and gently stirring.
“I’m indeed not very clear.”
“The news of our Incubus Demon Lord sheltering a Saintess has spread widely among the demons,” Muli said elegantly, sipping her tea.
“His Majesty the Demon King must have met you already. But the Demon King’s tacit approval doesn’t mean the other Demon Lords agree.”
“My invitation serves two purposes: first, to meet this legendary Saintess in person—after all, many of us Dark Elves have died by the Saintess’s hand, so there’s a certain fate in this. Second, to understand your current situation. For a demon to shelter a human—especially a Saintess—it’s not something that can be explained in a few words.”
Muli’s attitude seemed quite amiable now, but Via was already on guard.
These Dark Elves never showed their ill feelings openly.
What sounded pleasant now might hide other intentions.
“Sheltering the Saintess was my personal decision, and of course, also to revitalize the demons,” Via answered calmly.
“The Saintess is currently persecuted by the church. By sheltering her, we can enhance the demons’ combat strength and better understand our enemies. Besides… having the Saintess in our hands means we have a symbol.”
As she spoke, Via’s eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
She was prepared—if Muli made a move, she would immediately escape with the Saintess.
After all, she was a Demon Lord herself, and running away was still within her power.