"Heh."
Hel let out a soft laugh. At that moment, the grand doors of the castle slammed shut.
From behind them, Sebas pulled out his long spear, his eyes sharp and full of hostility as he glared at the group of newcomers.
Only a select few were allowed into the castle — aside from the Grand Duke's son himself, there was one Earth Knight and twenty High Knights acting as his escorts.
The rest of his troops had been stationed in the training yard outside.
Now, with the castle gates closed behind them, if it came down to just this group, Arwin would need no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to make them all disappear.
All he needed was Hel's command.
On the other side, Sebas had already withdrawn to the edge of the hall after leading them in.
In his hand, he discreetly held the completed spell circle for a Nightfall Barrier — waiting, like Arwin, for Hel's signal to strike.
As for Anna and Lily, they stood quietly at Hel's sides — one gently kneading her shoulders, the other resting a hand on the hilt of her sword.
If the Grand Duke's son so much as twitched in the wrong way, Lily could intercept his attack in an instant.
And Anna wasn't idle either.
Three little Bloodlust Elf girls — her summoned familiars — crouched up in the rafters, each already aiming a magic rifle straight at the Duke's son, ready to fire a fatal shot the moment Hel gave the order.
The Duke's son, after shouting his insult, grew even more furious when Hel completely ignored him.
But instead of drawing his sword, he suddenly stepped back a few paces and barked angrily:
"Rat-tail, kill him!"
He spun around, clearly intending to make a dramatic exit.
The Earth Knight standing behind him gave a cold, cruel smile as he slowly drew his blade — a faint blue aura of battle energy flaring along its edge.
"Yes, Lord Everton."
He took two deliberate steps forward, crossing paths with the Duke's son — and in that very moment, the blade in his hand suddenly turned.
Instead of swinging toward Hel, it plunged forward — straight into the Duke's back.
Everton didn't even have time to react.
The sudden treachery caught him completely off guard, and his broad frame blocked the view of his men behind him.
None of them saw what happened — until it was far too late.
The sword sank into his back without the slightest resistance.
The traitorous knight — Rat-tail — caught the falling body, steadying the Duke's son with mock tenderness before leaning close to his ear and whispering softly:
"I told you… my name is Switt, not Rat-tail. Looks like your brain really wasn't working too well, my lord."
"You—"
Everton turned his head in disbelief — only for Switt to yank the sword free, then drive it in again from another angle.
"Second Lady sends her regards, Lord Everton," Switt murmured with a smile.
By the time the other knights realized something was wrong, it was already chaos.
They raised their blades and rushed forward to save their lord — only to be struck down by the comrades beside them.
In seconds, eight knights were dead.
The remaining twelve? Switt's co-conspirators.
Switt looked around at the bloodied hall with satisfaction before tossing Everton's lifeless, unblinking corpse aside.
Then, turning to Hel, he gave a refined bow — a perfect noble's salute.
"Count Hel of Heim conspired with beastmen to assassinate the Grand Duke's son," he said smoothly, his tone almost theatrical.
"And I, the loyal Knight Switt, avenged my lord by cleansing the entire Heim Castle in his name.
Tell me, Count Hel — how does this script sound to you?"
Switt raised his gaze to her, eyes gleaming with open malice.
For a moment, Hel thought of an old phrase — eyes like an eagle, heart like a wolf.
"What a performance," she said with a cool smile.
She had never expected the proud heir of the Mandrake Duchy to meet such a pathetic end.
"The proud lion never imagines he'll die to a hyena's bite.
But tell me, Switt — why go to such lengths?"
Switt's lips curled upward, savoring the moment.
"Well, as you said — proud lion. I've been serving beside that fool for ten years, and in all that time he's never once treated me as human.
Do you understand what that feels like, Count?
He never even remembered my name. Every day, every order, it was always that cursed nickname — Rat-tail, Rat-tail… damn it all, I'm not Rat-tail!"
He paused, took a breath, and added with mock politeness,
"Ah, pardon my language."
"Even after I became an Earth Knight, he never showed me the slightest respect.
That's when I knew — Everton was never fit to be a ruler.
But later, I met someone truly worthy — the one I could devote my life to serving. The Second Lady.
She taught me what it means to value loyalty. She taught me dignity.
So for her sake, I would do anything.
Even if it means sending all of you… straight to hell."
Hel arched a brow. "You ever heard the saying, 'A bootlicker never dies well'?"
Switt laughed manically. "Bootlicker? Fine! I'm her bootlicker!
As long as I can earn her recognition, no price is too great—"
Hel shuddered at the deranged look in his eyes.
She waved her hand — and from the rafters, a single magic bullet shot down, punching clean through Switt's heart.
"Disgusting," she muttered, wrinkling her nose.
As she approached his fallen body, she noticed a black rune etched faintly across his skin — a soul mark that read:
[Ducan's Devout Follower].
"Tut-tut… Third Young Master Ducan," Hel said with a smirk. "Your charm must be something else — even men fall head over heels for you."
Switt's eyes flew wide in shock. He stared at her, horror filling his gaze — just as the same realization had dawned on the dying Duke's son moments before.
But dizziness overcame him, and before he could say a word, his world went dark forever.
Hel looked down at the two corpses.
"The Duke's son — arrogant and blind.
The Second Lady — prideful and vain.
The Fourth — just a brat.
But you, Third Young Master… you hide your fangs the deepest.
You pit your siblings against each other, use the Duke's son's name to come after me, and even planned for my counterattack.
You probably thought even if I killed him, I'd still be doomed — after all, who would believe the demon's daughter?
People only believe what they want to believe.
But die, in front of me?"
Her lips curled into a cold smile.
"Let's see if you even can."