“You were already prepared?”

Staring at the seemingly calm, pale cherry blossom-haired girl before her, Julianna gently pressed her fingertips against her lips.

Her enchanting crimson fox-like eyes narrowed slightly before she revealed a knowing, meaningful smile.

“I see… it seems that the Saintess has quite a few secrets that I was unaware of.”

“Oh dear, how cruel of you~ You’ve piqued both my curiosity and thirst for knowledge.” Julianna’s gaze roamed aggressively up and down Vanessa’s figure, making her intentions abundantly clear.

“It makes me want to cut open that scheming little heart of yours and see just how many secrets of interest are hidden inside~”

“You flatter me. When it comes to scheming, I’m barely a fraction as skilled as you, Miss Dog.” Vanessa maintained a faint smile, her hands resting gently on her abdomen.

Despite having just escaped a dangerous situation, her posture remained polite and composed, like a true lady who would never lose her grace.

“So, you had more or less guessed my identity all along?” Julianna toyed with her delicate fingers. “You’ve really put in quite the effort, playing this little act with me for so long.”

“But I do have one question that remains unanswered.” Julianna’s gaze returned to the elegant girl before her, who continued to smile with poise despite the palpable pressure.

“If you had already suspected my identity, why didn’t you take action earlier when I had lost all my strength? You must have realized that, at that moment, I wouldn’t have had the ability to resist no matter what you did~”

A fox was indeed a fox, every word, every syllable, was laced with tantalizing implications.

“Miss Dog, first of all, I don’t know who you are. I only heard from that Crimson Demon gentleman that you are a noble demon.” Vanessa replied with practiced ease, her shimmering eyes filled with a mirthful light, her tone flawless.

“Oh? You claim you’re not the Holy Saintess of the Church of Radiance?”

“I’m just an ordinary citizen, someone you can find anywhere. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to the esteemed Church.” Vanessa’s voice was calm.

“Ordinary? Just anywhere?” Julianna scoffed.

“Can an ‘ordinary’ person unleash the Flames of Ten Thousand Divine Blessings?”

“Oh dear~ Even as a demon, I can’t help but comment on how misleading you are, Saintess.”

“As a Saintess, it is your duty to eliminate demons, and yet… What did you just do? Flirting with a noble demon like me?” Julianna threw her a playful wink.

“Miss Dog, I will repeat myself: I am not a Saintess, and I am not affiliated with the Church. You’ve got the wrong person.” Vanessa, ever composed, refused to fall for such an obvious ploy.

“My, my, are you serious, Saintess? I don’t really care much, but being mistaken for a mere dog can get quite annoying after a while.”

“Oh dear, my apologies. I must be ignorant and short-sighted. After all, in human society, only little puppies wear collars.” Vanessa chuckled, covering her mouth as though she had just realized her ‘mistake.’

“My apologies, if I’ve offended you, please forgive me.”

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter. The Saintess may call me whatever she likes… but only for now. You’ll have to change that in the future. After all, in demon society, hierarchy is strictly enforced. Calling one’s master so informally, well, that could warrant a whipping.” Julianna’s eyes narrowed in amusement, her smile ambiguous.

“You don’t need to worry about that, because there is no ‘future.’” Vanessa stated with certainty, her smile unwavering.

“I’m quite sure that after tonight, we will have nothing to do with each other.”

“Certain? Does the Saintess think that this is still the Church, where her words are law?” Julianna giggled.

“Since you’re so comfortable chatting with me, a demon, why not come to my home as a guest?”

“Miss Dog, I have already said that I am not a Saintess, nor am I a clergy member. I am merely a passing bystander. You have no reason to trouble someone who has shown you kindness, do you?” Vanessa ignored the taunts and mockery, her elegant smile unfaltering.

“You are correct. It is indeed the responsibility of Saintesses and the clergy to eliminate demons. But I am not a Saintess, and I have no connection to the Church. I am nothing more than a weak, unarmed woman.”

“Eliminating demons? Even if I had the will, I lack the strength. Besides, the honor of slaying noble demons and singing praises afterward, that is a privilege reserved for the Church. How could a mere village girl like me dare to overstep her bounds?” Vanessa’s voice was soft and graceful, like a silver bell ringing in a clear stream.

Had Julianna not personally witnessed this ‘weak woman’ swinging a mithril mace like she was cracking walnuts, bursting several Crimson Demons’ heads with ease, she might have actually believed her words.

“Alright, if the Saintess does not wish to admit it, I won’t press the matter. But, Saintess, may I at least know your name?”

“As a matter of courtesy, I believe the person who initiated the conversation should introduce themselves first, no?” Vanessa countered smoothly. “That is basic etiquette, isn’t it?”

“You care so much about these trivial formalities? Very well. I am Julianna, the eldest daughter of the Nine-Tailed Myriad Demon Fox King and the Succubus Queen, and the current ruler of the Myriad Beasts Domain.” Julianna’s voice was seductive as she lightly ran a hand over her voluptuous figure.

“Vanessa, an ordinary citizen of Carmela’s royal capital. My family hails from the countryside.” Vanessa replied with a light chuckle, completely unfazed by calling herself a mere ‘village girl.’

“Vanessa?”

“So, your full name is Vanessa Varelis, isn’t it?” Julianna’s smile deepened.

“Miss Julianna, I am a commoner. I have no surname.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Julianna’s eyes gleamed dangerously as she studied Vanessa from head to toe. “

Tell me, Vanessa—do you remember your great-grandmother? The last Saintess of the Church of Radiance, Sophia Varelis?”

“She was the one who killed the Myriad Demon Fox King, Julius Vaughn—my father.”

“Isn’t it only fair that the debts of your ancestors are repaid by their descendants?”

“Miss Julianna, I am merely an ignorant country girl. I have never heard of these things, nor would I dare to claim kinship with any Saintess.” Vanessa remained composed.

“A country girl? Ignorant? That’s fine. If you follow me, I can guarantee that you’ll have a thoroughly ‘educational’ life experience.”

“My apologies, but I have no plans to travel far. I must decline your offer, Miss Julianna.”

“And what if I insist?” Julianna licked her lips, her gaze on Vanessa as if she were a hunter savoring the moment before claiming her long-pursued prey.

“Miss Julianna, if you’ll pardon my bluntness, your behavior thus far has been quite rude and improper. Frankly, it has made me rather uncomfortable, and it is entirely unbecoming of a lady.” Vanessa’s smile did not waver as she gazed at the black collar around Julianna’s neck.

“I believe you may require a re-education in etiquette.”