The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 605 Ophelia on the Road
The moment Mia's eyes met Karen's, she almost instinctively shrank back, a hint of panic appearing on her beautiful face.

That serene and holy face, and that golden hair like ears of wheat, looked as if she had stepped right out of a mural in St. Clement's Cathedral.

Without a doubt—

She is Ophelia Castellion from the Holy City!

Seeing the surprised expression on the other person's face, Mia panicked first, her face paling as she turned her gaze to Luo Yan, who was equally astonished—

'Did I...did I come at the wrong time?'

She did indeed show up uninvited without saying hello.

But she could swear that she hadn't intentionally caused trouble for the Demon Lord; it was purely because of a message from the Hell Intelligence Bureau headquarters—

The imperial delegation is on its way to the Duchy of Campbell, and the young lady of the Castellón family is among them!

Mia had come here to avoid the limelight and take the opportunity to conduct a surprise inspection of what Xiao Luoyan was up to, but she never expected to run into "Ophia" as soon as she opened the door.

The sloppiness of hell is also found here.

On the one hand, they seem unprofessional; they know about every little thing happening in the Holy City. On the other hand, they're incredibly professional, failing to even obtain a photograph of Ophia's magic tricks, and instead providing Commander "Ya Ya Mitia" with only written intelligence.

Luo Yan didn't understand why Mia would suddenly mention Ophia's name, but Karen quickly realized what was going on and said softly.

“My esteemed lady, you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is not Ophia… my name is Karen.”

Seeing Padridge's pathetic state, Vivian covered her mouth with her hands, laughing so hard her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

"Kukuku! As expected of a lowly demon—"

Before she could finish speaking, a pale blue hand of source energy appeared out of nowhere and silenced the rest of her words.

Luo Yan glanced at her.

The little guy seemed to be getting a bit carried away.

Although those present were all family members, there were still guests outside who hadn't come in yet.

If Eileen overhears this, it will cause some trouble.

Mia's face flushed red.

She glared fiercely at Vivian, who was babbling incoherently, but she couldn't do anything about the sharp-tongued girl, so she turned her gaze back to Luo Yan.

"Ka...who is Karen?"

Luo Yan's expression was somewhat subtle as he softly offered a reminder.

"I should have told you."

Mia was stunned for a moment, and her long-buried memories were finally brought to the surface again.

Luo Yan did seem to have mentioned this matter, and it was when she was still slacking off in the Demon King's Management Department... It was even considered one of her achievements.

Thinking of this, Mia's face turned even redder, her lips moving helplessly up and down, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

However, now is clearly not the time to discuss personnel arrangements in Hell, since Eileen and Theresa are still behind them, heading towards the main building of the manor.

They came together.

Just then, the tightly closed oak door opened again, and two dashing figures walked in as the wind and snow blew into the hall.

"Everyone's here..."

As soon as Eileen finished speaking, her emerald green eyes fixed on Karen, a hint of surprise flashing across them.

She glanced at Luo Yan subconsciously, then at Karen, who was smiling, her usually dignified tone now tinged with a slight stutter.

"How will you be here?"

Unlike Mia, who had only heard of Karen's name in written briefings, Eileen had met Karen once before.

There were even brief "clashes".

It was during the Eternal Claw crisis that broke out in Twilight City that the two rode up to Prince Corin's side at the same time.

It was through Colin's connections that this Salvation Army saint learned the secret of her unexpected transformation into a vampire.

According to Prince Colin's script, once Irene's vampire identity is exposed, the Holy Maiden will use the "Oracle" label to give her the title of "Holy Blood Clan" and forcibly whitewash her.

Just like how she previously bestowed titles like "Holy Spirit" and "Heroic Spirit" upon the dead, regardless of whether the Vatican could accept it, the people of the River Runner could.

Although this backup plan was ultimately not used, Eileen always held this sentiment in her heart. At least Karen did not reveal her secret and bore all the stains of the war alone.

She had always wanted to thank Karen for this.

However, ever since their parting in Twilight City, this saintess seemed to have vanished into thin air, and there has been no news of her for a long time.

The last time Eileen heard this name was on an arrest warrant issued by the Church of Saint Clement. It was said that she had killed several nobles in the north, alarming even the royal family of the Kingdom of Rhodes, who sent the Duke of Dragonwatch City to hunt her down.

But who would have thought that this saint, wanted worldwide, was actually in the estate of a prince of the Os Empire...

This is truly...blasphemous.

Luo Yan could guess what Eileen was thinking.

Although Ophia's name appeared here, it was something he had expected, as both Mia and Eileen were visiting at the same time.

"That's a long story, let's talk about it at dinner."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Sarah, who was waiting quietly to the side.

"Sarah, I'll leave the room arrangements to you."

Sarah's cat ears twitched slightly, and dressed in a maid outfit, she lifted her skirt and gave a slight bow, her amber eyes filled with impeccable professionalism and respect.

"Yes, Your Highness."

……

Sarah is extremely efficient.

In less than half an hour, the fireplace in the first-floor restaurant of the manor was reignited with a roaring fire, dispelling the long-accumulated chill within the stone walls.

Dinner wasn't particularly lavish, but the steaming soup, freshly baked soft bread, and sizzling grilled meat filled the entire restaurant with an irresistible aroma.

The firewood crackled softly in the stove, and the firelight illuminated the people seated around the long table.

This was the first meal at the manor, and the atmosphere was more like an elegant picnic than a formal banquet for nobles.

Vivian was feeling resentful because her room had been ruthlessly relegated to the end of the corridor, separated from her beloved brother by the entire length of the corridor.

She sat silently in the chair, her pale fingers tearing at the bread in her hand as if it were Sarah's ear.

Although she didn't speak, her crimson eyes were constantly scanning the long table, stealing glances at Mia sitting opposite her.

This house is full of "enemies"—

We absolutely cannot let our guard down for even a moment.

Unlike Vivian, who was breathing on everything, Mia displayed the decorum of a mistress, naturally taking the right-hand seat closest to the Demon King.

She held a silver spoon in her hand, casually stirring the thick broth in the bowl. Every couple of stirs, she would lift her eyelids and steal a glance at Karen, who sat diagonally opposite her.

The lowly vampires are not worth mentioning.

The cat in the countryside is also an honest cat.

The only person she was wary of was this girl named Karen.

That pure and kind smile seemed harmless, like a well-behaved puppy that never fights or grabs. Yet, the tenderness hidden beneath the corners of her eyes always triggered the alarm bells of Padric in her heart.

This guy—

She might be even harder to deal with than Eileen!

Thinking that Luo Yan's father seemed to have been "defeated" by a woman who served the gods, Mia became even more nervous.

Theresa sat next to Eileen, her posture upright.

As a well-educated knight, she was experienced in matters of love, though she lacked experience with men and women.

Without a doubt—

The biggest threat to her master right now is that Ms. Karen.

That woman was practically a born cult leader; she exuded an innate, believable power.

Not to mention His Highness Colin, even he himself found it difficult to resist.

Karen felt a little flustered.

She doesn't deny that she has improper thoughts about the gods she serves, but she hasn't done anything yet, so why are all the malicious gazes focused on her, a mere mortal?
Isn't that "Ya Ya Mitia" the biggest threat?
She glanced furtively at His Highness the Divine Prince, who sat in the main seat, and looked at him with a pleading gaze.

Luo Yan gave her an apologetic look, asking her to be patient a little longer, and then looked at Sarah standing to the side and said.

"Sarah, there are no outsiders here, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. Please sit down and eat as well."

Sarah nodded slightly and said softly.

"Your Highness, I have already eaten."

"Yeah."

"Yes, a good waiter will taste the master's food and drink before the master eats to prevent anything bad from being mixed in... I already ate it while I was in the kitchen."

That's really thoughtful.

Having experienced that grueling ordeal before, Luo Yan was no longer entirely confident about the food served from the kitchen.

Next time, let Tafel eat first.

Under Sarah's gentle gaze, Luo Yan took a sip of warm black tea and casually chatted with Mia beside him about the snow scenery and greenery near the manor.

Once the atmosphere had calmed down a bit, he put down his teacup and naturally steered the conversation back on track.

"Eileen".

Hearing His Highness Colin suddenly call her name, Eileen put down her knife and fork and looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"What's wrong, Your Highness? Why are you suddenly so serious?"

"There are some things I haven't found the right time to tell you." Luo Yan gazed into her emerald green eyes, his voice steady and gentle. "I hope you can hear the truth from me, rather than from those rumors outside that are half true and half false."

Eileen straightened her back slightly and said softly.

"Please speak."

"Regarding that New Testament sect active in the Twilight Province..." Luo Yan's gaze was open, and after a pause, he said, "Actually, I am their supporter."

He avoided using overtly provocative terms like "founder" or "mastermind," deliberately taking a step back. This was both a consideration for Eileen's receptiveness and a perfect protection of his "Prince Colin" persona.

Upon hearing this, Eileen remained silent for a moment.

She gently bit her lower lip, then gave a bitter laugh and said.

“Actually… I had some suspicions. Your Highness Colin, your familiarity with the internal affairs of the Salvation Army in Twilight Province far exceeds what one would expect from an ‘Imperial Prince.’ I just didn’t expect you to be involved so deeply.”

Mia, who was sitting next to Luo Yan, also gently put down the spoon in her hand.

Those pink eyes glanced subtly at Eileen, observing the princess's emotional fluctuations, while simultaneously assessing in their minds just how far the Demon King intended to play this card.

Vivian was the same.

As Eileen's "parent," she could sense the emotional fluctuations of her family members. Although she didn't think Eileen would harm her brother, she still had to be wary of the dinner suddenly turning tense.

Compared to Mia and Vivian's nervousness, Luo Yan remained calm and continued speaking in a gentle tone.

“I’m sorry for keeping this from you for so long, but when I saw those corpses of the starving people all over the ground, I just couldn’t leave them alone, and I couldn’t bear to extinguish the only flame of hope in their hearts.”

“I can understand. After all, you are a kind person. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have lent a helping hand to us when Thunder City needed it most. But… I still don’t understand.”

Eileen took a deep breath, her tone revealing a hint of confusion and worry. She looked directly into those deep purple eyes and continued speaking.

Why would you support an organization that has been labeled a heretic by the Vatican?

Luo Yan pondered for a moment before speaking.

Do you think Karen is a bad person?

Eileen shook her head.

"Anyone who stands up to the mortal realm when the avatar of the Claw of Eternal Hunger descends, instead of turning and running away... can never be a bad person."

Luo Yan looked back at those emerald green eyes.

"Then why do you listen to the Vatican, which is thousands of miles away, and let a group of people you don't even know define her and her supporters? You've never even met those bishops, and you don't know if they are good or bad people."

Eileen was speechless for a moment.

Kallen looked surprised. She glanced furtively at the Demon Lord who had spoken up for her, and an unnatural blush gradually rose to her face.

"indeed……"

Erin clenched and unclenched her hands, which were curled up on her knees, and took a deep breath, then exhaled along with the stale air in her chest.

She looked at Karen and spoke in a sincere tone.

“Ms. Karen, I apologize for the prejudice in my heart.”

Karen shook her head slightly and said in the same sincere voice.

“Princess Eileen, please raise your head. You have done nothing to wrong me, so why should you apologize? Instead, I should thank you. Unlike other lords, you did not distance yourself from us simply because our understanding of the Holy Light is different.”

“My lord may find this hard to accept as a compliment,” Theresa interjected, looking Karen in the eye. “Ms. Karen, we sympathize with your plight, but we are not you—”

"Theresa, that's enough." Eileen interrupted her softly. Theresa lowered her head, said "Sorry," and then shut her mouth.

Eileen looked at Colin and continued speaking in a tone of incomprehension.

“I can understand your sympathy for the people of Twilight Province, but I still don’t quite understand why you, a prince of the Os Empire, would do something so contrary to the Holy See?”

She carefully considered her words.

I originally wanted to use the word "oppose," but that seemed somewhat inappropriate.

However, compared to Eileen's reserve, the prince of the empire was much more straightforward, directly stating his intentions to her.

"Because the empire is already corrupt, Eileen, haven't you noticed?"

Eileen paused, taken aback.

Her brother had said something similar, but she had always avoided the issue of the overly obvious political motives.

However, Luo Yan did not stop, but instead tore the already torn shell even more thoroughly.

"...The nobles of the Holy City are obsessed with the endless struggles and power games between factions. They have long forgotten the original intentions of the founding of the Os Empire. In order to achieve their own goals, they would rather watch the common people at the bottom of society fall into the flames of war and watch thousands of people be burned to ashes."

“I tried to change all of this, but I couldn’t find any way to change things in the Holy City. It was a stagnant pool. They just wanted to drag me along to sell the flesh and blood of the Imperials for a good price. So I had no choice but to leave there and wander through the colonies and vassal states on the outskirts of the Empire, trying to find a way out from those who had not yet been corrupted.”

Vivian, who was tearing at the bread, froze, her mouth agape.

Endless factional infighting?

Hmm... This doesn't sound like she's commenting on the Empire at all; it sounds more like she's describing her hometown, Hell.

Eileen stared at Colin in astonishment, overwhelmed by the grand ideals he described, and was speechless for a moment.

Unexpectedly, the empire's wounds were reopened by the empire's prince.

However, she was no longer a child and was not completely led by the nose by Prince Colin. Instead, she continued to ask the questions that had been bothering her.

"But...why involve the Vatican? The New Testament sects have indeed done a lot of good deeds in the Twilight Province, but it is also an indisputable fact that they are wanted by St. Clement's Cathedral."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and answered decisively.

"Because the Empire and the Papacy are one entity, haven't you realized that yourself? Otherwise, you wouldn't have asked me why I, as a prince of the Empire, would oppose the Papacy."

Eileen held her breath and fell completely silent.

Seeing the speechless heroine, Luo Yan continued.

"Even though St. Clement's Cathedral and the Senate have some power differences, they remain united on core interests. As long as the Empire continues to exist, what happened yesterday will happen again tomorrow, just in a different form. And the encroachment of chaos on the people on the borders of the Empire will never stop... No one can escape it."

A long silence fell over the restaurant, broken only by the faint crackling of the firewood in the fireplace.

Vivian clenched her little fists and held her breath, excitedly watching the drama unfold.

The Demon Lord, who had been lurking in the human world, finally tore off his disguise and pointed his sword at the Os Empire!
What choice will the brave lady make?
Kukuku, I can't wait!
but--

Things did not develop as simply as Vivian had hoped. Her retinue did indeed struggle and feel confused for a short time, but eventually they loosened their clenched fists.

Prince Colin's monologue truly shocked Eileen.

But she was also keenly aware that this storm of change had exceeded her limits, as well as the limits of the Campbell people.

She took a deep breath and honestly shook her head.

“Your Highness, this topic is too grand for me. I admire your vision and ideals, but I only want to lead the Campbell people to live a peaceful life in this chaotic world. The Duchy of Campbell does not want to oppose the Empire, not because we agree with the Empire, but because the size of the Duchy of Campbell simply does not allow us to take risks.”

However, she paused for a moment, a bright smile spreading across her face.

"Of course, I will lend you the sword in my hand, just as you once extended a helping hand to me without hesitation... even if it means going against the empire. And please believe that I will always stand by your side."

Theresa looked at Eileen in surprise, not expecting that her master could speak so eloquently without her guidance.

This was truly... beyond her expectations.

Mia smiled, though she felt a pang of jealousy, she was genuinely happy that the Demon King had successfully corrupted the human hero.

Padridge certainly deserves some credit for this, even though she didn't put in much effort. Her tolerant attitude is a contribution in itself!

Luo Yan nodded slightly, his gaze softening, showing full understanding of Eileen's answer.

“I understand, Eileen. I have never expected the Duchy of Campbell to be at odds with the Empire, nor do I intend to push you into a direct confrontation with the Empire. All I need is for you to maintain a tacit understanding and turn a blind eye to Karen and the New Testament Church’s upcoming activities in the Twilight Province.”

There was a pause.

Luo Yan added softly.

"Anyway, this doesn't do you any harm, does it?"

Eileen is an exceptionally intelligent girl.

She immediately understood the subtext behind those words—

The existence of the New Testament sects makes them the perfect target; they will attract the hatred and attention of the majority of the Papacy and the Empire.

In contrast, the industrial revolution quietly taking place in Thunder City was able to grow unscathed and rampant under this cover.

The pressure will still be there, but it will be much less.

“Indeed, in fact… that’s one of the reasons I want to thank Ms. Karen; her efforts greatly reduced the pressure we would have faced,” Eileen said candidly.

“It’s too formal to keep saying thank you,” Karen smiled a little shyly and continued in a bashful voice, “but to be honest, I’m very happy to hear that I can help you. You helped me a lot back outside Twilight City.”

"At that time, it was a matter of mutual assistance, since we were facing the same enemy, so it wasn't a question of who was helping whom."

At this point, Eileen's tone softened, carrying a hint of genuine emotion.

"Moreover, I have witnessed the changes you have brought to this land. Especially on my train journey here, I personally experienced these changes."

She recalled the faces of ordinary people in the carriage and continued.

"The passengers who boarded the train from the towns and villages spoke of the Salvation Army and the saint with heartfelt gratitude. More than one person privately lamented that if it had been the Salvation Army instead of the Inquisition, the Twilight Province would never have fallen into such a state of widespread famine." Hearing this, Karen's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she had been touched.

Sensing that the atmosphere at the dinner table had become somewhat melancholic, Eileen immediately changed the subject and adopted a lighter tone.

“Speaking of which, the changes here are really huge. I still remember the days when I was trapped in Twilight City. The city was extremely short of supplies, and it was difficult to even buy Miss Sarah some apples. But now, even in a small, unknown place like Gravit, you can see fruit vendors.”

Sarah, who was carrying a kettle to refill everyone's water, paused slightly upon hearing this, and her expression became somewhat subtle.

"Your Highness, you must have wanted to eat it yourself."

A blush instantly spread across Eileen's fair cheeks, but in order to maintain her image in front of Prince Colin and his subordinates, she still muttered a defiant remark under her breath.

"I...I thought you liked to eat it!"

Perhaps finding Irene's expression too adorable, Theresa, sitting next to her, couldn't help but chime in.

"Indeed, His Highness finished off the fruit that Miss Sarah didn't finish."

"Enough, Theresa..."

Eileen glared at Theresa with a hint of annoyance, while the latter looked bewildered, unaware of what she had done wrong.

Although it sacrificed Eileen's already limited authority, the atmosphere at the dinner table was completely relaxed thanks to this interruption.

Even Mia's lips curved slightly into a smile, although she didn't change the frequency of stirring the soup at all, and even stirred it faster.

Indeed, art imitates life.

She had a sudden inspiration for the script that she couldn't write no matter what she tried!
Eileen coughed lightly, trying to bring her blushing expression back on track.

"In short... just as I promised His Highness Colin, I will turn a blind eye to what you are doing in Twilight Province."

As she spoke, she looked at Karen and solemnly made her promise.

"And that's not all, Miss Karen. I've heard that the New Testament Church is building schools and orphanages in towns and villages along the railway line in the Twilight Province. Although the Duchy of Campbell itself isn't exactly well-off, I'm willing to do my best to cooperate with you in this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Karen's face once again showed gratitude. She turned around, grasped Princess Eileen's hand, and said sincerely.

“Thank you, Your Highness Eileen! Your kindness will save countless children who have lost their shelter in the winter.”

With the support of the Knights Hospitaller and the Principality of Campbell, she will surely be able to complete the mission given to her by the Demon Lord more smoothly!
Eileen smiled and grasped the saintess's hand in return, feeling the warmth of her palm, and said softly.

"No need for thanks. Although we have different beliefs, we are both children of the Holy Light, and that will never change."

She doesn't care which god the New Testament sects worship; as long as they uphold the goodness and order represented by the Holy Light, they are respectable fellow travelers.

Two hands clasped together, golden candlelight streaming through their fingers. To onlookers, the scene possessed a certain sacred and moving quality.

however--

This scene, which would normally be heartwarming to most people, made a certain little vampire's shoulders twitch involuntarily, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

The scene from that night resurfaced in Vivian's mind; Teresa's "breath so close" made her whole body tense uncontrollably.

Noticing Vivian's unusual behavior, Mia turned her head in confusion and asked in a low voice.

What's wrong with you now?

"No, it's nothing."

Vivian suddenly sat up stiffly, her crimson eyes darting left and right, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Vivian just felt that the ventilation in this manor wasn't quite perfect, and she always felt a cold wind blowing... Haha, I wonder if it's haunted."

It's haunted, that's alright.

Is this considered a crime warning?

Luo Yan picked up the spoon with a normal expression and continued drinking the thick soup in the bowl, as if he hadn't heard anything.

Anyway-

This "historic meeting" went relatively smoothly.

He had initially worried that bringing all the ships into one port might cause a capsizing accident, but now it seemed that Karen was more sensible than he had imagined.

Dinner came to a close in a harmonious atmosphere.

The conversation quickly shifted from the grand destiny of the empire back to the warm and mundane details of daily life.

Out of Eileen's curiosity, Karen briefly recounted recent events, including the new-style church schools she was preparing for and the progress in establishing schools in several major villages along the railway line.

Many of the Ryan refugees who had fled to Thunder City were inspired by her to return to this land, bringing back the seeds of knowledge.

Eileen listened attentively, nodding occasionally and offering some practical suggestions—for example, Thunder City could provide a batch of teaching materials, as Thunder City University's library has many books suitable for beginners, compiled by the encyclopedia's editorial team in their spare time.

These teaching materials were originally prepared for Roland City, but given the current turmoil there, they are probably not needed for the time being. Perhaps they can be extended to Twilight Province first.

At this point, Eileen also mentioned the educational reforms her brother was currently pushing forward in Thunder City.

Although Edward's educational reforms completely reclaimed the power of education from the church and transformed it into a secular system with both public and private education, the two sides did not disagree on the ideals of spreading natural science and Enlightenment culture.

Perhaps the two sides could exchange ideas on school-running matters, such as exchanging teachers and students. As a member of Campbell's royal family, Eileen would be happy to help coordinate.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became increasingly harmonious.

The problem that the Holy Light Council couldn't solve even after several meetings was resolved by the Holy Maiden in the time it takes to eat a meal.

Actually, this is all thanks to the Demon King.

Although he didn't say a word about these specific matters.

Later, Mia enthusiastically joined the conversation, suggesting that the Iris Theatre Troupe could produce a stage play for the rural teachers in the Twilight Province.

Actually, she had been thinking about this while she was on the train.

"The tour of 'The Bells' in the Principality of Campbell had an unexpected and remarkable effect on spreading republican ideals. I'm sure that as long as we stand from the perspective of the locals and write a script that resonates with them, we will definitely get more indifferent onlookers involved!"

Karen's eyes lit up, and she gave a heartfelt compliment.

“Miss Yaya’s idea is brilliant. Although I haven’t seen the stage play, I could hear people talking about the bells of Thunder City when I was in the northern border of the Kingdom of Rhodes. They said your story made suffering something with a name.”

"Is that so? Hahaha..."

Mia blushed, gave a stiff smile, and then whispered.

"Actually, that script was written by His Highness Colin..."

“But the Iris Theatre Company is yours, isn’t it?” Karen blinked. “A good story is important, but being able to bring it to the stage is also a skill.”

This flattery made Mia feel quite flattered.

By Bayeris—

Finally, someone acknowledges Lord Padridge's abilities!

However, just as she thought this, she heard a sabotaging voice from the side.

"Chirp... Don't listen to Miss Mia's bragging. She owes so many scripts and still hasn't written them." Vivian glanced at Mia and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing. "When it comes to getting things done, Vivian is the most reliable. She never drags her feet."

Mia blushed instantly and glared fiercely at Vivian.

"Why can't I write anything! I'll write now! I'll write tonight!"

"Kukuku, well, we'll see then." The little vampire's smile became even more irritating, his index finger hooking at the corner of his mouth as he flicked his tongue wildly.

Luo Yan found it difficult to look directly at Vivian and looked away.

"Sarah, where is my room?"

"It's the second one on the right-hand side of the stairs on the second floor. Would you like me to take you there?"

What's the first one on the right?

"Of course it is me."

Sarah leaned down gently, her black hair falling over her shoulder perfectly obscuring Mia, who was bickering with Vivian. "If you need anything, just ring the bell on the bedside table."

It was just a very ordinary thing, was it necessary to say it in such a mysterious tone?
Luo Yan mentally complained, but then caught a glimpse of those slightly upturned lips.

This guy—

Could it be that it's deliberately playing a trick on its owner?

While the Demon King was thinking this, Sarah didn't give him a chance to see through her thoughts and nodded slightly as she stepped aside.

“Speaking of which, I’ve always been quite curious about when Ms. Kojiro’s new drama will finally be released…” Teresa blushed and interjected, looking at Miss Mia who was arguing with Vivian, “It’s that… story about friendship.”

That was the script that Teresa was most looking forward to, and she contributed many of her own ideas to it.

However, upon hearing her words, Mia's expression became somewhat subtle, and she began to stammer.

"Um... let's put it off for now, I have too many things to do lately."

Although Teresa was disappointed, she still expressed her understanding.

"Is that so... Well, there's nothing I can do about it then. But I'm still really looking forward to that drama, so please don't forget about it."

……

The warm atmosphere continued until after the meal, and even after Luo Yan left for his study on the second floor, there was no sign of him becoming more reserved.

In the study, the dim yellow wall lamp cast a warm and ambiguous glow, and the candlelight in the glass shade flickered gently.

The night is dark.

The spruce forest outside the window was bathed in a tranquil silver light by the moonlight, and the evening breeze carried fine snowflakes, silently pattering against the glass windowpane.

The voices of Vivian and Theresa could still be faintly heard from the living room downstairs.

I don't know how these two got together, but they seem to be having a heated discussion about the melodramatic plot of a certain novel.

It might be a script that Mia hasn't finished yet.

Speaking of this, Luo Yan always felt it was very strange.

Vivian wasn't very good at dealing with Theresa, and he noticed it several times.

However, this is also where her twisted nature lies—the less adept she is at dealing with someone, the more unconsciously she will approach them.

In this respect, she is more like a cat than Sarah.

Hopefully, she won't encounter any strange guys in the future.

Luo Yan sat behind his large oak desk, flipping through a document that had just been urgently transferred from Leiming City.

At that moment, the door hinges made a soft creaking sound, and the study door opened and then quickly closed again.

The visitor was none other than Mia.

In fact, the reason Luo Yan left the bustling restaurant and came to this quiet study was precisely to wait for her.

"Why did you come with Eileen? You didn't even tell me beforehand." He looked up from his documents, his voice carrying just the right amount of surprise.

"Can't I just miss you? After all, we haven't seen each other for a month."

Mia's voice carried a hint of coquettishness as she gave him a resentful look with her heart-shaped eyes before striding over to the desk and unceremoniously sitting down on the corner.

Her movements were practiced and natural, just like back in the Demon King Academy. However, unlike before, the blush that crept from her cheeks to her neck betrayed her inner turmoil, completely lacking the ease and "arrogance" she once possessed.

Luo Yan smiled gently.

"Of course. To be honest, I miss you very much too."

"Really?"

Mia opened her eyes in surprise, but quickly let out a soft hum.

"You're definitely just trying to comfort me."

Luo Yan sighed softly and put the documents in his hand aside.

"It seems my dear Mia needs me to prove something."

Seeing Luo Yan's actions, Mia felt both sweetness and a slight panic, and quietly slipped off the corner of the table.

"Wait, wait a minute... I'm here to talk about serious matters. Don't do anything strange yet, let me finish..."

Luo Yan paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup faltering slightly, and gave her a strange look.

"Have I...done anything strange?"

He simply put the documents aside, picked up a teacup, and intended to pour her a cup of tea; how did it turn into something strange?

Mia's face flushed red instantly. She stammered for a long time but couldn't get a straight answer. Finally, she let out a strange cry, squatted down, put her arms on the table, and buried her face in her arms like an ostrich.

"No, don't make fun of me!"

"I wasn't laughing. You can get up now... I'm curious what's making you look so serious when you come to see me." Luo Yan suppressed a barely suppressed chuckle, coughed lightly, and put the teacup aside.

His only flaw, if any, is that he didn't use magic.

However, given Padridge's poor observation skills, he probably wouldn't notice such a detail.

Mia quietly lifted one eye from her arms and saw that Luo Yan was not laughing at her, but was sitting in the chair with his fingers interlaced very seriously. Only then did she blush and let go of the table she was holding tightly.

"Cough-cough-"

Miss Mia, having regained her footing, coughed twice forcefully, then composed herself and addressed Luo Yan in a serious tone.

"The Hell Intelligence Bureau has sent reliable information. The Holy City of the Os Empire is about to send a high-ranking delegation to the Duchy of Campbell, and Duke Andre Castellion's youngest daughter, Ophia, has infiltrated this delegation!"

At this point, she sighed helplessly and explained her earlier outburst downstairs.

"That's why I mistook Karen for Ophia... that dazzling blonde hair and innate holy aura are just like a noble from the Holy City."

Luo Yan couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

Do you know any nobles in the Holy City?

Mia shook her head honestly.

"I don't know him!"

"Although I don't know what kind of message the Hell Intelligence Bureau gave you, they probably blurred some things that shouldn't have been blurred," Luo Yan said after rubbing his temples with his index finger and thinking for a moment.

Perhaps it was Mr. Melucine's prank.

He could guess that the information about Ophia probably contained some of his own information... such as that they were quite close.

It's quite normal for Mia to misunderstand that Ophelia came from the land and passed through her area, especially since Ophelia herself is a member of the scientific school.

In short, this is indeed important intelligence.

However, at this moment, Luo Yan was not most concerned about the imperial delegation that had not yet arrived, but rather about the situation of Miss "Ya Ya Mitia".

Mia bit her lower lip and continued.

“As you know, the alias I’m using now is ‘Ya Ya Mitia,’ and my backstory is that of the youngest daughter of the late nobleman Gilbert Mitia of the Holy City, who is also Baron Harvey’s younger sister. Although the Hell Intelligence Bureau has done a very thorough job with this file, I myself have never been to the Holy City and do not know this Harvey…”

Mia paused here, her fingers tightening slightly as she gripped the hem of her skirt, revealing her nervousness.

“If anyone in the delegation knows the Midia family, or if Ophia herself remembers the name… then that would be troublesome, wouldn’t it? My alias might not stand up to scrutiny in front of the real nobles of the Holy City.”

She lowered her eyes, and her voice became slightly weaker.

"I came to Twilight City this time, saying that I came along with Eileen, but actually... I also wanted to stay here and avoid the storm."

To be honest, she wasn't worried about her identity being exposed and encountering any danger. Anyway, she didn't have any deep feelings for the human world, and at most she would just go back to Shanghai to stay.

Miss Ophia couldn't do anything to her.

What Mia truly couldn't let go of was her dear classmate Luo Yan, whom she cared about the most.

Especially when she thought about the important role she played in the Demon Lord's plan, she couldn't treat it casually.

Seeing the unease hidden in Mia's eyes, Luo Yan remained silent for a moment, then separated his interlaced fingers and stood up from his chair.

He walked up to Mia, reached out and took her hand that was tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, and said in a gentle but firm tone.

"Don't worry about causing me trouble. Just act like you normally do, and leave the rest to me."

Mia lowered her head, her pink hair falling down her cheeks, covering most of her face, but unable to hide the blush on her cheeks.

"What if she gets something on me? I don't want to cause you any trouble..."

“Then… she’ll get caught,” Luo Yan said, looking at Mia’s slightly puffed-up cheeks. He stopped joking and adopted a serious tone. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to be affected by something as small as this. At this point, she can’t change anything no matter what she knows, and she may not even want to change anything.”

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Besides, I've never thought of you as a nuisance."

Those words warmed Mia's heart.

The only thing that made her a little jealous was why Luo Yan was so familiar with Miss Ophia, and why he was convinced that she wouldn't cause trouble even if she discovered something.

However, all her lingering emotions vanished the moment she saw the face she had longed for.

The snow outside the window seemed to be falling even harder. The snowflakes that were quietly pattering against the window seemed to make a sound, pattering like applause.

The study had fallen silent at some point, with only the occasional crackling of the fireplace and the gradually overlapping breaths of the two people remaining.

Her pink eyes gradually lost their disguise, revealing their captivating hearts once more, just like her increasingly rapid heartbeat.

have to say--

Those eyes truly possessed a captivating power.

Luo Yan didn't want to admit that he was arrogant, and he was even less willing to admit that someone could hold something against him, but Mia might be an exception.

He really had no defenses against her.

Just as the tranquil atmosphere was about to ferment, Vivian suddenly screamed downstairs, as if she had been startled by something.

"Teresa, how could you show Miss Vivian this kind of thing! This...this is wrong!" Vivian herself said this, and Luo Yan almost choked.

What followed was Theresa's flustered explanation.

“Wait a minute, Miss Vivian, you just said you were an adult, that's why I took it out—”

"I'm an adult! Of course I'm an adult! But this thing is so strange! Kukuku, let Vivian take another look to confirm!"

"Teresa, why haven't I seen this book on your bookshelf?"

"Your Highness, Your Highness?!"

"Idiot, how could you put this kind of book on the bookshelf!"

"Huh? Then, where do you usually put it?"

The noise gradually subsided.

Perhaps the three of them realized that the old house was not very soundproof, and that the topic they were about to discuss was not suitable for everyone to know.

Mia blushed and whispered something, breaking the awkward silence between them.

"So the soundproof barrier is one-way...?"

Luo Yan said softly.

"Well... that's generally the case. This prevents any unexpected events from happening outside that I wouldn't be able to hear."

(End of this chapter)