The Author's POV

'…I should've thought things more thoroughly.'

Priscilla masticated her lower lip as she reflected on something. At the time, she was so intimidated by his power that she readily agreed to work with him without giving it further thought.

What choice did she have?

In the end, things turned out exactly as he had said, and she directly benefited from his help.

She didn't think much after that. She thought that their collaboration was over…

She didn't become aware of the nature of the circumstance in which she found herself until after she had a conversation with the other human.

"Shit."

She let out another curse.

Her footsteps eventually came to a halt in front of a substantial wooden door. It was a door that she had been to numerous times before.

To Tok—!

She knocked on the door once.

"Come in."

As if expecting her, she heard her grandfather's voice and she pushed the door open.

Clank—

She didn't say anything and kept her head lowered. She just waited for her grandfather to say something.

"What have you come here for?"

She didn't have to wait long to hear his voice.

Raising her head, she bit her lips once more.

Just as she was about to say something, her grandfather's words rang.

"Have you come here regarding what happened a month ago?"

She raised her head in surprise.

How did he know?

"Hum."

Setting his pen down, Prince Valling smiled.

"You think I wouldn't know? It was very obvious from the start that something must've happened since I know very well of your capabilities."

He continued.

"Although you are powerful, in no way are you capable of defeating seven Duke ranked demons. Especially by yourself…"

He lowered his head, eyeing her directly.

"…If our secret forces were used, I'd know."

Priscilla lowered her head. Indeed, the other houses might not suspect a thing because everything was directly pinned pointed toward Duke Ukhan, but her grandfather must have suspected that something was up because the Gall Bladder that she brought back with her was missing.

Since her uncle must've previously reported that they had brought one back, when he realized it was no longer there and everyone seemed to have completely forgotten about it, he must've realized that their memories had also been tampered with.

Plus…

had vanished was a significant indication that something had

really wasn't that hard for him to suspect

out in

on their own since

mirror from one of his drawers and turned it

forward to our

That petty bastard.

familiar voice, Priscilla knew

'As expected…'

She

think

raised her head in

at

"You-re not angry?"

mirror back

you can give me a satisfactory answer, then I won't be mad, but if you

grandfather's eyes suddenly

inside the room started to increase dramatically, and Priscilla found herself unable

far worse. On a level that made it seem

was

sentence for her to understand what he meant

for long, and

"Hap…haaap…"

the side of her face as she clutched

a mouthful of saliva, she recollected herself

at her. His gaze and expression

was this feature that made him so

"We have two options."

speak. She had already thought about the situation on her way back to

obvious option. We report everything to his majesty. In doing so, we'd have to disclose everything that had

looked at her

demons will probably become aware of what happened, whether it gets leaked by the humans, or eventually found out due to the actions

had signed the mana contract and agreed to keep silent regarding

Unfortunately…

up the contract and reading its contents, she realized

be unable to disclose in any shape or form any information

'I've been duped.'

had looked through the contract, but when she

to deliver a letter. You don't mind,

said it

and she realized that she was truly

occurred, they would begin to be shunned and targeted by them. Irrespective of whether or not they were tricked or

as an enemy and remained silent throughout

up a trap, and lure the human to

didn't dare think any further. She'd already witnessed first hand

He wasn't someone who'd

"I understand."

grandfather seemed to have

to me the

"Okay."

Priscilla complied.

to buy their

was a simple solution, and probably what the other

pay an appropriate price to keep them silent about their

was probably what he was looking for

risky, so long as no one finds out, we'd have no