Chapter 56: A Midnight Visit and a Hidden Alliance

“Though the motive behind it was far from pure, the outcome proved to be a blessing. Otherwise, the Demon Lord and I would never have found each other, would we?”

Noah chuckled softly, burying her face deeper into Letitia Tanis’s soft, long hair and neck, greedily inhaling her cool, natural fragrance.

“That’s true enough…”

Letitia Tanis murmured, her voice losing its edge and softening considerably.

“Yet, that girl frequently got her potions wrong, slipping all manner of peculiar substances into my cup. I can’t fathom what she was thinking.”

“What if she didn’t err with her concoctions at all?”

Noah tightened her embrace around the soft form, a jade-like beauty nestled in her arms, her voice imbued with a deep confidence, its velvety softness tinged with seduction.

“Surely… that can’t be? She explicitly stated she doesn’t favor my type.”

Her dark red eyes subtly shifted, and the unperceptive Letitia Tanis, after a moment’s consideration, swiftly rejected the notion.

“Hmm, are you certain that’s the case? Well, never mind.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she offered a knowing, captivating smile, choosing not to reveal the truth.

After all, a tsundere’s true feelings were often buried deep, and she harbored no intention of abetting a rival.

“Oh, right, Noah, regarding our date tomorrow…”

A prolonged silence had fallen, and Letitia Tanis, racking her brain for a suitable topic, realized Noah had remained utterly quiet behind her.

Yet, as she spoke, she belatedly noticed a faint, rhythmic breathing emanating from behind, and the arm draped around her had considerably loosened its hold.

She turned around, discovering Noah Autolinde with her mouth slightly ajar, her long lashes softly fanning her cheeks, and her peaceful sleeping face exceedingly endearing.

Though typically so vibrant and possessing a radiant, infectious energy, in her tranquil slumber, she exuded an undeniable childlike innocence, resembling a fragile child.

Letitia Tanis smiled gently, then carefully disengaged Noah Autolinde’s hand from where it rested upon her, slipping free from Noah Autolinde’s embrace and the warmth of the bedclothes.

Noah Autolinde offered no resistance; she merely nestled closer to the sleeping Demon Lord, a faint, reminiscent smile gracing her lips.

“Good night, Saintess.”

Letitia Tanis leaned down, whispering softly into Noah Autolinde’s ear, then shed her youthful sleepwear, donning the ceremonial gown of the Demon Lord.

The tender smile on her face swiftly vanished, her dark red eyes flaring like twin beacons, and her entire aura rapidly shifted from that of a girl engaged in late-night confidences to an imposing Demon Lord.

****

That afternoon, the runestone she had entrusted to Noah Autolinde had activated.

The intelligence gleaned from the runestone indicated that she needed to make certain moves to ensure Noah Autolinde’s safety.

Within the Demon Lord’s castle, deep in the night, the vast, empty corridors held a disquieting presence, broken only by the occasional patrolling maid or guard.

Yet, Letitia Tanis moved with practiced ease; the subtly eerie atmosphere seemed to invigorate her, making her feel as though she had returned home.

Descending the stairs, she entered the remote communication chamber, adorned with arcane runes, and established a connection to a place untouched for centuries.

As if water cascading from a vessel, surging magical energy poured forth, slowly coalescing into the ethereal form of a young woman.

The dignified young woman slowly opened her eyes, her gaze, imbued with a gentle smile, falling upon the Demon Lord before her.

“I’m quite surprised you would contact me, ‘Demon Lord’ Letitia Tanis. If my mind isn’t still fogged by slumber, we are currently adversaries, are we not?”

The flawlessly beautiful young woman chuckled softly, her lustrous black hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders, her pure golden eyes as clear and profound as the boundless sky.

Her skin was as pristine and smooth as fresh milk, her poised stature akin to that of an elegant goddess, and a form-fitting, white robe edged in gold perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.

Her unrivaled candor and magnanimity, coupled with a smile so warmly inviting that even those born of shadow would feel its comforting embrace, left an indelible impression on all who beheld her.

She was like an enhanced iteration of Saintess Noah Autolinde, embodying both the playful charm of a young woman and the all-encompassing warmth of a gentle sun.

This profoundly maternal and captivating aura could stir the hearts of all who encountered her, compelling them to instinctively unburden their long-held secrets, seek her embrace, and heed her counsel.

The sacred maiden’s bosom was, naturally, quite bountiful; a few more sizes, and it might even rival Noah Autolinde’s exaggerated proportions.

While typical ample figures hovered around the 90-range, Noah Autolinde’s boasted an astonishing 110-plus, and this young woman’s fell perfectly between the conventionally large and the truly monumental, a size that was undeniably generous yet still within the realm of natural beauty.

It was precisely the kind of size one could surrender to without a second thought.

“Had it not been for a pressing matter, I would not have sought you out, Highest Priestess Yemina.”

Letitia Tanis’s tone was measured, yet devoid of true iciness; it lacked the off-putting majesty or chilling indifference, instead carrying the weary resignation and subtle defiance one reserves for a particularly vexing friend.

Likely, no one in existence knew that the reigning Demon Lord and the Highest Priestess of the Holy Church Empire were, in fact, secretly close friends.

Such a revelation, if uttered by anyone, would undoubtedly be relegated to the realm of preposterous jest.

“So, what brings you to me, Letitia Tanis? As the Highest Priestess, I am exceedingly occupied, you know.”

Yemina yawned, her soft, cherry lips parted delicately, her half-closed eyes seemingly casting a suggestive glance.

Even such a simple gesture was enough to ignite a myriad of fantasies, a testament to her position as the undeniable leader of the Holy Church Empire.

“Busy? What could one who has slumbered for centuries within Godes Tower, oblivious to worldly matters, possibly be busy with? Perhaps you’re busy sleeping?”

The moment Yemina spoke, a spark of irritation ignited within Letitia Tanis. This Highest Priestess and the Healing Saintess were truly cut from the same cloth, their mouths an endless stream of playful provocations and fanciful fabrications.

Despite their melodious voices, they possessed an uncanny ability to vex anyone to distraction, a trait shared by both Noah Autolinde and Yemina.

Upon reflection, Letitia Tanis realized she had seemingly struggled to contend with girls like Noah Autolinde for centuries.

A soft giggle escaped Yemina. “Indeed, I am busy sleeping. After all, I am advancing in years, and to preserve my youthful radiance and beauty, proper upkeep is essential, wouldn’t you agree?”

Yemina feigned a moment of overwhelming amusement, her captivating smile as warm and inviting as a gentle spring breeze.

It made one feel less like confronting the head of a nation and more like encountering a radiant, heartwarming young woman at a formal noble banquet.

“I wish to inform you that an adventurer transgressed the established order and assaulted one of my own.”

Letitia Tanis had no desire to indulge in further banter with Yemina. She knew that, owing to her celestial bloodline, Yemina’s beauty would remain untarnished even after millennia.

However, she required frequent periods of slumber to maintain her physical equilibrium, which was why outsiders rarely encountered the Highest Priestess in a conscious state—a practically open secret within the entire church.

“It’s possible this action had your implicit approval, and I’ve come to verify this suspicion.”

Letitia Tanis’s gaze intensified, fixed upon the ethereal projection of the young woman before her, her dark red eyes seeming as if ancient, unyielding ice had coalesced within them.