Hearing the words said by Harriet, Maroon raised one of his eyebrows, "Is it because they are red? You have quite a strange tale from your village. But it is time for me to leave now—"

"I see that you two are having a great time together," Esther who had taken her sleeping robe to cover herself from the deep of the night had left her room in time when she caught the sight of the two people. She raised her brows, somewhat confused and surprised to see that the butler who seemed as though his soul had withdrawn from his body could talk with the new human guest who she heard to have lost her family. 

"Is there anything I could help, Miss Esther?" Maroon asked. He was polite but toneless to the point he sounded as if he was reciting the words.

"I run out of water and when I came I saw you two. It is already late at night, you must be tired too, Miss Harriet, is that correct? I don't think I got to introduce myself forgive me if I had your name wrong," said Esther and all in natural action, she slipped her hand forward for a handshake.

Lilith's eyes stared at the woman's hand but for a couple of brief second before looking up with a pleasant naive smile, "No you are not wrong. You have called my name perfectly, Miss Esther."

"We are both guests here naturally I would know of your presence as the elder guest. Is there anything keeping you awake? I had heard the maids speaking there is ghosts in the castle of a man digging ground with a bloodied shovel but believe me I have kept an eye at night but found nothing. You can tell me everything in ease. Anything that you are worried for," Esther said as their hands locked together in a handshake.

"No," Lilith's smile didn't reach up her eyes but this went easily unnoticed as she was skilled in matter of hiding her emotions which why she was able to keep quiet about her demonic bloodline which Maroon didn't even notice. "Everything was so beautiful in the castle and I felt a little excited and that made it hard for me to sleep but I think I can sleep now. Excuse me. Thank you, Mr. Maroon it was great to talk with you."

Maroon stared at her and only bent his neck in response, no smile and a trained politeness that caused her to feel the sharp distance between them. They were inseparable in the past by the term of emotions and love but now the distance between them was wide.

Lilith stared at Maroon's face just for long, admiring his features to her memories before leaving the hallways. She looked back again after some time, seeing the Demoness named Esther speaking with Maroon and her lips were set on a thin line. When she was a ghost, her memories were blurry. She remembered following Maroon but not until knowing what she saw. 

Lilith wanted to tell Maroon who she was, '...You will die again.' Caleb's words rang again in her mind when such a thought passed by her mind.

The memory of the night before Lilith went to take her mission to the White Mansion entered her memories again. Caleb was in the body of a boy but that didn't help on concealing his demonic presence. Something about him could make one shudder. His gaze was piercing and deep as though he had seen death multiple times and regarded death as a close friend of his. 

'We can make this easy for you, Lilith. I can help you to stay beside your husband as much as you wished for,' Caleb said, his hand brushing the golden lock of his hair that curled all over his forehead. 'Albeit not for free. The rules of the world is never too kindly where one can have the behest they wish without having to pay anything. No one...'

'If it is to stay with him I can sacrifice anything,' Lilith answered firmly. Waking up from her death was a miracle and for the miracle to continue she didn't mind whatever else she had to pay in exchange.

'Even at the cost of someone's life?' Even in his small body that he had be resurrected in, Diablo's eyes were cold, holding a bottomless cruelty and indifference. 

Lilith was taken aback but she nodded, 'I will do anything. I am also a Demon, my happiness toll over other's to me.'

'You have a made a great choice,' said the other man who was sitting in the darkness. Lilith could only see his crossed legs and heard his voice but she couldn't see his face as half of his upper body was engulfed by the darkness of the room. It hadn't been more than three days since Lilith was resurrected but she knew the man was referred as Dark Sorcerer Lord, someone who is regarded with high respect and he was also the one who had brought her back from the death. She didn't know or have seen the man but knew his share of villainy. 

'You can tell her what she needs to do, Diablo, I have trust in you.' The dark sorcerer Lord then left the room, retreating in silent movement.

Diablo didn't reply and it had somewhere Lilith to question his loyalty to the dark sorcerer Lord. Once she was commanded on what she had to do, Lilith had a disbelief face while looking at Diablo. 'My soul is controlled by the Dark Lord but your soul is controlled by me,' Diablo said, 'Be aware that I know what is running in your mind as much as the Dark Lord is aware of mine. If you betray the trust I have given to you, the mark on your wrist will trigger the spell that I cast on you. I shouldn't have to explain what would happen but to cease you from thinking there is an easy way out, I will make it clear to you: Disobey me and you will die again.'

'I have heard about him before. Ian White, also known as the third Diablo in Hell while you are... his predecessor, the second Diablo. Don't you have any concern for him?' Lilith asked the man. She couldn't see his expression as she was facing his back. 'We will kill him with this plan.'

Caleb turned his face, his smile was wide that turned the air chilling in the room. 'Like you and as you said, I am a Demon. I care about myself and my happiness more than anyone's else. I hope when we meet again, you are still alive, Lilith. We should end the world soon enough.'

Maroon watched Harriet who left and Esther watched his gaze. "You seem to hold a bit of emotion more than I thought. You know her?"

"She doesn't know me. I merely saved her once," answered Maroon. Was it fate that tried to bring Harriet back to him? Was this the way God tells him to find a new love? Then it was unnecessary action, thought Maroon to himself. He doesn't need anyone else with him. The only woman he would want her to stay had died. "Do yo have anything else you wish to talk with?"

Esther nodded, finally remembering what she wanted to discuss, "I smelled a fragrance of a Demon. I don't know but I had an inkling that I know the smell and have come across them before but it had disappeared faintly."

"When exactly did you smell this, during the party?" If it was the party then it would be difficult to find out. Like Ian, he could sensed Demons but their senses were clouded by the striking presence of Lucifer.

"No it was before the party when I passed by the hallway. I am not sure if I imagined it as I don't find the smell again but it would be best if you look at it," Esther advised before leaving as she retreated to the place.

Maroon who knew the newlyweds who were busy with each other decided to keep the news for tomorrow and retired to his room as well.

The morning came to the end the exhausting night. It was still early and the birds had just sang the first verse of their song, but Elise who only took a light nap woke up drowsily from her sleep. Her hands went to rub her eyes before she turned around to look at the window where sunlight passed by in the somber yet refreshing morning of winter.

*****

Don't forget to vote to reach the goal of 2500 powerstone~ it help this book to get more exposure and readers if you do~