Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 812 - 146: Puppet Show (2)

That night she received feedback from the Other Shore.

——"If you keep using that falsetto voice in front of me, I'll smash your head in!"

See, the people from the "Empire" on the other side are just too irritable; the dignified Imperial Knight Commander over there acts like a street thug.

"Other Shore."

Meiliya glanced out at the night scene, always feeling that beneath the surface of peace and prosperity, something terrifying was quietly breeding, and the recent series of changes in the Imperial Capital were likely related to it. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

In the past, the "Demon King" was the Nightmare of this Kingdom, the most terrifying existence in the hearts of all the Empire's residents, but this time she had a hunch that the source of these anomalies was far more terrifying than her.

"Speak quickly."

Lady Bi'an gave Meiliya a sidelong glance, watching this shadow's hesitant demeanor, suspecting that the "Demon King" was about to speak in a falsetto voice again.

Really, of all the things to imitate, she had to imitate Lindong's way of speaking in front of Ethan.

Though that's also a talent, is it something that just anyone can do well?

The white ragdoll cat appeared pitiful in front of Ethan, yet this shadow's manner of speaking only made one want to punch her.

"Tch, are all people on your side as irritable as you?"

"Irritable?"

Lady Bi'an sneered, "They all say my temper is the best."

"Tsk, who would believe you… Wait, are you serious?"

Meiliya was just bantering with Lady Bi'an as usual but didn't expect the latter to be serious, not at all like she was spouting nonsense.

She couldn't help but ask, "Where's your good temper?"

"Remember that Fabius, don't you?"

"The future heir of the Simpler Clan, what about him?"

"I only broke one of his legs."

Lady Bi'an found this to be the most convincing evidence, and as for those assassins sent by Duke Ash, she merely knocked them to the ground, injuries that would heal within a month and wouldn't leave sequelae if properly rehabilitated.

Heavens, she was practically a true knight!

"That's because they encountered me."

"I think you and I may have different standards for 'good temper.' You broke his leg, and that isn't enough?"

Lady Bi'an didn't answer this somewhat foolish question.

In fact, after nearly a week of interaction, she gradually understood Meiliya's true nature—she was simply a bit dim-witted, always asking idiotic questions. Such a personality showing up in a native of the Silver Radiance Empire was a miracle in itself, because even if Meiliya's mind was as pure as can be, a little observation of the Empire's aristocracy would show her what true evil looked like.

"Then tell me, what would someone with a bad temper do in your place? Would they even dare to publicly kill Fabius?"

Meiliya was very unconvinced; she didn't like Lady Bi'an's superior gaze, making her feel like a country bumpkin just out of the village.

Clearly, she was the Demon King, and Lady Bi'an, you're the Imperial Knight Commander; theoretically, you should be a good person!

But as this sentence reached the tip of her tongue, Meiliya forcibly swallowed it back.

No, wait, she suddenly thought that the Imperial Knight Commander and the Imperial Army Commander are the same role, and Lady Bi'an, like Cedric Thorn, shares the same hair color, so that means…

Damn!

This woman might be rotten to the core too!

"Not that easy."

Lady Bi'an's answer confirmed Meiliya's suspicions, "In many situations, death is instead a relief, isn't it? That's why you see the nobles here inventing many tortures and trying their best to ensure the executed do not lose consciousness beforehand; they believe death is the final mercy for those who rebel."

"So what?"

Meiliya's voice weakened, feeling an eerie chill in the air.

"So, imagine if you were a noble and a witch entered your home, killing everyone you cared about in front of you, then using magic to turn them into puppets, making these once-dead people perform like marionettes in front of you every day, with only you knowing the truth, but under the witch's spell, unable to seek help from the outside, forced to live under the same roof with her."

Lady Bi'an paused slightly, "Maybe in your estate, there would be many loyal guards; you'd converse with them daily, and in their eyes, everything about you appears normal. Perhaps a few would notice your oddities, certainly your most loyal subordinates, your final hope."

Meiliya held her breath; although she had never had anything in common with a noble, she could immerse herself in the scene Lady Bi'an painted.

Her tone was calm, far less shocking than flaying someone alive in Imperial City Square, yet soon another entirely different unease enveloped her.

Piercing despair.

Lady Bi'an continued her story, "You hope your subordinates can read your expressions, unveil the witch's true nature, and rescue you from the Nightmare, and indeed they act accordingly. They meticulously plan and feign ignorance, striking at an unexpected moment to deliver a fatal blow to the evil witch. Everything progresses just as you envisioned…"

"So… the noble was saved?"

Meiliya couldn't help but ask.

"Everyone who brings you hope dies before you, and belatedly, you realize this was all the witch's game; she only intended to leave you for last."

Meiliya couldn't speak for a long time, having substituted herself into the noble in the story, feeling suffocated.

"You, you people—!"

"Don't be nervous; what I just told you was simply a story from a dark fairy tale."

Lady Bi'an shrugged, "Just to illustrate that there are many things in this world far scarier than death."

"I must go check the Simpler Clan's estate!"

Meiliya made up her mind.

Meanwhile, in that magnificent palace bedroom, the splendid crystal lamps illuminated the room, bringing a hint of warmth to the cold season.

Duke Ash and his wife sat on the soft and comfortable large bed, enjoying a moment of quiet harmony.

They must be one of the most loving couples in the Imperial Capital, still able to perceive the intense love in each other's eyes at their age.

However, another figure in the bedroom distracted them, the pair straining to focus on the white-haired girl in the room, who was using a broom and dustpan to sweep up shards of ice scattered on the ground, each sweep of the broom's sound like a heavy hammer striking their hearts.

Having completed her cleaning, the white-haired girl suddenly remembered something and turned to Duke Ash, "By the way, weren't you always curious about Baron Fulin's whereabouts? They say the detectives in Gear City haven't found any trace of him yet."

Hearing this, Duke Ash's pupils shrank, blood threads spreading in the whites of his eyes, his hands on the bed trembling slightly, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't even make a fist.

He saw the ice shards being swept into the dustpan, melting into water.

Once the water dried, it would never leave any trace in this world again.

The white-haired girl took out an agate pendant, Baron Fulin's favorite item, a birthday gift personally given by Duke Ash at his coming-of-age ceremony.

Its significance had long surpassed the pendant itself.

It was an embodiment of power; when wearing this pendant walking down Gear City's streets, it signified life-and-death authority over others.

"I thought there'd be a time it would come in handy."

The white-haired girl unfastened the delicate agate pendant, slowly walking to the flushed-faced Duke Ash's side, personally placing the pendant around his neck, "So? Can you feel Fulin's existence?"

Duke Ash's blue-purple lips trembled, yet he couldn't make a single sound.

"It's getting late."

The white-haired girl bid her usual farewell, "See you tomorrow."