Chapter 25: The Vanishing Princess

It happened in the early morning, deep within the underground library of the palace.

An ominous glow pulsed from the command stone hidden beneath a towering bookshelf. A swirling vortex of light formed, and from its depths emerged nine figures, all clad in black robes. Their faces were obscured by deep hoods, and they moved with ghostly silence, communicating only through hand signals. Even their breath was muffled, ensuring no sound betrayed their presence.

Once their silent exchange was complete, the men advanced upstairs, concealing themselves with the high-level stealth spells Transparency and Sound Blocking. Their destination: a room on the upper floor of the palace.

Using their concealment magic, they reached their target without incident.

The princess’s chamber.

The figure at the group’s center pulled a scroll from his robes, unrolling it onto the floor. As it spread open, an unseen force surged through the air, forming a circular barrier. The spell—a top-tier Barrier Curtain—severed the space between the upper palace floors and the rest of the imperial grounds. Even a demon of immense power would struggle to break through it immediately.

As the barrier solidified, the intruders finally exhaled the breaths they had been holding, loosening their robes slightly.

“The curtain is perfectly formed. Even that great demon will take time to break through,” one of them remarked with a smirk.

A pale-faced man shot him a cold glare. “Stay focused. This is their stronghold. We can’t afford mistakes. Be on guard.”

The cautious man surveyed the corridor once more before gripping the doorknob.

Just as he was about to turn it, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Clank. Clank.

“Oh my~ Sneaking into a lady’s room at this hour? Someone has no manners.”

A playful voice broke the silence.

Stepping into view was a woman with flowing purple hair and eyes of the same hue. Her skin was a warm copper shade, and she was dressed in a black and white maid uniform.

At first glance, she was just a maid.

She approached them leisurely, every step poised and graceful, as if greeting esteemed guests rather than intruders.

“What brings you here?” she asked cheerfully. “Oh! Shall I prepare some tea? Or is there something else you require—”

Before she could finish, the pale-faced man ran his thumb across his throat in a silent command.

The others nodded and swiftly advanced toward her.

The maid sighed. “Tch.”

A magic circle flared at her fingertips.

Rubia had already grasped the situation—she had sensed the disturbance from the neighboring room.

A powerful barrier had been erected, cutting off the upper floor. Even Arasia would take time to break through it.

And their target was Lucy, the daughter of Satan.

I have to buy time.

Rubia had attempted to stall them with polite conversation, but their immediate hostility left her no choice.

She reached into her sleeve and pulled out eight razor-sharp knives, slipping them between her fingers. Without hesitation, she spread her arms wide and let them fly.

The blades sliced through the air, aimed precisely at the carotid arteries of the intruders. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, the men scrambled to evade. Most succeeded, but two were too slow—their arms and wrists were pierced.

Realizing she was no ordinary maid, the intruders quickly distanced themselves, preparing to counter with magic.

But Rubia was gone.

The corridor was empty.

No place to hide.

No time to hide.

Magic?

The two injured men collapsed.

“Are they dead?”

“But the wounds were shallow…”

“Poisoned knives?”

“A stealthy, poison-wielding maid? Satan has strange tastes.”

“Douglas, what do we do?”

The pale-faced leader, Douglas, scowled. “She’s stalling. Ignore her. Proceed with the plan.”

He turned the doorknob and ordered, “Prepare the teleportation gate immediately.”

Inside the lavishly furnished chamber, a small figure lay curled beneath a thick blanket.

“How long?” Douglas asked.

“Three minutes at the fastest.”

“Guard the room until then.”

“Yes, sir.”

Douglas approached the bed, gripping the blanket.

A nagging feeling gnawed at him.

He yanked it away.

Not the princess.

A pillow.

Douglas’s eyes widened. We’ve been tricked.

“She’s gone.”

“Did she sense us coming?”

“No—the bed is still warm. That maid… she moved her.”

Before they could search the room, shadows rippled beneath them, and Rubia emerged, blocking their escape.

“Where is she?” Douglas demanded.

The maid merely smiled. “Thank you for stepping inside so willingly. It made the trap worth setting.”

A pulse of purple light radiated from the floor.

Her shadow stretched, twisting unnaturally before morphing into dozens of serpents.

“Where do we even step?!”

“Attack!”

Desperate, the men unleashed their magic, but the serpents struck first.

“Keuk!”

“What is this—?!”

“Douglas!”

The snakes coiled around them, their fangs sinking deep. The intruders’ bodies began to stiffen, their skin graying as stone consumed them.

“AAAAAAH!”

Despite frantic struggles, their efforts were in vain. One by one, they turned to lifeless statues.

Rubia exhaled heavily. “Two left.”

Just as she moved toward the door, a crunch echoed behind her.

Among the petrified figures, Douglas stirred.

The stone casing cracked and crumbled, revealing his unharmed form.

“If I hadn’t had a curse nullification artifact, that would’ve been troublesome.”

Rubia’s heart sank.

The Curse of Petrification had drained 70% of her magic. I wanted to take out the leader in one move…

She reached into her skirt and pulled out a poisoned blade.

Douglas smirked. “A maid dealing in poison? Isn’t that ironic?”

With a flick of his wrist, the air crackled.

Rubia leaped instinctively.

A sharp whip-like crack resounded, and a thin gash appeared on her cheek.

“Where is the princess?” Douglas asked again.

Rubia sneered. Like I’d tell you—

But before she could resist, her mouth moved on its own.

“She’s in the closet.”

Her eyes widened in horror. Illusion magic? No, shadow manipulation.

Douglas glanced at the ornate closet.

Rubia lunged to intercept him, but an unseen force struck her mid-air.

“Ugh!”

Blood spattered from her side.

Douglas opened the closet.

Inside, a trembling girl with silver hair cowered.

“Exactly as expected.”

Lucy shrieked as Douglas yanked her out.

“Princess Lucy!” Rubia gasped, clutching her wound.

Douglas stepped through the teleportation gate, snapping his fingers as he vanished.

The stone statues of his fallen men erupted in flames.

BOOM!

Barely surviving with Shadow Hiding, Rubia emerged from the wreckage. Tears welled in her eyes.

“No… No… Lady Lucy…”

She was overwhelmed with despair.

Then, from the collapsed ceiling, a cloaked figure landed softly.

Rubia blinked in disbelief.

Lucy stood before her, completely unharmed.