Meanwhile, elsewhere.
"Hm?"
Hughberlian let out a puzzled sound.
It seemed she had dreamed a very long dream.
She dreamed that Lanchi had actually taken her into a Tier 7 Shadow World, where she had become the Demon Race Princess and been imprisoned in the Demon King's Palace while a Tier 9 demon protected her. After finally seeing Lanchi, some sort of change seemed to have occurred, and she had suddenly been frightened awake.
When she woke, she found herself in the Royal Capital Ikelite.
Today ought to be a good day. She could tell just by looking out the window.
Ikelite still looked as ancient and elegant as ever. Beneath the clear sky, she could see an expanse of bright, pure blue through the glass windows. In the spring sunlight, warmth spread across her skin.
She was standing beneath the magnificent dome of Ikelite Cathedral.
Statues and murals of the gods seemed to have descended from the heavens, quietly watching over everything below.
A sacred aura filled the cathedral. Every piece of its divine-era decoration bore witness to the passage of time, complementing the pure white and pale-gold flowers lining the walls and arches, together weaving a dreamlike corridor.
At that moment, she was wearing a dress in a style she would never normally wear, and holding a bouquet in her hands.
The light dress was dominated by the purest white. Its fabric was light yet magnificent, covered in delicate lace and pearl decorations. The skirt spread softly, drifting across the carpet like weightless clouds.
Looking again toward the stained-glass murals on the cathedral entrance doors, she saw her faint reflection. Her hair had been woven into an elegant bun, adorned with the most treasured hair ornament of the Duke of Aransal Family.
"You can't be getting sleepy at