Chapter 12: The Dungeon Is a Bit Cold

“I just finished the last painting. I need a few days to settle my thoughts and find new inspiration.”

Phyllis’s smile faded. She stopped looking at Xing Yue, her gaze drifting into the void. Even her dangling little feet suddenly froze mid-swing.

For Phyllis, completing a painting was never a happy occasion.

Every time she set down the final stroke, the lively colors and lines that had just moments ago been alive would fall silent upon completion—like saying goodbye to an old friend once more, leaving a hollow emptiness in her heart.

Her real sense of life was entirely bound to the movement of her brush. Only when immersed in creation could she pull herself back from the void and feel the meaning of existence.

And creation depended on inspiration—the starting point of her work—while perfection was an absolute rule. Phyllis could not tolerate a single flaw under her brush.

Thus, the life outside creation was simplified into two things: going out to capture fleeting inspiration, or finding some amusement for herself.

The latter was the breathing space for an immortal like her, the necessary pause before plunging into creation again.

Now back at the Demon King Castle, aside from enjoying Xing Yue’s foot-washing service, Phyllis had thought of an interesting idea yesterday and couldn’t wait to come back for some fun.

Seeing Phyllis stop smiling, Xing Yue panicked. Had she asked something she shouldn’t have? Phyllis’s expression had suddenly become terrifying…

‘No, I have to change the subject quickly!’

“Then… Mother, what do you have planned today?”

“Of course I do. What, Yue Yue wants to accompany me?”

“Eh…?”

Xing Yue froze. She had only been testing the waters, but to her surprise, Phyllis’s expression instantly brightened, her smile as radiant as ever, as if the earlier gloom had never existed.

‘…Should I really be surprised? After all, she is the Demon King. Her moods are always unpredictable.’

Still, since Phyllis had already extended an invitation, refusing was clearly not an option. Xing Yue followed her lead: “Where does Mother want to go?”

Phyllis’s lips curled slightly, and she spoke softly.

“The dungeon.”

…

The dungeon.

Having received advance notice that the Demon King was coming, the warden had already run to every cell, banging on each one and shouting at the imprisoned monster criminals.

So by the time Xing Yue and the others arrived, the entire dungeon atmosphere had become remarkably… thriving.

Yes, thriving.

“Demon King! Demon King!”

The imprisoned monsters raised their claws high, greeting them enthusiastically from behind the iron bars, as if the sun had suddenly shone into the dungeon. Their fervor rivaled that of villagers welcoming a national leader on an inspection tour.

Xing Yue gained a deeper understanding of Phyllis’s prestige among these monsters. She walked on in silence.

This time, she had no urge to make sarcastic comments. Only a bone-chilling cold remained in her heart.

Xing Yue cautiously glanced at Phyllis, who sat on the pitch-black throne ahead, then turned her head slightly to look behind them.

Unlike yesterday, Yang Dazhuang and Yang Ersha were now carrying a tall frame. At the top of the cast-iron support hung a thick rope, from which suspended a trapezoidal blade gleaming with cold light. Beneath the angled blade was an arched neck rest, and a dark blood groove wound into the shadows.

It was a guillotine, almost identical to the one that had taken Louis XVI’s head.

When Xing Yue had finished washing Phyllis’s feet and they left the room, she had been puzzled when Phyllis ordered the two goat-headed demons to bring “that thing.” Why did they need to bring anything to the dungeon?

But the moment the guillotine appeared in her line of sight, Xing Yue’s heart sank to the bottom.

“Come on, Yue Yue. Today, I’ll teach you how to extract information from a stubborn mouth.”

Phyllis said just that, and Xing Yue could guess that the “stubborn mouth” referred to the Holy Maiden imprisoned in the dungeon—Viana.

She had been starved for so long that even normal speech was difficult, yet she was being called stubborn…

Xing Yue felt indignant for Viana, and at the same time, deeply guilty.

If only she had been a little tougher yesterday and interrogated Viana—even asking something trivial enough to satisfy Phyllis…

But…

She hadn’t.

She had simply walked away yesterday, and now Phyllis was personally stepping in.

Xing Yue could already picture the scene: today, after extracting the information, the Holy Maiden would be beheaded on the spot by the Demon King.

If Viana died, part of the blame would lie with Xing Yue.

This crushing sense of indirect murder made Xing Yue extremely uneasy—even agonizing.

“What’s wrong, Yue Yue? You’re trembling?”

Suddenly, Phyllis’s voice came from ahead, yanking Xing Yue’s chaotic thoughts back to reality.

Xing Yue forced a strained smile. “N-Nothing, Mother. It’s just… the dungeon is a bit cold. I’m not wearing enough.”

Indeed, ever since she woke up on the first day, Xing Yue had been wearing the same nightgown. She hadn’t changed out of it.

The excuse unexpectedly worked. The pitch-black throne turned half a circle and stopped in front of Xing Yue. Phyllis raised a smile and extended her hand in invitation. “Then come sit with me, Yue Yue. My body is very warm~”

Xing Yue glanced at Phyllis’s dress, even thinner than her own, and the two pale, bare thighs showing beneath the hem. She shook her head repeatedly. “N-No, Mother… I’m more used to walking anyway, and moving around will probably warm me up soon. So it’s okay…”

“Is that so? What a shame~”

The pitch-black throne turned back to face forward and continued floating ahead.

Though Phyllis said that, where Xing Yue couldn’t see, she was grinning uncontrollably.

With Phyllis’s eyesight, how could she not tell Xing Yue was lying? But that was exactly what made it interesting.

How adorable—in every sense of the word.

Whether it was her fear, her self-blame and regret, or her shyness…

So adorable~

Phyllis cupped her face, her delicate pink tongue running across her lips. She looked forward even more to the delicious expressions Xing Yue would make later.

With a clatter, they finally reached the Holy Maiden’s cell.

Yang Dazhuang and Yang Ersha set down the guillotine, then hurriedly unlocked the cell door.

The cell’s deathly stillness was broken. Viana roused from her motionless, doll-like state, lifting her face and “looking” toward the source of the noise.

Phyllis said nothing, merely glancing at Xing Yue beside her.

Xing Yue took a deep breath, then pursed her lips and stepped forward with bread and juice.

“Here’s your meal for today.”

“…Open up.”

Viana obediently opened her mouth, letting Xing Yue feed her. But compared to yesterday, Xing Yue’s movements were much slower.

Too slow, in fact. Once Viana swallowed the food in her mouth, she didn’t wait for the next bite. She began to actively seek more.

With both hands shackled, she could only tilt her head further toward Xing Yue, even sticking out her tongue to lick Xing Yue’s fingers, as if hinting that Xing Yue should speed up.

To be honest, the blindfolded Holy Maiden’s posture was quite seductive. But Xing Yue felt no trace of lust—only a deep, desolate chill in her heart.

“I’m sorry…”