Dark Handmaiden

The candlelight in the Chamber of Secrets flickered slightly. Skylar at Gadelle, his eyes as deep as the night. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Make a deal."

Gadelle's eyelashes trembled; she knew what those two words meant.

This means that she sacrificed her talent and freedom to successfully leave behind her impoverished past and gain a completely new life.

"I will provide you with opportunities and resources for magical research, giving you far more advantages than ever before. But the corresponding price—" Skylar's gaze shifted, sharpening as he looked at her, "You must willingly sign a contract, from now on serving me as your master."

Gadelle's indifferent expression darkened. She wasn't stupid; she knew very well that this contract meant the complete end of her freedom. She would become the slave of the boy before her, forever obedient to him and at his beck and call.

She didn't respond immediately, remaining silent for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. Skylar didn't urge her either, but looked at her with scrutinizing eyes, awaiting her final decision.

Gadelle pressed her lips tightly together; she knew she had no real choice.

Once upon a time, she believed she could establish herself in the Wizarding World based on her talent, but reality proved incredibly cruel. No matter how prestigious Beauxbatons' diploma was, it couldn't change her background, nor could it grant her any real opportunities.

She lingered for a long time in front of the Paris Potioneers' Guild, hoping to apply for an assistant position, but was impatiently chased away by the doorman simply because she was wearing a faded old coat and looked like a worthless "poor girl".

She had also tried to apply for an apprenticeship at the Alchemy Institute, but she couldn't even get through the door. The high-born wizards wouldn't even give her a second glance, and some even sneered, "Lestrange? What right do you have to inherit that name?"

A fallen nobleman suffers more malice from society than an ordinary person.

Finally, she was forced to work as a seamstress in a third-rate wizarding clothing shop, sewing gorgeous wizarding robes for customers day after day, and occasionally studying alchemical runes in a dilapidated little room at night by the dim light that remained. Her hands were calloused from cutting fabric and drawing engravings for long periods of time, and her salary was so meager that she couldn't even afford basic Potions.

She'd had enough.

If fate truly exists in this world, she thought, perhaps her life was already predetermined.

Gadelle took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "I accept."

Skylar smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated her answer.

"Very good."

He stood up from his chair and walked calmly toward Gadelle. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, extended his wand, and as he uttered profound and incomprehensible incantations, Demon Servant Contract appeared from the void, and an ancient and majestic aura descended upon the Chamber of Secrets.

Gadelle's eyes widened, and she could no longer maintain her indifferent expression. She could feel the powerful force of the contract; this was no ordinary contract. Once signed, there was no possibility of turning the tables. A sudden fear welled up from the bottom of her heart. She could feel her heart pounding violently. Reason told her to turn back; what awaited her ahead was likely an abyss she could not imagine.

But--

She had no way out.

She could never go back to those filthy, smelly Paris sewers, sleeping day and night on the cold, hard floor, enduring the bites of insects, and worrying about attacks from snakes, insects, rodents, and all sorts of unknown creatures.

She gritted her teeth, raised her hand, and firmly touched the floating contract scroll, reciting her own oath to serve the demon according to the ancient text on it.

The moment the oath ended, the contract runes trembled violently, writhing like living things. Black light, like crawling tentacles, wrapped around her wrist, rapidly rising and winding its way up her slender arm, climbing to her shoulder, and finally condensing into a chilling chain on her snow-white neck, tightly binding her throat.

The contract is now in effect.

Gadelle's breath hitched slightly. The chains gleamed with a cold light and tightened slowly as if they were alive. She could feel the invisible restraint, as if they could tighten at any moment, forcing her into a suffocating submission.

Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her breathing began to quicken.

"Relax." Skylar's voice carried a hint of languor. He reached out and gently lifted Gadelle's chin with his fingertips, forcing her to meet his gaze. His fingertips slowly slid down her trembling jaw until they stopped on the chain-shaped Demon Servant Mark. As if sensing its master's will, the restless chains immediately stopped writhing and slowly loosened.

Gadelle gasped for breath, her face filled with terror, her body trembling uncontrollably. However, even though the suffocating feeling of restraint had disappeared, she could still feel a faint chill on her neck, as if reminding her that the boy before her was now her master.

Skylar's hand gently stroked her cheek. Gadelle felt a warmth emanating from Skylar's palm, carrying a relaxing power that made her unconsciously relax. Her inner fear was gradually replaced by another unfamiliar emotion. When her gaze met Skylar's serpentine pupils, which shimmered with red light, a strange feeling slowly grew in her heart. She herself was unaware that her resistance and fear were being devoured little by little.

"Let go of your fears, forget your past..." Skylar's gentle voice whispered in Gadelle's ear, "Your intelligent mind no longer needs to be filled with pointless pain. A new life awaits you, as long as you fully accept your new identity... the identity of a demon servant..."

Gadelle stared at him blankly, as if a shackle had been quietly removed from her mind.

Yes, why is she resisting?

She tried so hard to live, yet fate still cruelly tormented her.

Now, a completely new identity and life are laid out before her. Rather than dwelling on the past, she should completely forget what happened before and embrace this new identity.

Skylar smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "From today onwards, you are my demon servant. My position in your heart is above all else. My will must be conveyed, and my orders must be obeyed. As long as you show me absolute loyalty, you will get everything you have been longing for day and night."

Gadelle's breathing calmed down, and the look in her eyes as she looked at Skylar had changed, now filled with unreserved obedience and awe. She knew that she had let down all her guard and genuinely accepted the fact that she had become a "Demon Servant."

From this day forward, the sole purpose of her life will be to serve her sorcerer, Skylar Malfoy.

She knelt obediently on the ground, her voice firm and utterly devout, and said, "Gadelle of the Demons, pays homage to my lord."

"Very good," Skylar withdrew his hand, sat back in his high-backed chair, and interlaced his fingers. "Now that you have submitted to me, I must make arrangements for you—"

"Please give your command, Gadelle. I am willing to die for you."

Skylar said slowly, "The first thing—after you leave here, go find Selwyn and ask him to help you gain a foothold with the House of Lestrange as soon as possible, and support you to become the nominal head of the family. Once you have accomplished this, you can lead the House of Lestrange to surrender to me and become my vassal family."

"Please rest assured, Master, Gadelle certainly accomplish this!"

"You'll manage the House of Lestrange for me on a regular basis; that shouldn't be too difficult for you," Skylar said with a cold laugh. "After all, there aren't many people left in the House of Lestrange to manage. But you must make sure you hold onto power tightly, and it's best to cultivate a few loyal confidants. That way, when those two guys from Azkaban come out, they won't be able to easily take your place."

Gadelle's expression remained unchanged, but a slight ripple stirred within her heart.

She knew perfectly well who Skylar was referring to; the Lestrange brothers and Bellatrix were notorious figures. She couldn't believe that she, born into a lowly branch family, would now be on equal footing with them, even vying for power and profit.

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask Selwyn," Skylar continued. "He's a master of political maneuvering; you can learn a lot from him."

"Yes." Gadelle nodded slightly, a fighting spirit she had never shown before igniting in her eyes. She had found a new direction in life, no longer the pitiful wretch wandering the sewers of Paris, but the head of the Lestrange family, Skylar's sorcerer.

Skylar looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, a meaningful glint in his eyes. "Actually, a family head doesn't have many practical matters to handle personally. The rest of the time, you can come here with me."

Gadelle paused slightly, "Master means...?"

Skylar said calmly, "Since you enjoy research and experimentation, I will make you my lab assistant to help me manage my private laboratory." The laboratory he was referring to was the Dark Laboratory hidden inside the Suitcase Space, used for conducting various dangerous and cruel experiments, which had previously been managed by Sarf.

However, Sarf, who also served as the shadow leader of the Dragon Head Group of the Sleeping Dragon Society, and had to help Skylar manage Ella Cottage, as well as the treasure vault and library that Skylar used to store Dark Arts items and books, was already overwhelmed. Now was the perfect time to hand over the responsibility of managing the Dark Laboratory to this natural Dark Arts user, Gadelle.

Gadelle remained kneeling, but when she looked up at Skylar, her eyes were filled with excitement and longing. Her voice rang out almost without thinking, "Yes."

Skylar's arrangement suited her perfectly. During her studies, her favorite thing to do was to study magic and conduct experiments. However, she had never had such an opportunity. She had always dreamed of being able to enter a professional laboratory and showcase her talents. Now, her wish had finally come true.

Skylar chuckled, seemingly satisfied with her reaction. "This is not an easy job. My lab contains not only various dangerous experiments, but also many artificially bred dark creatures. If you cannot adapt, you will become part of the experiments."

Gadelle remained calm, seemingly unmoved.

This was already so much better than her previous life. At least here, she had resources, opportunities, and a stage to showcase her talents, instead of fantasizing in a dilapidated room in the slums that her alchemy would one day be recognized by the world.

Skylar looked at her and continued, "Besides, as the head of the Lestrange family, you should master the family's inherited magic. In the past, the House of Lestrange was known for its Dark Arts, and I will pass on all their family's magical traditions to you."

A flicker of emotion finally crossed Gadelle's eyes.

The magical heritage of the House of Lestrange —she had heard her father mention it—was a power feared by the world, yet extremely strong. But she came from a branch family and didn't even have the qualifications to learn these spells.

And now, she finally has that opportunity.

"This isn't just for yourself," Skylar said calmly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Once you've mastered Lestrange's secret magic, you'll also serve as my prison warden, managing the 'Coiling Dragon Dungeon,' responsible for interrogation, torture, and the recruitment of prisoners."

Gadelle paused slightly, then looked up at Skylar: "A prison officer?"

"That's right." Skylar said calmly, "This is an extremely important position, and I will only entrust it to my most trusted subordinates. Most of the prisoners held in Coiling Dragon Dungeon have some value—they might be able to be recruited, or they might provide intelligence. Your job is to ensure they talk."

Gadelle was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I understand. Master's orders are above all else. Whatever Master desires, Gadelle will do it and will certainly satisfy Master."

She wasn't a bloodthirsty person, but she was also never afraid of the forces of darkness. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she knew even better the power the boy before her possessed; only Skylar could give her everything she craved.

Therefore, what she needed was not meaningless pity and mercy, but a means to prove her loyalty and value, so that she could gain more of Skylar's attention and even become his indispensable assistant.

Skylar gazed at her. Gadelle had never received any training in Occlumency, and every true thought in her heart, every fluctuation of her emotions, was as if stripped of all concealment, exposed completely under Skylar's deep and unfathomable gaze.

He could sense that her heart and will had been completely conquered by him, that she had surrendered completely, inside and out, with no possibility of resistance or betrayal left.

A barely perceptible hesitation flashed in his pupils, but his expression remained dignified and indifferent, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "Since you are so compliant, I bestow upon you the title of 'Dark Handmaiden.' From this day forward, you will not be bound by the rules and regulations of the Malfoy clan, and will obey only me." With that, he extended his right hand and gently pointed in the direction of Gadelle.

In an instant, an extremely profound power descended upon her, surging into her limbs and bones like a tidal wave. Gadelle's body trembled, and then she felt a warm energy flowing through her, dispelling the fatigue and hidden ailments accumulated in the past, and even the old scars quietly disappeared, as if her whole being had been completely cleansed and transformed.

She paused for a moment, then the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, an indescribable sense of pleasure rising in her heart, as if becoming Skylar's handmaiden was an unparalleled blessing.

"Alright," Skylar stood up and waved casually, "Go find Selwyn, finish the first task as soon as possible, and then come back to report to me."

Gadelle lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Yes."

She slowly turned around and walked firmly toward the door of the Chamber of Secrets.

The candlelight illuminated her slender figure, and her faded old school uniform, bathed in the interplay of light and shadow, seemed to have finally been stripped away, revealing a completely different life to her.

[Gadelle Lestrange, the "Dark Handmaiden," has been acquired!]