A woman sat in a palace adorned with dazzling jewels and marble, her legs crossed seductively as a laugh escaped her lips.

Her gaze was fixed on Fron, her red tongue darting out to wet her lips.

Fron felt a shiver crawl down her spine at the suggestive gesture.

The woman was undeniably beautiful, but the aura of lust and dark energy she exuded coiled around Fron like a serpent, suffocating her.

As Fron trembled, the woman's laughter grew more alluring.

"My daughter, where have you been?"

"...I went to see who Mother had imprisoned."

"Hmm, I see."

Fron's mother popped a plump grape into her mouth, her disinterest palpable.

She bore a striking resemblance to Fron, but with a more mature beauty and a voice that dripped with honeyed charm.

Yet, even that melodious voice sent chills down Fron's spine.

Her mother, however, seemed utterly indifferent to Fron's discomfort.

She simply continued speaking, her words muffled by the grape in her mouth.

"It wasn't me who imprisoned them."

"...What?"

Fron's eyes widened in shock.

She couldn't comprehend the situation.

Her gaze darted to her mother's eyes, seeking to discern the truth.

But her mother's expression remained languid, her magical energy radiating boredom as she swallowed the grape.

'Then why are Adel and the others here...?'

Fron couldn't make sense of the situation.

Though the Lust family held less power and authority than the Gluttony family among the Seven Deadly Sins, it wasn't as if they lacked the strength to detect intrusions.

Besides, the woman before her was a monster in her own right.

Fron couldn't help but think of her mother as a monster.

And why wouldn't she? In truth, her mother was no different from a monster in her eyes.

Regardless...

"Then why are they in the prison...?"

Fron questioned her mother, desperate for clarity.

Her mother simply shrugged in response.

"I don't know the details. They just appeared out of thin air."

"O-Out of thin air?"

Fron blinked in disbelief. The only explanation that came to mind was Adel's teleportation ability.

But even that seemed improbable.

Fron had witnessed Adel's exceptional abilities firsthand during their time in Sytan.

His teleportation, however, wouldn't have allowed him to reach the prison.

The prison where Adel was held was located on a considerably high floor.

'Then what could it be...?'

Fron racked her brain, trying to make sense of the situation.

She resembled a confused pet struggling to understand a command.

Her mother chuckled, finding amusement in Fron's struggle.

"Oh, you're so adorable. Come closer."

"Y-Yes..."

Fron's tongue stumbled over the word, her cheeks flushing as she approached her mother.

Her mother gently caressed Fron's cheek and patted her own lap, inviting her to sit.

Fron swallowed hard, her throat bobbing nervously.

She couldn't bring herself to disobey.

She knew all too well the consequences of defying her mother.

"I-I'm here."

"Good girl. You're so well-behaved."

Her mother began stroking Fron's hair as she settled onto her lap.

A shudder ran down Fron's spine as she heard her mother's breathy sigh.

She fought the urge to bolt out of the room.

Outwardly, they might have appeared as a loving mother and daughter, but Fron knew the horrifying truth behind their relationship.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of tears.

'I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared...'

Her mother maintained a gentle smile, but at that moment, Fron was more terrified than she had ever been, even when facing the most monstrous beings in the human realm.

Her mother's voice broke through her fear.

"There's no need to worry, my dear. All you have to do is listen to your mother."

"...I understand."

"Good. Mother trusts only you."

Fron knew those words were a lie.

Managing Adel and his companions was beyond her capabilities.

The Lust mansion was akin to a palace, and her mother could sense everything that transpired within its walls.

From the moment they stepped inside, Adel and the others were trapped under her watchful eye. Fron was no exception.

...She already knew how this would end for her.

But she forced herself to speak.

"Mother, would it be possible to release one of the children...?"

"Hmm, that would be difficult. You see, the ritual is about to begin."

Fron's heart sank as her mother began to refuse. She quickly added,

"But that child is the daughter of the Bares family..."

In an instant, her mother's eyes narrowed dangerously.

'I-I made a mistake...!'

Panicked, Fron backpedaled,

"O-Of course, I'm not saying Mother is weaker than the head of the Bares family, but I just thought it would be best to avoid any unnecessary complications. I was just saying, for Mother's sake... You'll handle it as you see fit, Mother? I was just..."

Fron stammered, her words tumbling over each other in her fear.

Her mother glared at her for a moment, then her expression softened back into a gentle smile.

"Don't worry yourself. You're right, it's best to release the Bares girl for diplomatic reasons."

"Y-Yes, Mother..."

Fron let out a sigh of relief. It seemed her mother had agreed to her request.

But then her mother continued,

"However, I can't release the two boys. They have trespassed into my palace, after all."

"O-Of course, Mother."

"Well, judging by their insignificant mana, they won't be of much use for the ritual... but I suppose they're better than nothing."

Her mother muttered to herself before waving her hand dismissively, signaling Fron to leave.

Ritual.

The word hung heavy in the air, a harbinger of an ominous event.

Fron's face darkened as she bowed her head.

"...I shall take my leave."

"You may go."

Fron bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

But the sight that greeted her nearly made her gasp in horror.

Countless male demon corpses littered the hallway, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, their bodies mutilated beyond recognition.

"..."

Fron fought back the urge to vomit as she forced herself to move.

She couldn't stay here any longer.

If she did, she might truly lose her mind.

***

Rene dreamt of a field of blooming statice flowers, where she played with her mother and father.

They smiled, their happiness echoing through the garden of eternal vows.

But then, flames erupted, engulfing everything in sight.

The inferno raged, its heat scorching everything it touched.

The statice flowers withered and died, their vibrant colors turning to ash.

The flames reached for her family, their laughter turned to screams...

And then, she saw him.

"...!"

Rene's eyes flew open.

She gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

She looked around, taking in her surroundings.

She was lying in a bed, dressed in a clean white gown and pants.

The air reeked of antiseptic, suggesting she was in some kind of medical facility.

But she was alone.

Panic surged through her.

Her face paled as she tried to sit up.

'Adel... I have to find Adel.'

But her body refused to obey.

She collapsed back onto the bed, her limbs heavy and unresponsive.

"I... I don't have any strength..."

Even breathing sent shooting pains through her body.

Rene grimaced, trying to recall what had happened.

'I... Adel...'

She remembered charging through the Nina family soldiers, desperate to save Crete.

Then, Adel had suddenly appeared, throwing her towards Kyle.

Kyle had grabbed her and they had fled towards the gate Adel had told them about.

And then...

'He' appeared.

Logically, he should have been weaker than her father and the Sword Saint.

Yet, the pressure he exuded, the sheer power that radiated from him, dwarfed both of them.

"Ugh..."

Rene shuddered, the memory of his face, and the woman beside him, sending chills down her spine.

They were far too strong for her and Kyle to handle.

They had been completely helpless.

The humans had treated her like an animal, burning her flesh with fire and tearing at her skin with their swords.

The pain of it all made her want to curl up and disappear.

And then, she remembered.

"Adel... he came..."

Her memories were hazy, fragmented, but she remembered glimpses of Adel fighting them, his movements a blur of motion.

If she was alive, if she was here, it was only because Adel had saved her.

'I have to... I have to...'

She grabbed her trembling knees, forcing herself to stand.

But her legs gave way.

She cried out as she started to fall.

"You're such a klutz. It's embarrassing being compared to you, even as the top student."

A girl's voice, laced with amusement, reached her ears as a hand caught her arm, steadying her.

Rene looked up at her savior.

"You..."

"Took you long enough to notice me."

"...Yeah."

"Honestly, you're hopeless."

Fron chuckled, watching Rene nod weakly.

She recalled her first encounter with Rene.

The way Rene had glared at her, murderous intent burning in her eyes when Fron had suggested she become Adel's slave.

The way she had humiliated Fron in front of the other students.

And the way she had subtly tormented Luna, who had been Fron's closest friend.

Fron had never liked Rene.

In fact, she had always harbored a degree of animosity towards her.

But as she looked at Rene now, she felt a strange sense of defeat.

"Who... who are you?"

Rene asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Fron froze, her body stiffening.

'What is she playing at?'

Fron's mind raced.

Was this some kind of elaborate mind game?

Was Rene trying to insult her by pretending not to recognize her?

Fron's lips curled into a sneer.

"Don't try to act innocent. You're no different from your slave..."

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she took in Rene's expression.

Rene looked genuinely confused, her head tilted to the side in question.

"...You're kidding, right?"

Fron felt a wave of inexplicable defeat wash over her.

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