By then, Liliana had paid the bill and hurried a few steps to catch up with the two of them. After seeing the hint in Erica's eyes, she relaxed. As magic associations based in Italy and Italians themselves, the two girls naturally did not wish to see Italy's land and people suffer disaster.
"Sorry, this is private property, not a palace open to visitors. Please leave."
As Roy and the others approached the gate of the palace-like building, security personnel stepped forward to stop them.
These guards were ordinary people with no connection to magic.
Before Roy could speak, Erica and Liliana exchanged a glance and stepped forward together, casting suggestive magic directly. The guards quickly stepped aside and let them pass, afraid that offending the "King" would result in their being turned into pillars of salt.
Under the influence of the suggestive magic, the guards promptly moved aside, allowing Roy and the others to enter the estate.
Roy was not angry at Erica and Liliana's actions. He knew that the two girls were trying to minimize casualties as much as possible.
Roy only cared about the result, not the process. Whether he killed his way inside to meet the White Princess or entered through suggestive magic, as long as the result was unchanged, he did not care.
As for the kindness deep in Erica and Liliana's hearts, Roy did not dislike it either. Whether they were kind or murderous killers, as long as they did not defy him, act presumptuously, or overstep their positions, and as long as they possessed ability, they would all earn Roy's favor.
Since they possessed this kindness, there was no need to twist their personalities. He would let them make this flower of kindness bloom as fully as possible.
They encountered no obstacles along the way. With the two Great Knights leading, Roy easily crossed the garden and entered the building.
Then Erica and Liliana's suggestive magic finally wore off, and a middle-aged woman blocked their path.
Third Thirty-Third Chapter: The Princess Whose Fame Resounded Throughout Europe
The woman who appeared before Erica and Liliana was in her forties. She wore expensive yet understated clothes. Although she was middle-aged, she had taken excellent care of herself and looked barely over thirty at first glance.
Her expression was extremely stern, and a pair of silver-rimmed glasses rested on her nose, easily bringing to mind a dormitory supervisor.
"This is the residence of Princess Alice, the daughter of Duke Godding! How dare you force your way in without explanation?"
The middle-aged woman suppressed her anger and demanded harshly.
Erica and Liliana exchanged a glance. Seeing that Roy, who was strolling leisurely toward them from behind, had said nothing, they spoke for him. "...Who are you?"
"I am Princess Alice's butler and protector. Who are you? Why did you use such methods to force your way into Princess Alice's residence?"
The female butler quickly restrained her anger and kept herself from losing her reason. Yet her eyes were filled with hostility toward Erica and Liliana, along with deep wariness.
Since she could be called Princess Alice's bodyguard, the female butler was not weak. But when she sensed that Erica and Liliana were young yet possessed powerful magic, she was secretly shocked. These two girls who looked barely in their teens were actually both Great Knights.
The title of Great Knight was bestowed only upon those who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and magic. Even Salvatore Toni had been unable to become a Great Knight before becoming a Campione because he lacked magical talent.
"I am Erica Blandelli of the Bronze Black Cross. This is Liliana Kranichar of the Bronze Black Cross. I apologize for forcing my way into Princess Alice's residence, but an important person has arrived. Princess Alice should come out to receive him!"
Erica stopped Liliana from speaking. She was more skilled at diplomatic negotiations. A confident, elegant smile appeared on her exquisite face as she spoke with perfect courtesy.
Unlike Roy, who was a Campione, Erica's strength did not allow her to act recklessly. She represented not only Roy but also the Bronze Black Cross, so she did not wish to abandon proper etiquette.
"Bronze Black Cross? An Italian magic association... Are you the successor who recently received the title of 'Crimson Devil'? Then the important person you mentioned must be..."
At last, the female butler's expression changed. As the butler of the former chairman of the Council of Sages, she was naturally well informed about the magical world. When she recalled that the girl named Erica had recently served the New King, she realized what that meant...
While the female butler was horrified, Roy leisurely reached the palace-like, four-story building. He looked nothing like someone who had come to kidnap anyone; he seemed to be sightseeing, even taking the time to admire the flowers and plants in the courtyard.
"Roy 'King'!"
Seeing that Roy himself matched the descriptions in the intelligence reports, the female butler's expression finally changed completely. She swiftly suppressed all her anger, bowed, and greeted the Demon King.
"Princess Alice is fortunate to possess a butler as powerful and loyal as you. That alone shows how outstanding she is."
Roy wore his dazzling crimson Cardinal's robes. His right hand was tucked into a specially made pocket as he walked between the path Erica and Liliana had opened toward the female butler.
"Your praise makes me feel unworthy. I merely..."
The female butler was about to offer a few humble words when Roy suddenly shouted angrily, "...Since you knew I had arrived, why did Alice not come out to receive me?"
Those words were incredibly willful. Princess Alice had not known Roy was coming and had received no prior notice, so how could she have come out to greet him?
But the female butler did not dare contradict him. She had already covered her heart with one hand as pain that nearly tore open her chest took root there.
This was the power of Roy's Face of God. Although he had not actively activated the authority, the moment the female butler saw his face, she had already been affected.
Roy's earlier gentleness, enhanced by the authority, had made the butler feel as though she were basking in a spring breeze. His sudden fury, however, was like the biting wind of winter. The abrupt emotional shift, amplified by the authority, caused the blood vessels of this woman, who possessed strength close to that of a Great Knight, to rupture.
After taking two deep breaths to ease her body, the female butler said hoarsely, "...Please calm your anger, 'King.' I will inform the princess at once!"
The Demon King's willfulness was notorious. The female butler dared not defy him, not even allowing the slightest resentment to arise.
"Impudent! I came here to see her. Do I still need to report and notify her?"
Roy personally demonstrated what it meant to be capricious. His terrifying appearance made even Liliana tremble in fear. Only Erica, who had lived with Roy for some time, knew that he must have a deeper purpose. She therefore stood obediently beside him and fulfilled her duty as his knight.
Those strange Double Pupils turned toward the female butler. At once, she felt as if her soul, body, and even magic power were collapsing. Starting from her toes, her entire body began turning to salt. In an instant, half her body had become a pillar of salt.
This was the highest-level mystic eye contained within Roy's Divine Right—Sodom's Eye!
When she saw this familiar authority, a trace of imperceptible fear flashed across Liliana's face. Back at the She-wolf headquarters in Rome, Roy had nearly killed her teacher, the supreme commander of the Bronze Black Cross, with a single glance.
"Please stop, Roy 'King'! The Alice you seek has already come to receive you!"
A woman's shout came from behind the female butler. Her voice was lively, like a skylark in an empty valley—clear and delicate, elegant yet tinged with irritation.
A woman's figure suddenly materialized at the building's entrance. She had platinum hair, a gorgeous face that any man would praise, and an exceptionally beautiful figure. Every movement radiated nobility, while her elegance carried the intoxicating aura of a refined lady wearing perfume.
Yet the princess in her early twenties had this beauty marred by the anger on her face. Her snow-white skin was taut with tension.
"You finally decided to show yourself, Princess Alice! You hid there and watched me without revealing your face, sending only your female butler to test me. What audacity! You knew the Demon King had arrived and still dared to act so boldly. It seems our Mr. Alexander Gascoyne gave you the wrong judgment."
"...White Princess, whose fame resounds throughout Europe, if your butler dies here, all the blame will fall on you—for using her as a pawn in your test."
Roy's words struck directly at her heart. Alice's face flushed with regret and embarrassment. Worse still, Roy's Double Pupils turned toward her.
Thirty-Fourth Chapter: A Beauty Destined to Die Young
Princess Alice Louise Oph Nuaf, the daughter of Duke Godding, deeply regretted her actions.
Just as Roy had said, she had used her female butler to test the New King. She had thought she had hidden it well, concealing herself nearby in Mental Body form so she could observe the New King's character and behavior at close range instead of relying on cold written reports.
She had not expected Roy to see through her little trick at a glance and turn the tables on her, leaving her in an awkward position.
Perhaps I really have spent too long around Alexander and forgotten that Campiones are true Demon Kings.
Princess Alice gave a self-mocking smile. She had not never encountered Campiones; on the contrary, she had met nearly every Campione of this era. However, she had only met the others once, while she had known Alexander Gascoyne for several years. Because of that, she had grown accustomed to treating Alexander Gascoyne's personality as the model for Campiones, completely forgetting that Demon Kings could sometimes be utterly cruel and merciless.
Princess Alice now had only one thought: how to save her female butler, who was extremely loyal to her yet had nearly lost her life because of Alice's mistake.
But before Princess Alice could lower herself and apologize, Roy's Sodom's Eye had already turned toward her.
"'King'?!"
Even Erica and Liliana cried out in surprise this time. They had not expected Roy to use his authority against Princess Alice. Hadn't the "King" said that he needed Princess Alice's witch power for the ritual? Why had he suddenly launched a killing attack? Had Princess Alice's actions angered him so much that he no longer cared about anything?
While Erica and Liliana were momentarily stunned, immense Magic Power descended upon Princess Alice through the power of the mystic eye. Yet unlike what they had expected, Princess Alice's body did not turn into a pillar of salt. Instead, it vanished like smoke.
"It's a Mental Body! The Princess Alice who appeared here was her Mental Body."
As someone who shared the bloodline of witches, Liliana recognized the technique Princess Alice had used. For witches, the highest-level witchcraft was the "Art of Crossing the Astral World," which allowed one to enter the Astral World in human form. The Astral World was the source of a witch's Spiritual Vision, so mastering this magic naturally greatly increased a witch's power.
The "Art of Crossing Yomi" was the highest-level spell that even Liliana could not perform at present. Princess Alice's ability to create Mental Bodies was even more impressive. She could use her Mental Body to travel freely between the Material World and the Astral World without expending much magic power.
"She actually used a Mental Body to receive the 'King.' Princess Alice has gone too far!"
Even Erica was somewhat angry this time. Facing the arrival of the "King," Princess Alice had not come in person but had instead created a Mental Body and hidden nearby to observe him. This was clearly a failure to show Roy respect and a trampling of the King's dignity.
Liliana was also indignant. She and Erica were now Roy's knights, so insulting their lord was equivalent to insulting them—and the Bronze Black Cross and Bronze Black Cross as well. Such thoughts instinctively spread through people's hearts.
"Let's go up. Our princess is waiting on the fourth floor."
Roy stepped over the female butler, who had completely turned into a pillar of salt, and walked upstairs.
The female butler was not dead. But unless Roy lifted the authority or the pillar of salt shattered, it amounted to the same thing.
Princess Alice's residence was extremely luxurious. It was also located in Hampstead, one of London's few prestigious residential districts. A gardened residence like this could no longer be bought with money alone.
Apart from Princess Alice and her female butler, all the other people in this four-story residence were maids. They were ordinary people. After seeing the butler bizarrely turn into a pillar of salt, they all trembled and none dared block Roy. They watched as he climbed the stairs toward Princess Alice's bedroom.
Erica and Liliana pushed open the solid wooden door. The fourth floor was normally forbidden to everyone except the female butler and a few personal maids. Yet now, one man and two women entered the princess's bedchamber.
Princess Alice's bedroom was decorated in a simple and elegant style. Most eye-catching was the princess's bed, draped in gauze curtains. A graceful figure could be seen faintly behind them. She lay on the bed like a Sleeping Beauty, waiting for the prince's kiss.
"Roy 'King,' please forgive Alice for being unable to rise and receive you. I did not meet you in Mental Body form because I intended to slight you. My body simply does not allow me to receive you in person. However, doing something so cruel in a lady's room is truly ungentlemanly."
Her light, lovely voice came from behind the curtains. Compared with the voice Princess Alice had used at the entrance, this one was much weaker.
Her tone was elegant, yet it contained a trace of anger—the anger of a lady toward an uninvited and unwelcome guest like Roy.
Roy said nothing. He merely gestured with his eyes. Erica quickly stepped forward and pulled open the gauze curtains around the princess's bed, while Liliana brought a chair from the room and placed it beside the bed for Roy.
Lying on the princess's bed was a frail young girl. Like the Princess Alice they had seen at the entrance, she possessed an astonishingly beautiful face. The body beneath the covers rose in a gentle, beautiful curve. Yet unlike the Mental Body they had seen earlier, her true body was much thinner, her face pale and bloodless, easily reminding one of a patient recovering from surgery.
"So, are you satisfied now that you have seen me like this, Roy 'King'? As you can see, my physical condition is extremely poor. I can barely get out of bed and need someone to massage me to maintain even basic health."
Princess Alice's pale hand clutched the blanket. Her breathing was somewhat labored, as though even this simple movement had exhausted her.
Only now did Erica learn that the world-famous Princess Alice was actually a girl who seemed terminally ill. She hurried forward, used her hands to help Princess Alice sit up, and placed a soft cushion behind her back so she could lean comfortably against the headboard.
"Thank you."
Princess Alice thanked Erica. Her voice was elegant and enchanting, even more noble than that of the Italian girl. She resembled a refined lady who had lived among ballroom dances for years.
She wore women's sleepwear covered in ruffles, exposing only one slender wrist. Her platinum hair was not as lustrous as one might imagine; instead, it carried a heavy, deathly stillness.
"You will not live long, Princess Alice. You are only twenty, and your bodily functions can still barely sustain your life. But in ten years at most, your life will wither, blooming and fading at the height of its beauty."
Roy glanced over Princess Alice's body and stated it with certainty.
"This must be what they call 'a beauty destined to die young.'"
Thirty-Fifth Chapter: Pity Is Evil, the Fifth Authority!
Princess Alice was not surprised by the death sentence Roy pronounced. She neither looked shocked nor frightened, as if she had anticipated this result long ago.
Leaning against the headboard, she raised her bloodless hand and brushed the platinum hair beside her ear aside. Then she smiled sweetly at Roy. "...I understand my physical condition very well, Roy 'King'!"
"...I am not boasting when I say that, in terms of a witch's abilities, I can be called the most powerful witch in the world. But I am not happy about it, because you can see the price I paid: this body of mine."
"I possessed extraordinary Spiritual Power from birth. The 'magic' that is hardest for witches to master was something I had already learned by the age of ten. This powerful Spiritual Power allowed me to enter Yomi with ease, where I received revelations and gained knowledge."
"That is also why, in Diogenes, the highest organization of the Council of Sages, whose members are mostly elderly, I was able to become its chairwoman while still in my teens. Some of my knowledge was learned, but much of it came from Spiritual Vision."
Perhaps because she knew her life was limited and that she had already lived through two-thirds of it, Princess Alice could remain fearless. Even when facing a brutal and powerful Campione like Roy, she could maintain a normal state of mind because she did not fear death.
When a person no longer feared death, she lost her fear and became brave and even crazed.
"My body can barely leave this place, so I usually live in Mental Body form. Mental Bodies have their advantages. I can appear anywhere in the world in an instant, using Yomi as a stepping stone across distances. If I want to admire beautiful scenery somewhere, I can simply go there."
Speaking for so long made Princess Alice's face even paler. She covered her mouth and coughed twice, breathing heavily.
Liliana poured some water from a bottle, carefully sat beside Princess Alice, and raised the rim of the cup to her pale lips, feeding her.
"Thank you. You are Liliana, aren't you? Although you look dignified and imposing, you are actually a thoughtful girl."
Princess Alice thanked her, then gazed at Liliana with a playful smile. Whether it came from a witch's Spiritual Vision or her own experience, she had seen through Liliana's heart after only a few glances.
"I-I'm Liliana! But I'm a knight. Saying that I'm thoughtful..."
Liliana's face became flustered. Faced with Princess Alice, a senior on the path of witchcraft whose fame was immense, Liliana, who was poor at handling such situations, appeared even more awkward.
"Heehee~~ There's nothing embarrassing about that. Liliana, you must remain just as you are. That contrast between your outward uprightness and your extremely sensitive heart will earn you more of the 'King's' affection~"
Finding Liliana so amusing, Princess Alice teased her again.
"Don't bully Lily."
Roy interrupted Princess Alice at the right moment, earning him a grateful look from Liliana.
"Princess Alice, although a Mental Body is a convenient ability that lets you travel anywhere in the world, it also has a major flaw. Since it is only a Mental Body without a physical body, when you act in that form, you have no sense of taste or touch, do you? Living in this state, you cannot even be called a 'human'!"
Roy struck directly at the heart of the matter, causing a bitter smile to appear on Alice's elegant face.
"You are quite right, 'King.' Because I have no sense of smell, I cannot distinguish the fragrance of perfume. Because I have no sense of taste, everything I eat is flavorless. It is true that I lack the basic sensations of a human being, and even I sometimes resent and grieve over that."
"...It is like being blind. Someone born blind has never seen the colors of this world and naturally will not be too sorrowful. But someone who becomes blind later in life has seen the world's splendor before, and suffers far more after losing it all."
"When I was young, my body was still fairly healthy. I tasted desserts, became enamored with ladies' tea, and loved the fragrance of flowers. But I lost all of that in my teens. My stomach and intestines are extremely weak, and now I can survive only through nutritional infusions. I cannot leave this house either, because doing so would accelerate my death. My life now is simply one day after another."
Princess Alice's tragic life shocked Erica and Liliana. The two fourteen-year-old girls were at an age when they were especially sentimental. As they listened to Alice describe her life, which resembled that of a person in a vegetative state, pity appeared in their eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. It only makes me sadder."
Princess Alice felt uncomfortable when she saw the pity in the two girls' eyes and spoke with displeasure.
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