Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

Faced with Yuan’er’s pleading gaze, Youlan let out a helpless sigh before telling the little girl everything that had happened recently within the Snow Night Empire.

Although she wasn’t sure whether Yuan’er could understand all the political complications,

the child clearly understood one thing.

Her grandfather and grandmother were in mortal danger.

The moment she realized that,

Yuan’er became visibly restless.

The joy she had felt moments ago over mastering elementalization vanished without a trace, replaced entirely by deep anxiety.

Even her plans to visit the hot springs were immediately forgotten.

Right now,

only one thought remained in Yuan’er’s mind—

she had to save her grandfather and grandmother.

Just imagining the possibility that they might be executed made her heart pound uncontrollably.

She had already

lost her parents,

lost her twin sister.

Her grandfather and grandmother were the only family she had left.

She couldn’t lose them too.

Absolutely not.

Looking at the older sister she trusted so much, Yuan’er pleaded,

”Big Sister Youlan! I know I promised that I wouldn’t leave before I fully controlled my powers, but... but now... I’m sorry! Can you please let me go first? I have to save Grandpa and Grandma!”

”...”

”Please, Big Sister Youlan!”

Yuan’er begged once again.

She wanted to go to Sky Dome and rescue Marquis Xiumu-Duke and his wife.

But after spending the past several days together, she also knew exactly how powerful Big Sister Youlan was.

If the woman before her refused to let her leave,

there was no way she could ever escape this barrier.

Listening to Yuan’er’s urgent plea and meeting the girl’s anxious eyes,

Youlan remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

”Go. I won’t stop you.”

”Huh?! R-Really?”

”Mhm. There’s no point in making you continue training now. Go save your grandfather and grandmother first.”

As she spoke,

Youlan casually snapped her fingers.

Immediately, a massive crack opened at the top of the enormous barrier surrounding the mountain range.

”Big Sister Youlan...”

Seeing that Youlan had agreed to her request,

gratitude immediately appeared on Yuan’er’s face.

After excitedly hugging Youlan for a brief moment,

she released her, leaped into the air, and, surrounded by black Power of Shadow of Silence,

transformed into a streak of black light that shot straight through the opening in the barrier.

In the blink of an eye,

she disappeared beyond the horizon.

”That girl...

She really has mastered it quite well.”

Watching Yuan’er leave,

Youlan couldn’t help murmuring with admiration.

At the same time,

behind her,

a gray-haired middle-aged man wearing a crimson robe slowly emerged from the bushes.

With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the concealment magic hiding his presence before looking toward the direction Yuan’er had flown with obvious confusion.

”Tower Master, you’re really just letting her leave? Is that truly appropriate? Even though she’s already reached the Demon King class, Sky Dome is filled with experts right now. As a newly advanced Demon King, I’m afraid she has no chance of rescuing the Marquis and Marchioness... Tower Master? Perhaps... you should go as well?”

The man carefully voiced his suggestion.

After hearing him,

Youlan slowly shook her head.

”It’s fine. Someone in Sky Dome will protect that child.”

”As for me going there...”

At that,

Youlan gave a bitter smile and lowered her head thoughtfully, staring into her own palm.

”She’s in Sky Dome.

I’d better not go.

...Enough of that. Keep watching the situation in Sky Dome. Notify me again if anything urgent happens.”

”Understood, Tower Master.”

”Mhm. You may leave.”

”Yes.”

After receiving Youlan’s orders,

the gray-haired man respectfully bowed before silently retreating into the forest.

Moments later,

surrounded by black mist,

he vanished without a trace.

Once her subordinate had departed,

Youlan slowly shifted her gaze toward the communication magic stone still glowing with pale blue light.

With Yuan’er gone,

all traces of warmth disappeared from her face.

Her expression gradually returned to its usual sickly coldness,

and a chilling murderous intent slowly surfaced within her deep blue eyes.

”Afiro.”

Youlan softly called her subordinate’s name.

The instant the man on the other end heard her icy voice,

his entire body shuddered.

He replied in obvious panic,

”T-Tower Master...”

”Afiro.

I believe I’ve told you before.

When reporting something, you wait for my permission first.

You do not immediately blurt everything out the moment the communication connects.”

”I-I’m sorry... Tower Master... I... I was too anxious earlier... I didn’t pay attention...”

”I don’t want excuses.”

”...Yes.”

”There are no more than three chances.

This is your second mistake.

If you make a third...

you know the consequences.”

Upon hearing those words,

the man’s voice immediately began trembling with unconcealable fear.

Even though they were separated by thousands of miles,

it seemed as though he could still feel Youlan’s overwhelming displeasure.

”Y-Yes! This subordinate understands! I... I absolutely won’t make the same mistake again!”

”I certainly hope so.

Is there anything else to report?”

”N-No... nothing for now.”

”Then that’s all.”

With that,

ignoring whatever explanation the man was about to continue making,

a faint blue glow flashed across Youlan’s eyes.

The communication magic stone emitting the blue light instantly corroded into a puddle of strange white liquid.

Afiro’s voice was abruptly cut off.

Then,

Youlan slowly stood up and gazed thoughtfully toward the east—

the direction of the Snow Night Empire’s capital.

So...

they’re making another move against the Child of Destiny.

...Sigh.

That won’t solve the problem at its root.

...

Wait.

Suddenly,

Youlan frowned.

She had just realized something rather serious.

Did that girl...

even know where Sky Dome was?

She hadn’t asked a single question before rushing off.

’...Sigh.

Such a reckless child...’

--

Meanwhile,

inside the commercial district in eastern Sky Dome,

the streets were exceptionally lively.

As one of the city’s busiest shopping districts, it had always been crowded.

Now that delegations from numerous nations and major factions had arrived in Sky Dome,

many of them had also come here to wander around,

making the already bustling atmosphere even more lively.

Then,

as several figures dressed in coats bearing the Black Rose crest entered the district,

the excitement reached its peak.

Almost everyone’s attention immediately focused on them.

More precisely,

it focused on the breathtaking black-haired girl surrounded by those black-clad guards.

The girl possessed a slender figure,

with a head of silky black hair that anyone would envy.

The tips of her hair gradually faded into a blood-red crimson.

Although she wore a veil,

the phoenix-like brows and beautiful eyes revealed above it were breathtaking enough to steal one’s soul.

Her brilliant sapphire-blue eyes seemed to possess a mysterious charm capable of captivating anyone.

The moment people looked into those eyes,

many forgot to breathe.

Combined with the protection of the Black Rose Knights,

it didn’t take long for many people to identify her despite the veil.

She was none other than the recently famous young lady of the Black Rose Family.

The moment they realized her identity,

quite a few people attempted to approach her,

either hoping to become acquainted with such a beauty or establish ties with the Black Rose Family.

Unfortunately,

every attempt ended in failure.

Because the moment anyone approached,

the several large, sturdy knights protecting the black-haired girl would greet them with warm, friendly smiles.

The ”charm” of those smiles was simply overwhelming.

Many people froze on the spot,

immediately abandoning their plans to strike up a conversation.

However,

although none of them managed to approach her directly,

the endless stream of envoys from various factions, reporters, and the constant noise surrounding her still gave Miss Yumo quite the headache.

She couldn’t help rubbing her forehead.

Having long since grown accustomed to the peaceful silence of the Great Winter Forest,

Miss Yumo truly wasn’t used to this sea of people and noisy marketplace.

Compared to the capital,

the crowds she had seen back in Wind Facing City were hardly worth mentioning.

For a moment,

Miss Yumo began regretting coming here.

However,

what annoyed her the most wasn’t the crowds.

It was the endlessly nagging old butler walking beside her.

”Miss Yu, as a noble young lady, you can’t eat while walking on the street. It isn’t elegant!”

”Miss Yu, drinking isn’t acceptable either. Cover your mouth! Otherwise it isn’t elegant!”

”Miss Yu, you’re walking too fast. That’s improper etiquette! Not elegant!”

”Miss Yu, for the sake of elegance, you should keep your parasol open. Otherwise it isn’t elegant!”

...

Listening to Saiboke-Baniya’s endless lecturing,

dark lines gradually appeared across Miss Yumo’s face.

Seeing that he was about to criticize her for taking off her coat as well,

Miss Yumo shot him a fierce glare without hesitation.

”You old man, if you say the word ’elegant’ one more time in front of me, I’ll make your backside bloom! And after it blooms, all your daily care will be handled by Limo, and all your meals will be prepared by Liyu!”

Hearing that,

every word Saiboke-Baniya had been about to say was immediately swallowed back down.

”Anything else you’d like to say?”

”N-No... Miss Yu...”

Saiboke-Baniya swallowed hard and frantically shook his head.

Compared to satisfying his obsessive habits,

keeping his life was far more important.

With his old body,

if he got beaten with the feather duster and then ended up in the hands of those two little ancestors, Limo and Liyu...

Forget escaping unscathed—

he’d probably be ready for burial.

”Nothing. I only wanted to say... Miss Yu, since you don’t enjoy staying here, why don’t we leave first? There’s a side street over here that seems to lead to the Mages Association. Shall we go take a look?”

”Hm? The Mages Association? The organization under the Holy Tower?”

Hearing that destination,

Miss Yumo became slightly interested.

”Sure. Let’s go have a look.”

”Very well, Miss Yu. Please follow me.”

With that,

Saiboke-Baniya led Yumo and several Black Rose Family knights into the narrow side street.

At that moment,

the old butler’s lips curled upward almost imperceptibly.

Outside the alley,

quite a few people still wanted to follow them, unwilling to give up the opportunity to befriend the Black Rose Family.

But very quickly,

those enthusiastic followers were all persuaded to retreat by the Black Rose Knights’ warm, friendly smiles.

Free from everyone else’s stares,

and from Saiboke-Baniya’s endless nagging,

Miss Yumo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She removed her veil while walking,

casually eating the candied fruit skewer-like dessert she had bought earlier.

Everything seemed perfectly peaceful.

However,

after taking only a few steps,

a sudden cry for help instantly caught Miss Yumo’s attention.

The black-haired girl’s brows rose slightly.

”Help... h-help... somebody... save me!!”

Hm?

A child’s voice?

And...

the smell of blood...