Even if Lace had sprouted black wings just like hers right then and there, Avira wouldn’t have believed that nothing was wrong.
What could make the formerly arrogant Crystal Dragon King—Ophitia’s older sister, no less, who was powerful enough to serve as combat backup—so bashful and awkward?
She decided to start by asking Ophitia.
” Lady Ophitia, what happened?”
“Nothing~”
Ophitia smiled. “I just told Oleniya about what we’re doing today. She was a bit shocked, that’s all.”
“You told her about having a child? And about Lace?”
“Of course.”
What was there to emphasize about that?
Avira began to piece together Oleniya’s motives.
Meanwhile, Lace looked completely innocent, utterly clueless about what had happened. It turned out Ophitia hadn’t even mentioned it to her.
Avira shot Ophitia a look, signaling her to explain quickly, then left to find the maids.
Since they had to clear the snow from the grounds and the snow-covered gardens, the maids were usually busy until late. It wasn’t mealtime yet, so Avira had to search for them outside.
She exited through a small door on the first floor of the Royal Palace and reached the snowy grounds. Heading north along the path led to the pavilion and gardens, where the maids typically rested.
But Avira hadn’t taken more than a few steps before she felt the cold… It seemed this body hadn’t fully recovered yet. Normally, strolling through a blizzard in a short skirt wouldn’t faze her at all—that was the vitality of the Saintess Bloodline.
” Lady Avira?”
Catherine was the first to spot her. She had been huddled around a table, discussing something with the others.
At the sound of her voice and her gaze, Elisa, Molly, Maryvian, and Oka all turned their heads.
Elisa looked a bit dazed. Avira could see a hint of demonization in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. It seemed she shared some unspoken connection with Oka.
Oka had become unusually outgoing and bold during their discussions. For some reason, these past few months as a maid had amplified her personality. She was no longer the timid girl pleading for answers in front of Avira.
Molly was the same as ever, always tinkering with new inventions and wild ideas. Avira suspected she hadn’t truly been demonized at all—that she was just using it as an excuse to work in the palace. But based on her performance over the months, she hated humans with a passion and was utterly loyal to the demons, fully aligned with the Demon King.
At the very least, in terms of magical contributions, Molly’s merits were outstanding. The Evil Demon Army—the demons’ strongest force—had transformed under Atia’s guidance into a swift, agile elite unit like the wind. Molly had even personally trained them as an instructor, teaching the Evil Demons and others team tactics that made them rival the Saint Knights.
As for Maryvian, she was as diligent as Catherine, their performances quite normal. Molly, Oka, and Elisa served as multifunctional maids, handling not just housework and service but also military roles similar to yet distinct from the Moon Heaven Kings.
In contrast, Maryvian and Catherine were pure maids, often busy inside the palace, and they regarded Oleniya as both a big sister and their superior.
Maryvian often consulted Catherine on swordsmanship, but when it came to housework, the roles reversed—Catherine even sought Maryvian’s advice on noble etiquette.
—That was Avira’s full understanding of the maids during this time.
” Lady Avira!”
“Welcome back.”
“Congratulations! Looks like it worked. We were sweeping all day and had no idea~”
“Yeah, Oleniya didn’t notify us either.”
“Is Lady Avira feeling unwell?”
The maids immediately turned their concern to Avira, their chat shifting straight to her.
Avira gave a wry smile.
“I’m fine, no worries.”
Then she asked, “Can you update me on what’s been happening with the Blood Clan these past few months?”
According to intelligence from Oleniya and Atia, Pomistan had begun making moves.
They were pressuring the Blood Clan, and if things went as expected, Belis was probably swamped right now.
She would get the punishment she deserved.
Molly stepped forward and handed Avira a bronze envelope.
“We have a letter from Pomistan. A Blood Clan duke passed it to Oleniya, who asked me to give it to you.”
Why not hand it straight to the Demon King? This girl…
Avira opened the envelope.
It was handwritten by Savassen himself, essentially proposing cooperation.
Pomistan’s demands were straightforward: they would help gather the Demon King’s seals and offer them up. In return, the demons needed to dispatch a force rivaling the Catherine Knight Order to aid their further conquests.
Avira had assumed Pomistan would stay silent. Now it seemed they harbored even greater ambitions.
If she remembered correctly, one of Pomistan’s technologies involved specialized “bullets” and countermeasures for various races. Hundreds of flying warships with cannons—who would think this wasn’t a battlefield from millennia in the future?
But…
Pomistan lacked the strength to clash with the Holy Church.
” Lady Avira, starting tomorrow, I’ll officially become the Head Maid.”
“When did you hear?”
“Just got the notice. Mm, and the Demon King mentioned it to me ages ago. Of course, I’m still not allowed on the second floor of the palace.”
Avira found the news a bit odd but didn’t dwell on it. She chatted briefly with Oka and Elisa, patted Catherine’s head, and left.
As she departed, she felt like she’d overlooked some crucial clue all along.
…
Ten o’clock at night.
Avira finished her bath and entered her familiar yet unfamiliar dressing room. She slipped into a comfortable, loose black lace undergarment, then selected a black qipao with gold patterns and put it on.
The exposed-shoulder design allowed her wings to unfurl perfectly behind her—it was practically tailored to her measurements. Of course, there were plenty of other custom outfits from Ophitia that she couldn’t wear while pregnant.
Avira chose the qipao because it exposed her thighs, and Ophitia had a fondness for legs.
She disliked stockings but loved seeing Avira’s pale skin. Though Avira usually found such thoughts utterly depraved, indulging her wife’s lewd desires was a form of virtue.
The qipao was a bit tight, but that was fine. It might get torn later anyway, and leaving some intact wouldn’t hurt…
She was about to style her hair when she caught sight of her reflection: a graceful beauty dressed like a gift, wrapped up neatly. Avira fell into deep thought.
The Dominator’s Seal hadn’t activated in months. Had it been erased?
