The late afternoon sun filtered through the ornate windows of the Viscount's mansion, casting golden light across the polished marble floors. Sofia sat in her private tea room, a delicate porcelain cup resting between her fingers as she observed her two guests with practiced elegance.
Claire, sat across from her with perfect posture, her dark dress complementing her pale skin and the subtle gleam in her eyes. Beside her sat Lira who took the role of a visiting merchant's daughter whose beauty had turned heads throughout the middle district since her arrival weeks ago.
To any observer, it was a simple afternoon gathering. Three young women enjoying tea and conversation, discussing fashion, gossip, and the mundane affairs of noble society.
"Your brother should be arriving soon," Lira said softly, her voice carrying a musical quality that seemed almost otherworldly. "You said he rarely refuses your invitations?"
Sofia smiled, setting down her cup with barely a sound. "Zach may be many things, but he's still my brother. When his dear sister summons him with just enough urgency, he comes. Especially now, when the guild keeps him so... occupied."
Claire's lips curved upward slightly. "You play your role well, Sofia. The concerned sister, worried about her overworked brother. It's quite convincing."
"It should be," Sofia replied, her tone shifting ever so slightly. "I've been playing it my entire life."
The words hung in the air between them.
It had been exactly one month since that first meeting, the moment Claire had entered her life and changed everything.
Sofia remembered it vividly.
---
Flashback: Four Weeks Ago…
The diplomatic reception had been tedious, filled with the usual parade of boring nobles exchanging empty pleasantries and political posturing. Sofia had been standing near the refreshment table, ignored as always, when a voice had spoken beside her.
"You look bored."
Sofia had turned to find a beautiful young woman with an almost ethereal quality watching her with knowing eyes.
"Diplomatic functions are rarely exciting," Sofia had replied carefully, maintaining her pleasant mask.
"No," the woman had said, stepping closer. "You're not bored with the function. You're bored with your life. With being invisible, with being dismissed as 'just a daughter' while your brother builds empires and your father wields power."
Sofia's carefully constructed expression had faltered for just a moment. "Who are you?"
"Someone who sees potential where others see decoration." The woman's eyes had met hers directly. "My name is Claire. And I represent someone who could change your circumstances entirely... if you're willing to pay the price."
Over the following days, Claire had revealed the truth piece by piece. She was no mere noblewoman, she was a vampire in service to the Twelfth Demon Lord. And that Demon Lord had his eyes on Raul, specifically on the noble family that governed it.
"Your brother is a monster," Claire had said during one of their private meetings. "Your father is corrupt. Your family is built on blood and lies. The Demon Lord intends to destroy them. The question is: will you fall with them, or will you rise?"
Sofia should have been terrified, she should have run screaming to her father, warned her family, called the city knight guard.
Instead, she had asked: "What do you want from me?"
Claire had smiled then, a predator recognizing another predator. "Your family's secrets. Your brother's crimes. Access to information that only an insider could provide. In exchange..."
"In exchange?" Sofia had leaned forward, interested despite herself.
"In exchange, the Demon Lord will grant you something your family never would. Power and Immortality. A place at his side, not as decoration, but as someone who matters. You'll be transformed into a demon yourself, eternal, powerful, free from the constraints of human weakness."
It hadn't been a difficult decision.
Sofia had spent eighteen years being ignored, dismissed, treated as nothing more than a political bargaining chip to be married off when convenient. Her brother built a guild with their father's money and influence. Her father wielded authority that shaped the city. Her mother attended social functions and played the perfect noble wife.
And Sofia? Sofia was expected to smile, look pretty, and wait for whatever husband they chose for her.
She had been suffocating in that life.
So when Claire extended a hand and asked, "Do we have an agreement?" Sofia had taken it without hesitation.
"What do you need me to do?"
---
Present: The Tea Room…
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Sofia from her memories. She straightened slightly, her mask of innocent concern sliding back into place with practiced ease.
"He's here," she murmured.
The door opened, and Zach entered, his expensive robes slightly rumpled from long hours at his desk. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his movements carried the exhaustion of someone who hadn't slept properly in days.
"Sofia," he said, managing a tired smile. "Your message sounded urgent. Is everything alright?"
Sofia rose gracefully, moving to embrace her brother. "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work, but I've been so worried. You look exhausted, brother. When was the last time you properly rested?"
Zach returned the embrace briefly before stepping back. His eyes swept over Lady Claire and Miss Lira, lingering perhaps a moment too long on their beauty before settling back on his sister.
"I'm managing," he said. "The guild requires constant attention these days. With the news of the Demon Lord's birth, everyone's on edge. Adventurers are demanding higher pay for dangerous missions, suppliers are increasing prices..." He trailed off, rubbing his temples. "But you didn't call me here to listen to my complaints. Please, introduce me to your guests."
Sofia gestured elegantly toward Claire. "This is Lady Claire, visiting from the Northern territories. She's been staying as my personal guest for the past few weeks."
Claire inclined her head with perfect noble grace. "Lord Zach. Your sister speaks very highly of you. The Blue Phoenix Guild's reputation reaches even the Northern regions."
"You're too kind," Zach replied, his ego visibly inflating at the praise.
"And this is Miss Lira," Sofia continued, indicating the dark-haired beauty. "Daughter of a successful merchant family. She's been teaching me about trade and commerce, subjects that Father believes are unimportant for daughters, but I find fascinating nonetheless."
Lira smiled warmly. "Lord Zach. I've heard much about your accomplishments. Building a guild to such prominence despite..." she paused delicately, "the challenges of your rank must have required considerable skill and determination."
Zach's expression flickered slightly at the subtle reminder of his C-rank status, but he maintained his composure. "The guild's success comes from surrounding myself with capable people. Though I appreciate the recognition."
"Please, brother, sit," Sofia urged, guiding him to a comfortable chair. "You're working yourself to exhaustion. Surely the guild can survive an hour without you?"
As Zach settled into the seat, Sofia moved with practiced grace to pour him tea. Her movements were elegant, refined, the perfect image of a concerned sister tending to her overworked brother.
But as she handed him the cup, her questions began, subtle, innocent-seeming, yet precisely calculated.
"How are things with Father lately? I noticed you haven't been dining at the mansion as often."
Zach took a sip of tea before answering. "Father and I have been... disagreeing on certain guild matters. He wants more influence over operations, but I need autonomy to run things effectively. Nothing serious, just the usual power dynamics."
"And Mother? She seems so distant these days."
"You know how Mother is. Always concerned about reputation and appearances. The current political climate has her on edge."
Sofia nodded sympathetically, filing away each piece of information. Beside her, Claire and Lira observed with seemingly polite interest, but Sofia knew they were memorizing every word and every gesture.
"The guild must be facing challenges with the Demon Lord news," Lira interjected smoothly. "Are adventurers leaving? I imagine many would prefer to avoid demon-related contracts right now."
Zach's jaw tightened slightly. "Some have left, yes. Cowards looking for safer opportunities. But the Blue Phoenix Guild maintains standards. We'll weather this period as we have others."
"Of course," Lira agreed. "Though I've heard rumors of financial difficulties? Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn, it's just merchant gossip."
"Rumors are always exaggerated," Zach replied, a bit too quickly. "The guild's finances are stable. Any temporary fluctuations are normal business variations."
They continued the conversation for another thirty minutes, Sofia expertly guiding the discussion to extract information about Zach's schedule, his routines, his current stressors, and the guild's internal dynamics.
To Zach, it simply seemed like his sister taking an interest in his life, perhaps trying to understand the business world she'd always been excluded from.
He noticed nothing suspicious. Why would he? Sofia was just his naive younger sister, sheltered and ignorant of real power. What threat could she possibly pose?
Finally, Zach stood, claiming pressing matters required his return. Sofia walked him to the door, embracing him once more.
"Please take care of yourself, brother," she said, injecting just the right amount of concern into her voice. "You're no good to the guild if you collapse from exhaustion."
"I'll be fine, Sofia. But thank you for your concern." He managed a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Your guests seem pleasant enough. Enjoy your afternoon."
The moment the door closed behind him, Sofia's expression transformed completely.