Chapter 103: For That Man’s Sake 3

In accordance with her mistress’s orders, Arachne made her way toward a certain grand manor located near Sophia’s castle.

Its opulent grandeur rivaled a royal palace of any nation.

Entering unimpeded, she arrived in the central hall and addressed the butler who had come to receive her, her tone composed:

“Announce me.”

“Yes, Lady Arachne. One moment, please.”

After the butler respectfully bowed and withdrew, Arachne waited alone – ruminating upon the present circumstances.

‘To so desecrate Princess Cazeros herself… Truly a sin deserving a thousand deaths. Yet was it necessary to mobilize them for this?’

Certainly, the current imperial situation necessitated utmost discretion – justifying the deployment of such excessive assets to an extent.

However, Arachne wondered if involving them bordered on overkill.

‘Of course, considering Duchess Catleena’s character, this was only natural. But in such perilous times, setting those particular forces into motion carries considerable weight…’

Pondering whether advising restraint as the duchess’s secretary would have been prudent, Arachne’s musings were interrupted by a chilling sensation creeping down her spine.

Turning, she offered a respectful bow to the two figures now present.

“My apologies. Lord Bloody, Lady Soul.”

Raising her head after the courteous gesture, Arachne beheld the pair.

One wore glasses with neatly-styled orange hair tinged with red hues. Her frail, almost childlike physique and plain features hardly inspired awe – Bloody Mary.

Beside her stood a contrasting beauty – full, luscious ebony tresses cascading like silk, flawless porcelain skin, a statuesque figure both voluptuous and elegant. An exquisite, ravishing face leaving no doubt as to her loveliness – Soul Mary.

Their expressions openly conveyed dissatisfaction in that moment – the reason readily apparent even to Arachne.

Rather than typical attire, they wore only light overcoats hastily donned over their undergarments.

Moreover, their bodies glistened with what unmistakably appeared to be the residue of recent intimate activities.

Recognizing the evident cause for their foul moods, Arachne wisely refrained from commenting – merely fixing her gaze upon them.

It was Bloody who addressed her first in a curt tone:

“What business at this late hour? You’ve rather rudely extinguished a pleasantly smoldering mood.”

“Indeed, sister. I was just beginning to feel utterly inflamed myself.”

Agreeing while leaning against Bloody’s shoulder with a suggestive smile, Soul’s words prompted Arachne’s apologetic yet firm response:

“…My sincere regrets. However, promptly conveying Lady Catleena’s directives is my sworn duty as her attendant.”

Her resolute tone elicited a slight scowl from Bloody before she heaved a resigned sigh, dispelling her irritation.

“…Haaah. Ever the unwavering pragmatist, how dreadfully dull.”

“Quite so. You never do indulge in any revelry, do you?”

“So then? What urgent command from our lady necessitates our summoning? It must be of grave importance.”

“Yes, it concerns…”

Arachne proceeded to relay the duchess’s instructions verbatim.

Upon hearing the details, their faces briefly contorted with pronounced distaste.

“So in other words, our lady has tasked us with some nauseatingly righteous undertaking?”

“That is correct.”

“Correct?”

Arachne’s consistently impassive, unflappable responses seemed to grate on the pair.

The next instant…

-Whooosh!-

“…”

“Kuh…”

A disconcerting wave of magical power rippled outward, enveloping Arachne’s vicinity.

“You dare speak so flippantly in our presence? Perhaps you’ve forgotten just who stands before you…”

Bloody’s chilling tone accompanied an intensifying aura of overwhelming might.

Beside her, Soul visibly shuddered, taking an instinctive step backwards.

The sheer force emanating from Bloody’s being proved suffocating enough to unnerve even Arachne despite her formidable magical prowess.

‘Such oppressive pressure from her mere presence… Truly a monster among monsters…’

Yet faced with this tangible reminder of the entity before her, Arachne remained utterly unfazed.

For she possessed an equally undeniable justification to maintain her current stance.

And recognizing this truth as well, Soul addressed Bloody with palpable disquiet:

“U-Ummm, Sister, perhaps we should stay our hand. Regardless of our feelings, these are still Lady Catleena’s orders. We are duty-bound to obey.”

“…Tch!”

Heeding Soul’s counsel, Bloody retracted her suffocating aura with tangible resentment.

Inwardly sighing, Arachne reaffirmed her stance in a clear voice:

“Then I shall rely on your swift compliance with this matter.”

“…”

“…Very well, we shall acquiesce.”

“My gratitude. Then I shall take my leave.”

As Soul responded on Bloody’s behalf and Arachne departed, Bloody scowled while remarking to her sister’s retreating back:

“Covertly abducting some young Bohemian heir, no doubt for political leverage… The more I consider it, the less I relish this task.”

“I share your sentiments. Yet we have little choice – our current standing obliges us to serve Lady Catleena unfailingly. And undeniably, none are better suited than us to handle such matters with utmost discretion.”

Reminding them both of their circumstances and this mission’s exigency, Soul’s pragmatic words prompted a disgruntled admission from Bloody:

“Hmph, I suppose freedom always demands a price…”

“And besides, while the endeavor itself holds little appeal, does it not present an enticing opportunity? A rare chance to cross blades with a rather renowned skilled adversary.”

“A mere Advanced Rank 7 mage? We’ll see how entertaining they prove, but I shan’t hold my breath. Though now that you mention it… perhaps this other aspect will indeed prove more amusing.”

With those words, Bloody began sensuously caressing Soul’s ample bosom – eliciting a bashful yet pleased smile as they embraced, heading back toward their bedchambers once more.