Chapter 503: The White Demon’s Fate

On the other side of Myrta, inside Selena’s office, the morning light filtered through the repaired windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. A servant stood quietly behind Selena’s chair, pouring hot tea into three cups. Steam curled upward, carrying the faint scent of herbs.

Selena sat behind her desk, her remaining hand resting on the armrest. Her expression was calm, but her eyes moved between the two women seated across from her.

Lilith sat with her arms crossed under her chest, the posture pushing up the fabric of her dress and emphasizing the curve of her medium bust. Her crimson eyes gleamed with their usual amusement. She looked completely at ease, as if she owned the room.

Isolde sat beside her, posture straight and proper, though her fingers tapped once against her knee. She didn’t touch her tea.

Selena broke the silence first.

"I assume you’re both here because of Adam."

Lilith’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"Partially. But also because we owe you an explanation for what happened last night."

She leaned back in her chair, arms still crossed, the motion drawing attention to her figure without her seeming to notice or perhaps she did.

Isolde glanced at her, then back at Selena.

"We also need to discuss what comes next. The Thanatos Faction isn’t going to stop because its plan failed."

Selena nodded slowly, lifting her cup with her hand.

"I know. That’s why I wanted to speak with you both before you leave."

She took a sip, then set the cup down.

"What Adam plans to do about the Demon King?"

Isolde kept her hands folded in her lap, her untouched tea still steaming on the table. Her eyes fixed on Selena with calm precision.

"We’re going to the Demon King directly." She straightened slightly. "We’ll negotiate. Explain what happened with Deiora and make it clear we’re not his enemies."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "You think the Demon King will simply listen?"

"He will if I’m the one who speaks," Isolde said. "My name still carries weight in the Demon Territory. And if negotiation fails..."

Lilith finished the sentence with an amusing smile. "Then we deal with the Thanatos Faction ourselves. Cut them off before they become a bigger problem."

Isolde nodded. "We handle Thanatos quietly. Make sure they can’t interfere while we’re meeting with the Demon King."

Selena leaned back in her chair, studying the two women before her. Her fingers tapped once against the armrest.

"So you want to use your connections first. Walk in through the front door with your name, and if that doesn’t work..."

"...then we burn the back door down," Lilith said cheerfully.

Selena let out a quiet sigh.

"You two really are something else."

Isolde lifted both hands slightly, palms open, as if the answer should have been obvious.

"If we don’t do this, we’ll be the ones buried in trouble. Thanatos won’t stop. And the Demon King won’t listen to a group of strangers who killed his people without explanation."

Selena gave a small wave of her hand toward the servant behind her. The servant stepped forward and refilled her cup, steam curling upward once more.

"But with that approach," Selena said, lifting the cup with her remaining hand, "you’ll make your old family your enemies again. The moment you stand before the Demon King, they’ll know."

Isolde finally picked up her tea. She lifted it to her lips and took a slow, elegant sip, her expression unchanged.

"That’s something I’ll think about after the plan succeeds."

She took another sip.

Selena tapped her chin with one finger, her gaze drifting toward the window for a moment.

"After the plan succeeds, huh..."

She let the words hang, then looked back at Isolde. Her expression was calm, but there was something knowing behind her eyes.

"Isolde. You do understand what you’re walking into, don’t you?"

Isolde set her cup down with a soft click and met Selena’s gaze without flinching.

"I know exactly what I’m walking into."

Selena studied her for a long beat, then let out a quiet breath.

"Then I won’t waste my breath trying to talk you out of it."

Lilith raised one elegant hand and pressed it lightly against her left cheek, tilting her head with a lazy, knowing smile.

"But we already have insurance in case the plan fails. Want to know what it is?"

Selena’s interest flickered in her eyes. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her remaining hand.

"What is it?"

Lilith’s crimson eyes slid toward Isolde for just a moment before returning to Selena.

"We’ve already taken the White Demon hostage. With someone like that in our hands, they’ll have no choice but to consider our negotiation."

Selena’s expression shifted, somewhere between surprise and interest.

"The White Demon... you already captured her?"

Isolde let out a slow sigh, closing her eyes briefly as if she had already heard this discussion too many times.

"It was a precaution. In case they try something. But the White Demon isn’t that important." She opened her eyes and looked at Selena. "She’s only Deiora’s subordinate."

Selena tapped her chin slowly, her gaze turning thoughtful.

"But the White Demon has impressive achievements of her own. I doubt the demon side would simply abandon a competent subordinate like that."

Lilith gave a small shrug, the motion casual and unhurried.

"She only has one hand now. She won’t be as strong as she used to be."

Selena’s brow furrowed. She set her cup down and leaned back in her chair.

"Then it was pointless. Why would you take her hostage at all if she’s already weakened?" She looked between the two of them. "What was the point of making her a prisoner?"

Isolde let out a quiet sigh, her expression flat.

"I said the same thing."

She glanced sideways at Lilith, who merely smiled back at her without a trace of guilt.

"But Lilith insisted. She wanted to take her prisoner." Isolde paused, then added, "And Adam agreed."

Selena stared at them for a long moment. Then she pressed her fingers against her forehead and let out a slow, tired breath.

"So the two of you dragged your leader into this decision, and he just... agreed?"

Isolde didn’t answer. She simply picked up her tea and took another sip, her expression carefully neutral.

Lilith, on the other hand, looked entirely satisfied with herself.

"Adam trusts my judgment."

Selena gave her a blank look.

"Does he?"

"Usually."

Selena closed her eyes briefly, as if praying for patience.

"I’m starting to understand why Adam looks so exhausted all the time."

Lilith tilted her head, her smile widening.

"He does, doesn’t he?"

Selena opened her eyes and fixed Lilith with a steady gaze.

"Tell me something. This White Demon. Is she truly valuable enough to justify the risk? Or did you just want a pet to play with?"

Lilith’s smile didn’t falter, but something sharper flickered behind her crimson eyes.

"Both, actually."

Selena stared at her for a beat longer, then turned her gaze to Isolde.

"And you allowed this?"

Isolde set her cup down with a soft click.

"I told her it was unnecessary. She ignored me." She paused, then added quietly, "Adam agreed with her. So that was the end of it."

Selena let out another sigh.

"You’re all going to get yourselves killed one day."

Lilith’s smile widened, and she pressed her fingers lightly against her cheek again, clearly enjoying herself.

"But isn’t it interesting?" She leaned forward slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming. "When that big one demon was healed and wanted to leave, he dismissed the White Demon right in front of everyone. Threw her away like she was nothing. It was harsh and brutal."

She tilted her head, feigning sympathy.

"The poor thing was devastated. So, as a kind person, I offered her a place to stay."

Isolde gave her a long, blank look.

"By making her a prisoner."

Lilith raised a finger, correcting her with a perfectly calm expression.

"No, no. She’s a hostage, not a prisoner. There’s a difference."

Isolde stared at her.

"I already told you. It won’t be useful."

"Maybe not," Lilith said, her smile turning sly. "But maybe she’ll be useful as our entertainer. Think about it. The same woman who fought us with all that arrogance in the beginning, now sitting there helpless, completely at our mercy." She tilted her head, clearly savoring the image. "Isn’t that interesting?"

Isolde closed her eyes briefly.

"No. That’s just you. You’re a freak."

Lilith only smiled wider.

Selena looked between the two of them, then leaned back in her chair with a thoughtful expression.

"From what you’ve told me, it sounds like Deiora doesn’t need her anymore. So the White Demon is just... useless now." She paused, then glanced around the room. "But I don’t see her anywhere. Where exactly are you keeping her?"

Isolde picked up her tea and took a calm sip before answering.

"I made her my familiar."