Lissandra, who had stopped in the magic-powered vehicle by the side of the road and was about to head to the palace, sat down again and chatted with Lanqi for a long time.

Because there was still plenty of time today, she wasn't worried about being late.

She also gradually learned a lot about McCarthy and the princess.

Once, McCarthy had accidentally frightened the princess, and ever since then, he always remembered to appear before the princess in a natural way.

McCarthy initially just wanted to wait until the princess discovered him by chance, or perhaps one afternoon the princess would visit Lissandra's home, and then he, McCarthy, would also come and sit for a while, slowly reminiscing with the princess.

He wanted Hyperion to see his residence, and Lissandra's house happened to be next door, and she was also Hyperion's friend, so everything could put Hyperion at ease.

Sixteen years of waiting, unknown wandering and effort, the purchase of that mansion, and the generous charity towards many demons—all this was done just to "accidentally" meet the princess at the home of a strange demon one afternoon.

"Unfortunately, I have no way to invite the princess to my house as a guest..."

Lissandra lowered her head and murmured.

McCarthy's wish was so simple, but she couldn't fulfill it.

"It's okay. Thank you so much for taking good care of Hyperion and spending time with her every day,"

Lanqi thanked Lissandra.

After a brief farewell.

Lissandra carried the black and gold McCarthy Restaurant cake box and walked briskly towards the palace.

Stepping into the palace forecourt, various exotic demon realm flowers bloomed in the morning dew, emitting bursts of fragrance.

She couldn't help but slow down, enjoying the pleasant floral fragrance, and thinking about how to tell the princess the good news.

The flower shadows beside her were of various colors, burning like flames and twinkling like stars. The morning mist condensed into crystal-clear dewdrops on the petals, swaying gently with the flowers.

Just then, several demons with extraordinary presence appeared in her line of sight.

Each one appeared dignified and noble, with voices deep and powerful, obviously discussing some important matters.

Seeing them, Lissandra immediately stopped, bowed to the Great Demons, and waited for them to pass.

She lowered her head, holding the cake box with both hands, her expression obedient and humble.

The Fallen Seraphim initially only glanced at Lissandra.

But when her gaze fell on the lunchbox in Lissandra's hands, she paused for a moment.

"A snack I brought for the princess."

Lissandra felt the Fallen Seraphim's scrutinizing demonic energy and quickly explained.

This seemingly gentle and harmless female Great Demon had a calm and profound gaze that made Lissandra feel particularly small in front of her.

Every time she saw the Fallen Seraphim, the Fallen Seraphim's face in her eyes would change slightly, and now it was becoming more and more like the princess.

"Who gave it to you?"

The Fallen Seraphim, Kariera, was not satisfied with this answer.

Although she hadn't left the palace grounds in a long time, she could roughly guess that with Lissandra's current salary, she couldn't afford this kind of pastry.

"...Loki McCarthy."

Lissandra knew that lying to the Fallen Seraphim was pointless.

"..."

The Fallen Seraphim's gaze shifted from the cake box to the distant end of the square, and along the magical energy on the magic-powered insulated box, she quickly sensed a vehicle driving away on the street below the square.

The Radiant Demon driving seemed to notice the gaze, or perhaps was simply looking at Lissandra. His verdant eyes looked up along the top of his sunglasses and met the eyes of the Fallen Seraphim, Kariera.

But in just a split second, the Radiant Demon's car had already passed, and the eye contact with Kariera was broken.

Before the Fallen Seraphim Kariera could say anything more.

"I don't particularly like anyone showing unclear goodwill to my future fiancée before the grand ceremony,"

The Mist Seraphim, Orion Greenwald, said unhappily.

He had raven-black hair and cold golden eyes, and his figure was slender but exuded an undeniable sense of threat.

"..."

The Mist Seraphim's terrifying demonic energy immediately made Lissandra feel fear, and she didn't dare to speak.

A General-level Great Demon possessed absolute power that ordinary Eighth-Order Demons couldn't compare to.

"Oh, you're too confident, Orion."

The Midnight Seraphim, Esmod Belfagor, patted the Mist Seraphim on the shoulder and signaled with his eyes that Lissandra could leave.

Lissandra looked timidly in the direction of the voice and saw a mysterious-looking civil official with a voice so gentle that it was difficult to distinguish between male and female. He was still concealed by his usual black cloak and shadows, revealing only his ghostly blue eyes.

She gave him a grateful look and quickly left with the cake box.

The Great Demon with the best chance of winning was the Mist Seraphim, Orion Greenwald, whose family background was the most profound. It was said that he had found the strongest craftsmen in the demon realm to help him.

And the Midnight Seraphim, Esmod Belfagor, himself possessed the highest artistry, perhaps with the best chance of moving the princess.

Unlike the powerful Mist Seraphim, the civil official Midnight Seraphim was very tactful, and even his attitude towards the grand ceremony was as if winning or losing didn't really matter.

He only cared about the stability of the demon realm.

He was only participating in the grand ceremony at the request of the Fallen Seraphim, not wanting the Blood Clan to win.

"Esmod, if you don't want to win, don't come and interfere with me. Why don't you help me?"

The Mist Seraphim, Orion, said to the Midnight Seraphim, Esmod, with a hint of resentment.

"Oh."

The Midnight Seraphim, Esmod, smiled helplessly, unable to voice his difficulties.

He originally intended to say something, but swallowed it back.

The princess just had to choose painting.

In fact, the Midnight Seraphim knew very well that even he would have a hard time winning against the Tenth Progenitor.

Both the Thunder Seraphim and the Mist Seraphim were generals, and their tempers might be more arrogant. They themselves had not understood how powerful the Tenth Progenitor was.

If the Tenth Progenitor could create an epic-level painting in just seven days, then it could only be said to be the will of Heaven.

The Mist Seraphim and the Midnight Seraphim once again followed the Fallen Kariera as she walked away.

However, they didn't notice that Kariera was still slightly frowning, as if her thoughts were lingering on the brief eye contact just now.

She had actually heard of this demon's name recently.

This mysterious demon named McCarthy had not only sent Lissandra snacks but had also personally escorted her to the palace, and now she had even seen his true face.

"Strange..."

The Fallen Kariera murmured.

Generally speaking, when a man saw her, he would often be stunned because she was the image they loved most, and might even be bewitched by her, but she felt that McCarthy had no curiosity about her at all.

What exactly did he see in his eyes?

Kariera quickly shook her head.

Even if the other party's mental attributes were high, they couldn't possibly be immune to her illusions. The palace was her absolute domain, and any enemy who tried to break the rules would fall into her illusions, unable to free themselves.

……

Lissandra walked through the long corridors and magnificent staircases of the palace, finally arriving at the door of the princess's bedroom on the second floor.

She gently knocked on the door, and after hearing a "Come in" from inside, she cautiously pushed the door open and entered.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was still as peaceful as ever. The princess had returned to her greenhouse-like cage.

Hyperion was sitting by the window, her silver hair scattered on the windowsill, her slightly melancholic gaze passing through the scenery outside the window, staring into the distance.

"Your Highness, Princess, here."

Lissandra greeted the princess softly, interrupting her reverie.

She handed over the black and gold lunchbox made of cardboard with both hands.

Hyperion turned her head, looked at Lissandra in front of her and the cake box in her hands, and a long-lost smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you, Lissandra."

Hyperion opened it.

It was an exceptionally elaborately made cute cat-shaped ice cream cake.

The upper layer was a crispy crust, the lower layer was a delicate crème brûlée, dotted with fragrant rose petals and sweet and sour raspberry jam, permeated with frosty air.

"As expected."

Hyperion muttered to herself with a hint of unsurprised smile.

"Aren't you, aren't you surprised who gave me this snack?"

Lissandra had originally thought that the princess's reaction would be more intense.

"I guess his name is Loki McCarthy, right?"

Hyperion raised her eyes and asked.

"...Yes."

Lissandra didn't understand how the princess suddenly knew that McCarthy had come, when the princess didn't know yesterday.

Could there be a secret code that only they two knew?

They didn't say much and began to share the ice cream cake, cutting off small pieces with a spoon and leisurely tasting it.

In this quiet bedroom, Lissandra and Hyperion chatted, discussing yesterday's trivia and some lighthearted topics.

As Lissandra had guessed.

As long as they talked about McCarthy, the princess seemed much happier.

"It's a pity that you can't escape from the palace now, Princess. Otherwise, you would be able to see him at least a little."

Lissandra scooped up a spoonful of dessert, savoring the sweetness and smoothness on her tongue, and sighed.

"He will come to save me."

Hyperion replied.

"Princess, are you ready?"

Seeing Hyperion's tone so certain, her answer so decisive, Lissandra couldn't help but feel a sense of "it has to be you."

It didn't sound like a joke at all.

Lissandra could only pray that McCarthy could really create a miracle and break all the demons' expectations.

"Ready for what?"

Hyperion asked hesitantly and puzzled.

"You are going to marry him."

Lissandra said uncertainly.

Even if, in the worst-case scenario, McCarthy really created a near-impossible miracle, the end result would definitely be that someone had to marry the princess; otherwise, the Fallen Seraphim would not give the princess her freedom.

"..."

Hyperion's face immediately turned red.

She lowered her head and quietly sipped the wooden spoon, the sweet and cool ice cream melting in her mouth.

Lissandra realized that the princess didn't seem to have thought that much about it.

She simply thought about the step where she hoped McCarthy could win, but hadn't thought about what would happen after he won.

Just when the silence and Lissandra's gaze made Hyperion finally feel that she had to say something.

"Princess..."

"If I have to act in a play with him, I will play any role well!"

Hyperion said, out of breath, interrupting Lissandra's words.

What's the big deal? It's just pretending to be engaged to Lanqi for a while. The two of them are so familiar with each other.

"Okay."

Lissandra patted the princess on the shoulder, looking as if she was no longer planning to tease her, and sighed with a smile.

She hoped that McCarthy and the princess could get their wish.

But the more she thought that way, the sadder Lissandra felt.

McCarthy's time was too short. For him, the preparation time was only two weeks. In the blink of an eye, the day of the royal grand ceremony would arrive.

The Fallen Seraphim was not a kind-hearted demon who would be willing to help this couple.

This love affair, which was destined to end badly, would likely be a moth flying into the flame for everything McCarthy was doing.

(End of this chapter)