S-Class Dungeon’s Mistress - Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Adelaide glanced fleetingly at Lisianthus. As always, his expression showed little change, but the eyes that had previously been as warm as sunlight melted were now rippling with a variety of emotions.

In a fleeting moment, she caught the flickering emotions within his golden eyes.

Disappointment, despair, anger, and... fear.

Although Lisianthus quickly and skillfully concealed his emotions once he realized her gaze, Adelaide had already noticed. He, who had never been afraid at any moment, was now slightly fearful at the Demon King's appearance.

What could have frightened him? Was the situation that dangerous? Or perhaps...

She bit her lower lip and turned her gaze back towards the portal.

She had suspected that the Demon King might make a move someday, but she never expected him to come directly.

Moreover, this happened precisely on the day Caladium and Lupinus were away. Even if she informed them immediately and ordered their return, they wouldn't be able to come back right away. The timing couldn't have been worse.

"Oh, what do we do? Caladium and Lupinus are all far away...!"

The skeletons clicked their bones nervously. Though they had recently developed an incredibly high sense of self-esteem, they couldn't remain calm in front of this great Demon King. After all, Agapanthus's infamy was well-known.

The skeleton commander took charge in a commanding manner.

"Stop panicking! Now more than ever, we must protect Adelaide! We don't have time to be scared!"

"Ye-yeah! The commander is right! Adelaide, don't worry. We're here for you!"

"That's right! We'll protect you!"

Inspired by the commander's words, the skeletons boldly drew their weapons and made grand declarations. However, their white bones continued to tremble uncontrollably, creating a constant clicking sound. Their will alone seemed insufficient to overcome their fear.

The skeletons and other demon subordinates kept stealing glances at Lisianthus. Particularly Julliard and Raham, who had experienced his power during the previous war, looked up at him with eyes full of admiration and expectation. With Caladium and Lupinus absent, he was their only available force to protect Adelaide.

"...Considering the number of troops and timing, I don't believe they've decided to wage war. The purpose is likely to send a clear warning to Greenville."

Lisianthus spoke in a low, subdued voice. He had perfectly managed his expression, with no trace of the vulnerability from moments ago. However, Adelaide stared at him intently, as if trying to discern the truth hidden beneath his cold facade.

"With watchful eyes, they won't touch Adelaide today. But we must remain vigilant about what warning they might send―"

"Lisian, go hide."

Adelaide cut his words short with a firm command. Naturally, all eyes turned to her in surprise. Lisianthus himself looked at her in bewilderment.

"...What?"

"Go hide quickly. So the Demon King's army can't see you."

Hurry, she urged. It was an incredibly illogical order, but her attitude was unyielding.

While the demon subordinates looked puzzled by her decision, Lisianthus surveyed her with slightly furrowed eyebrows.

He knew well that Adelaide, who seemed the cutest and most foolish in the world, was not entirely foolish. He was certain she wouldn't make such a decision without reason.

Unless she knew something.

For a moment, their gazes met in midair. Her pink eyes trembled faintly. A similar fear to what he had experienced subtly emerged.

Adelaide briefly met his gaze before turning her head away. Then she added as if making an excuse:

"They're coming as a warning anyway. Since we can't predict how relations with the Demon King's castle might worsen, it's better to hide our forces. As you said, they probably won't attack suddenly, so it'll be fine."

The demon subordinates now nodded in understanding. They didn't entirely agree with her statement, but they thought it best to follow her insistence, given that she was the master of this Greenville dungeon.

"...Adel, perhaps―"

"They'll be here soon! Go quickly, Lisian!"

Adelaide interrupted him again and personally guided Lisianthus deep into the living space. There was no time to waste. The Demon King's army's presence was drawing significantly closer.

The place she led him to was a small, clean storage room. A familiar-looking trash can was placed in the center. It was the same magical artifact where she had hidden when Lupinus had invaded.

"Get inside the can, understood?"

Lisianthus did not respond, instead staring at her intently. She would know that he could conceal his presence sufficiently without using magical artifacts. Yet her insistence on using this artifact suggested her anxiety and restlessness.

"Adel."

When he softly called her name, Adelaide bit her lips and met his gaze. Her large eyes trembled again. Soon, a weak voice escaped between her red lips:

"...You must stay here. Absolutely."

After exchanging glances with him for a moment, she quickly turned and left the room. The door closed with a thud. Left alone in the dark storage room, Lisianthus calmly gazed at the closed door with settled eyes.

'Adelaide noticed.'

Doubt had finally become certainty.

When did she realize? When had she understood his true identity? And why hadn't she shown any signs until now?

No. Looking back, it wasn't that there were no signs at all.

Fragments of overlooked clues began to surface. Taking Caladium instead of himself to the Demon King's invitation. Her extreme aversion to being involved with the Demon King's castle in any way. If all these puzzling behaviors were because she knew she understood his identity.

And her attitude made one thing clear.

"...You must stay here. Absolutely."

Adelaide did not want Lisianthus to leave. To the extent of pretending not to know his true identity. And to the point of being willing to risk hostility with the Demon King's castle for his sake.

"Ha."

An involuntary, hot sigh escaped between his lips. Simultaneously, his perfectly maintained expressionless mask crumbled, revealing his most vulnerable inner self.

Though he knew no one was around, he reflexively covered his mouth. However, his deeply furrowed brow was impossible to conceal.

Just when he had sorted out his feelings, why.

Why are you pushing me into this situation again?

Adelaide's soft, pure affection once more dragged him into the mire. From the depths of his heart, a strange emotion began to bloom again. What she had just caught him experiencing: fear.

Neither pitch-black darkness, nor bone-chilling cold, nor even eternal extinction could make him afraid. Yet the sunlight they had shared, the warm food they had eaten together, a single beautiful smile could make him tremble.

Lisianthus was afraid. Afraid that the truth would be revealed and Adelaide would distance herself. Afraid that their time together would come to an end.

And so, he did not move immediately, instead confining himself in the humble storage room.

---

Adelaide truly knew.

She couldn't remember exactly when she first suspected, but the moment of certainty was clear.

During the war with Los Halde dungeon, when she saw him attacking the transformed Uriel. The magic that sprung out in all directions like lightning, the sword charged with hundreds of years of energy, and especially those extraordinarily large wings that filled her vision.

Having developed the skills of a high-ranking demon, she naturally realized that Lisianthus was different from other demons.

The Demon King.

Moreover, the one who was most notorious for being the most powerful.

'Lisian is that Demon King.'

This was deeply etched into her mind like an instinct. She accepted it as a fact without harboring any doubts.

Of course, accepting it emotionally was a different matter.

'Why have you hidden this until now?'

She felt confused and hurt. Thoughts of whether he didn't trust her, or if she wasn't trustworthy enough, brought a wave of sadness.

But perhaps because she had similar experiences, these feelings didn't last long.

There must be a reason.

How much heartache had he endured from the current Demon King's rebellion? So she would wait, not rushing him, until he decides to tell her himself, be it in a few years or even decades.

Adelaide believed in the 'Lisianthus' he had shown her so far. She believed in the affection he had whispered in her ear, the tenderness in his touch, and all the memories they had shared. Therefore, instead of confronting him, she decided to do what she could.

And right now, her duty was to protect everyone as the master of the Greenville dungeon.

'No one can touch them.'

Adelaide mumbled silently, striding forward. With each step, the Demon King's army's energy grew thicker.

'I won't let them touch Lisian either.'

As she approached the portal, powerful demonic energy pierced her skin. A familiar energy. It belonged to Demon King Agapanthus.

'Even if I die, absolutely not.'

Finally, she reached the portal's edge.

The most combat-capable demon subordinates were tensely guarding the area. Adelaide quickly waved her hand and shouted to them:

"Lower your heads!"

Simultaneously, a massive explosion occurred.

KWAAAHHH!!

Hot energy swirled, and stones flew in all directions along with dust and debris. Furniture closest to the portal's explosion melted, and part of the wall collapsed.

"Cough, cough!"

"Adelaide! Are you okay?!"

The demon subordinates coughed roughly, checking on Adelaide's safety through the dust and debris. They all appeared without even a minor wound.

"I'm fine."

Adelaide, who had quickly created a defensive barrier to protect her subordinates, waved her hand in the air again. The dusty haze quickly dissipated, revealing the intruder.

"We meet again."

His tone was light, as if greeting a niece he hadn't seen in a while. She stared coldly at the intruder's face.

Agapanthus, who had usurped the throne from Lisianthus, smiled at her like a snake. That venomous brat, she thought to herself.

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