Chapter 614: The Ones Who Stole the Snacks Were Not Just Bats

Leyming City, the parlor of the Colin Estate, where the expensive velvet sofa was now enduring unwarranted torment.

Hugging a ruffled pillow, Vivian had transformed into a furious caterpillar.

She rolled back and forth across the wide sofa, slithered darkly, or let out bizarre squawks, scaring the estate's maids away.

After all, that was a Platinum-level "monster"—anyone would feel uneasy.

"Waaahhh! I'm furious! I'm furious!"

The fox-eared maid nervously set down a freshly refilled cup of black tea, then hurriedly retreated from the parlor that had become a battlefield.

The instant she stepped out, Vivian leapt from the sofa, stomping wildly on the pillow with her black thigh-high socked foot, as if the crushed, shapeless "rag" were someone two hundred kilometers away.

Ten minutes earlier, while bickering with Mia, Vivian had suddenly felt her heart jerk violently—a rapid, pounding rhythm bursting into her mind, flushing her cheeks with crimson.

That was clearly not due to Padric's succubus tricks; Mia, who prided herself on being "mature and elegant," never initiated mental attacks unless cornered.

Clearly—

That intense feeling came from her vassal, that eager, exuberant joy she wanted to share with the whole world, driving Vivian to jealous madness.

Her heart was pounding—thump, thump!

This was an unforgivable humiliation!

"That white-haired fox demon… her heart's racing so fast—she definitely didn't do anything good!"

Vivian muttered through gritted teeth; the sofa finally let out a groan of unbearable strain and collapsed under her furious stomping.

On the other side of the parlor, Mia, dressed in a robe, leaned back on a single-seat sofa, her long, pale legs naturally crossed.

In her hand lay a thick stack of papers, which she turned calmly, her gaze focused yet distant, serious yet clear, radiating a serene detachment.

Watching Vivian scream and sink into the down feathers, Mia's brow twitched slightly, but she restrained the urge to be rude, instead letting out a slow, languid yawn.

"Do the Colin vampires have nothing better to do than scream and shout?"

What an uncouth little brat.

Unlike the Colin vampires, Mia was a demon with a real job. Right now, she was reviewing Nana's business proposal submitted to her.

QiQi's performance in "Zhong Sheng" had sparked far greater resonance in Leyming City than expected—from noble salons to new industrial district pubs and cafés, everyone was discussing the heart-wrenching romance and condemning the feudal oppression brought by the Aust Empire to this land.

Undoubtedly, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Inspired by Lady Antonie, Mia was considering expanding investment in the Iris Troupe, adding another barrel of oil to this flame!

She would no longer limit herself to having succubi from the Demon Capital perform on human stages—she would have her junior and senior students teach the art of seduction to Leyming's humans, sending more gifted talents onto the stage!

They would carry the creativity of Leyming's citizens, spreading the region's thriving culture across the entire northeast coast of the Vortex Sea, even along its entire shoreline!

At that time, the name Padric would become a legend in the arts!

Every star revered by millions would regard Miss Mia Mia Padric as their "godfather" and bow at her feet!

Hehehe!

Just thinking about it made her delighted!

Thinking of this, Mia was ecstatic—she found this job far more enjoyable than managing the Demon King's Bureau, but Nana's late-night draft was painfully obscure.

But it didn't matter.

She could wait until her beloved returned and let him, who understood everything, explain it to her in his own words.

Back in the Demon King Academy, whenever she struggled to understand a problem, little Luo Yan could always clarify it with a single sentence.

Struggling out of the sofa's wreckage, Vivian rose like a bristling cat, glaring fiercely at Mia.

"You… aren't worried at all?"

Mia replied lazily.

"Worried? Worried about what?"

"Kukuku…" Seeing the oblivious Padric succubus, Vivian suddenly calmed, lightly covering her slightly upturned lips, though unable to hide her wicked grin, "No wonder Miss Padric is so calm—I see now our dear head of the Hell Intelligence Bureau's Leyming branch knows nothing at all."

Though the situation with the Hero was concerning, if she could make the greatest threat—the Padric succubus—suffer defeat, Vivian wouldn't mind temporarily cooperating with humans.

"I can't pretend I didn't hear that, dear Miss Colin," Mia's eyes narrowed slightly as she closed the stack of papers and placed them on her knee, "Perhaps you should explain—what exactly have you been doing since earlier?"

In the past, Vivian would never have obliged—but now, it was "wartime."

"Aileen is back!"

"And?" Mia replied indifferently; she had always known about Aileen.

Little Luo Yan had detailed every single moment in his work report—how he secured her, how she reacted—everything she'd watched clearly.

That was just work!

Seeing how high this creature's defenses were, Vivian wiped her mouth with her arm.

Not bad…

Time to crank it up another notch!

"And? She's currently with my elder brother! And her heart is racing fast, you know! What could possibly make a Hero's heart beat so fast? Running? Practicing swordplay? Kukuku… hard to guess, isn't it?"

This absurd creature, unsatisfied with mere words, planted her feet on the sofa wreckage, assuming a horse stance, her tiny arms stretching wildly front and back in a grotesque dance.

Watching that movement, more savage than a lizardman's war dance, Mia's mask of lazy composure finally cracked, rippling with panic.

She hadn't expected the Colin bat to be this cruel—even biting her own neck in her frenzy!

Is it fun to scare yourself?!

"Y-You can't frighten me!"

Mia swallowed hard, her voice trembling with tension, searching Vivian's face for a crack—and, of course, the sharp-witted woman found it—

This creature was too calm!

Realizing this, Mia's eyes lit up like magic crystals, fixed intently on Vivian, instantly seeing through her childish, laughable trick.

"If… they really did something, how could you possibly be so calm! Poor Miss Colin has sunk so low she must resort to stirring up discord? Hehehe… what an uncouth little brat!"

Standing amid the sofa wreckage, Vivian's eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropped, and her swinging arms froze mid-dance.

"…Are all Padric succubi blind? Do I look calm to you?!"

Mia smiled faintly, shifted her crossed legs, and restored her composed, elegant smile.

"I won't fall for your tricks!"

Vivian: "????"

…

The Colin family's genius had exhausted every effort and still couldn't defeat the Padric family's idiot.

While Vivian endured the twin assault of her "unscrupulous vassal" and the "clueless succubus," reeling from the failure of her self-destructive attack, the grand hall of Gransdon Castle's city hall echoed with elegant piano music.

Golden light cascaded from the crystal chandelier, mingling with the wall lamps along marble pillars to illuminate guests holding champagne, toasting and laughing.

A grand banquet was underway.

Tonight's banquet was not merely a "Hunt Feast" celebrating a bountiful hunt—it was also a victory celebration for the Hero's return!

Duke Edward stood at the center of the banquet hall, raising his wine glass high, the crystal light making it seem filled with holy radiance.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

His booming voice pierced the banquet hall, cutting through the piano's shift from passionate intensity to gentle melody.

"Let us raise a glass to the soldiers returning from the north! They stood firm when we needed them most, defending our duchy's northern borders and rescuing our blood-bound kin from the claws of chaos and famine! To the Northern Relief Army! To the reborn Dusk Province!"

Duke Edward drained his glass; cheers erupted around him, guests offering their blessings.

"To the Northern Relief Army!"

"To Princess Aileen!"

Feeling dozens of eyes like spotlights on her, Aileen felt her cheeks burn.

Not just from the intense gazes—but from the one person among the crowd, smiling warmly as he offered his congratulations.

As Aileen drank the wine, her thoughts drifted back to the reunion half an hour earlier, at the entrance of Gransdon Castle's city hall.

Unable to express her longing, she had impulsively thrown herself into his arms…

That soul-stirring tremor, as she recalled the solid warmth, quietly returned to her chest.

Thump… thump!

Unable to bear the rising shyness, she hid her entire face behind the rim of her glass.

Tonight, Aileen wore a black off-shoulder evening gown, specially chosen by Teresa.

The deep black perfectly accentuated the young girl's newly formed curves, tempering the coldness of her silver hair, making her glow with noble radiance under the brilliant lights—more dazzling than ever.

Watching her sister shine brighter than usual, Duke Edward nodded in satisfaction and gladly made her the undisputed star of the evening.

Nobles, gentlemen, and ladies lined up to toast—no one wished to miss the chance to make an impression on the future "Prince Consort."

Aileen's palms were sweating with nervousness.

Though trained in royal etiquette, she could handle such a scene—yet somehow, her heart raced faster and tighter than ever today.

The "Resonance Field" worked both ways.

As a first-time bloodline vassal, she didn't realize that while she released her joy to her "Sire," wherever he might be, she herself was absorbing his envy, jealousy, and pain.

It was truly sour and aching.

To suppress the fluttering in her chest, Aileen relied on alcohol to numb her nerves, forgetting moderation.

By the time she realized it, she was drunk—her emerald eyes blurred, shadows dancing and merging.

Huh?

She'd gotten drunk?

Duke Edward noticed his sister's condition instantly, wearing a knowing smile as he quietly approached Colin.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid I must trouble you with a favor—I can't leave here—"

"Understood. Leave it to me."

Luo Yan couldn't say he was busy, especially with Eileen swaying as if her own skirt might trip her at any moment.

He set the champagne back on the waiter's tray, skillfully weaving through the crowd, and gently supported Eileen's drooping arm.

"Your Highness, you're drunk."

His voice was soft and gentle, and he deftly blocked the next baron attempting to toast her, leading her to the edge of the banquet hall.

"Let me take you back to your room to rest."

Eileen did not resist.

Rather, she welcomed it, leaning her full weight into his sturdy arm, letting him guide her away from the noisy banquet hall.

"Thank you…" she murmured softly, head bowed, hiding the blush creeping up her cheeks, "I… I might be acting strange today. I'm not usually like this."

Seeing the blush spread like a swan's neck, Luo Yan couldn't help but smile, yet he didn't tease her further.

"Maybe you're just tired."

That wasn't the answer Eileen wanted to hear, but she said nothing, silently walking beside him as he supported her upstairs.

The second-floor corridor was quiet and cool, the noise below seeming to come from another world.

Luo Yan brought Eileen to the guest room.

Yet even after the door to the second-floor room softly closed, Eileen still didn't let go—her arm tightened further.

Alcohol is the best truth serum.

Words unsaid and deeds undone in ordinary times found justification in the mind-disrupting incense.

Beneath the dim, ambiguous light, Eileen finally gathered courage, draping her other arm around Colin's neck, her breath drawing closer to his collar.

"…I'm… not tired."

Luo Yan paused slightly, then realized—her stubborn voice was answering the words he'd spoken on the way up.

As he wondered what to say, Eileen lowered her head slightly, tucking her nose beneath his collar.

The suppressed longing in her heart surged like a dam breaking; she felt herself back in that helpless night, everyone astonished by her change, yet that one person stood unswervingly before her, believing every word she said—even when faced with the dwarf's threats:

"I believe in Eileen Campbell's character—her piety, loyalty, bravery, generosity, and kindness… all her noble qualities."

"I also unconditionally believe every word she speaks. This turn of events was never her intent—perhaps… perhaps this is the will of the gods!"

"Whether she is human or vampire, I stand with her!"

Those words still echoed in her mind today, the very force that had sustained her through the Tribunal's trials.

And the words that followed—

"If you're truly hungry, you may have my neck."

Let her be hungry, then.

She wanted to cling to his neck now, to do nothing, think of nothing, to let time flow quietly.

"Can I… stay like this for just a little longer? Just a little…"

"Of course, Your Highness."

Hearing her voice, soft and trembling slightly, Luo Yan fell silent for a moment, then answered in a whisper.

This was inevitable.

The Demon King's corruption of the Hero could not remain mere words—besides, he was no man of honor. What man of honor would end up in hell?

Luo Yan's heart was beating fast too, though he refused to admit it.

The evil Demon King excelled not only in manipulating others' hearts but also in deceiving himself—that was why he could remain so composed at all times.

As Luo Yan tried to convince himself, the girl with her nose buried in his collar slowly lifted her head and closed her eyes.

Her trembling eyelashes seemed to hold a glistening tear of longing; she could no longer resist the stirrings deep within her soul, rising onto her toes and inching closer.