Jonathan, now dressed by the Blood Demon, looked at himself in surprise as she gave a short, impressed comment.
"Would you look at this kid?"
"Mmhmm."
It was his first time wearing such luxurious clothing. With something slicked into his hair and standing rather stylishly in front of the mirror, Jonathan found himself quietly impressed.
'At this level, don't I look just as good as Sir Isaac?'
I, Jonathan— Was I the kind of guy who could pull off being stylish after all?
The harsh training in Helmut had broadened Jonathan's shoulders, and his body had grown lean and muscular. It wasn't obvious before, but now, dressed in a perfectly tailored high-end outfit, he realized he might look better than he had thought.
"How do I look?"
Honestly, Jonathan felt confident.
The Blood Demon had dressed him personally, and looking at himself now, he didn't think he looked bad at all.
"Oh my."
The Blood Demon, covering her mouth with a fan from who knows where, widened her eyes slightly in mock surprise—
"You look absolutely hideous."
—then delivered the blunt blow with chilling composure.
"..."
"I didn't know this before, but when someone plain tries to dress up, it doesn't make them look good. It just makes them look like they're pretending, which is even uglier."
"..."
"I've never dressed up an ugly kid before, you know. Up till now, I've just killed them."
Jonathan was suddenly pulled back to reality.
The brief moment where he felt like a younger brother shopping with his older sister was gone in an instant.
Those cruel words that rolled off her tongue so casually weren't jokes—
And that weighed heavily on Jonathan's heart.
"Well, beauty doesn't always come from appearance alone. Let's just keep things reasonably polished."
Despite Jonathan's clear shift in mood, the Blood Demon continued speaking indifferently.
"After all, you'll be introduced as my little brother. I hope you don't embarrass your big sister."
"..."
Trailing behind her, Jonathan's mind was in turmoil.
He was with the Blood Demon right now, but hadn't he already decided to follow Isaac?
'I really do feel like a traitor.'
No—
Not just a feeling. Jonathan couldn't shake the thought that he truly was a traitor.
Strictly speaking, maybe they were never truly on the same side, but… ever since he started calling her "sister," the Blood Demon had become special to him.
"What are you spacing out for? Come now."
Noticing Jonathan zoning out, the Blood Demon grabbed his arm and led him along.
'Does she really not know?'
Jonathan was the one who informed Isaac about the Blood Demon's existence.
With her sharp political instincts—sharp enough to match Princess Adeline—could she really not have noticed his betrayal?
Jonathan was scared.
But—
"Let's go."
All he could do was quietly follow behind her as she held his arm and walked forward.
***
A few days later.
Jonathan, dressed somewhat awkwardly, was preparing to welcome guests at the Duke of Gelamius's estate.
Unlike last time, it wasn't an overly fancy get-up, but a neat and proper look befitting a knight.
'This feels the most comfortable.'
Feeling at ease in this outfit, Jonathan looked around with satisfaction.
The Blood Demon's banquet.
The very fact that it was being held at the Duke of Gelamius's estate was already a blow to Princess Adeline's standing.
After all, Duke Gelamius was known to be one of the Princess's allies.
'But wow, this is extravagant.'
To be honest, it felt like he'd walked into a wedding.
No—
It was far grander than the wedding he had seen at the cathedral last time.
'I heard the Princess's banquets were more modest and elegant.'
Even for a gathering of royals and nobles, hers were said to be modest—
Which, in turn, made them more respected by the people.
'This is the complete opposite.'
As Jonathan looked around absentmindedly, he spotted the Blood Demon and the duke descending the stairs from the second floor.
"How is it? Doesn't it feel like we're announcing a grand new beginning? Not even a royal wedding would be this splendid."
The Duke of Gelamius boasted proudly, as if today's banquet were his wedding with the Blood Demon herself. He was visibly overjoyed.
"..."
Meanwhile, the Blood Demon crossed her arms and tapped her elbow with a finger.
Jonathan didn't know much about her, but he understood that gesture—it meant she was holding herself back from tearing apart something utterly repulsive.
However, Gelamius seemed to misunderstand even that, smiling brightly as he added:
"Don't worry too much. It's just a banquet, after all. Her Highness the Princess is still on her tour, isn't she?"
"That's not what I'm worried about."
The Blood Demon let out a sigh.
The only possibility that word of this banquet could've reached the Princess during her tour was one person.
'Jonathan. No one else.'
But the Blood Demon had been keeping a constant watch over Jonathan. Caring for her "younger brother" gave her a good excuse to do so.
Now, the nobles had begun arriving, one by one.
Perhaps due to the "secretive" nature of the banquet, these nobles—who normally adorned themselves with ornate garments—were all draped in plain robes, bowing low, walking silently.
To the Blood Demon's eyes, that only made them look more like subjugated prey, filling her with a quiet satisfaction.
'How pleasing.'
Yes—
They looked just the way they should.
Muttering to herself, the Blood Demon descended the stairs and headed toward the first guest to arrive.
"Captain Veros of the Royal Guard."
"..."
If the nobles were trophies, then Captain Veros was the most valuable among them.
He was, quite literally, the closest person to Princess Adeline—her shield. And now, that shield had been stolen and put on display here.
"It would've been nice if your daughter could've joined us today. I suppose it was difficult for her to attend."
"..."
Veros's expression darkened.
Even that was amusing to the Blood Demon—
The fact that, despite all his frustration, he couldn't say a word back to her.
It was proof that she held complete control over this relationship.
"I wanted her to formally meet Jonathan. I believe they'd suit each other well."
"..."
"We should proceed with the engagement as soon as possible. There's no need for something extravagant like this place."
"..."
"Jonathan's foster mother is a nun. If we ask her, it can all be handled quietly and swiftly."
Seeing Veros wait in silence, saying nothing, only lifted the Blood Demon's mood.
'The knight Jonathan wants to become… the highest rank among them. He should be satisfied with this.'
Among all the positions she could offer Jonathan as a knight, this was the most prestigious.
She had already made plans to appoint him as the next Captain of the Royal Guard.
"Hm? That's quite the adorable necklace you're wearing."
Then, noticing the small apple-shaped pendant around Veros's neck, the Blood Demon let out a snort of laughter.
It was cute and delicate—completely unfitting with Veros's image.
Most of the invited nobles had now arrived.
"Ahem… So there are still those who didn't come, even after being summoned."
When the time came, the main gates were closed.
The Duke of Gelamius glanced at the few empty seats at the grand dining table and let out a displeased cough.
But the Blood Demon was satisfied.
Those who chose not to attend would become the perfect example.
When others see the price they'll pay for this absence, they'll only be more desperate to align themselves with her.
After all, nobles were still human.
They felt fear. And they could drown in it.
"Well then, let us all raise our glasses."
With a pleasant smile, Gelamius led the gathering.
"Though it's unfortunate Her Highness is busy with public affairs and couldn't join us, that does not diminish our loyalty in the slightest, does it?"
There was clear mockery in his words, but no one dared address it.
They simply raised their glasses in silence.
"To our unwavering loyalty—"
Gelamius even copied Princess Adeline's usual toast, his lips curling into a sly smile.
It was outright insubordination—practically rebellion in tone.
But beside him sat the Blood Demon, her red eyes glaring downward at the guests.
Each and every one of them was bound to her with a leash that bore a different name.
And leashes—
Exist solely to drag someone in the direction the master desires.
They had been dragged here.
But the truth was, they had also walked in on their own feet.
'Hah… there's no way out of this.'
'Damn it.'
'Well, maybe this isn't so bad. Maybe we've backed the right horse.'
In the end, they had boarded the same ship.
And that meant they had to stake their lives on it.
Gelamius continued his toast.
"The next glass, which we shall someday raise—will be for the nameless soldiers who bled and gave their lives—"
BOOM!
A violent gust of wind surged through the banquet hall as the doors burst open with a force that seemed like they would break off their hinges.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
"Her Highness, the noble Princess Adeline Seraphia Legardia, makes her entrance!"
With the booming announcement, Princess Adeline stepped inside, dressed in magnificent attire.
At the sight of her, the Blood Demon clicked her tongue internally.
A damned perfect entrance—at a damned perfect moment.
How did she know to come?
'Jonathan…?'
There was no other explanation.
But how?
She had made sure Jonathan was under constant surveillance.
However, the moment the Blood Demon saw where the Princess's eyes landed first—
She realized something was deeply, terribly wrong.
Captain Veros of the Royal Guard.
He stepped forward with steady footsteps and knelt before the Princess.
"This sinner, Veros Deran, presents his neck before Your Highness."
'The Captain of the Guard!'
The betrayal of the man she cherished most—someone she was so satisfied to have claimed.
"You abandoned your daughter?!"
The Blood Demon slammed the table and shot to her feet.
The eyes of the nobles turned toward her, but it was as if the Princess and the knight could only see each other.
"I clearly told you—"
Princess Adeline exhaled bitterly.
"Not to come."
"..."
"I said I'd look the other way. I told you that much."
Veros silently held out his sword.
His face showed that he had accepted everything already.
Swallowing her sorrow, Princess Adeline spoke:
"To ask me to bury you and your daughter together… what a disloyal servant you've become."
A funeral?
His daughter?
In that instant, the Blood Demon's eyes widened.
'Veros's daughter… is dead?'
So that's why he betrayed her again?
He leaked the existence of the banquet?
Because he had no reason to stay here anymore?
Crack!
The Blood Demon clenched her teeth tightly.
Just three more days.
'If I'd had three more days, I would've won!'
Veros gently touched the necklace hanging from his neck.
A father's final wish—to keep his daughter's keepsake free from blood.
"You all stood closest to me. I believe you know what must be done."
By the time Adeline drew Veros's sword, all hesitation had left her face.
Only the composure of a cold and resolute ruler remained.
"Anyone who colludes with the Transcendents will be executed on the spot."
By rooting out the "Patrons" who sold out humanity to the Transcendents, Princess Adeline had cemented her authority.
This was no different.
Even if those people were once her closest allies.
"I always wished to share the next toast with all of you."
Shing!
Adeline's blade swung.
In a clean arc, Veros's head was severed and dropped to the floor.
The Princess calmly declared:
"Treason."
Behind her, Isaac and Silverna immediately leapt forward.