We were heading back to the Grim Palace after talking with her. Arlene Desmond walked okay on her own until they were outside the city, and then we had Treska carry her on his back.

After reaching the Forbidden Fairy Forest, Arlene made one small protest.

"You guys... it’s best to turn back now. There’s no point in this... The forest can kill."

She still didn’t seem to believe that she had actually run into the real Witch Queen herself. There was no denying it anymore, though. As soon as we took a step into the Forbidden Fairy Forest, the purple haze around started to split.

Her eyes widened.

"How is this..."

As before, the familiar giggles of fairies made their way to our ears.

"Hahah! Weiss! Hey Weiss, you’re back."

"Why are you getting new people?"

"Is this the next one? She’s too old."

"And ugly!"

"Uglyyy! You should grab a fairy."

Fairies were coming out of their realm to talk to us. The lady on Treska’s back looked around with disbelief in her eyes. It was obvious, though. What else did she expect?

It didn’t take long for us to go from there to the palace. The path of the Forbidden Fairy Forest would lead people off-track, but the forest that opened up for Weiss was the most direct route to the Grim Palace anyway.

Arlene looked ahead with wonder. The towering heights of the Grim Palace, while more lavish than many places, were probably only more sinister than the houses these affluent and vain nobles of the Empire would make.

"This..."

"It’s the Grim Palace," said Weiss.

We entered the building. Our two dear friends, the living armors Jake and John, along with the other golems, were waiting.

"Hey!" My eyes widened at that moment. "Where’s the Gardener Gnome!?"

Delka and Treska both froze.

Weiss, too, seemed to be turning her eyes away.

***

In the hotel where the group had rested, on the receptionist’s table stood a guest.

Yes, standing on the table.

"...?"

"The people you were accompanying... are already gone? You? Are you a person...?"

"..."

The Gardener Gnome, holding a large bag of money, lowered his head.

"Should I book you a room?"

"..."

He nodded.

***

"We left him behind! The Gnome!" I said. "Ah, whatever. We’ll just get him back next time, or he’ll make his way home. The gnome is very responsible."

The Gnome was truly very responsible.

The two armors were also confused when they saw Arlene. Jake turned to me and raised his chin. I shrugged back.

Whatever, kid.

All of us settled inside rather casually. We carried Arlene to the study and sat her down on a couch. Weiss became busy pulling out a potion from among her books while I placed a wet cloth on Arlene’s head.

"So, what are you going to do?" she asked. "Is there a way... to live longer with it? Not turn corrupt?"

"Yeah, yeah. That part is simple."

To be honest, I didn’t want to cure her just yet.

It was rather simple. The North was the closest place to the Grim Palace, and the entire North was a part of Duke Reinvelt’s territory. I wanted to pressure him, see him whine and moan for his daughter, and then cure her.

Why? Make no mistake, I only enjoyed a healthy amount of sadism, and I didn’t enjoy it with old nobles whatsoever. The reason was simple.

The North would be the first place to target us. We had to make sure that didn’t happen and that they felt indebted to us.

Unfortunately, we didn’t know if Weiss’s potion could help someone who had already turned corrupt. Nor did we know how long Arlene would be able to hold on.

Every inch of her body was clearly weakened, and the black marks of corruption were spreading across her mercilessly.

Our plan could end up being over before it began. While I thought that way...

My eyes went to the back. Weiss, having found the potion, came closer.

... It was likely she didn’t. My eyes narrowed as I watched the two ladies. Weiss wanted to help Arlene. Not just because of the possible benefits to us, but likely, even if all those things didn’t exist, she would still help Arlene.

Hah. Well. I guess it was fair. To help her first, and then ask things of her.

"Here, drink this," said Weiss to Arlene. She glared at me, and taking the hint like the nice gentleman I was, I pushed Arlene up.

"What will this do...? How many days do you think?"

Weiss opened the potion and shoved it down Arlene’s throat while she was still speaking. Arlene’s eyes widened, and then she fell back on the sofa.

Right afterward, the Witch Queen stepped back and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Watch closely, butler."

"Let’s indeed."

"I have no idea if this would even work on a human being."

Arlene started groaning in pain, and her eyes widened as she heard those words. So did mine. Oh fucking hell. Wasn’t this made to get beastkin not to smell?!

Don’t tell me! This dear Witch Queen of mine was thinking of using the duke’s daughter as an experiment all along?

A chuckle of pure admiration left me. Weiss’s eyes were still trained on the girl, and so were mine.

"GAAAAAAH!"

Arlene screamed in pain.

"What’s... HAPPENING!? IT HURTS, IT HURTS!"

Was it failing?

Weiss’s grip on my shoulder tightened.

In a few seconds, the duke’s daughter fell limp on the couch, her body losing all strength. Vapor rose from her as heat left her cells. They were transforming from within.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

And it started happening.

The black marks on her skin started to disappear.

It had worked.

The potion, and our ticket to make sure the Grim Palace was safe from harm from the North—both of them had worked.

A bright smile left me as Weiss and I looked at each other. We nodded.

"It’s time," she said. "to extort a fuck ton from her parents."

"Hell yeah."