Chapter 100

Since there were still people waiting for her at home… she all the more couldn’t allow herself to perish in this remote wilderness!

“Father… Mother… thank you.”

Livra clutched the hem of her long dress, tinted a gentle violet, her expression not burdened with much gravity.

Parting with her parents, she walked straight through the royal lineup without looking back, like a homing bird soaring toward the skies, unbound by any chains.

She proceeded alone on this narrow path leading to the unknown.

She had probably walked for about ten minutes.

As agreed, Livra saw the figure of Lady Xiarette, who had come to meet her, from afar.

“Ah…! Lady Xiarette, your home is really off the beaten path! Completely out in the sticks!”

“Hah? Your Highness, you really know how to greet someone…”

Who starts a conversation by calling someone’s home remote?!

Xiarette approached her at a measured pace.

She glanced at the open space behind Livra and, seeing no one following, couldn’t help but show a bit of admiration in her tone.

“Your Highness actually came alone… Aren’t you afraid?”

“Not at all. Lady Xiarette and Miss Shaya usually watch over the Demon Clan Princess together, don’t you? I’m just learning from you both.”

“Your optimism and courage are truly a blessing for the kingdom. Uh… Princess Livra? What’s the matter?”

As they moved forward, the crystal-clear lake reflecting the sky before the villa had already come into view.

But at that moment, Livra suddenly stopped walking. She clasped her hands in front of her, her expression becoming shy and conflicted.

Hearing Xiarette’s question, Livra timidly raised her hand and asked:

“Um… May I ask, is the Demon Clan Princess in a good mood today? No urge to kill or anything… right?”

“Probably… she’s fine?”

“Then…! Also… before we go over there, may I use the bathroom first? Ugh, I’m afraid if I get scared later… I might not be able to hold it in…”

“……”

You really are well-prepared.

While passing the villa, Xiarette waited at the door while Livra took a quick trip to the bathroom.

It didn’t take long. Refreshed and relieved, Livra exited the house looking radiant.

Phew… Thank goodness I remembered to take care of internal business first.

Otherwise, if she really got scared later and had an accident, her elegant princess image would be over!

Livra glanced around.

Maybe she was trying to relax herself further; sincerely complimenting Xiarette’s home might help lift her own spirits too.

“Looking at it this way, Lady Xiarette, your home is truly beautiful. Unlike the stifling castle, there’s a lake outside and mountains in the distance—it feels full of life… Uh, except the fish in that lake over there are a little odd… They seem really afraid of people. I hadn’t even gotten close, and they all swam to the center.”

“That has to do with the fish’s living environment. They weren’t like that before.”

Livra didn’t quite understand what exactly “living environment” referred to here.

But rather than caring too much about some big fish, she was clearly more interested in the whereabouts of a certain someone she admired.

“Hmm? Is Miss Shaya not home? I heard before that she lives with you? That’s such an enviable relationship—pure as snow, true friendship is the best.”

Pure… pure?

Xiarette didn’t respond to that.

She did, however, agree with the part about “full of life.”

Xiarette nodded as a gesture of thanks for Livra’s compliment about her home.

Then, she raised her hand and pointed toward the entrance to the underground labyrinth.

“As for Shaya, she went ahead and is already waiting at the entrance to the sealing site. Does Your Highness need to prepare anything else, or shall we head there now?”

“Then I’ll go relieve myself one more ti—! Ugh, never mind, let’s just go. No point dragging it out. If the Demon Clan Princess gets irritated waiting, I might go from a horizontal death to a vertical one. Lady Xiarette, tell me, I won’t die today, right?”

“I can’t say.”

“Ah…! You’re saying ‘you can’t say’ again!”

“Because I really can’t say. So… good luck staying alive?”

“So half-hearted… truly half-hearted… This is painful.”

While Livra was busy praying all the way that she’d survive, Xiarette led her to the entrance of the underground labyrinth.

From afar, Livra could see that Miss Shaya was indeed waiting beneath a tree!

For some reason, every time Livra saw Miss Shaya, her mood would always feel a bit lighter.

She took several brisk steps forward, lifting her long dress slightly as she ran over to greet her.

But just as the words were about to leave Livra’s mouth, she suddenly noticed…

“Huh? Miss Shaya? Did you not sleep well last night? You look like you haven’t fully woken up… Miss Shaya…? Hello…? Miss Shaya?”

Miss Shaya’s eyes were clearly open.

But she wasn’t looking at anyone, and she didn’t respond either!

“I got this.”

Xiarette stepped in front of Livra, took Shaya’s cheeks in both hands, and started kneading them repeatedly.

Though she was clearly trying to wake her up, there was a distinct tenderness and fond affection hidden in Xiarette’s actions.

“Shaya, wake up. Time to get up.”

“Mm? They’re here?”

Shaya, still expressionless, slowly turned her head toward Livra.

Although she still found Miss Shaya a bit strange today, Livra quickly nodded and greeted her as usual.

“Good morning, Miss Shaya! Were you spacing out just now…? Whew, you weren’t moving at all—I thought you had fallen asleep! Pfft… Just kidding, who could sleep with their eyes open, right?”

“I wasn’t joking. I really did fall asleep just now. I’m the kind of person who can sleep with my eyes open.”

“Terrifying!”

“Enough with the ‘terrifying’—hurry up and get moving. That witch Sheffy has been waiting on you forever. The terrifying part’s still ahead.”

—

17. Arrival (4K)

Livra couldn’t shake the feeling that Miss Shaya seemed to be in a bad mood today…

She held a lantern lit by a Light Magic Crystal in her hand, walked at the front with an expressionless face, and said not a single word.

Xiarette reminded Livra to watch her step on the stone stairs, and along the way, offered a bit of “clarification.”

“Princess Livra, here… we can’t act all playful. Shaya needs to maintain a serious demeanor. You see how tight-lipped she is? It’s because the Demon Clan Princess doesn’t like people being cheerful or laughing around her. Just think—if you were the one locked up here, your mood wouldn’t be great either. Seeing others laugh and smile would only make her angrier.”

“That really makes sense…!”

Livra quickly tried to imitate Miss Shaya’s stern expression.

Where others looked like someone owed them money when they frowned, their current expressions looked like someone owed them their lives!

Ah… sorry, Princess Livra.

We can’t tell you that Shaya is currently a magical puppet construct.

And don’t blame me for scaring you—Sheffy said it herself: since you’ve come this far, we need to put a little pressure on you.

Drip.

As the sound of Livra’s pale blue high heels clicked against the solid ground, the previously dim environment suddenly lit up.

Along both sides of the stone wall, the sconces all burst into flame.

The faint firelight illuminated the stone path ahead, leading deeper into the quiet, mysterious stone forest.

Livra swallowed and patted her chest to encourage herself, then quickly caught up with the other two.

It was so quiet here—terrifyingly quiet.

Thanks to Xiarette’s earlier warning, Livra didn’t dare speak too much now.

Only Lady Xiarette and Miss Shaya walked ahead through the flickering firelight, and the oppressive atmosphere felt like it could suffocate someone.

Their footsteps echoed clearly off the stone floor, and the path—though not long—soon came to its end.

Illuminated by firelight stood a massive, cold stone door, firmly set into place.

Xiarette placed her palm into the groove embedded in the stone door, then turned her head back with a solemn expression.

Livra had almost never seen Lady Xiarette look so serious!

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived. Just beyond this door… lies the sealed place of Sheffy Harl.”

“Al… alright.”

“As we discussed earlier, Shaya and I can’t accompany you inside—otherwise everything we’ve prepared would be wasted. One more reminder: although the Demon Clan Princess is sealed, that doesn’t mean approaching her is completely safe. Please keep your distance. If the situation turns dangerous, run back and pound on the stone door for help. I’ll open it as quickly as I can to get you out—well, that’s assuming… you manage to escape.”

“Would it still be possible for me to squeeze in a sprinting practice session now…?”

“Too late for that. You’re on your own now.”

“Eh! No prep time at all?!”

Before Livra could finish reacting, Xiarette pushed her hand firmly against the groove and opened the stone door.

A light far brighter than the dim corridor outside immediately flooded through, causing Livra to squint in discomfort.

Xiarette couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

Sorry, but you really need to head in now.

Helping Sheffy put on this act is seriously eating at my conscience. Better to rip the bandage off quickly than drag it out—so, go on.

Xiarette truly lived up to her name as a loyal servant of the kingdom. Seeing Livra hesitate and tremble with nerves, she simply grabbed her by the collar and yanked her through the stone door, giving her a solid push!

In that instant, Livra’s mind went completely blank. She even had the brief illusion that Lady Hero had turned traitor and was plotting to kill her!

She knew this moment would come eventually—she just hadn’t expected it so suddenly!

She hadn’t even walked in by herself.

Livra instinctively turned to look back, only to find that the stone door had already shut tight, perfectly sealed, with no sign it would open again.

I… I’m completely done for.

Turning her stiff neck back from the sealed door…

Livra hunched slightly, trying to protect herself as she took stock of her surroundings.

She scanned the area but couldn’t spot the Demon Clan Princess.

Compared to the place they had walked through earlier, this chamber was simply more spacious, brighter with firelight, and even quieter.

But beyond that—oh, oh! The firelight here was a dark purple color. Way more terrifying than outside!

Livra, thoroughly on edge, desperately scanned the area for any clues—anything at all—but still couldn’t find any trace of the Demon Clan Princess.

“Could Lady Xiarette have brought me to the wrong place…? That can’t be right…”

She muttered under her breath in confusion.

Driven by her puzzlement, she even tried to call out quietly—though her voice trembled from fear.

“Um… Princess Sheffy…? Are… are you hiding somewhere…? Could you… could you maybe come out and talk for a bit? Ugh, what am I saying?! I sound so stupid!”

Livra lightly thumped her own foolish forehead, wishing she were just a little bit smarter.

She couldn’t find the Demon Clan Princess, right?

But in truth—the Demon Clan Princess was watching her right now.

Sheffy’s brow twitched uncontrollably.

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