Auston’s eyes glinted with surprise. He turned to Sophelia reflexively, wondering why the demon would go to Saint George’s Church. The vessels of the Seven Demon Lords had already been destroyed. Did the royal family have more secrets hidden there?

The two had been monarch and official for years, and even lovers who could understand each other with a pat on the backside before that. Sophelia could read Auston’s question from his gaze.

Instead of saying anything, she looked down at her long legs, clad in black stockings. If the royal family had more trump cards, would she put on such skimpy clothes?

Though they looked good on her.

Auston stopped pressing and, without hesitation, made a phone call. Hermann had said that the demon was too powerful for regular legendary mages, so he would have to send a chosen knight. Auston didn’t want the Darkness Knight to arrive at Windsor Castle as soon as he left, thus risking the Queen figuring out his identity, so he contacted Wayne.

He couldn’t phone Wayne directly since Trash Jr. had a home, a secondary home, and who knew how many places in Londan. No matter which nest the bird was perched in tonight, Auston simply contacted Butler Veryl—he was the only one who knew how to reach Wayne.

Once the call went through, Sophelia pricked up her ears, hoping to learn the Lando family’s secrets.

The attempt failed miserably. Auston spoke in code phrases throughout the call; the seemingly random combination of words left Sophelia and Yvette thoroughly confused.

Once he hung up, he sat back down and said, “It’s done. I’ve outsourced the mission of taking care of the demon to the Death Knight. With him moving out, we only have to wait for the results.”

We’re good!

Sophelia couldn’t be more envious that he had the Death Knight at his beck and call. If she had had this many forces to deploy, she wouldn’t have been forced to work so hard to maintain balance; she could have just destroyed all threats.

She shot Yvette a look, urging her to go back to working overtime.

Time to try harder!

***

Meanwhile, Wayne was warming his little bird at his secretary’s home. Halfway through, he heard the shrill of the landline.

“Who is it, calling this late at night? How inconsiderate of them to ignore the country’s future. Don’t they know that Windsor’s birthrate has been declining year by year?”

Wayne cursed silently, pulling out to pick up the phone. “Hey, you—oh, Veryl? Yes, I’m at Mona’s place tonight.”

In truth, Veryl didn’t know how to contact Wayne, either. Usually, he just waited until his master had had enough fun and came home rather than trying to track him down. In case of emergency, Veryl would call Mona. In all of Londan, the secretary was the only one who could reach Wayne at a moment’s notice, thanks to the master-servant contract vouched by the Golden Law.

“Yes, I understand. Rest early tonight. I won’t be heading back.” Wayne hung up gravely.

“What happened, Boss?” Mona asked with a mouthful. “You look serious.”

Wayne patted her head. “Another demon showed up in Londan, at Saint George’s Church in Windsor Castle. Perhaps the royal family is still studying vessels for demon lords, thus attracting the demon.”

Mona shot to her feet and fetched clothes for him.

“What are you doing?”

“Eliminating the demon at Saint George’s Church!”

“The demon is important, but the angel shouldn’t be left out. Do your thing. I’ll make a call and outsource the mission of eliminating the demon.”

“Outsource to whom?”

“Um, Moonlight Knight.” Wayne guided Mona back to where she had been. “Darienne is strong enough to deal with a demon easily. We only have to wait for her good news.”

They had it in the bag!

Mona said unclearly, “But boss, demons are all selfish and never do anything that doesn’t benefit them. If there’s treasure hidden in Saint George’s Church, and you entrust the mission to the Moonlight Knight, won’t your treasure fall into her hands?”

“You’re right. I should head there myself.”

Convinced, Wayne phoned Filomina’s residence. Once Darienne took care of the demon, he would take Nature’s gift with gratitude.

***

Ring!

In the High Reverend’s manor, five women at the card table paused when the phone rang. Diede, one half of the twins, rose to her feet and went to get it.

“Virna, if it’s Wayne, tell him that I’ve found better card buddies, so even if he kneels and begs me, I’m not playing more cards with him,” Darienne said, sitting behind a pile of chips.

During the time Wayne wasn’t around, she had won so many card games that she flipped the table in a fit of joy several times.

I’m not Virna, she is! Diede didn’t voice her correction. Picking up the phone, she said, “This is... Mr. Wayne, it is you.”

Kristen and Filomina looked over. After playing cards for several days and nights, they felt like their faces were morphing into poker faces. Kristen, especially, was so tired of everything that she wanted to recommend Vera to the Moonlight Knight.

In her absence, Vera must have had her fill, and Kristen was pretty sure that Vera would be wearing her clothes and lying on her bed, too.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll relay the message to Lady Darienne.” Diede hung up.

“Why did Wayne call, Virna?”

“Mr. Wayne said that there was a demon... Windsor Castle... He asks you to go at once, and he’ll owe you one. He’ll play cards with you someday to make it up to you.”

“Why didn’t he go?”

“Mr. Wayne is having a night jog. He said that once he’s done, he’ll hurry over,” Diede said in disgust, clicking her tongue.

Night jog? He’s clearly messing around with someone else! x4

“Night jog? I didn’t know he did that.” Darienne was confused, but no one corrected her, and she didn’t dwell on it. Standing up, she said, “It’ll be a bit of fun. Though I’m not interested in demons, there’s nothing wrong with stretching my legs sometimes.”

Filomina nodded. Kristen also stood up to see her out. The two of them stared at Darienne, having waited too long for this moment.

“What, do you think you can escape once I’m away?” Darienne scoffed. “Give up and wait here. We’ll continue once I’m back.”

Though she didn’t admit it, she was getting tired of this bunch of terrible card players. She kept winning and winning, which wasn’t fun at all. She decided to drag Wayne to the card table tonight.

She wasn’t a masochist. She just wanted to prove to herself that luck was on her side and that she was a good card player, putting her past humiliation behind her.

“Lady Darienne, I cannot keep playing card games with you. I know Wayne. He must have been lured away by mages from other churches while he’s away.” Kristen sighed, listing the usual suspects while extending her fingers. “The Church of Nature, for example, or the Church of Sun and the Church of Heavenly Father. Who knows which it’d be? He’s an expert at deceiving women.”

“So? None of them combined is more good-looking than you and Filomina. They’ll fail in the end.” Darienne didn’t take it seriously. Even she felt inferior when she saw Filomina’s face. Wayne would know who to choose as long as he wasn’t blind.

“Thank you for the compliment, Lady Darienne, but have you forgotten someone who’s no less stunning than I am?” Filomina, who had learned from Kristen, continued the conversation.

“Who?”

“The Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness.”

“???”

Darienne stared at Filomina like she was an idiot. When the High Reverend looked back a hundred percent seriously, Darienne slammed the table and burst out laughing. “I was joking, but you took it seriously? I know Anastasia. If she beds Wayne, I’ll eat these chips!”

She patted her chest and promised. Though she didn’t trust Wayne, she trusted Anastasia. That wasn’t happening!

Filomina fell silent. The Moonlight Knight didn’t give herself away freely as Filomina and Kristen had done, but she had the brain of someone who would do so. She was even denser than Filomina had been.

Another one joined the pecking order.

Meanwhile, Kristen was already gathering the chips.

Darienne rolled her eyes. “What are you doing, Kristen?”

“Gathering the chips for your enjoyment in the future, Lady Darienne.”

Who are you looking down on? Anastasia isn’t that kind of woman!

“Fine, fine. You’re betting against me, are you? Friendly reminder, I’ve never lost a—I’ve rarely lost a bet.” Darienne scoffed. “You two have my curiosity. I’m game. I swear in the goddess’s name that if Anastasia and Wayne ever do something, I’ll owe each of you a wish—as long as it’s within my ability, that is.”

“Lady Darienne, do we have to make the same oath?”

“No, it’s a bet I will win. I’m just teaching you a lesson, not trying to take advantage of you.” Darienne waved her hand magnanimously.

How nice of you!

Kristen and Filomina rolled their eyes. After spending days with the knight, they had both taken a liking to Darienne. The Moonlight Knight didn’t hold herself like she was superior to them, and her personality was completely at odds with her frosty, aloof appearance.

She was casual, easygoing, and free-spirited, able to befriend even regular people.

Of course, regular people didn’t refer to just anyone. Filomina and Kristen, for example, were connected to Wayne and were master and student, able to bring entertainment to Darienne’s dull life.

To conclude, disregarding the truths and putting aside Darienne’s shortcomings, she had nothing but good traits.

“Listen. The four of you just wait at home for me. I’ll return with Wayne, and you’ll be witnesses as I win all his chips tonight.” Darienne told Diede to warm up a cup of black tea for her. She would be back at once.

“Lady Darienne, remember not to give Wayne any time to go on a night jog,” Filomina advised. “Keep a close eye on him and make sure to bring him here.”

“What’s wrong with night jogging? If he likes jogging at night, I’ll just jog back with him,” Darienne muttered as she walked out of the manor.

You really are clueless! x4