"I don’t know."

Right as Edmund and Lilith were talking, he faintly heard the sound of a stomach growling.

His attention shifted forward, looking at Lilith with a faint smile. Lilith grew embarrassed, her cheeks and ears turning red as she lowered her head.

"Haha!"

"Come on. I won’t let you stay hungry," Edmund said, walking off while holding Lilith’s hand.

Lilith flinched in surprise, then followed him. She actually had the ability to float and travel long distances in an instant.

But Edmund chose to walk. Lilith did not mind.

They left the area and headed toward the west gate. There was a vast forest there along with several farms.

I don’t know what kind of diet she needs, but hopefully it’s not much.

They passed the guard post, and Edmund told them that Lilith was an acquaintance. He also asked them not to inform Sebastian about his whereabouts.

The gate guards nodded obediently. They allowed Edmund and Lilith to leave the city.

Outside the gate, the land was green with farmland and savanna areas for livestock.

Since it was night, many farmers were bringing their animals back into their pens.

"What are you going to feed me?" Lilith asked.

"Cows, goats, pigs, chickens, anything," Edmund replied.

"Ugh... boring," Lilith muttered, turning her face away.

They arrived at one of the farms. Edmund knocked on the door, and a middle aged man appeared, shirtless, his body covered in sweat, his face flushed.

Edmund knew exactly what he had been doing tonight.

"What do you want, kid?!" he complained.

Edmund reached into his pocket and handed over 10 gold coins in a black pouch.

"I’ll buy all your livestock," Edmund said.

"What?!" the man exclaimed, opening the pouch and counting the coins.

The man looked shocked and turned to him. "Wait, sir. The total is only 8 gold coins."

"Keep the change." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Edmund walked ahead, gesturing for Lilith to follow. They approached the livestock pens. The man only had one cow, three goats, five pigs, and ten chickens.

The man helped prepare everything, bringing them out into the savanna field. Once they were all released, he looked confused.

"What do you want with all of them?" the man asked.

"Go back inside. If you want to live, don’t look at anything."

The man’s face turned pale. He quickly returned to his house and blew out the lamp. The inside of the house went completely dark.

Edmund glanced forward and gave a slight nod.

Lilith smiled. Crimson light appeared in both her hands. She began to move freely in the air, almost like dancing, as crimson runes formed on the ground.

The cow and the other animals reacted. Their souls were pulled from their bodies and absorbed into Lilith’s open mouth.

So this is how she absorbed human souls yesterday.

The chickens died first, turning into lifeless carcasses. Then the pigs, the goats, and finally the cow. Lilith closed her mouth, her tongue brushing across her lips.

"That’s enough," Lilith said.

Edmund smiled. He raised his head and saw her eyes open, glowing with a deeper crimson light than before.

"I’m glad you don’t have to kill humans anymore," Edmund said.

"But I have to admit, human souls fill me up faster," Lilith replied.

In the end, it still comes back to humans.

Edmund let out a quiet breath, placing his hands on his hips as he looked ahead. He was curious about what kind of humans suited her taste.

"Men taste better. Adults. Not children or the elderly."

"You mean me?" Edmund asked.

"HAHAHA!"

"I won’t eat you in that way, Edmund," Lilith said.

Lilith smiled teasingly and floated closer, hovering right in front of him. Her slender hand reached out, tracing along his cheek and chin.

"I really want to eat you... feel your chest... taste your sweat!"

"I want to," Lilith whispered.

Edmund grabbed her hand and told her to come down. He clearly could not do that with Lilith.

Besides the fact that he was only sixteen, they also had no such relationship.

It was far too early for something like that between them. He was also certain Lilith had another motive behind her words.

"Stop. Let’s go back," Edmund said.

Lilith pouted but nodded. However, she admitted that she still wanted to eat even though she was full.

Edmund refused, saying that her dinner was over. He even promised her human souls if she obeyed him tonight.

Her expression instantly changed from a pout to a bright smile, her eyes locking onto Edmund’s face.

"Really?" Lilith asked.

Edmund responded with a quiet cough. Lilith gave a small jump, happily agreeing to follow his words.

"Alright. Let’s go back, and I’ll sleep."

They reentered the city. The guards let them pass, keeping silent as instructed.

Their walk came to an end when Lilith stopped in front of the gate to her house. Before stepping inside, she briefly turned around and gave Edmund a wide smile.

"Thank you for the meal. This was very memorable for me," Lilith said.

"I know," Edmund replied. "Go back and get some sleep. Don’t make them suspicious."

Lilith nodded, spun around, and snapped her fingers, releasing red mist that put everyone into a deep sleep.

Before closing the door, Lilith turned and looked at Edmund one last time that night.

"What I felt today will be felt by this girl tomorrow. She will be much more cheerful and calm," Lilith explained.

"So you have to take good care of me and raise me well," she added, pointing at Edmund.

Edmund remained silent, watching as Lilith transformed back into Leonor and entered the house to rest.

Her red dress disappeared, replaced by the ordinary dress Leonor usually wore. The red mist quickly faded, leaving Edmund alone.

Since the beginning of the night, Sebastian had not found Edmund.

Right at midnight, Sebastian, with a panicked face, saw Edmund standing alone in front of the house where Nisya and Leonor lived.

"LORD EDMUND!" Sebastian shouted, arriving with soldiers in white armor.

Edmund turned and let out a sigh. He had expected Sebastian to find him sooner or later.

"So you found me."

"What are you doing here alone? That serial killer could have killed you," Sebastian said.

"Don’t worry. He won’t be able to kill me."

Edmund clearly could not tell Sebastian about Lilith and Leonor. That would remain his responsibility for now.

Raising a villainess turned out to be far from easy.