Chapter 75: What Are You Trying to Do?

“Did you have lunch?”

Sephine asked softly.

At a time like this, she didn’t want to keep quarreling with the Demon King.

She looked truly pained—it felt like her hair had even turned whiter.

Vi shook her head.

She’d been busy all day, either dealing with various documents sent by the surrounding kingdoms or handling affairs related to the Radiance Festival ceremony.

Fortunately, those kingdoms hadn’t taken the Monster Nation too seriously, or perhaps they trusted the Magical Kingdom’s own strength.

They hadn’t sided with the Monster Nation after its declaration of war, and trade and agreements were still proceeding normally.

Whether the ultimate solution to all problems lay in violence or an alternative path would only be known after the ceremony.

For now, the Demon King was preparing for the worst.

“There are still some leftovers. Are you in a hurry? If not, I can make you something.”

The Demon King’s words struck Sephine as a bit odd, but she said nothing.

As for that Demon King… it was hard to judge.

Maybe after being king for so long, she’d lost the ability to take care of herself.

Misilanka was an okay person, just too sloppy.

And Ai’er went without saying—it was best to keep her distance from any trouble, so as not to create a tangled mess that couldn’t be cut clean.

This household was really a mess.

Sephine helped tidy up a little.

“Then you sit here for now.”

“Are you really short on money right now?”

“Yes, otherwise why would I be working? For the Radiance Festival, I want to buy some new clothes for the children,” Sephine muttered to herself.

“I can even sell the empty bottles for some cash.”

On the day of the ceremony, the market would become quite lively.

Merchants would put out their best goods, especially clothing stores, which often sold limited-edition beautiful outfits.

The prices would be high, but they were undeniably pretty.

Sephine soon brought the food over.

She had served the Demon King properly, done her duty to the utmost, and was about to leave.

“I can give you money.”

“Eat your meal.”

If she stayed any longer, Ai’er would probably stir up some new trouble.

To avoid being ambushed, a quick retreat was the right choice.

Wait… that’s not right.

Ai’er had gone to ask for leave on her behalf.

Was that really okay?

She’d only been working for a few days.

Could the tavern owner and the others manage?

“I’m going now.”

“Didn’t I send Ai’er to find Auntie Xue? Don’t worry about that.”

“Then I still have to go back and be with the children! They’re home alone—I’m worried.”

“I sent Aglis over.”

“The door is locked. How will she get in? I really have to go.”

Sephine felt like there was some conspiracy.

She absolutely couldn’t stay here.

“Aren’t you busy? Don’t spend so much time on me.”

Sephine opened the door and ignored the Demon King’s protests, turning to leave.

But before she could get out, she was grabbed.

Vi held tightly to Sephine’s clothes, refusing to let her go.

“What’s that smell? Have you been drinking?”

There hadn’t been any alcohol smell just a moment ago.

Sephine looked at the table.

Besides the food and dishes, there was only a glass.

Inside was a white liquid.

That glass hadn’t been there before, had it?

Had she poured herself water?

A strong smell of alcohol came from that direction.

It didn’t seem like water.

Given the smell, the drink must have been frighteningly strong.

Misilanka was hiding behind the door.

If Sephine hadn’t opened it, she might have been discovered.

Now Misilanka was squeezed behind the door.

She had replaced every liquid in the house with alcohol.

Yes, every single one.

But she hadn’t intended for her own daughter to drink it.

She’d poured a glass of water there, thinking Sephine would take a sip.

But who would have thought her daughter would intercept it first, and down the whole glass?

Normally, Vi’s tolerance for alcohol should have been considerable—one glass wouldn’t get her drunk.

But this particular glass was a potent liquor carefully chosen by Misilanka—one glass was enough to knock her out.

“No, I just had a sip… of water…”

Sephine dragged Vi over to the table and sniffed the empty glass.

The smell was quite strong. There was no way this was water.

“Could Ai’er have done this? That doesn’t make sense.”

A younger sister getting her elder sister drunk?

What was she trying to do?

Or… no, Ai’er wasn’t that clever.

And she was already gone—the glass wasn’t even here when she left…

These were minor issues.

The main thing now was to drag Vi to her room.

“Um… Xiaomi?”

Sephine knocked on Misilanka’s door, but got no response.

Of course there was no reply—Misilanka was still hiding behind the living room door.

If she spoke, she’d be exposed.

Having lost her sight, Misilanka’s hearing was exceptionally sharp.

Combined with sensing her surroundings using magic power, she could move normally without any hindrance.

“No response. Asleep? Looks like I’ll have to do it myself.”

Sephine envied Misilanka’s sleep quality.

She herself had trouble getting a good night’s rest.

She hadn’t expected that Misilanka could fall asleep as soon as she lay down.

“Where’s your room?”

“Over there—”

“Oh, such a strong smell of alcohol.”

As soon as the Demon King opened her mouth, the scent of liquor came out.

Maybe it was psychological, but Sephine felt like she was getting drunk just from the smell.

Alcohol was highly volatile, and Vi’s mouth was still covered in it, rubbing against Sephine’s clothes from time to time.

“So heavy…”

Sephine dragged Vi’s body toward her room.

It took a lot of effort to get her inside.

She hadn’t expected this girl to be so heavy.

She hadn’t felt this heavy when she’d been lying on top of Sephine earlier.

“You’re already drunk now. What about all that official business?”

“Isn’t that a bit irresponsible?”

“Hey?”

No response.

The Demon King seemed to have fallen asleep.

Now the only sound in the room was her steady breathing.

“Hmph, you hit me earlier. Take that!”

Sephine gently tapped Vi’s face.

Slap.

The smooth skin rebounded under Sephine’s hand.

“No reaction. She really is dead asleep.”

She must have been exhausted.

When someone is under high mental strain, it’s hard to get proper rest.

Seeing her like that, Sephine didn’t believe she’d had any good rest.

“Your clothes are all dirty.”

Sephine lifted Vi’s upper body and began to help her take off the coat stained with food and alcohol.

“You’re still like a child, getting your clothes dirty while eating.”

“Hmm—”

“What, not happy? Idiot. Still arguing with me even when you’re asleep.”

Underneath, Vi was wearing only a small white shirt, which fit Sephine’s understanding of her fashion sense—though Sephine’s wasn’t great either.

“That’s enough.”

Sephine had just stood up when Vi’s strong arm pulled her close.

“What are you trying to do?”