Chapter 72 : Stacy, It’s Time to End This

‘The bath is ready. Go wash up.’

And after that, she’d be eaten clean, wouldn’t she?

Stacy’s footsteps faded toward the kitchen. Milly pushed open the bathroom door. Steam filled the room, blurring everything.

She took off her cloak and dress. Stacy’s magic had dried them, but they were still covered in mud. She tossed them in the laundry bin and looked at her wrists and ankles. The marks from the chains were gone.

Had Stacy removed the Church’s seals when she brought her back?

Did she think it didn’t matter, because the power gap between them was too great?

Milly looked at her reflection and gave a self-deprecating laugh. After everything she had been through, the key to leaving this world had finally appeared in her mind. But both paths were impossible for her now.

Home…

Her future was bleak. This life, a tightrope walk over ice. Could she ever go home?

She forced a bitter smile. Don’t think too much.

She stepped into the tub, the water warm against her skin. Her reflection stared back, crimson eyes eerie in the steam.

Her tail slapped the water, sending small ripples across the surface. It was a pointless motion, but it seemed happy, like a child in a bath for the first time.

“So childish…”

Milly murmured, to her tail, or to herself.

The water was comforting, the warmth seeping into her, a better remedy than Stacy’s magic. Even her wings stretched out, as if in contentment.

Her fingers traced lines on the water’s surface, shattering her reflection, which immediately reformed.

This was her now. A little demon.

Her red eyes were beautiful, she had to admit. They would be even more so if they weren’t so empty. The warmth could only reach her body. What about her heart?

She stared at her lifeless reflection. Round and round she went, and she was back here, in Stacy’s fortress.

She stayed in the tub until the water grew cold, then got out. The steam had cleared. In the mirror, her empty red eyes were starkly clear. If they held any light, they would be beautiful. She used to love white hair and red eyes.

She tried to smile, but it was a stiff, ugly thing. She had forgotten how.

Time to go.

She put on the nightgown Stacy had left for her and, with her hair still wet, left the bathroom.

Stacy had said to come for dinner after her bath.

‘And as for how to get there, Little Milly, I don’t need to tell you again, do I?’

The path was seared into her memory. The place of countless torments. How could she forget?

She stood before the familiar room, ready for whatever was to come.

Just more dark cuisine.

But after a few days of normal food with Tifna, her tolerance had dropped. She would probably throw up on the spot.

At that thought, Stacy would probably hang her up, her face dark.

“Don’t waste food,” she’d say, using it as an excuse to torture her. Or throw her on the bed and do unspeakable things.

She pushed the door open. Candles flickered on the long table, a few exquisite silver platters laid out.

Let’s see, what was it this time? Writhing meat? Eyeball soup?

No, don’t think about it. Her stomach was empty, but it was already churning.

Stacy sat at the head of the table, twirling a silver goblet. Seeing Milly, she stood and came to her.

“Still wet.”

Her fingers brushed through Milly’s hair, and it was instantly dry.

“Come, sit. Master prepared this especially for you.”

A flicker of anticipation in her eyes. What expression would the little one make this time?

She lifted the silver lid. Milly’s eyes widened in shock.

Perfectly baked bread. Steaming stew. Fresh fruit. Even a glass of warm milk.

Could Stacy really make this? Or had she brought it from the city?

“Go on, try it.”

Stacy returned to her seat, rubbing her hands together, waiting.

The shock faded. Milly said nothing, her eyes growing vacant. Before, she would have devoured it all.

But now, she had no intention of eating.

“Hmm? Not to your liking? You ate so happily at that human’s house.”

Her fingers absently traced the tablecloth. After a long moment, Milly looked up, her crimson eyes locking on Stacy.

“Stacy, was it you? Were you behind all of it?”

“Oh?”

So, the little one suspected her. After all, she had just warned her, and a few days later, her identity was exposed. It was a natural suspicion.

But, what a pity. It really had nothing to do with her. The day Milly was exposed, she had been visiting key figures in Starlight City with Lillian. She had only caught a few glimpses of the live feed.

She had known it would happen eventually, but it had come sooner than expected.

It was just bad luck. That Shadowblade Beast must have smelled the demonic aura on Milly and been drawn to her.

But looking at her now, she was convinced it was her doing.

A cold smile touched Stacy’s lips.

“If I said no, would you believe me?”

“And if I said yes, what would you do?”

Milly said nothing. She jumped off the high chair, a desperate look in her red eyes.

A stream of light flowed from her fingertips, forming Broken.

“Stacy, it’s time to end this.”