"Guildmaster Kurose Akira… it's been far too long~"
Princess Vivian's voice drifted in like a teasing breeze.
She stepped lightly across the ground, her presence so silent it was as though she had materialized from thin air behind Kurose Akira and the others.
At her side stood the female knight clad in golden armor, gleaming like a living bulwark. The knight remained half a step behind her liege, shadowing her every movement—an unyielding guardian forged of steel and discipline.
"Indeed. It has been some time since we last met, Princess Vivian."
Kurose Akira turned to face her. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Judging from her tone, she had watched the entire battle unfold.
That realization stirred a trace of unease within him.
He was certain he hadn't sensed anyone nearby earlier. Not even the faintest breath of presence.
Did they arrive midway through the fight?
The manor stood at the forest's edge. Such timing would be an extraordinary coincidence.
Unless…
She had been observing this place from the shadows all along.
"The world is full of delightful coincidences," Princess Vivian said as she approached with measured grace. She stopped at a carefully maintained distance, close enough for intimacy, far enough for safety. A knowing smile curved her lips. "The commission I instructed Marquis Veno to release somehow ended up in President Kurose's hands. And not only did you complete it flawlessly, you even eliminated a troublesome enemy of mine in the process. Please—allow me to express my gratitude."
With that, she raised her slender hand elegantly.
The golden-armored knight stepped forward at once, presenting a heavy treasure chest to Kurose Akira.
The lid creaked open.
A cascade of golden light spilled out—brilliant coins stacked in glittering abundance.
[Additional Quest Reward: 50 Gold]
Kurose Akira's expression did not change.
Fifty gold coins.
Hardly worth raising an eyebrow.
He calmly accepted the chest from the knight and stored it in his inventory.
"Then I'll accept your thanks, Your Highness."
"Oh, it's nothing worth mentioning." Princess Vivian smiled sweetly.
"Since the mission is complete, we'll be on our way."
He inclined his head politely and turned to leave.
"President Kurose, please wait."
Her voice sharpened just slightly as she stopped him.
"After such a rare reunion… would you grant me the honor of sharing a cup of afternoon tea?"
"No time."
The refusal came without hesitation.
After what had happened between them… after learning of her identity as a witch… prolonged contact would only invite disaster.
"Cold as ever."
Princess Vivian suppressed the irritation rising in her chest, forcing her lips into a fragile smile.
At the same time, her eyes began to glow with a faint golden radiance.
"It would only be a brief conversation. It won't take much of your time. I hope President Kurose will do me this small courtesy."
Before her final word fully left her mouth—
The power of the Dominating Demon Eye activated.
In an instant, invisible force began to invade Kurose Akira's consciousness.
True, she had suffered humiliating defeat before—her mind even scorched by the backlash.
But after careful investigation, Vivian had discovered the reason her eye had failed that day.
At the time, a trace of the Night Witch's origin magic had lingered within Kurose Akira.
Combined with her own inexperience in controlling the newly acquired eye, the result had been disastrous.
But now?
Now she had mastered it.
She had even unlocked a new authority within the eye—transforming it into a power uniquely her own.
The Night Witch's origin magic could no longer interfere.
How could Kurose Akira possibly resist this time?
And she was only asking for something so simple.
A cup of tea.
There was no way she could fail.
There was simply no way~
Yet the moment her Dominating Demon Eye flared—
A radiant golden light burst from Kurose Akira's Counter Demon Eye.
Again?
He couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Princess Vivian truly never learned.
Still… this presented an opportunity.
A chance to determine which of the Night Witch's two eyes reigned supreme.
With a single thought—
His Counter Demon Eye began to rotate.
Almost immediately, Princess Vivian realized something was wrong.
The world around her… stopped.
Everything froze.
Time.
Sound.
Air itself.
"This… what is happening?"
Confusion filled her face.
Had her eye awakened another ability?
Before she could unravel the mystery—
Kurose Akira began walking toward her.
The cold indifference had vanished from his face.
In its place bloomed a brilliant smile.
"If it's tea with Princess Vivian," he said gently, "I'd be delighted to accept."
She blinked.
Then a smug smile spread across her lips.
"As expected of President Kurose. The Kingdom of Stars possesses a rare tea reserved exclusively for royalty. I'm certain you'll find it unforgettable—"
She never finished the sentence.
He was already in front of her.
His hand shot out.
He grabbed her by the ankle—
And lifted her upside down.
"Ah!? Y-You—what are you doing?!"
Princess Vivian shrieked, desperately clutching at her skirt as blood rushed to her face. Her cheeks burned crimson with humiliation.
Her mind reeled.
Her Dominating Demon Eye had activated.
So why could he move freely?
Why could he—
Treat her like this?
Then her pupils widened again.
Because not only had he hoisted her into the air—
He had released the bound Holy Light.
It shone far more brilliantly than before.
Dazzling.
Overwhelming.
Radiant beyond reason.
Her pupils trembled violently.
Is he even human…?
How can it be so—
Brilliant?
Mmh—!
Before she could finish the thought—
She felt the searing heat of that sacred radiance…
—
In the real world—
The golden-armored knight noticed something was wrong.
Princess Vivian had gone completely rigid.
Frozen in place.
Her body stiff, unmoving.
"Your Highness?"
The knight stepped forward, concern edging into her voice. She reached out and gently touched Vivian's shoulder.
The next second—
Princess Vivian collapsed to her knees.
Her eyes rolled back.
A thin, crystalline strand of saliva slipped from the corner of her lips.
"Your Highness?!"
The knight's face drained of color.
She shot a furious glare at Kurose Akira.
"What did you do to her?!"
At that exact moment, his consciousness returned fully to normal.
He glanced at Princess Vivian, who remained in a dazed, delirious state.
Then he spoke lightly—
"Take Princess Vivian somewhere to rest. She's tired."
The golden knight: "?"
Without another word, Kurose Akira led his guild members into the teleportation array.
Light swallowed them.
They vanished.
He knew better than to kill Princess Vivian here.
There were likely powerful guardians hidden nearby—far beyond what his current condition could handle.
More importantly, Idith had specifically warned him: Princess Vivian was essential to restraining the alliance between Prince Tylus and Prince Laps.
A lesson was enough.
After Kurose Akira and his party departed—
A new figure appeared before the fallen princess.
A female knight clad in crystalline blue armor, long hair the color of frozen sapphire cascading down her back.
Frost gathered beneath her boots as she stepped forward, as though winter itself answered her summons.
Her pale gray eyes swept coldly across the battlefield.
Then she glanced at Princess Vivian, still lost in a hazy trance.
"She's fine," the blue-haired knight said calmly to the golden one. "Just startled. Take her back."
"Yes."
The golden-armored knight bowed deeply.
Carefully supporting Princess Vivian, she guided her into the teleportation array.
They disappeared in a flash of light, returning to the royal capital.
The blue-haired knight remained behind.
Her gaze scanned every corner of the battlefield.
After a long moment—
She shook her head faintly.
Then her figure dissolved into a flurry of snow and wind.
Gone without a trace.