Iluse estimated it would take Illiana at least several days to notice. Without those two items, her killing frequency might decrease, which would give Iluse more time to prepare.
Even if she discovered the problem, it probably wouldn’t be a major issue. Given her own status here, Illiana shouldn’t be able to just step forward and openly question her.
Iluse thought this quite confidently after returning to her room.
The worst-case scenario was being confronted alone and interrogated with hypnosis magic. Of course, it was also possible that Illiana would punish her severely, just like the last time she ruined the demon’s plans, but she was already prepared for that.
If she could weaken Illiana’s power at the cost of one punishment, it would definitely be a massive gain for her.
A smile played on Iluse’s lips. The priority now was to hide these two items well…
However, what Iluse completely did not expect was that by evening, Illiana seemed to have already discovered that something was wrong.
“Miss, Illiana says she has an important matter to discuss with you alone. Is that all right?”
That night, just as Iluse was about to pull up the covers and go to sleep, a knock sounded at the door, followed by the head maid’s voice.
‘Illiana is looking for me?’ Iluse was stunned for a moment before her expression shifted. She found out that quickly?!
The girl wanted to refuse immediately, but on second thought, it probably wouldn’t be good to push a demon too far. She nodded and spoke.
“Fine, let her in.”
‘Don’t overthink it, Iluse. Maybe Illiana is looking for you for something else.’
The girl comforted herself internally.
The door was slowly pushed open, and Illiana walked in with a respectful attitude. The moment she entered, Iluse felt the temperature in the room drop significantly. Even wrapped in her blanket, she couldn’t help but shiver.
“S-so, Illiana, is there something you need?”
Iluse forced a smile and asked while looking at Illiana.
“Miss, I apologize for disturbing you so late. It is only because this matter is extremely important, even involving the reputation of the Duke’s Manor.”
The maid’s voice carried no emotional fluctuations, which made Iluse feel a bit uneasy.
‘It involves the reputation of the Duke’s Manor? What, is she implying something about me? Did she find out? Or is she just bluffing?’
Iluse felt a slight jolt of surprise. She decided to remain calm for the moment.
“Well, that indeed sounds important. Go ahead.”
Iluse nodded, her face turning serious.
“Miss, there is a thief in the manor. Two items were stolen from my room. Although they are not valuable, they hold special meaning to me.”
“That is indeed a major concern. I will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to find that thief. Go and get some rest for tonight. Don’t worry, I will definitely find your lost items for you.”
Iluse employed a stalling tactic first, but it didn’t seem to work.
Illiana did not follow her instructions to leave. Instead, she remained standing where she was, her gaze fixed directly on Iluse.
‘Damn it, she really isn’t that easy to fool.’
Just as Iluse was thinking about how to continue her response, she suddenly felt the environment turn cold. The temperature of the entire room seemed to drop drastically.
Following that, she saw Illiana walk unhurriedly toward the bedside. Her pupils had already transformed into vertical slits. Facing a demon directly like this for the first time, Iluse instinctively shrank back.
“I-Illiana? You —”
“Miss… I’m not asking you…”
“Huh?”
“Give my things back.” Illiana was expressionless, but her tone intensified Iluse’s trembling.
“What things? I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Iluse gripped the corner of her blanket, forcing herself to stare back into those inhuman slit pupils.
Fear soaked through her body like ice water, but her last shred of logic allowed her to maintain a facade of composure. Those were the two items that could weaken Illiana; she wouldn’t admit to it easily.
Illiana tilted her head slightly, her jet-black hair falling against her pale cheeks. She wasn’t angry; she didn’t even show any intense emotion.
“Miss, you took my things this morning, didn’t you?”
“W-what evidence do you have?!”
Iluse tried to remain stubborn, but the courage she had just summoned crumbled under Illiana’s pale gold gaze.
“Miss, do not test my patience. I do not wish to use force against you.”
In the face of such rebellious words, Iluse didn’t dare to offer any resistance. She brooded for a long time before finally squeezing out a small whisper.
“Illiana, is this how you speak to your master?”
‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’ She hadn’t expected this woman to come and demand them so bluntly. She had thought Illiana would, at most, drop hints or wait until she was away to sneak into the room and search.
The moment she spoke those words, she felt a pang of regret. Provoking a demon now was undoubtedly unwise.
Sure enough, a purple light flashed in Illiana’s eyes.
“Miss, it seems tonight is not suitable to continue the Master-Servant Game. Please, forgive my rudeness.”
“Wh-what do you want to do?”
Iluse suddenly panicked. Based on what Illiana was saying, was she about to take action?
Illiana did not answer her question directly. Instead, she continued.
“Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t forgive me. After all, you will completely forget everything you see, hear, and feel tonight by tomorrow morning.”
As those words fell, Illiana’s appearance began to change. Her already pretty face became infused with an overwhelming charm.
Iluse’s breath hitched in that instant.
She watched with wide eyes as Illiana’s body began to undergo a bizarre, logic-defying transformation.
The maid uniform seemed to be peeled away by invisible hands, yet it didn’t actually fall. Instead, it dissolved into strands of black mist that coiled around her gradually revealed skin.
That skin was so pale it glowed, but it was now covered in an eerie, pearlescent light-purple pattern, appearing like venomous vines soaked in moonlight.
“Illiana…”
Iluse’s voice was stuck in her throat, leaving only a faint gasp. This was the first time Illiana had shown her **Demon Form**, and it was… terrifying.
When she snapped back to reality, the maid’s previously obedient and delicate face had been replaced by an inhuman, aggressively beautiful visage.
Her full lips were a dark, bruised red, and the corners of her mouth were turned up slightly — not in a smile, but with the natural, cruel interest a predator has for its prey.
“Miss, fall into a deep sleep… Hand over your consciousness to me…”
Illiana’s voice was incredibly seductive. To Iluse’s ears, every syllable she uttered felt like an invisible feather scraping against her heart.
‘I’m being hypnotized again.’
Iluse’s heart hammered against her ribs. This time, she was truly uncertain. This was the first time Illiana had revealed her **Demon Form** to her, and she had no idea what kind of torment she was about to face…