Chapter 62: Bane’s Self-Reproach

Hearing the voice, Melorin hurriedly turned around and met the Demon King’s half-smiling expression.

She immediately became a little flustered, her fingers subconsciously wiping away the remaining pudding at the corner of her mouth.

“Lady Morgana! Um… it’s very delicious, really very delicious…”

The Demon King’s gaze fell on her slightly flushed cheeks and lips stained with dessert crumbs.

She chuckled softly, took a step closer, and gently brushed her fingertip across Melorin’s lips, wiping away the trace.

“Since you like it,” she said in a low, tempting voice with a bewitching smile.

“Shall I have the kitchen prepare it every day from now on? You can eat as much as you want.”

“Really?!”

Melorin’s eyes instantly lit up with brilliant joy as she exclaimed excitedly.

“Okay, okay! Thank you so much, Lady Morgana!”

The words had barely left her mouth when she suddenly seemed to realize something.

Her cheeks flushed red at once, and she hurriedly waved her hands, lowering her head as her voice softened.

“N-no… wait, maybe… maybe not…”

The Demon King raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.

“Oh? Changed your mind all of a sudden? Is it that you… don’t like it, or are you… dissatisfied with my arrangement?”

“No!”

Melorin shook her head quickly, lifting her eyes and trying to make her expression look sincere and obedient.

“Lady Demon King, I just think that… if I eat pudding every day, I might get tired of it someday.

Eating it only once in a while makes it especially fragrant and especially happy.

So… it’s better to leave a bit of freshness.”

The Demon King looked at her quietly, those brown eyes seeming to see straight through her heart.

After a moment, she suddenly let out a soft laugh, tinged with amusement.

“So that’s how it is…”

She raised her hand and gently touched Melorin’s cheek, smiling as she said.

“I was careless, not thinking of that at all.

Melorin, you’re really… becoming more and more sensible.”

She turned around, her gaze shifting to Lilith, who stood nearby with her head respectfully lowered.

Her tone was calm and indifferent.

“Lilith, take good care of her.”

“Yes, Lady Demon King.”

Lilith bowed her head in response, her voice steady.

The Demon King cast one last deep look at Melorin, then turned and left.

The sound of her high heels gradually faded down the corridor.

The dining hall returned to silence.

Melorin held the now-empty pudding cup, her mind replaying that meaningful glance the Demon King had given before leaving.

Morgana, no matter how shrewd you are, you will never imagine just how well I can hide.

Her fingertips lightly rubbed along the rim of the cup, a faint chill mixed with smug satisfaction quietly rippling through her heart.

Inside the Demon Clan’s council chamber, the atmosphere was heavy.

Bane’s entire skeletal frame was covered in cracks, and the blue flames in his eye sockets flickered weakly.

He sat slumped against a council chair, looking as though he had endured tremendous pain.

Vera crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

Her silver hair contrasted with her crimson eyes, her smile thin and cold.

She glanced at Bane’s miserable state and sneered as she slapped the table.

“Oh? Bane? Playing the pitiful act again?

If it weren’t for your incompetent command, how could our frontline positions have been forced into retreat step by step by a single human madwoman?”

Her voice suddenly rose, dripping with mockery.

“Now the battle lines have completely collapsed, corpses everywhere.

You’re truly impressive, Commander.”

Bane lifted his bony palm and gently pressed it against his forehead bone.

His voice carried deep exhaustion and grievance.

“Lady Vera… you sit safely behind the royal city all day long.

You only see the defeat on the battlefield, but you don’t see how the soldiers fight desperately on the front lines.”

He let out a long sigh, his bones emitting faint cracking sounds.

“We bleed.

We sacrifice.

Even if there is no merit, surely there should at least be some recognition for our hardship?”

As he spoke, he slowly lowered his hand.

His skeletal frame drooped, like a misunderstood general whose merits and faults could not be judged, silently bearing unjust accusations.

“Bane!”

Vera suddenly pointed at him, fury bursting forth.

“Do you really think no one can see through the schemes in your heart?”

She advanced step by step, flames of anger burning in her crimson eyes.

“You’re nothing more than using that madwoman to sap the strength of our demon race, to exhaust the elite forces of the Demon King’s army, and completely destroy Sister Morgana’s authority.

And then what?

Were you planning to rise amid the chaos and fulfill your filthy, despicable ambition?”

Bane gazed at her.

The blue flames in his eye sockets wavered slightly as he let out a long, bitter laugh.

“Lady Vera… you truly live up to being a ‘young lady.’”

He spoke slowly, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“The battlefield situation changes in an instant.

Who can say what will happen the very next second?

If we lose a battle, must the commander always be blamed?

By your logic, every defeat should cost a leader their head to feel satisfying enough?”

“Then answer me!”

Vera roared, slamming her fist hard onto the solid stone table with a deafening boom.

The tabletop trembled slightly from the impact.

“Why didn’t you immediately mobilize heavy forces to surround and annihilate that madwoman when she first appeared on the western front?

Why wait until she had devoured countless troops and grown so strong that even you couldn’t defeat her before taking action?!”

She let out a cold laugh, her voice sharp.

“Heh heh… Bane, tell me.

If this isn’t aiding the enemy, what is?

Were you nurturing a threat to protect yourself, or digging a grave for the Demon King?”

Bane fell silent for a moment.

Then he lightly tapped the tabletop, producing a steady “click, click” rhythm.

A mocking smile even appeared on his face.

“A young lady is indeed a young lady.

You really don’t understand the battlefield.”

He slowly straightened his skeletal frame, his tone suddenly becoming solemn and tragic.

“In the early stages, I followed the Demon King’s orders, advancing steadily and not daring to act rashly.

Later, when I realized that if I did not act, the entire western front would completely collapse, I immediately carried out the encirclement.

But by then, it was already far too late.”

He swept his gaze around the chamber, his voice dropping low.

“You say I aided the enemy?

Then do you know how many of my soldiers died on the front lines fighting for the demon race?

How many families lost their support because of this?

How many soldiers’ hearts did I… chill?!”

“You—!”

Vera trembled with rage and suddenly stood up, slamming both hands onto the table.

“Bane! I want you dead!”

“Fine!”

Bane suddenly showed a look of terror, stumbling back a step, then immediately straightened up.

He spread his arms wide, facing her without any defense, and shouted with tragic resolve.

“Vera!

If killing me alone can quell the anger, stabilize morale, and save the demon race from peril—

Then I am willing to offer my life!”

His voice rang out, echoing through the silent council chamber.

“Do it!

May my blood buy the demon race a longer-lasting peace!”

Vera was choked by this sudden display of righteousness, unable to speak.

Her face flushed red, her chest heaving violently.

In the end, she could only pound the stone table again and again in fury, grinding her teeth as she growled.

“Bane… I’ll make you pay for this… just you wait!”

Seeing this, Irina let out a soft sigh and reached out to pull the enraged Vera back into her seat.

“Vera, don’t be impulsive.

Anger is anger, but losing your composure will only make you fall into someone else’s trap.”