Also within the Underworld.
A palace of violet stone stood beneath a sky that never changed.
It was beautiful.
Elegant.
And cursed with the kind of silence only ancient demons could appreciate.
At the heart of that palace, in a dining chamber lit by purple flame, sat the Purple Primordial herself.
Violet.
Her youthful appearance did nothing to soften the pressure she carried. She sat with the posture of a princess receiving tribute, one leg crossed over the other, lazily swirling a glass of dark wine as untouched dishes of fine meat and fruit rested on the table before her. She enjoyed being treated like royalty by her attendants, and the two standing at her side. Her personal chef and butler fit that role perfectly.
For a while—
Only the faint sound of cutlery and crystal echoed through the room.
Then Violet set her glass down.
Clink.
She did not look up.
"…Well?"
Her voice was soft.
Almost absent-minded.
Yet both demons standing beside her immediately straightened.
One was the Chef, who would be known later as Zonda. A demon of the purple lineage who typically wore a chef's coat and served directly under her. The other was the Butler, who would later be known as Veyron, her personal attendant, equally loyal and careful with his words.
Violet lifted a piece of fruit with her fork.
"I can tell the two of you didn't come here to admire my dinner."
Chef lowered his head slightly.
"My lady."
Butler followed a beat later.
"There is a matter regarding Blanc-sama."
That got her attention. Not dramatically or with shock.
Just a small pause as Violet stopped her fork halfway to her lips.
"…Blanc?"
She set the fruit back down.
Her golden-violet eyes shifted lazily toward them.
"What about her?"
Chef and Butler exchanged a brief glance.
Then Butler answered.
"It seems Blanc-sama has begun an expedition."
Violet's brow lifted just slightly.
"An expedition."
Chef nodded.
"Yes, my lady."
"She is searching for a method by which she may fully manifest in the Cardinal World."
Silence followed.
The wine in Violet's glass rippled faintly.
She blinked once.
"…What?"
Violet slowly leaned back into her chair.
She usually didn't care what her other siblings did. But this time real interest appeared on her face.
"That is…"
She paused.
"…unexpected."
Chef remained calm.
"So we thought as well, my lady."
Violet's finger tapped once against the table.
Tap.
"That demon has never cared much about the Cardinal World."
Her gaze turned distant for a moment.
"I have spent many years trying to find ways to manifest there properly."
She tilted her head.
"And yet she suddenly decides to start now?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Butler answered carefully.
"It appears her reason is personal."
Violet looked at him.
"…Personal."
Chef nodded.
"Yes."
He hesitated for only a second.
"Blanc-sama wishes to manifest so that she may meet Bordeaux-sama once again."
The room fell completely still.
Violet did not move.
The flames along the walls flickered once.
Then again.
Her fingers stopped tapping.
"…Bordeaux."
She said the name quietly.
As if tasting it.
Chef and Butler remained silent.
They both knew that expression on her face.
It was interest.
Pure and immediate.
Violet reached for her wine again.
But instead of drinking it, she simply stared at the dark red liquid inside the glass.
"…He is suspected to be in the Cardinal World, my little brother?"
Butler bowed his head.
"That is what we have been told, my lady."
Chef added,
"Blanc-sama appears to be convinced of it."
Violet gave a small, amused exhale.
"She must be very convinced if she's willing to go this far."
There was a brief pause.
Then her lips curved into the faintest smile.
"How unlike her."
Chef blinked.
"My lady?"
Violet rested her cheek against her hand.
"That woman is patient when she wants to be."
Her smile sharpened slightly.
"For her to suddenly throw resources into manifestation…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"…Bordeaux must truly be there."
Butler spoke cautiously.
"That was our conclusion as well."
Violet remained silent for several seconds.
Then she laughed softly.
A light, pleasant sound.
One that made both demons straighten even more.
"Oh my."
Her gaze lifted toward the ceiling.
"So that's what this is."
Chef and Butler said nothing.
Violet slowly stood from her seat.
The chair slid back with a soft scrape.
She walked toward the tall arched window overlooking the violet wasteland outside.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each footfall was elegant and measured.
But her smile had not faded.
"So."
She said it like she was piecing together a puzzle.
"Blanc, who never cared for the Cardinal World…"
"Has suddenly begun searching for a way to manifest there…"
"And the reason is Bordeaux."
Her hand rose lightly to her lips.
"…How very interesting."
Chef watched her carefully.
"My lady, shall we continue gathering information?"
Violet glanced over her shoulder.
"Of course."
She turned fully now, the amusement in her eyes growing clearer.
"I want details."
"How many resources has Blanc diverted?"
"How long has she been preparing this?"
"Who has she spoken to?"
Chef immediately bowed.
"We will investigate everything."
Butler nodded as well.
"At once, my lady."
Violet smiled.
"Good."
She returned to the table, but she did not sit immediately.
Instead, she looked down at the dishes before her as though they had suddenly become much less important.
"…To think."
Her voice lowered into something almost thoughtful.
"I've been trying to reach that world for so long…"
"And now Blanc decides to race ahead of me because of a man."
Chef and Butler wisely did not comment.
Violet gave a small hum.
Then finally sat down again.
This time, however—
Her posture had changed.
Before, she had looked bored.
Now?
Now she looked entertained.
Curious.
She picked up her wine glass once more.
"…Tell me."
Her gaze settled on the two demons again.
"Did she say anything else?"
Chef hesitated.
"Nothing directly, my lady."
"But it seems Blanc-sama is… quite eager."
Violet's smile widened just a fraction.
"Eager."
Butler, more cautious than Chef, chose his next words carefully.
"It would not be inaccurate to say that Blanc-sama is treating the matter with… urgency."
That made Violet laugh again.
This time a little more openly.
"Urgency."
She lifted the glass to her lips and finally drank.
"How delightful."
The room was silent again for a moment.
Then Violet placed the glass back down.
Clink.
Her eyes shone now with genuine intrigue.
"Bordeaux…"
She said the name again.
Softly.
Almost fondly.
"My little brother. Should I go meet him as well?"
Then she looked at Chef.
"Prepare a report."
She looked at Butler next.
"And have our observers start tracking Blanc's expedition."
Her tone remained light.
Playful, even.
But there was no mistaking the command.
"If she has found a trail leading to the Cardinal World…"
Her smile sharpened.
"…then I intend to know where it leads."
Chef bowed low.
"As you wish, my lady."
Butler followed.
"It will be done."
Violet leaned back into her chair.
Satisfied.
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