Chapter 112: ¹¹²Shadows In The Valen Estate
The main doors swung open. Ethan strode in, with Elara clinging closely to his side. However, it was the sound of a third set of footsteps that instantly froze everyone in the house.
The heavy clank of iron-soled boots struck the wooden floorboards. Valera Voss stood piercing through the gloom. Her leather armor was dull, caked in travel dust. Her right arm was wrapped in thick black bandages, soiled with dirt and dried blood, concealing the remnants of a demon’s claw mark. It was a deeply horrifying sight for ordinary eyes.
"Brother Ethan... Big Sister Valera is your new guard, right?" Elara’s innocent voice shattered the tension before anyone else could speak.
The blind girl felt along her brother’s arm, then beamed brightly toward the living room. "Everyone, let me introduce you... this is Sister Valera. She says she’s my brother’s new guard."
A brief silence followed.
Ethan took a step forward, gently resting his palm on Elara’s head, before sweeping his gaze across the room. His voice was flat, yet it resonated with absolute authority into every corner.
"Valera. My guard. She will be living here starting today."
Kaelia, who had been sitting with her legs crossed in a chair, raised an eyebrow. A cynical smirk played on her lips. At the end of the hallway, Miya stood frozen, her fingers intertwined. Yuna stiffened while holding a tray. Asrof straightened his posture, assessing the newcomer. And from the direction of the kitchen, Lilith leaned forward with an intrigued grin.
Berta cleared her throat softly, trying to thaw the atmosphere. "I-it is an honor... to welcome the Young Master’s personal guard..."
However, when Berta’s eyes finally truly processed Valera’s condition, the middle-aged woman immediately lost control of her voice.
"Good heavens! My Lady!" Berta let out a stifled gasp. The middle-aged woman dropped her rag and half-ran over, her face deathly pale. "Your arm... oh dear, it must be agonizing! Please, sit down! I’ll boil some water and fetch clean bandages!"
Behind her, Yuna could only stand like a statue. Her eyes widened in horror at the wounds before she hurriedly followed Berta into the kitchen without daring to make a sound.
"Hah... there’s no need to panic," Valera stopped her casually. Her left hand gently held the maid’s shoulder. "It only looks bad on the outside."
"Welcome, Lady Valera." Asrof stepped out of the hallway with his upright, military posture.
The bedroom door at the end of the hall creaked open. Miya Evarett stepped out. The Elf healer’s pointed ears drooped slightly upon seeing Valera’s condition.
"L-Lady Valera..." Miya squeaked, her hands clasping nervously. "Please let me examine it later."
Valera let out a hoarse chuckle. "Don’t look at me like I’m going to drop dead tomorrow, little Elf. But yes, please have your magic ready later."
"Tch. Turns out the prideful knight of the north can sustain heavy injuries too."
That cold voice sliced through the commotion. Kaelia von Ashford sat cross-legged in a single armchair. Her crimson tunic reflected the morning light, her eyes narrowing cynically at Valera—the lingering irritation from Zenithar had not entirely faded.
Valera turned her body. Instead of taking offense, the exotic knight simply flashed a crooked smirk, staring Kaelia down with a predatory aura.
"Just a little scratch from a stray cat, Lady Ashford," Valera replied effortlessly. "Unlike a noble princess who sits pretty in a palace, a shield like me was made to take a beating."
Kaelia narrowed her eyes. Her lips had just parted to retort, but she stopped short.
"Sister Valera?"
Elara’s gentle voice drifted from the corridor. The blind girl trailed her hand along the stone wall, stepping slowly in her cream-colored dress. Seeing that, Valera’s killing intent vanished instantly. The knight lowered her posture slightly.
"Yes, Little Miss. It’s me."
Elara’s steps halted a mere two handspans away from Valera. Her petite nose sniffed the air. Her brows furrowed sharply.
"There’s a strong smell of iron..." Elara murmured in distress. "It smells like dried blood. And your footsteps earlier... they sounded heavier on the right side. Sister Valera, you’re hurt."
Valera hurriedly touched the back of Elara’s hand. "No need to worry, Miss. It’s just an old wound from a hunt up north. It’s nothing major."
"Really?"
Before Valera could reassure her any further, Ethan stepped forward. His absolute authority instantly seized control of the room.
"Miya," Ethan called out flatly, but with utter finality.
The Elf healer jolted to attention. "Y-Yes, Master!"
"Take Valera to the west wing. Clean her wounds and change her bandages. Don’t let her leave until the wound is sealed," Ethan ordered coldly, his gaze locking onto Valera.
However, when he glanced down, his voice softened. "Let them handle it, Elara. Right now, it’s time for you to take your herbal medicine."
Elara nodded obediently. Valera could only offer a bitter smile, resigned to following Miya down the hallway.
The west wing of the Valen estate was much quieter. There was only one open window, allowing the afternoon breeze to drift in slowly along with the scent of damp earth. Valera sat on a long wooden bench, undoing the top half of her clothing so Miya could work freely.
Miya knelt beside her, her fingers meticulously cleaning the wound. Her touch was swift and careful, but visibly faltered due to her nerves. Valera, who had been staring straight ahead, slowly turned her head and observed Miya’s face from up close.
"You’re sweating," Valera commented softly.
"T-The wound is quite deep, so I have to focus..." Miya replied, not daring to look up.
Valera chuckled, her hoarse voice echoing softly. "Focused... or scared? Just say it, little Elf. Are you still traumatized by me?"
Miya’s fingers paused for a moment. "N-No... it’s not trauma."
"Then what is it?" Valera pressed gently, leaning her face in a bit closer. She deliberately released a sliver of her natural predatory aura, causing Miya’s pointed ears to flush red and her head to duck even lower.
"I’m just... not used to being stared at so intensely." Miya’s voice was barely a whisper.
Valera chuckled in satisfaction. This wasn’t about treating a wound. This was a game she enjoyed playing. And Miya knew it.
"You became his personal healer. Tending to Elara’s wounds every day." Valera purposefully let the back of her hand brush softly against Miya’s fingertips. "And now you have to take care of me too. It means you’re actually useful to the Master."
Miya’s cheeks burned fiercely. She turned toward the window, hoping the afternoon breeze would cool the awkwardness swelling in her chest. "I-I’m just doing my job."
"Good. Keep doing that." Valera straightened her back, allowing a faint smile to grace her lips. "But don’t go dying a foolish death just because you’re too terrified of me. I won’t bite you."
Miya lowered her head even further, but secretly cracked a small smile. The tension between them slowly melted away.
Night fell, draping the Valen estate in darkness.
The orange glow of the fireplace danced across the dining room walls. Valera sat eating her soup with utmost efficiency, her loose linen clothes covering the fresh bandages on her left shoulder. Across from her, Kaelia ate with highly refined movements, though she occasionally shot cynical glares at the knight.
Miya ate with her head down at the end of the table, making virtually no sound, feeling like she was suffocating while squeezed between two women with such lethal auras.
Yuna, who was pacing back and forth pouring tea, could only quietly swallow her nerves. Every time she accidentally locked eyes with Kaelia or Valera, her chest ached. She was acutely aware of an invisible bond tying these women to her master—a bond she could never hope to reach.
"Ara... this table feels like it’s getting smaller by the minute."
Lilith appeared soundlessly in the kitchen doorway. Her maid dress was left casually unbuttoned, provocatively showing off her cleavage. Her golden-red eyes swept across the room. "This house is getting quite lively."
"Watch your tongue while the guests are eating, Lilith," Asrof reprimanded sharply from near the window.
Lilith merely chuckled softly, flashing her small fangs. Her eyes immediately locked onto Kaelia. Feeling the gaze of a creature that was clearly not human, Kaelia returned the stare with deep suspicion, filing it away in the back of her mind.
After dinner, Elara sat alone in the living room, her petite palms clutching a warm teacup. The firelight gave her pale cheeks a slight, rosy flush. A set of heavy, familiar footsteps approached.
"Sister Valera?"
The knight stopped beside Elara’s chair, then sat down slowly on the wooden seat next to her. "Your ears are incredibly sharp, Little Miss."
Elara smiled. "I’ve memorized the footsteps of everyone in this house." She turned her head slightly. "Sister Valera... can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What is it like being my brother’s guard?" Elara asked genuinely. "I can’t see him fight. All I know is... he always seems so dangerous in other people’s eyes."
Valera gazed at the blind girl for a moment. There was a tone of innocent admiration in Elara’s question—like a young child boasting about her hero without knowing his dark side.
"It’s more than just being a guard," Valera replied softly. "I am his sword. I will make sure your brother returns home safely, no matter what happens."
Elara smiled warmly. "I’m glad. Brother Ethan... has been alone for far too long."
The sentence was simple, but it struck deep. Valera didn’t answer. She only stared at this girl who couldn’t see, and for the first time, she truly understood the absolute reason why Ethan was so terrifyingly dangerous.
The night crept on. Elara and Ethan had both returned to their respective rooms.
Kaelia’s parched throat forced her to venture out for water. The kitchen was pitch black, illuminated only by a single, gently flickering candle. She had just poured some water and raised the earthen cup to her lips when a chilling breeze swept across the back of her neck.
"Even ice-cold water won’t extinguish the fire of jealousy churning in your stomach, Lady Ashford."
Kaelia gasped. She spun around at lightning speed, slamming her cup down with a dull thud.
From the dark corner, Lilith stepped out like a wild stray cat. "You..." Kaelia growled, her combat instincts flaring up. "That disgusting aura... I knew from the start you weren’t just some ordinary maid. Who are you, really?!"
Lilith smiled elegantly. The distance between them was now merely two handspans. "Good guess, Princess Ashford. I am indeed not just a maid."
𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Then what do you want? Does Ethan even know what you really are?" Kaelia pressed. Her right hand primed to summon her Crimson Sin Fire.
Instead of answering, Lilith slowly raised her sharp, black nails. She pulled down the collar of her dress, exposing the skin of her chest.
Kaelia’s breath hitched violently.
Upon that pale skin, a pitch-black spiral rose tattoo pulsed rhythmically. The Lust Brand. The absolute seal of ownership belonging to the Demon King.
Reflexively, Kaelia hugged her own lower abdomen from outside her tunic, shivering at the realization that her most intimate secret was, in fact, not hers alone.
"Y-You..." Kaelia stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Don’t tell me..."
Lilith readjusted her dress. Her smile now felt like a greeting from a fellow denizen of the dark.
"Yes," Lilith whispered calmly, her voice shattering the last remnants of Kaelia’s sanity. "Just like you, I belong to Master Ethan."
Lilith gently touched Kaelia’s shoulder. The touch lingered, trailing slowly up her neck, and finally to her chin. The temperature in the room abruptly shifted. The kitchen walls seemed to hold their breath alongside them.
"I’m not telling you this to be a rival, Kaelia," Lilith whispered in a mature tone. "I just want you to know. We share the exact same master."
Kaelia wanted to pull away, but the strength in her legs suddenly evaporated. Her eyes fluttered, her breathing hitched. She tried to summon her flames, but Lilith’s lust magic had already crept in, stroking her nervous system.
"W-What are you doing to me...?" Kaelia hissed hoarsely.
Lilith leaned in, bringing her lips right next to Kaelia’s ear. "I’m merely showing you that in this house, we aren’t rivals. We are simply two sides of the same coin."
Kaelia’s knees nearly gave out. For a brief second, the Succubus’s voice felt like the longest, most comforting caress in the dead of winter. Lilith gripped Kaelia’s shoulders, keeping her upright. Her eyes glowed a golden-yellow, and she let out a soft, spellbinding laugh.
"You look absolutely gorgeous when you’re backed into a corner." The compliment flowed sweetly, yet dripped with venom.
Without waiting for a reply, Lilith turned around and melted back into the shadows of the kitchen hallway.
It took a few moments before Kaelia could feel her legs again. She rushed out, half-running down the corridor. Her face was flushed crimson, her chest heaving heavily.
As she rounded the intersection, she nearly collided with Yuna, who was carrying an empty tea tray.
"Oh, Lady Kaelia... are you alright?" Yuna greeted, hurriedly bowing respectfully upon seeing the tense expression on the girl’s face.
"I’m fine!" Kaelia snapped back, sweeping past her without bothering to stop for even a second.
Yuna stood rooted in place. Her sullen eyes watched the noble girl’s back until it vanished behind the soft slam of a bedroom door. Her hands gripped the edges of the wooden tray tightly.