The despairing death did not fall upon them as they had imagined.
Just when everyone thought the Demon Lord had gone mad, she walked barefoot through the white snow, her blood-red dress fluttering gently. Her pitch-black eyes remained calm, seemingly unaware of her crazed appearance. She nodded lightly to everyone, as if she had just returned from court: "You can all rise."
The palace attendants' legs were weak, none able to stand without support, each relying on the other to shakily give thanks and rise.
The Demon Lord continued, "You may all withdraw."
A young palace attendant hesitated, "But the snow in the palace pathway hasn't yet..."
The Female Demon Lord flicked her sleeve, and the thick snow vanished as if it had flown away, leaving the long stone steps as clear as if they had been washed with water. She repeated softly, "Withdraw."
None dared to linger a moment longer and gathered their brooms, fleeing away like escaping fugitives.
