Chapter 84: Shocking Facts, and Liliana’s Strangeness
“Aren’t these…”
Lyra blinked several times and studied the paper bearing Leon’s ingredient list with an unusually serious expression.
Standing before her, Leon noticed the seriousness that had overtaken Lyra’s expression, causing a flutter of nerves to stir within him.
His nervousness stemmed from the fear that Lyra might not be able to assist him in gathering the ingredients, rendering all his efforts futile and leaving him with no choice but to procure them himself.
Given his current physical state, weakened by the relentless poison gnawing at his body, such an endeavor would undoubtedly amount to suicide.
Fortunately, his nervousness was short-lived as Lyra’s expression resumed its normalcy.
“Very well, Your Majesty. Worry not, for I shall procure these ingredients within a day or two,” Lyra replied nonchalantly, tucking the paper into the pocket of her maid dress.
“Thank you, Lyra,” Leon said, smiling with relief as he expressed his sincere gratitude.
With Lyra’s assistance, everything seemed much easier, leaving him to wait leisurely.
In response to Leon’s gratitude, Lyra gave a slight nod. Suddenly, a hint of curiosity flickered across her usually expressionless face.
“Your Majesty Leon, may I inquire about something important that has piqued my curiosity? Of course, if you prefer not to answer, I won’t press,” Lyra asked, her expression troubled as she spoke cautiously.
Upon hearing Lyra’s request, Leon was slightly taken aback but nodded in acknowledgment.
“Of course, feel free to ask anything,” Leon agreed without hesitation, casting a curious gaze at Lyra.
It was uncommon for Lyra to initiate inquiries like this.
Could something be weighing on her mind?
Lyra’s expression relaxed slightly as Leon agreed, then she asked, “Is the antidote you wish to make for the devouring poison—one of the ten ancient poisons?”
Raising one eyebrow, Leon was surprised by Lyra’s accurate guess.
However, considering her status as an arch-demon, it wasn’t surprising that she possessed profound knowledge of it.
“You’re correct, Lyra. I do indeed seek to make an antidote for the ancient devouring poison. Is there an issue with that?” Leon admitted it openly, and his curiosity was piqued.
Lyra shook her head and replied, “There’s no issue, Your Majesty. I’m simply curious about your motivation for making this antidote. After all, since the end of the era of His Majesty Demon Emperor Jared Crimson, the Devouring Poison could not possibly exist in this world anymore.”
At her statement, Leon’s body tensed slightly, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“What did you just say? The devouring poison couldn’t possibly exist anymore, are you sure?” Leon exclaimed in surprise, seeking confirmation from Lyra.
“Indeed,” Lyra affirmed. “Not only the devouring poison, but the other nine ancient poisons also couldn’t possibly exist in this world and are impossible to recreate in this era due to various factors. One major factor is that His Majesty the Demon Emperor Jared Crimson did not pass down the techniques and full formulas to create them, even to the later Demon Emperors.” Lyra explained succinctly and clearly.
Then, picking up the forbidden book written by Jared Crimson, which Leon had returned earlier, she continued, “All the remaining information about the ten forbidden poisons in this world is contained solely within this book—the forbidden book you just finished reading.”
As Lyra finished her narration, Leon froze in place, his mind going blank for a moment.
‘Jared Crimson didn’t pass down the formulas? Then, how is it possible for Rain to create the devouring poison that caused me, the sword hero, to fall into this condition?’ Leon’s mind raced with horror as he contemplated the implications.
Despite briefly entertaining the thought that Lyra might be deceiving him, he quickly dismissed it; there was no way Lyra would lie to him.
After all, there seemed to be no motive or benefit for Lyra to deceive him.
Leon opened and closed his mouth, seemingly at a loss for how to respond to this dilemma.
Observing Leon’s perplexed behavior, Lyra grew concerned and asked, “Your Majesty Leon, are you alright?”
Leon snapped back to reality upon hearing Lyra’s voice and swiftly regained his composure.
“Ah! I’m fine, Lyra. I was just daydreaming for a moment,” Leon replied with a smile, concealing his thoughts.
“Hm….” Lyra raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of suspicion in her expression, but she refrained from further questioning and simply nodded.
Glancing at the clock, which indicated it was already late, she continued, “If you don’t require anything else, Your Majesty, I would like to request permission to take my leave and not disturb you any further.”
“Very well, and thank you, Lyra,” Leon replied, his tone light as he gave his consent.
“Um!” Lyra nodded and slowly made her way out of Leon’s room, pushing the food trolley ahead of her.
Observing Lyra’s departure, Leon turned and walked to his study desk.
Settling back into his chair, he found his mind returning to the contemplation of Lyra’s earlier words.
“How could Rain Violet, that loli woman, create the devouring poison when Jared Crimson left no record of the formula?” Leon furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss.
However, no matter how much he pondered, the answer eluded him, leaving him with only a throbbing headache.
“Hah~ It seems like this matter is better contemplated in the future, once my strength returns,” Leon sighed with a sense of helplessness, resolving to address the issue when his strength returned.
After all, burdening his mind further in his current condition would be counterproductive and could even put him at a disadvantage.
Rising swiftly to his feet, Leon stretched his stiff body.
“The matter of ingredients is settled, and all that remains is the Demon Emperor’s blood essence as the catalyst that unites all the component ingredients,” Leon murmured, leaning against the table as he pondered.
This blood essence was his most crucial ingredient. If he wanted to obtain it, he would have to ask Liliana directly.
Given his current relationship with Liliana, he was confident she would comply.
However, Liliana would probably inquire about the purpose of the blood essence. If that occurred, he only had two options: either lie to her or be brutally honest.
“If it eventually comes down to that, then there’s no way I can hide it anymore.” Leon chuckled slightly, deciding to be straightforward with Liliana about the matter of healing his powers.
While it was exhilarating to envision Liliana’s surprise upon discovering that he had regained his powers, upon reflection, Leon realized that Liliana would probably be disappointed in him if he hid such a significant revelation from her.
After neatly organizing all the matters in his mind, Leon returned from his reverie and finally could relax.
“Ah~ Well, now that everything’s settled, it’s time to relax and enjoy some leisure time over the next two days,” Leon yawned lazily, feeling relaxed and comfortable all over.
He had spent the past two days without rest, engrossed in reading numerous books on poisons, which had left his brain nerves tense and fatigued.
Furthermore, due to this matter, he had also neglected his daughter Charlotte, whom he hadn’t seen for several days.
“Hmm… Maybe in these two days, I’ll spend more time with Charlotte, Fiona, and maybe even Iris, so we can grow closer,” Leon mused, rubbing his chin as he found the idea appealing.
Although he was close with Charlotte and Fiona, his relationship with Iris was quite fragile.
Perhaps this was his opportunity to focus on building a stronger bond with Iris and winning her over.
“Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! My dear Iris, watch how your charming father will win you over.” Leon chuckled at the thought of the little girl warming up to him and eventually calling him ‘daddy,’ just like Fiona.
With a smile, Leon shook his head and promptly made his way to the table, which was already laden with food.
Upon arrival and seeing the spread of food, he couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.
“As expected of Lyra, the meals look very appetizing,” Leon praised before quickly sitting down and devouring all the food on the table with gusto.
Having expended all his energy in thought, he felt that every mouthful he ate replenished his strength.
After fifteen minutes, Leon finally managed to finish all the food and leaned back lazily on the sofa backrest.
His slightly bulging belly was evidence of how much he had enjoyed the meal.
“After finishing the meal, all that remains is to enjoy a comfortable rest,” Leon remarked, glancing at the late hour.
He couldn’t wait to lay his tired body down on the bed.
However, going straight to bed after eating was unrealistic, so he decided to relax for a while.
Just as he was envisioning the comfort of sleep later, there came a sudden knock on his door.
*Knock! Knock!*
Startled, Leon cast a curious glance towards the door.
“Fiona? Is that you?” He called out, raising his voice slightly.
“No, it’s me, Leon. May I come in?” Liliana’s sudden voice from behind the door surprised Leon.
“Of course, please come in. The door is unlocked,” Leon replied casually, adjusting his sitting position.
*Clack!*
The door swung open, unveiling Liliana’s figure draped in a loose nightgown that accentuated her curvaceous body, showcasing her exceptional beauty.
Gazing at Liliana, who exuded charm and beauty in the white nightgown, Leon couldn’t help but feel mesmerized.
His heart raced, and a stirring sensation stirred inside his pants, causing Leon to feel a tinge of embarrassment as he quickly suppressed the reaction.
“Well, Liliana, is there something?” Leon asked, feigning calmness and curiosity laced in his tone.
In response to Leon’s question, Liliana didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she closed the door behind her and cast a barrier spell first.
Then, she fixed her gaze on Leon with a demeanor that was both cold and gentle.
“Um, Leon, am I disturbing you?” Liliana inquired, her voice carrying a hint of shyness as she tucked a few strands of her long hair behind her ear.
Leon was taken aback by her markedly different demeanor from her usual self.
“No, you’re not bothering me,” Leon replied, shaking his head. “Do you need anything? If so, just let me know.”
Liliana bit her lower lip, a slight struggle evident on her pretty face, as if she were trying to suppress her anxiety.
After a moment, Liliana took a small breath and asked, “Leon, do you remember what day today is?”
Leon gasped in confusion at her question, a slight wrinkle forming on his forehead as he looked at Liliana.
“Day? What day is it?” Leon asked spontaneously, his expression flustered.
He truly couldn’t grasp Liliana’s intentions.
Is there anything special happening today? Or is there something he’s overlooking without realizing it?
Observing his reaction, Liliana’s expression instantly turned cold, her hands clenched into fists as if she intended to strike Leon as she had the previous night.
Nevertheless, she swiftly quelled her irritation and plastered a forced smile on her lips.
“Do you truly not remember?” Liliana asked, her smile stiff, a palpable threat in her expression.
*Gulp~*
Leon swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry with apprehension.
He sensed that if he answered incorrectly, he would face another beating like the previous night.
“Today….” Before he could utter another word, his expression froze in an instant.
Suddenly, he shot up from his seat, staring at Liliana in shock.
“Today… is the day the side effects of the Demon Mark will begin!?”
.—–
A/N: Well, since today is a bit special, I intentionally made one long chapter. I hope you all enjoy it!
Don’t forget your support and thank you!
By the way, the next chapter should have some Lemons, jie~ jie~
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