Chapter 32: Rekindled Hope

Melorin raised her head, staring emptily at the ceiling.

Her voice was filled with sorrow.

“Since I’ve already lost… maybe I should just surrender.

Like Servia did… obedient, well-behaved, cherished by the Demon King, together with Lilith and Kathy… living this kind of… happy life… wouldn’t that be fine too?”

But before the words had fully left her mouth, she bit down hard on her lower lip, almost drawing blood.

“But… I’m so unwilling to accept it…”

Tears welled up again, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“I’m not willing to lose like this!

I’m not willing to let others decide who I am!

Why did I have to be turned into this?

Why was everything taken from me?!

Why?!”

She let out a heavy sigh, carrying far too much within it—

mourning for her past self, fear for her future fate, and despair at her own weakness in this moment.

She thought of how the Demon King shattered her will again and again with pleasure.

She thought of Lilith’s gentle yet inescapable “guidance.”

She thought of her current frail body, and of how even her identity had been completely rewritten.

What was left to resist?

“It’s okay…” she began whispering to herself, her voice full of uncertainty.

“I’ll get used to it…

It might feel wrong at first, but after a while…

I should get used to it… right…?”

Yet Melorin knew it clearly in her heart—

she was still hesitating.

She was still struggling.

She still didn’t want to give up.

She didn’t want to become the Demon King’s little pet.

She clutched her head tightly with both hands, her voice breaking into sobs.

“What am I still thinking about?

What am I still hesitating for?

I should’ve accepted my fate long ago, shouldn’t I?

What’s the point of resisting?

What progress have I made lately?

I can’t even reclaim my own name anymore…

Isn’t it better to stay with them like this?

Being so happy every day…”

She was on the verge of sinking completely.

But at the instant her consciousness was about to fall into darkness—

a thought flashed through her mind.

“If they can be changed… then there must be a way to change back.”

She shot upright, tears blurring her vision as a spark of hope reignited in her pupils.

“That’s right… Servia changed, Kathy changed, Phyril changed too…

But they weren’t originally demons!

And unlike me, their identities, memories, and gender weren’t completely twisted.

They just became demons, that’s all.”

“If it can be altered… then it can definitely be restored!”

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

The pain sharpened her mind.

“I don’t need to accept fate…

I need to find the truth.

I need to find a way to restore Servia…

I need to make them remember who they really are!”

Leaning against the door, she slowly stood up.

Inside the Demon King’s Office

Morgana leaned casually against her desk, idly stroking a crystal ball about the size of her palm.

Light and shadow flowed within it, clearly reflecting Melorin curled up by her door, crying—

her trembling shoulders, falling tears, and whispered murmurs, none of it missing.

“How interesting…” Morgana smiled, clearly delighted.

“Melorin-chan, the way you struggle… it’s truly delicious.”

Her fingertip tapped the crystal lightly, the image enlarging and freezing on the moment the girl looked up toward the ceiling—

despair mixed with lingering defiance.

“Don’t give up…” she murmured softly, sounding both encouraging and like a hunter whispering to her prey.

“If you give up… it won’t be fun anymore.”

A glint of pleasure flashed in her eyes—

not mere cruelty, but an artist’s appreciation.

She was waiting.

Waiting for Melorin to completely collapse.

Waiting for her to reach out and beg for help.

Waiting for her to tear apart her last shred of resolve herself,

to crawl on her knees into Morgana’s embrace,

and willingly become her little pet.

Just then—

Knock, knock.

The office door was gently tapped.

Morgana closed her hand, and the crystal ball instantly dissolved into a wisp of black mist, vanishing from her palm.

“Come in,” she said calmly, as if nothing had happened.

The door opened, and Irina walked in at a measured pace.

Her posture was straight, her expression calm and respectful.

“Lady Morgana,” she said, bowing slightly.

“I apologize for disturbing you.”

Morgana looked up and smiled.

“Irina?

Is there something you need?”

“Yes,” Irina replied steadily.

“It concerns Lady Melorin.”

Interest immediately appeared on Morgana’s face.

She tapped the desk lightly with her finger and smiled.

“Oh? Go on.”

“Kathy encountered Lady Melorin in the castle corridor earlier,” Irina reported truthfully.

“She said… Lady Melorin looked very sad, as though she had been crying, yet was forcing herself not to speak of it.

Kathy didn’t know how to comfort her and informed me instead.

After careful consideration, I decided to report this to you.”

Morgana’s smile deepened.

“So… my little darling is hiding alone in her room right now, feeling sad?”

She chuckled softly, speaking sorrowful words in a tone utterly devoid of sorrow—

like one addressing a beloved pet.

“Mmm… how heartbreaking.”

Irina looked at her quietly, still respectful.

“Lady Morgana, in my judgment, Lady Melorin truly needs someone to comfort her at this moment.”

Morgana tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes.

“I never thought… that the usually taciturn Irina would have such delicate consideration.”

Irina’s expression didn’t change, her voice steady.

“Lady Morgana, my respect and concern are not born of emotional fluctuation, but of adherence to my principles.

As your subordinate, observing the situation and discerning hearts is also part of my cultivation.”

Morgana paused, then laughed.

“Alright, alright, I understand.”

She waved her hand with mild helplessness.

“Thank you for reporting this.”

“There is no need for thanks, Lady Morgana,” Irina said, bowing slightly.

“Assisting you and safeguarding the order of the demon race is my innate duty.”

Morgana looked at her earnest, rigid demeanor and sighed inwardly.

What a hopelessly stiff girl…

She waved her off.

“I understand. You may go.”

“Yes.”

Irina saluted once more and turned to leave, her steps steady, her back straight as a pine.

The door closed softly, and the office returned to silence.

Watching Irina leave, the Demon King smiled.

“Since my dear Melorin-chan isn’t feeling well… I really should go and see her.”

Meanwhile, Melorin lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Her tears had already dried, leaving only exhaustion and resentment behind.

Suddenly—

Knock, knock, knock.

A gentle knocking sounded at the door.

She didn’t respond.

She assumed it was Lilith, who wouldn’t force her way in.

But after a moment, the knocking stopped.

Then the door opened.

Her heart tightened.

She turned her head—

and the visitor was not Lilith.

It was the Demon King.

Melorin’s entire body went rigid.

Her heart clenched violently.

Anger, hatred, fear, humiliation—

countless emotions exploded in her chest,

finally coalescing into a soul-scorching rage.

It was her—

the one who stole her identity,

rewrote her memories,

turned Servia into that,

and turned Kathy into Irina’s daughter…