Dinner was, as usual, lavish, but I ate distractedly.
My odd behavior caught Aunt Yuyu’s attention, and she shot a questioning glance at Little Aunt.
Little Aunt put on an innocent face, claiming ignorance, then winked subtly.
Aunt Yuyu sighed, glanced at her, and picked up some food for me. “What’s wrong, Little Tong? You look out of it.”
“Did you watch a scary movie and get spooked? No worries, Little Aunt can sleep with you tonight as thanks for this afternoon. How’s that?” Little Aunt teased, grinning.
“No, I’m fine!” I said, snapping out of it.
I quickly shoveled down my rice. “I’m full. I’m gonna take a bath.”
“So early today? I’ll grab your change of clothes.” Aunt Yuyu offered.
“No need, I can get them myself.” I said, waving her off and putting my dishes in the sink. “Oh, I’m pretty tired today. I’ll sleep right after my bath, so no need for warm milk, Aunt Yuyu.”
Watching my petite figure slip into my room, Anrou and Yoyo exchanged a glance.
“You think it’s weird too, right, Anrou-jie? Tongtong’s never been this well-behaved. She usually games till eight or nine. Going to bed at six? That’s not normal.” Yoyo said.
Anrou nodded, thoughtful. “Yoyo.”
“Got it! I’ll have a ‘heart-to-heart’ with Tongtong and get to the bottom of it.” Yoyo said, eyes gleaming.
“How bad is your sleeping posture?” Anrou asked, deadpan.
“…???”
After my bath, I changed into pajamas and, to sell my act, yawned repeatedly while saying goodnight to Little Aunt and Aunt Yuyu.
Then I turned off the room’s lights and slipped into bed.
Of course, I wasn’t actually sleeping.
When Syl told me about the hidden organization’s special ritual at the Radiant Monastery, held around midnight, I hesitated but decided to stay up.
In my past life, staying up late was no big deal.
But as a minor now, even an idiot knows it’s bad for kids.
With Little Aunt and Aunt Yuyu watching me, getting caught would mean endless lectures from them and a scolding from my parents when they returned.
So, deceiving them felt wrong, but for tonight’s plan, I had no choice.
Lost in thought, time passed quickly.
My phone vibrated under my pillow, jolting me awake—I’d nearly dozed off.
Thankfully, I’d prepared.
Checking my phone, it was 10:51 p.m.
Worried the ritual might involve early preparations, making late entry harder, I’d agreed with Syl to log in around 11 p.m.
I wasn’t late yet.
Lifting the blanket, I crept to the door and listened for sounds outside.
Confirming Aunt Yuyu and Little Aunt were asleep, I sighed in relief.
But to be safe, I slipped a piece of paper under the door to block the gap, then returned to my bed and activated the access device.
The device’s glow wasn’t noticeable in daylight but stood out at night.
I was glad for my foresight, though the startup noise was unavoidable.
“Come on, come on…” I muttered, clenching my fists nervously as the device connected.
It felt like it was taking forever, though I knew it was quick.
“You seem in a hurry.” a voice said.
“I don’t want Aunt Yuyu and them to hear.” I replied.
“Don’t want them knowing you’re sneaking games at night?” the voice asked.
“If they find out, I’m dead.” I said.
“Got it. Want me to prep a midnight snack?” the voice offered.
“Sure, thanks, Aunt Yuyu.” I said, then froze.
I spun around to see Aunt Yuyu’s smiling face, eerie in the dark and my nervous state. “A-Aunt Yuyu… when did you come in?”
“When you started the device.” Aunt Yuyu said, blinking and turning on the bedside lamp.
“Aunt Yuyu, I’m sorry!” I said, sitting on the bed like a guilty kid awaiting judgment—which I was.
But no scolding or lecture came.
Curious, I looked up to see Aunt Yuyu handing me a cup of warm milk. “Drink this before playing. It won’t take long.”
“Eh…?”
I took the cup, dazed, unable to process.
“Don’t just sit there. Drink before it cools.” Aunt Yuyu said, tapping my forehead. “I used to stay up gaming too, so I get it. But I know my Little Tong’s a good kid. You must have something important to do, right?”
Her words made me blush.
I sipped the milk to hide my embarrassment.
“So, don’t hide important stuff from me and Yoyo. We’re not unreasonable.” Aunt Yuyu paused, her tone turning serious. “But that doesn’t mean you can stay up whenever. Got it?”
“I understand. Thanks, Aunt Yuyu.” I said, nodding, feeling even guiltier for deceiving them.
“Don’t play too late.” Aunt Yuyu said, smiling and patting my head.
She headed for the door, but I stopped her. “Um, how did you know?”
“You were too weird at dinner, so Yoyo and I kept an eye out. Didn’t expect you to hold out this long before slipping up. Now, I’m off to rest.” Aunt Yuyu said, winking.
So she stayed up just for me?
I pursed my lips, touched.
But before the feeling could deepen, Yoyo’s voice came from outside. “Anrou-jie, the takeout’s here. What movie should we watch?”
“…”
“…”
“Uh, I just felt like relaxing tonight…” Anrou said, her gaze shifting under my scrutinizing loli stare.
At her desk, Syl heard a soft whimper behind her.
She gently closed her book and placed it on the shelf. “Your Highness is a bit late.”
“Got held up.” I said, stretching and sticking out my tongue.
I climbed out of bed, changed clothes, and Syl draped a thin but warm shawl over me.
“Hold tight, Your Highness.” Syl said, scooping me up in a princess carry and pushing open the window.
Near midnight, the night outside was heavy, the moon hidden behind thick clouds, as if hinting at something secretive tonight.
Avoiding patrol teams, Syl soon brought me to the south tower of the Radiant Monastery.
This was tonight’s ritual venue.
As expected, though the ritual was set for midnight, many had already gathered.
The tower glowed faintly, clearly in preparation.
“So many people, Syl.” I said, eyeing the monastery members at the entrance, cloaked in black robes like a secretive group. “And so mysterious.”
“Between one hundred and two hundred, about a twentieth of the monastery’s population.” Syl said, scanning the scene.
“That many?” I said, surprised.
Forming such a large, disciplined organization within the Radiant Monastery without detection spoke to their strict secrecy.
Bypassing watchful eyes, Syl sneaked us into the tower, hiding us in the shadows of a high window’s ledge.
It was wide enough for both of us, hard to spot, and offered a clear view of the crowd below.
But that was it.
The hall was dimly lit, barely illuminated, and the black-robed figures made it hard to discern details.
Shadows moved in the faint light.
Though the gathering hadn’t started, some not involved in preparations whispered among themselves.
Occasionally, a voice rose slightly, preaching something in a hushed yet fervent tone.
“Can’t hear a thing.” I said, giving up after trying. “Whatever, we’ll find out tonight.”
“Half an hour to go.” Syl said, glancing at the thick night outside. “Your Highness could rest a bit.”
“No way I can sleep.” I said, shaking my head, propping my cheek.
It was like a mystery novel reaching the thrilling whodunit moment—who’d do homework now?
Speaking of novels, I remembered something.
I pulled out the forgotten Young Lady Liya (Volume 2) from my bag. “Can I read my novel, Syl?”
“I’ll keep watch. Rest easy, Your Highness.” Syl said, nodding.
With Syl’s protection, I relaxed and opened the book, diving in.
The story picked up from the last volume’s end.
Liya, having uncovered the earl and his fiancée’s deal with a demon, pretended nothing was wrong while guarding against their probing, searching for an escape.
She met new guards who’d also discovered the castle’s secrets, and they devised an escape plan together.
Sadly, the earl uncovered their plan.
On the escape night, the guards were corrupted by demonic power to cover Liya’s retreat.
Realizing she couldn’t escape the castle, Liya resolved to return to the basement and sacrifice herself to stop the demon’s spread, in exchange for its promise.
“I can’t believe you have the courage to face me.” a low voice rumbled in the darkness.
Liya closed her eyes. “You want my body, don’t you? I ask that you spare the innocent.”
“I can grant that, but think carefully. Becoming a puppet isn’t easy to bear.” A massive hand reached from a dark gate toward Liya.
The penultimate scene ended.
Anyone would assume a tragic ending, given the dark, despairing tone throughout.
But I didn’t think so.
No matter how free the Radiant Monastery’s faith, it was rooted in light.
A book glorifying evil’s triumph would be banned.
Since I could read this, something unexpected must reverse the outcome between this scene and the end.
What twist could rewrite the ending in one scene?
I was eager to find out.
But as I turned to the final scene, Syl’s voice broke in. “Your Highness, there’s movement.”
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