Antagonized Bachelorette Enjoying a Simple Life - 94
Catherine opened the first chapter. The pages were densely packed with text, but as she skimmed through without reading closely, one section caught her eye.
★MUST-KNOW★ Advantages of Living as Lilith
Hmm, right. Knowing this stuff is super important. It wasn't like picking a regular job where you could switch if you didn't like it.
Catherine approached the advantages section with a reverent mindset.
Advantages of Living as Lilith
1. You live a long time.
2. You become ridiculously strong.
3. You can have all sorts of experiences.
4. You gain devotees.
5. You awaken to the truth.
…(continued)...
All perfectly reasonable perks. On paper, it sounded like the ultimate top-tier class in the world.
A couple more pages in, the disadvantages section appeared.
This is the real deal. Leaving the downsides in too! Mom must've really loved me.
Disadvantages of Living as Lilith
1. You live too long.
2. You're so strong it gets boring.
3. You end up experiencing things you never needed to.
4. You get stalkers.
5. You learn things you never needed to know.
…(continued)...
Just skimming the pros and cons had given Catherine a perfect read on what it meant to be an archdemon. For them, advantages were disadvantages.
Doesn't sound all that great.
Bam bam.
Right then, someone pounded on her door like they were trying to dent it. The walls shook—definitely not Demian or Captain Karl. Some other knight.
"Uh, miss? You got a minute right now?"
As expected, it was one of the Panya knights. But his face was pale, like he'd seen a headless ghost.
"Sure, but what's with the face? Did Grandma chew you out?"
"Nah, not that... You should come down now, miss."
"Grandma calling?"
"Duke Chezare Christopher's visited the castle."
Who cares?
"Why?"
"Beats me. Even Her Ladyship was shocked. Never seen her that surprised."
Catherine was shocked too. Sure, they were in Panya, but there were plenty of ways for her and Chezare to meet. Through the magical key she had, or he could sneak in secretly—like last night in this very bedroom.
But showing up officially? Weird.
Because of me? Nah, probably overthinking it. Too much ego.
"The knights are all buzzing about the duke. I'll head down first, miss."
"Yeah, thanks for the heads-up."
To get the details, she'd have to go see for herself. Catherine tidied the book to head down.
But as she went to put it back in the box, a paragraph at the bottom of one page grabbed her attention.
"……Death is the birth of a new successor. All archdemons meet death in their own ways, attempting it roughly a thousand times on average before true rest. The attempts grow more frequent as rest approaches."
Death. Not from 600 years ago, but from even further back—Chezare's long-held wish.
Catherine had witnessed him collapsed in the rain twice already. And according to the book, it'd happen even more often now.
Did he try again without me knowing?
The thought made her chest tighten with anger. Who was the demon who'd sweet-talked her into a contract? Casually flirting with death? Unacceptable from her perspective.
Fine, she'd make him swear never to try it again.
She hurried to the drawing room. Tension hung over the usually quiet, austere Panya Castle.
The drawing room held more people than expected: Panya Marchioness, Demian, Guard Captain Karl, Border Guard Captain Gilroa Knight, visitor Chezare, and even Chancellor Col from the Lilith Ship!
What's with the crowd? It's packed.
"Catherine."
The Panya Marchioness called her. Catherine approached demurely as her granddaughter and stood by the Panya Marchioness.
"Come here and greet them. Your master and Chancellor Col Sanders have come."
"Hello. Catherine Panya."
Chezare smiled brightly at the sight of her. They'd long skipped formalities, so introducing herself like this felt awkwardly embarrassing.
"My, what a familiar young lady. I'm Count Col Sanders, Chancellor of the Iterana Empire. Lady Panya, haven't we met somewhere?"
Of course they had—on the Lilith Ship, disguised as a foreigner. But the Panya Marchioness narrowed her eyes and answered for her.
"An old geezer like you hitting on my granddaughter? You gone mad, Chancellor Col?"
"Aigoo, as if, sis. She's just familiar, that's all. Really. What do you take me for?"
"Where else would you find a girl like my granddaughter to be 'familiar' with? Gone blind in your old age, huh?"
"Well, if you say so, sis. Hmm. But she really does look familiar..."
Catherine kept quiet, playing dumb. Thanks for not recognizing me, Chancellor. No idea why, but appreciated.
"Anyway, color me surprised. I knew Your Grace had taken a foreign apprentice recently, but two? And one being Lady Catherine Panya, granddaughter of Marchioness Panya."
The chancellor grinned good-naturedly.
"Rumors were all wrong! Newspapers these days are trash."
"Apprentice? You saying my granddaughter has another master besides me?"
The Panya Marchioness's eyes sharpened again. She demanded an answer from Chezare.
"Is it true, Your Grace?"
Chezare, who'd been sitting silently, called out.
"Chancellor Col."
"Yes?"
"Take better care of your eyes from now on. Looks like you're really going blind."
He met Catherine's gaze and smiled again. While the chancellor puzzled over his eyes, Chezare continued nonchalantly.
"Even if it was different before, my apprentice now is just Catherine. And it'll stay that way."
"Then what about that foreign girl, Anne Magi?"
Chezare replied wearily.
"Just assume you'll never see her again."
"Huh. Such a lively, promising kid, and so young..."
You killed me off? Kinda creepy.
But the Panya Marchioness seemed to catch the truth in his words right away. Her gaze at Catherine held unspoken scolding. The fake name "Anne Magi"—obviously Catherine—was the issue.
Should've picked something less obvious.
Greetings seemed done, so Catherine quietly took a seat by the Panya Marchioness.
"Sleep well, Catherine? You look better—good."
Chezare asked softly, and she answered familiarly.
"Yeah. Slept like a rock for once. Home really is best. Didn't expect to see you here in Panya, though. Why no heads-up?"
"Sometimes you need these surprise events."
"You're all the same as ever."
Chezare shrugged lightly, pleased. Silence fell.
Something felt off—the whole room was staring quietly at them. Only Demian looked unfazed, rummaging through the tea treats.
"You two seem awfully close, Catherine. Like you met last night."
Suspicion darkened the Panya Marchioness's face. Catherine had no idea what for, but she answered honestly.
"Close is good for teacher and student, right?"
"Teacher and student should keep proper boundaries."
"Don't worry. We're keeping all the lines that matter."
Why did it feel like desperate excuses? The Panya Marchioness turned to Chezare.
"Your Grace, may I ask something?"
Chezare leaned back deeply.
"Anyone'd think you ever asked permission before. The long absence making you polite?"
"Straight to it, then. Why take Catherine as your apprentice?"
Chancellor Col's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Everyone was exploding with interest in her apprentice status. Should've said something else besides teacher-student.
"Don't say it's her talent. We proved as a kid her magic talent's rock bottom."
Catherine sipped her tea silently. No malice from the Panya Marchioness, so no offense taken.
But Captain Karl bristled.
"Th-that's too much, isn't it? Our miss may lack talent, but her heart and looks are top-notch!"
Not lacking talent, though?
Captain Gilroa nodded vigorously.
"Exactly. No magic talent, but her physical prowess is elite. Her punches hurt for real sometimes."
Is that support or shade?
The Panya Marchioness glared them silent. In the quiet, she spoke again.
"Mages take exceptional apprentices to carry on their lineage. You've never taken even one, Your Grace. As a grandmother, I'm curious why Catherine."
Chezare answered without hesitation.
"Because I like her."
The room chilled again. Col stretched his neck like he'd misheard; flames sparked in Karl and Gilroa's eyes. Only Catherine and Demian enjoyed a peaceful tea time.
Chezare added,
"Need more? Bold, doesn't do what she's told not to. Sweet heart and looks, as Captain Karl said. And actual magic talent that's world-shatteringly good. That's why."
"Haven't heard Your Grace talk this much in ages."
With that, Col eyed Catherine like a rare artifact. A gaze she'd grown used to since Chezare.
The Panya Marchioness spoke coldly.
"Anyone'd think the girl was marrying you."
Chezare's reply was concise.
"We're both unmarried, yeah."