Chapter 32 : The Wings That Betrayed Her

Standing before the full-length mirror, Milly knew she couldn’t flee in a torn nightgown—she’d be arrested as a public menace and dragged back by Stacy.

She yanked open Stacy’s wardrobe, grabbing a long dress and pulling it on. It was too long, but not enough to trip her. Good enough.

Beside the wardrobe sat a pair of small leather shoes. She slipped them on—perfect fit.

This wasn’t coincidence.

Her expression darkened.

Stacy had prepared them.

For her.

All this time, she’d been barefoot.

Now, just as she fled, she found shoes that fit.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

One last look in the mirror.

In her old world, a white-haired loli like her would turn heads on the street.

But this was another world.

Her appearance shouldn’t be that unusual.

Preparations complete.

Time to run.

Stacy’s room was on the second floor.

Milly crept out, descended the stairs—no sign of her.

Victory was within reach.

Hand on the doorknob, her heart pounded.

Her fingers trembled as she turned it.

Click.

She pushed—

And was blinded by light.

Morning sun poured like molten honey over her lashes, spreading gold across her vision.

Milly stumbled forward.

It had rained lightly last night. A puddle splashed, dampening her white socks. Cold climbed her legs—but the warmth of sunlight on her skin overpowered it.

This was her first time feeling real sunlight.

Not filtered through stained glass.

Not fractured by cage bars.

But pure, unfiltered, from the sky itself.

Like a mother’s hand, the light caressed her face, melting the cold that had clung to her soul for days.

She tilted her head up, letting the warmth soak into every inch of her.

Ten seconds? No. Five.

After five seconds, she forced herself to stop.

She couldn’t afford to savor it.

Stacy could return any moment.

She had to run.

She bolted right, sprinting down the street.

Voices surrounded her—conversations once incomprehensible now clear as her native tongue.

So Stacy had taught her the right language, at least.

No communication barrier.

Once she left the city—anywhere far from Stacy—would do.

A quiet village. A remote town.

She’d live a normal life. Try to find a way home.

And Stacy?

Goodbye forever.

The thought made her run faster.

Her footsteps echoed on the cobblestones—wild, frantic.

“Who’s that girl?”

An old flower seller squinted, dropping a rose. As Milly passed, wind from her movement knocked over a pot of daisies—petals scattering like snow.

At the blacksmith’s corner, a hammer struck anvil with a clang. The apprentice stared after the fleeting white figure, vanishing into the steam.

“Fast… she’s fast.”

A drunk at the tavern swayed, spilling wine on his shirt. He watched Milly until she turned the next corner.

“Never seen her before… I’d love a drink with her…”

Different from what she expected—she was drawing attention.

Maybe because she was a stranger. Or because she ran so fast.

Did this city have checks for outsiders? Would they question newcomers?

Better avoid crowds.

She veered into a dark alley—too fast to stop—and crashed into a warm body.

A black-haired maid tumbled to the ground, a basket of purple cabbage rolling beside her.

Milly quickly helped her up.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Thanks to Stacy’s brutal lessons, her speech was fluent. At least apologizing wasn’t a problem.

“It’s okay, it’s okay!”

The maid waved it off, but Milly felt obligated to help pick up the scattered vegetables.

As she gathered them, the maid suddenly spoke:

“Haven’t seen you before. Are you new to Starlight City?”

Milly’s hand froze. The cabbage dropped.

She turned stiffly, facing the girl’s bright smile.

“I’m not scared,” she told herself. “Just a stranger.”

But something inside screamed.

“Don’t worry,” the girl said, still smiling. “Just curious. By the way, I’m Eileen.”

That smile—so warm, so kind—sent a bone-deep chill through Milly.

No… it can’t be.

Impossible.

Why did she feel so familiar?

“What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

The concern should’ve comforted her.

Instead, ice filled her veins.

“No… nothing…”

Without another word, Milly fled—back into the alley.

Watching her vanish, Eileen’s smile twisted into a cold smirk.

I knew you’d run.

But even in this form… you still fear me, little Milly?

Good.

You won’t get far.

She stepped forward, following the same path.

Milly burst from the alley, gasping.

She’d hallucinated—just for a second—that the maid was Stacy.

She’d bumped into someone and ran away like a criminal.

If she ever saw her again… she’d apologize properly.

After a brief rest, she resumed her flight—driven only by the need to escape.

By the seventh corner, exhaustion hit.

She leaned against a bakery window, panting.

Had she gone far enough?

How far to the city gate?

Better to ask.

She slapped her forehead.

Why didn’t I think of this earlier?

She’d been running blindly—maybe in circles.

“Excuse me, sir, could you tell me—”

She turned to the baker—

But her voice twisted.

The words in her mind scrambled.

Foreign scripts clashed—ancient tongues rising to the surface.

“𓍦𓍧𓍨”

The moment the sound escaped—

A tearing pain ripped through her spine.

She felt her skin split.

Something—emerging.

She tried to cry for help—

But the crowd screamed.

People backed away, faces pale with terror.

The pain faded.

A rip—fabric tearing.

Then—shrieks.

“What… what’s happening?!”

The kind baker who’d looked concerned moments ago now shrieked, retreating into the back room.

Milly turned to the shop window—

And froze.

Her reflection—

Red eyes.

Demon wings, bursting from her back, shredding her dress.

A long tail flicking from beneath her skirt.

“…Huh?”