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…

that a sizeable amount of nectar had vanished

him to suspect that something

things worked out in their

the other party acted on their own since your

one of his drawers and turned it toward

look forward

That petty bastard.

voice, Priscilla knew

'As expected…'

grandfather already knew everything. She still had so much to

do you think I should

raised her head in

instead of getting angry at

"You-re not angry?"

the mirror back

depend on your answer. If you can give me a satisfactory answer,

grandfather's eyes

of a sudden the pressure inside the room started to increase dramatically, and Priscilla found herself

On a level that made it seem

only thing she felt was

didn't need to continue the sentence for her to understand what

long, and she was soon able

"Hap…haaap…"

of her face as she

of saliva, she recollected herself

looked back at her. His gaze and expression were

was this feature that made him so

"We have two options."

on

first option is the obvious option. We report everything to his majesty. In doing so, we'd have to disclose everything that had happened, and gain

looked at her

we disclose the information, the other demons will probably become aware of what happened, whether it gets leaked by the humans, or eventually found out due to the actions of the Demon King,

wasn't going to happen. Especially since they had signed the mana contract and agreed to keep silent

Unfortunately…

again, opening up the contract and reading its contents,

contract is signed, both parties will be unable to disclose in any shape or form any information regarding the transaction that occurred

'I've been duped.'

a loophole. Especially considering how thoroughly she had looked through the contract, but when she thought back on

to deliver a letter. You don't mind, do

purposely said it back

he had made her shudder, and

what had occurred, they would begin to be shunned and targeted by them.

collaborated with an individual who was regarded as an enemy and remained silent throughout this entire

up a trap, and lure the human

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

He wasn't someone who'd

"I understand."

her grandfather seemed to have understood

to me the second

"Okay."

Priscilla complied.

option is to buy their silence and secretly work with

solution, and probably what the other party hoped to

pay an appropriate price to keep them silent about

was probably what he was looking

as no one finds out,