Within a beautiful and well-designed room was Elizabeth, the crown princess of Umanies.

“Princess Elizabeth, the spies have sent their reports.”

A man wearing white full-plate armor was respectfully kneeling in front of a beautifully carved wooden desk while delivering his report.

He quickly stands and places a folder on the desk but immediately resumes his kneeling position.

On the other side of the desk was a woman of breathtaking beauty and flawlessness. It would be a sin to not call her a goddess.

She picks up the report and starts to read through it.

Sir Aeroth already returned? I didn't hear of his return... Tch that bastard did something.

Argentis is becoming more and more rash.

I drop the report on the desk and stand up. I turn around and head to the window behind me.

I gaze at my garden recalling all the reports I've read in the past few days.

The heavens opening, and a blinding light appearing. What could it be?

I temporarily push these thoughts away and turn to look at the knight.

"Stand."

The knight immediately stands up after my order.

“What of Argentis? Any news about him?

The knight is respectful and speaks with reverence.

“The spies informed me that lord Argentis was sent by the king to investigate the area where the heavens opened. He is to search for any artifacts or strange occurrences worth reporting.”

Tch... Uncle is truly an idiot...

The knight reported every word with honest fervor.

Well, he would be, the woman he is serving is the royal crown princess of the kingdom.

Elizabeth is extremely talented in swordsmanship and magic.

She easily broke records that were thought to be unsurpassable, all at the age of 18.

Her achievements shocked the whole kingdom and she did not stop.

She had an excellent military mind that rivaled the kingdom generals at the age of 9. With the guidance of her teachers and late father, she managed to excel in almost every field she entered.

It would've been fine if that was all but she was also blessed with divine looks. She attracted both genders and even creatures of other races.

Any creature would kill just to get even her attention. Unfortunately, no one has entered her sight even once.

Some would even dare to claim that Elizabeth is a Godblood Human, a rare event solely attributed to legendary heroes.

Elizabeth continues to think but she notices something amiss with the knight.

Wait... Is this idiot drooling?

Elizabeth notices that the knight has some slight drool on his mouth.

Disgusting!

"Leave"

The knight hears my command and he immediately wakes up from his stupor.

He quickly mutters an apology and stands up to leave.

Once the knight left, Elizabeth rubs the bridge of her nose.

Elizabeth calls for someone.

"Leila, you can come in now."

Once Elizabeth called out to the room, a woman wearing a red dress walks in while fanning herself.

Leila sits on the comfortable chair positioned in front of the desk which even the knight wasn't allowed to sit on.

Without missing a beat, Elizabeth complains to Leila.

“Finally, that insufferable man is gone."

I immediately release a sigh of relief. My shoulders sag while Leila reclines on her seat.

This appearance is very un-princess-like but my office is warded with anti-spying magic.

It'll be hard for anyone to see me like this, except for my main assistant.

I wanted to start a meaningful conversation but Leila cuts in with an annoying remark.

“Really? I thought you fancied sir Geralt."

Ugh...

I recall the appearance of Geralt and how repulsive he was.

“No. I am disgusted by that sorry excuse of a human being”

I suddenly remember some unsavory details concerning sir Geralt.

“I find him rather dashing. Such a young noble, giving up a nobles life just to become a knight."

I sigh and turn around to look at the window.

I recall Geralt's background.

Geralt is a noble that only managed to reach knighthood because of his parents. If my father was still alive, such an act would have never happened.

It disgusts me, even more, knowing that the sole reason for his knighthood is to come closer to me.

He wants to marry me and become the crown prince.

Stupid.

For men like these, women are just property.

I share these thoughts to Leila with a calm voice.

“Then why do you allow him to talk with you and talk about your plans."

She frowns but asks the obvious question.

I smile at the confused Leila but I still answer her question.

“Well, the thing I hate the most are pretentious nobles pretending to be righteous, even though they’ll abuse their power the moment being righteous fails.”

Leila picks up on this and interjects.

“So if your secrets get found out?”

I continue again.

“He is a front. If someone finds out about our plans, I will immediately use him as a scapegoat."

I smile at the thought of Geralt falling from his self-righteous high horse.

"Everything was immediately prepared the moment I decided to make him a sacrifice."

I say the last words with a slight edge.

Leila chuckles and asks.

“Why him then? He's still a noble after all. Couldn't you've used a rich merchant or someone else?"

This is a valid reason. Nobles are very important figures and it would be dangerous for me if others knew that I want to dispose of one but I have a reason why.

“It is because he is a regular of the slave trading organization”

Leila doesn't seem shocked but I can understand why.

It is obvious that nobles are prolific in the slave business but I can't let such a heartless and cruel person go.

“What a shame that a knight of his stature is dabbling with such cruelties but a lot of nobles buy slaves, what about him is different?”

I shudder a little remembering those slaves he's bought.

“Every time I hire new personnel, I study their background. And in his background report, I found out that he had a lot of purchases from the slave trading organization and every single one he bought is a woman.”

“So? Males tend to be so frivolous nowadays. And it would even be more disgusting if he bought males.”

I grimace and reply with a dark tone.

“All of them have a bare resemblance to me”

Leila frowns.

“And after using my spies to look deeper, I found out what he’s doing with these women."

I continue but I stress every word.

“He beats them to non-recognition, but not before he tires of violating them. Every time he looks at me, I see a horrendous insatiable lust that promises to destroy me, he wants to do those horrible things to me. I see it in his eyes."

My chest burns in anger as I recall the reports.

I'm sure I don't look princess like but I really want to destroy that piece of shit.

Leila seems angry as well but mostly disgusted.

“Well, what are you going to do then?”

“I will kill him, but not before I have his dignity, pride, and his life broken. For now, he has some uses but I already have planned everything.”

Leila stares at me. She's probably used to my cruel attitude.

I remember the time when I first took her in, she was utterly surprised to see me act like this.

“Hmmm, you are not someone to be trifled with.”

Leila smiles.

“Says you, why do you think I picked you as my personal assistant.”

“I prefer Lady in Waiting, Princess” Leila chimes.

“Whatever, don’t think I haven’t reviewed your background as well”

I stare at Leila, studying her reaction.

“Whatever do you mean princess?”

Leila asked while pretending to be oblivious.

“Don’t try that in front of me."

I chuckle as I recall her background. I go to my desk and open a drawer, retrieving a sizeable stack of paper.

Leila sees the paper and tilts her head.

That's it... Be surprised...

This sizeable stack of paper is the summarized information of the woman in front of me, Leila Grantz.

“Leila Grantz, a Diamond rank adventurer, at the Mana sensitive stage, and with her former party managed to subdue a Young Vurm dragon. A year ago, you fought with a demon, a pretty powerful one at that. The demon was not able to use magic, but its combat skills were above a Diamond rank adventurer and slowly approaching Manite. After winning, the demon allowed you to have a contract with him, you being the master. All this at the age of 19."

I finish the report with arrogance and drop the report on the desk for her to see, then I smile smugly.

Leila looks at the report for a moment and then towards me.

She smiles.

“You seem to have some wrong information princess.”

Her tone became darker.

Leila raises her right hand and removes the white glove covering it.

Oh my...

Leila's hand was pure black. It seemed to look as if it was made out of a smooth cooled molten rock. It had some runic designs that glowed like magma. At the tip of the fingers were sharp claws that could easily rend steel.

The room started to fill up with demonic energy.

“I didn’t make a contract with that demon... I dominated it.”

Leila suddenly disappeared and appeared next to Elizabeth with her claws pointed to her neck.

The sound of an unsheathed sword surprised Leila, as she saw Elizabeth's blade pointed at her neck.

Leila never expected Elizabeth to be just as fast or even faster than her.

"This is why I picked you.”

I smiled, satisfied by my aide's skills.

Her demonic infusion while considered taboo by the church doesn't matter to me. It will be a great help in the future.

“Why me? There are so many better adventurers than me.”

Leila slowly retracts her hand and covers it with her white glove.

The glove momentarily glows and a small rune appears. Her demonic energy was immediately hidden.

I nod, satisfied.

“First of all, you are only 19 years old, an extremely talented gem like you should not be ignored and with the proper resources and backing you can reach the highest point."

Leila seems to agree.

"Those people you say are stronger than you will be below you once you have my resources. Second is that you’re a woman, I would rather have a female partner than a male.”

This scares Leila.

“Princess you don’t mean that you’re…”

What is this woman getting to?

“No! I am not what you think, it’s just that every male I meet and partner up ends up professing their infinite love and admiration towards me. I would prefer a partnership that would not have to be awkward when one member professes their love. Love is not a good emotion when it comes to battle. It derails logic and dulls instinct.”

Leila stares at me while looking apologetic.

“Oh okay, pardon me, princess, I misunderstood.”

I cough to lighten the mood and continue.

“Third, I am sure you are looking for refuge, due to your... curse. Fourth and lastly, you seem to be capable of resisting truth magic, how you do it is lost on me."

Leila stares at me with surprise.

"How... Did you even find out about that?"

“I found out because when I hired you, the skill I used did not affect you.”

I have a knack of making smiles that aren't princess-like.

After all, the innate skills I was born with is... distasteful

“I could use a partner that will stay quiet about me.”

This time, it’s Leila’s turn to smile horribly.

“How do you know I won’t tell on you”

I already figured she would say that.

“My only condition is you submit yourself to me through contract magic and I promise you will see how beautiful the top is."

Leila stares, remembering I have amazing talent that far surpasses her.

I stand up and look at Leila with confidence and smugness.

Leila thought that if she were to be anyone's underling, it might as well be with me.

Leila kneels and bows down facing the ground.

“I submit”

I immediately unsheath my sword and uses its tip to touch both of Leila’s shoulder.

My sword glows with my magic and our contract is sealed.

“I’m happy that you have decided to accept my condition."

She stands up.

Now I only have one last curiosity.

"Why did you become my lady in waiting?”

I planned on approaching her during her adventure but she suddenly applied to be my lady of waiting.

This seems to scare Leila but she still answers my question.

“Umm… I …. Was hired to kill you”

...