The deep purple light of destruction had long since dissipated in the sky, only the massive roar spoke of the terror of that strike.
Inside the mansion, in the drawing room.
The windows were tightly shut, yet one could still seemingly feel the heart-stopping aftershocks from afar.
The room was silent, so quiet that one could almost hear the faint crackle of the swaying candlelight, and the sound of one's own racing heartbeat.
No one spoke but everyone's clenched fists and slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the tension and shock in their hearts.
"That was... terrifying."
The first to break the deathly silence was Puck, perched on Emilia's shoulder. He put aside his usual lighthearted tone, his eyes gazing out at the distant sky beyond the window.
"That strike... even if I were to take it head-on, I fear I wouldn't fare very well."
He flicked his tail, trying to restore a little of his usual casual tone.
Ram's voice followed immediately, her calm tone instantly shaking everyone out of their dazed state. "Since Tsukasa has already started things on his end, we should prepare ourselves as well."
She turned around, her eyes sweeping over Emilia in the room. "After all, they will not let us off."
That's right, the Witch Cult would never let the mansion go. The mansion—no, rather, Emilia herself—was surely one of their targets.
Emilia took a deep breath, and the determination in her eyes gradually replaced her unease.
She straightened her back and said, "Then, Ram, Puck, and I will be primarily responsible for the defense of the main gate. Frederica, I leave the security of the mansion's interior and the rear to you."
Frederica immediately placed one hand over her chest and bowed solemnly. "Yes, Emilia-sama. Leave it to me."
However—
"No."
Ram's voice sounded again.
Just as Emilia finished assigning tasks, Ram stepped forward, her eyes fixed on her.
"Ram believes that Emilia-sama should switch with Frederica."
"Eh?" Emilia was slightly taken aback.
Ram continued, "There is no need to speak of your importance, Emilia-sama. The main gate will certainly be the focus of the enemy's attack and the most dangerous place. You should not risk yourself on the front line. At the very least, we should wait until Ram and Frederica have determined the enemy's attack mechanism and scale, and confirmed it is relatively safe, before considering whether you need to step forward."
"But..."
Emilia subconsciously wanted to retort. She didn't want to be protected like this, especially during such a critical moment.
But the words were barely on her lips when they met the gaze Ram cast her way. That gaze was calm and waveless, yet carried an immense sense of resolve. Deep within her red pupils, there was no room for negotiation.
Emilia opened her mouth, but in the end, she swallowed the words of rebuttal. She knew this maid all too well. Once Ram made a decision with such eyes and tone, it meant she had thought it through and would never change her mind.
"...I understand."
Emilia sighed softly, feeling somewhat helpless, but could only accept it. "Then... let's do as Ram says."
Ram nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk toward the door with Frederica, who wore an apologetic expression.
Emilia watched their backs disappear outside the door, then looked down at the somewhat nervous Petra beside her, and let out another soft breath.
"Let's go too, Petra."
"O-okay, Emilia-sama."
The two of them also left the room, their footsteps gradually fading away.
The drawing room fell silent, leaving only the jumping light of the candles reflecting off the empty tables and chairs.
At this moment, directly above the drawing room, in the shadows of the second-floor corridor of the mansion.
A figure even smaller than Petra stood there silently, clearly hearing every word of the conversation below. She had curly hair and wore an exquisite dress trimmed with ruffles that felt out of place in the mansion's atmosphere.
She pursed her lips, her eyes looking through the gaps in the corridor railing toward the direction where Ram, Emilia, and the others had left, her gaze flickering with complexity.
In the end, she said nothing. She simply turned and retreated back into the closed wooden door behind her.
Click.
—
"Tsukasa-san... is really amazing."
Walking down the corridor leading to the mansion's main gate, Frederica couldn't help but sigh softly.
In her eyes, there was an unmistakable glimmer of admiration.
Powerful, decisive, and... an aura that put one at ease.
Moreover, that face was impeccable.
For a straightforward demi-human maid, Tsukasa possessed almost every trait that easily inspired affection.
"What's so good about that arrogant fool?"
Ram, walking half a step ahead, threw back a cold retort without even turning her head.
However, the observant Frederica noticed that after Ram said that, her pace seemed to quicken just a little.
"Eh?"
Frederica blinked, quickened her pace to catch up, and walked side-by-side with Ram.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at Ram's expressionless profile, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"I really don't get it."
She deliberately drew out her tone, her voice laced with teasing. "Even though just now, you were very worried yourself, right?"
Her gaze pointedly swept over the fingers Ram had subconsciously clenched just moments ago.
Ram's steps came to a sudden halt. She turned her head, casting a sidelong glance at Frederica, a hint of what could almost be called embarrassment and annoyance in her gaze.
"Please watch your words. Ram would never be worried about that arrogant, frivolous, and reckless guy."
She turned her head back, chin slightly raised, as if emphasizing something. "If it weren't for the fact that he settled Rem down, Ram wouldn't pay him any mind at all."
Having said that, as if not wanting to give Frederica any more chances to tease her, she quickened her pace again, walking toward the main gate.
Amidst the atmosphere of Frederica's teasing, the two traversed the complex corridors of the mansion at high speed and arrived at the door leading to the main entrance.
Pushing open the door, the faint morning sunlight and the slightly damp air of the courtyard poured in together.
However—
"Something's wrong."
Ram stopped the moment she stepped over the threshold.
The impatience in her red eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a gaze as sharp as a falcon's.
At the same time, Frederica, who had been walking slightly behind her, suddenly tensed her body, took a step forward, and firmly blocked the way in front of Ram.