NOVPUBAt first, Lily was somewhat puzzled.
Why did the Shadow Demoness act as if she had never seen her before?
But he was also very certain that this was the Shadow Demoness...
Aiwass had used the Shepherd’s Nurturing Skill to share a part of the Shadow Demon’s strength with him, just as if he had transplanted an organ for Lily to sense shadows. Because of the proportion issue, the Shadow Demon might not have felt anything special about Lily, but Lily was clearly able to sense the presence of the "mother body."
Even if he encountered other Shadow Demons due to his third-level Shadow Affinity, he could easily distinguish whether it was the one contracted with Aiwass.
Fortunately, Lily’s subconscious response made the Shadow Demoness hesitate. Following Lily’s words, it continued the conversation but directly exposed its identity.
"When did you come here?" Such words sound sufficiently vague, on one hand, they assume the speaker acknowledges the person mentioned, on the other hand, it also can imply that the speaker knows nothing about the situation.
The fact that it could come up with such a reply in an instant and maintain composure was enough to prove the Shadow Demoness’s intelligence.
——But it still wasn’t good at lying.
Because with that statement, it had already exposed its identity.
The Shadow Demon couldn’t possibly be unaware of how they had arrived, as it had clung to Aiwass’s body during the ceremony and even while they were in the waiting hall. Lily deliberately said, "We were captured," yet the Shadow Demon did not immediately respond with denial or mockery, indicating it truly didn’t know this was a rite of passage.
Thus, its identity was self-evident.
It was indeed the Shadow Demon that had contracted with Aiwass — but from an era before it had encountered Aiwass.
Compared with the aloof, arrogant, and murderous monstrosity of the Shadow Demon centuries later, the Shadow Demon of this era still possessed human traits. When it spoke of the Sons of the Moon, its teeth would clench, filled with hatred, yet it seemed to reminisce, and it felt sadness as well.
Its emotions were so vibrant and complete. Unlike a demon, it more closely resembled a human who had just become one.
——If the powerful, indifferent, and aggressive Shadow Demon of the future were seen as the mature form, then what was housed in his shadow now was the Shadow Demon in its juvenile stage.
Therefore, Lily quickly turned the tables and started to question its identity directly: Enjoy new adventures from freewebnovel
"Are you really the Shadow Demoness? Why do I feel that your emotions are so intense?"
Lily’s intention was to steer the Shadow Demon’s thought process.
Make it believe that Lily had a companion — who was also nurturing a Shadow Demon. To achieve this, it wouldn’t work if she brought it up herself; a slightly suspicious counterpart would remain doubtful. So, she took a more aggressive approach, attempting to take control.
Having been with Aiwass for so long, he had gradually learned to lie.
His web was a creation of the Grey Celestial Marshal who governed lies, and the more robust the lie, the stronger it became.
"I don’t know if he has told you," the Shadow Demon slowly replied, "but I have an irreconcilable grudge against them."
"Betrayal?" Lily asked softly.
"...He even told you that?"
The Shadow Demon sounded genuinely astonished.
——It must have wondered in that moment if it really had a master of its own.
"Fallen ones who have tumbled from high places, or righteous ones betrayed and ensnared. Marked by the Fallen Celestial Marshal with the brand of fury for harboring resentment in their hearts, they pay the price of becoming Shadow Demons, forever unable to see the Light again, all for the sake of revenge..."
Lily spoke slowly, "That’s the nature of Shadow Demons, isn’t it?"
"...So it is."
The Shadow Demon fell silent for a while, then relaxed suddenly and murmured softly, "So it’s all the same..."
"You are definitely not the Shadow Demon of the young master."
Lily coaxed gently, no longer emphasizing the matter of the "Shadow Demoness": "You came to me because my Shadow Affinity level is high enough, right? In fact, this is the power that the Shadow Demon bestowed upon me."
The Shadow Demon neither confirmed nor denied, remaining silent.
But when Lily questioned its identity, silence was, in fact, an admission. And the reason it did so was that the other party exhibited an extraordinary understanding of Shadow Demons, causing it to suddenly lose the confidence to hide its identity.
At the same time, it really didn’t feel any malice or hostility from Lily. This made it willing to stay in Lily’s shadow, listening to her continue to speak.
"You must be a Shadow Demon who hasn’t completed its revenge," Lily said softly.
"Yes."
Full of hatred, the Shadow Demon’s voice answered, "I’ve just clawed my way back from hell..."
"A newly-born Shadow Demon."
Lily chuckled lightly, emulating Aiwass’s behavior, elegantly lifting a glass of wine from beside her.
He held the wine glass aloft, aiming it towards the distant lights.
"Then this toast is in your honor,"
Lily said lightly, "To that sweet, intoxicating revenge, I wish your revenge to be successful."
"To revenge,"
Shadow Demon added, "And to you and your master, sir."
"Speaking of which, we haven’t exchanged identities yet, have we?"
Lily replied, "My name is Alai."
"...I don’t know what I should be called."
However, Shadow Demon hesitated for a moment, "My past name should be discarded, the new one I have yet to decide upon."
"Why must it be discarded?"
Lily seduced gently.
His lips curved slightly upwards, he leaned against the stone pillar behind him, lifted his head, and held the goblet to his chest.
That posture, those words, were exactly like those of a "fox".
Solid lies and unpredictable, provocative words flowed softly from his mouth, seeping into the still-confused heart of the reborn Shadow Demon, "Why can’t you use it? Indeed, you have become a demon, but is that your fault?
"Rather than picking up that name, it’s more like seizing it—the seizing of something that should rightfully belong to you."
As Lily spoke, she took another gulp of the strong liquor.
Feeling the drunkenness balloon in her brain, she felt as if the world had suddenly brightened.
She felt as though she overlapped with Aiwass, unconsciously revealing a confident smile similar to his, "Now tell me, Miss Shadow Demon... or Mister. Do you have the courage to reclaim your ’past’?"
"...You really are a person full of provocative power, sir,"
Shadow Demon sighed, the deep, husky voice reminiscent of a lion’s rumbling softly, "I do not know what sort of man could have a servant like you. To say the least, it seems a waste for you to be merely a servant."
"The gentleman I serve is far more formidable than I. I am merely mimicking a few of his words,"
Lily answered calmly. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
"...When did such a person appear in the empire?"
Shadow Demon hesitated, "I mean... surely your master isn’t Prince Stuart?"
"Stop guessing, Miss Shadow Demon,"
Invisibly, Lily had already locked down the gender of Shadow Demon’s thoughts—though Shadow Demon itself had no gender, its human predecessor did. And from the bits and pieces, she sensed that the other was a woman.
She must be young and full of confidence, a person high above yet with a gentle temperament. Probably often tired as well, which means she’s not some noble miss but a true powerful woman.
Thus, Lily spoke her suspicion outright and asked again, "Do you really not intend to take back your past?"
"...You’ve already guessed who I am, haven’t you?"
Shadow Demon sighed again, the tone growing somber.
I know nothing.
Lily thought.
Of course, if the young master were here, perhaps he could have known... but Lily’s knowledge of empire history was not that profound. Even though she had narrowed it down this far, she still had no idea of the Shadow Demoness’s prior identity.
However, on the other hand, since it had come this far, it would no longer be difficult to squeeze out the true identity.
So Lily intensified her seduction, "We are on the same side now, Miss Shadow Demon. I can serve as the foundation for you to exert your strength, and my master can also help you complete your revenge—you’re both Shadow Demons, surely you can understand each other.
"Given that, whether or not I have guessed correctly on my end... we need a gesture of sincerity. A gesture that allows you to be recognized by us, one that is also the courage for you to stand tall and face the past head-on.
"—Speak out, Miss Shadow Demon. Who, in fact, were you before?"
"...Beyard."
Shadow Demon fell silent for a long time before uttering that name, "Vinesse Emile Zola Beyard of the Beyard Group.
"The Beyard who is still active today is nothing but an impostor. A vampire who stole my body, my name, my fortune, all my social relations.
"I could abandon that name myself, but I cannot tolerate someone else stealing it.
"So, I returned from hell—just to kill her.
"To let ’me’ die once again."
