Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

All the major powers would probably gather inside the Imperial Palace of Sky Dome by then, right? And there was also that coronation ceremony?

Enmm...

It actually sounded pretty interesting~

Yumo couldn't help thinking so.

Seeing her expression, Audom curiously asked,

"Lady Yumo, will you be going as well?"

"Me? Enmm... I'd like to, but I probably don't qualify. After all, I never received an invitation~"

"You... didn't receive one?"

Hearing that, Audom couldn't help revealing a look of astonishment.

Because he rarely interacted with the outside world, he had no idea who the girl called "Yumo" actually was. However, someone capable of standing behind the Black Rose Family as its true master was undoubtedly an existence of earth-shattering stature.

For someone like that to receive no invitation...

That was truly surprising.

"That's right, so I've been wondering how I should sneak in for a little sightseeing~"

"Are you a noble of the Snow Night Empire?"

"Uh, no..."

Even if I used to be one, I'm certainly not now.

I'm practically a prisoner.

Yumo silently grumbled to herself.

Hearing that, Audom frowned.

"I see... But Sky Dome is under extremely strict security because of the upcoming ceremony. Without an invitation, and if you're not a noble of the Snow Night Empire, it'll be very difficult even to enter the city."

"That does seem to be the case."

Yumo awkwardly stuck out her tongue.

"I was even wondering whether I should use Xia'er's identity again and let them arrest me into the city~"

Just then, Qiu Mingtong slowly walked to Yumo's side and respectfully said,

"Lady Yumo, you don't need to worry about that. There's no need for you to continue using that 'criminal identity.' Lady Duke has already prepared a suitable identity for you to enter the capital, Sky Dome."

"Hm? A suitable identity?"

Yumo slightly raised an eyebrow and looked curiously at the pink-haired girl beside her.

Meanwhile, after seeing Qiu Mingtong like this, Audom couldn't help showing a stunned expression.

The girl's obedient, gentle attitude toward Yumo was completely different from the icy, bone-chilling aura she had directed at him only moments ago...

Damn.

She changes faces way too fast!

Audom silently complained.

Naturally, Qiu Mingtong paid no attention to his strange gaze and continued looking respectfully at Yumo.

"Yes, Lady Yumo. Do you remember the identity Lady Duke prepared for you before? The Duke Family's eldest young lady?"

"You mean using Sister Xiao's identity?"

"Yes, exactly!"

Qiu Mingtong nodded repeatedly.

"That identity could work, but... according to the setting, she's a Seventh-Tier powerhouse, isn't she? There should be plenty of strong experts inside the Imperial Capital. If I release my aura... I'm afraid they'll see right through me."

"As for that, Lady Yumo, you don't need to worry. The Elf Clan has already agreed to provide the divine artifact, the Veil of Deception, to help conceal your identity."

As she spoke, Qiu Mingtong smiled toward Audom.

"Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

The moment he heard those words, Audom's heart trembled.

He suddenly felt like crying without tears.

Faced with Qiu Mingtong's words—which were practically no different from outright robbery—he didn't dare voice his anger.

Damn it!

They're after another one of our clan's treasures!

There's no way I'll...

Forget it.

My life is more important...

Meeting Qiu Mingtong's dangerous gaze, Audom could only sigh inwardly before forcing an extremely "warm and generous" smile onto his face.

"Y-Yes, yes! Lady Yumo, you don't need to worry about that! We'll help conceal your identity!"

"Really? Thank you so much."

With the Veil of Deception's ability to fabricate an aura, hiding her Abyss Demon presence shouldn't be a problem.

Even an Eighth-Tier expert probably wouldn't discover her true identity unless they came into direct contact with her.

Thinking of this, Miss Yumo nodded in satisfaction.

However, moments later, her brows furrowed again.

"Concealing my identity is okay, but... we still don't have an invitation."

Hearing Yumo's concern, Qiu Mingtong casually waved her hand.

"You don't need to worry about that either, Lady Yumo. The royal family of the Sadik Empire has appointed the Black Rose Family as the Empire's diplomatic delegation to attend Xue Tianao-Valedin's coronation ceremony. Therefore, we already possess invitations and can enter openly. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Lady Duke originally intended to attend personally, but she's far too busy to leave. Therefore, she hopes that Lady Yumo can attend as the Black Rose Family's representative. Besides, Lady Yumo, didn't you also want to meet the Child of Destiny? This identity allows you to approach him openly."

"Hm, that actually sounds like a good idea. Xiao really did think everything through."

"Yes. Lady Duke has always been like that."

The moment she mentioned the Duke, Qiu Mingtong unconsciously revealed an expression filled with admiration.

Meanwhile, Audom suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Yumo merely nodded slightly.

"By the way, when are we leaving for the Imperial Capital?"

"Tomorrow morning. Once Lord Saiboke-Baniya joins us, we'll depart."

"Oh? Saiboke-Baniya came too?"

"Yes, Lady Yumo."

"Enmm..."

Yumo rested her chin on one hand, deep in thought.

"Speaking of which... has there been any news about the location I asked Saiboke-Baniya to investigate?"

Hearing that, Qiu Mingtong revealed a slightly unusual expression before quickly hiding it behind obvious guilt.

"I'm sorry, Lady Yumo. We still haven't found any clues. By the time our scouts reached that location, everyone had already evacuated. The Heavenly Punishment Holy Church appears to have relocated."

"I see..."

A trace of disappointment flickered through Yumo's crimson eyes.

Seeing this, Qiu Mingtong hurriedly added,

"But we'll continue investigating! That gathering site still contained many clues left behind by the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church. We'll keep searching. We'll definitely discover the whereabouts of that Child of God!"

"Mm. You've all worked hard."

"It's only our duty."

After finishing the discussion about the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church, Qiu Mingtong recalled what Lady Duke had instructed her earlier.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced toward Audom.

"Your Highness Audom, Lady Yumo and I have some private matters to discuss. Would you mind leaving us alone for a while?"

?!

"Hm?"

Although Audom remained calm on the surface, inwardly he was overjoyed.

He couldn't wait to leave this place!

If he stayed any longer, these little ancestors might decide to fleece the Elf Clan again!

Damn it!

"Certainly. I understand."

With a polite smile, Audom slowly stood and gave Yumo a formal farewell salute.

After exchanging a few more courteous words,

he hurriedly left the cave...

...

Watching Audom disappear, Yumo curiously looked at Qiu Mingtong.

"What is it, Xiaotong? Why are you being so mysterious?"

"Lady Yumo... are you aware of what happened in the southern region of the Snow Night Empire not long ago?"

"The south? You mean that story about the Child of Destiny saving the Empire from the Flame Demon?"

"Y-Yes. You know about it?"

"Well... I only heard that the Child of Destiny defeated an incredibly powerful enemy. That's pretty impressive~ As for the details, I honestly don't know much. Information flow in Wind Facing City has been a mess lately because of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church's invasion. Everyone's been busy cleaning up the aftermath, and the Duke Family has been buried in work as well. Hardly anyone has had time to pay attention to what's happening elsewhere."

Yumo spoke rather helplessly.

She had wanted to ask the head maid for more information before, but after only saying a few sentences, the woman had been called away to help elsewhere.

"I suppose that makes sense..."

Qiu Mingtong nodded thoughtfully.

Wind Facing City was already a border city where information traveled slowly. On top of that, the communications department had been destroyed during the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church's attack.

It was perfectly understandable that Lady Yumo didn't know.

But didn't that mean...

I had to explain it myself?

Sigh...

Qiu Mingtong couldn't help sighing inwardly.

After taking a deep breath to steady herself, she slowly spoke.

"Lady Yumo... within the Snow Night Empire, the 'Flame Demon' actually refers to Flame Prison."

?!!

"What?!"

The moment she heard those words, Yumo froze.

An instant later, her expression changed dramatically.

Disbelief flooded her crimson eyes, followed immediately by deep anxiety.

An invisible pressure suddenly poured out from her body.

Everyone inside the cave—whether ordinary Nightingale members or powerful figures like Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong—instantly felt a suffocating pressure descend upon them.

Even Audom, who had only just left the cave, was struck by the lingering shockwave.

He stumbled before dropping to one knee, cold sweat uncontrollably rolling down his forehead.

T-This...

I knew that woman was never as harmless as she looked!

Clearly,

after hearing Qiu Mingtong's words, Yumo's emotions had become unstable.

"Then... are you saying... the Flame Demon defeated by the Child of Destiny..."

"...was Karina?"

Meeting Yumo's increasingly unfamiliar and icy gaze, Qiu Mingtong timidly nodded.

"Yes... it was Lady Karina. And unlike the official reports claiming she was merely driven back, our investigation shows that... Lady Karina is actually imprisoned beneath Sky Dome, inside the underground imperial prison..."

"That child..."

"...has been imprisoned?!!!"

—

At the same time,

inside a secluded valley within the Crimson Leaf Empire,

accompanied by a surge of powerful dark-blue magical power,

a blue meteor suddenly descended from the sky into the enormous, gloomy valley.

BOOM!!

Following an earth-shaking explosion,

terrifying magical power erupted in every direction as space itself began violently trembling.

Sensing the horrifying aura spreading without end, every magical beast within the valley immediately revealed expressions of terror before desperately fleeing into the distance.

As the dark-blue light gradually faded,

a black-haired man dressed in a black military overcoat slowly appeared within the valley.

Looking over the devastated surroundings,

and at the terrified black-robed figures surrounding him,

the man slowly revealed a meaningful smile.

It seemed...

Saiboke-Baniya hadn't been mistaken.

"This..."

"...is the base of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church."