Crossing his legs, Ren sat casually. His indifferent eyes observed Alice.
Meanwhile, Alice quickly analyzed her guest in her mind.
'Another Campione from East Asia... Luo Hao, Rokuhara Ren, and Kusanagi Godou. Three Campiones in total. It's truly remarkable that one continent could produce three Campiones in a single era.'
'Although Rokuhara Ren seems to have a laid-back personality, just a few days ago he challenged Kusanagi Godou and even defeated him. From the information Witenagemot gathered, the Heretic God he defeated was most likely the greatest archer from Chinese mythology, Hou Yi.'
'I heard he likes women—he's been involved in scandals with his homeroom teacher, classmates, and even a transfer student.'
Alice hid her anxiety. However, before she could steer the conversation as she wished, Ren's cold voice broke the silence.
"Since I am a King in your eyes, and you came to receive me with a fake body, do you not take me seriously?"
Alice flinched. Her polite smile froze instantly.
"…?!?!"
Her green eyes widened, shocked that Ren had instantly seen through her trick.
Before Alice could even come up with an excuse, Ren stood up and turned around, walking away firmly.
"My King, where are you going?" Alice hurriedly lifted the hem of her skirt and followed, her expression turning anxious.
Behind them, Hayasaka and Patricia exchanged glances before finally following them.
Ren continued walking without hesitation. The sound of his shoes clashing against the marble floor echoed through the halls of the Silver Dusk Palace.
"It's your mistake for entertaining a guest with a substitute. I'm not interested in chatting with a fake."
Without turning his head, he scanned the entire palace using his Heavenly Eyes. With this ability, walls and furniture couldn't obstruct his vision.
The numerous rooms on each floor didn't hinder him from finding the real Alice—lying on her bed in her room.
"Here."
Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.
Patricia and Hayasaka, who were chasing after him, could only follow in shock, while Alice's spirit body vanished.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
As soon as he entered the White Princess's bedroom, a faint scent of herbal medicine filled Ren's nose.
The room was so luxurious that it was more fitting to call it a royal chamber than merely a noblewoman's bedroom. Elegant gold-plated furniture, beautiful paintings adorning the walls, and a large bed that could comfortably fit five to six people.
Beside the bed was a small rosewood table emitting fragrant incense smoke.
On the soft bed, a long-haired blonde girl lay in white satin pajamas.
Her face was pale, her cheeks slightly gaunt, indicating her fragile physical condition. Slowly, her eyelids trembled before finally opening, revealing a pair of green eyes that still looked weak.
Alice blinked a few times before finally gazing at the man who had just barged into her room.
"I'm too weak to get out of bed and greet you. I hope King Ren will forgive me."
"..."
Ren didn't respond. His gaze observed the girl who had only been sending spirit clones to speak with him until now.
Alice wasn't a Knight or a Mage but a Witch with a frail body.
However, her telepathic abilities allowed her to read the emotions and auras of others, even understanding their psychological activities.
But as a result, every time she used her abilities, her body grew weaker.
For years, Alice could only lie in bed, served by her maids. Out of boredom, she often sent spirit clones to travel the world.
"..."
Ren approached the bed expressionlessly.
"Except for my maid, everyone leave the room."
His command was so firm that it couldn't be argued.
Patricia furrowed her brows. "This..."
As the head maid and Alice's protector, she naturally couldn't let her mistress be left alone with a dangerous individual like a Campione.
However, before she could voice her objection, Alice spoke up.
"Patricia and the other maids, leave."
Patricia looked at her worriedly. "But—"
Alice smiled weakly. "Don't worry, King Ren wouldn't do anything improper to a weak and helpless girl like me, right?"
She tried to pressure Ren with morality. However, the man simply stared at her in silence, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Patricia let out a long sigh before finally bowing her head. "Understood, Your Highness."
She then gestured for the other maids to leave the room.
Soon after, the door closed.
Inside the room, only Ren, Alice, and Hayasaka remained.
Alice tried to muster her strength to speak more clearly.
"So, King Ren... What brings you here to see me?"
"..."
However, Ren was not at all charmed by the White Princess's allure. He disliked petty and calculating women like Alice. Therefore, he had no intention of beating around the bush.
Without wasting time, he directly stated his purpose.
"I want you to do something for me."
Alice raised her eyebrows slightly, but instead of answering, she simply looked at him with an intrigued expression.
Behind her gentle smile, her mind raced.
Sensing an opportunity to test Ren's personality, Alice decided to try something—something she would soon regret.
"What if I refuse?"
Silence.
The air in the room changed drastically.
For a moment, Hayasaka and Alice felt as though the room's temperature had suddenly risen.
Then, Ren's laughter echoed, low and intimidating.
"Good, good, good."
A smile formed on his face, but there was not a hint of warmth in it.
"A very bold move, Alice Louise Ove Nafal! It seems Alexander Gascoigne gave you the wrong impression about the nature of a Devil King. Alec has tarnished the reputation of Campiones."
*BUZZ!*
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure enveloped the entire room.
Ren's eyes glinted with controlled anger, and in an instant, his magical energy surged, crashing like violent waves in an ocean.
"You don't want to? That's fine, then the consequence is the destruction of Witenagemot. Starting with the destruction of the Silver Dusk Palace."
As if to emphasize his words, a terrifying energy erupted from his body.
*SHUA!*
Wind howled wildly inside the room, causing the silk curtains to flutter violently. The teacup on the table cracked under the immense pressure, and even the marble floor beneath their feet began to tremble.
"Ugh..."
Alice felt her body grow heavy, as if she had suddenly been placed under a scorching sun. Meanwhile, Hayasaka, who stood beside Ren, remained unaffected except for her maid uniform being blown by the wind.
Outside the room, Patricia and the other maids, who sensed the terrifying magical energy, immediately barged in.
"Your Highness!"
However, the moment they crossed the threshold, their bodies froze instantly.
It was as if an invisible force was pressing down on them from all directions, making it impossible for them to move freely. Even breathing felt difficult.
"Hhh…!"
Patricia groaned, sweat dripping down her temples. She could feel her survival instincts screaming, warning her that the man before her was something far more terrifying than any monster.
No one dared to approach.
Without wasting any more time, Alice hurriedly bowed her head deeply.
"I-I apologize! Please calm your anger, King Ren."
She immediately humbled herself, trying to soothe the anger of the Campione standing before her.
"I was wrong to be disrespectful, please forgive me, King Ren!"
"..."
Ren observed Alice for a few seconds.
Then, suddenly, the terrifying pressure vanished.
The air felt light again, and Alice, Patricia, and the others could finally breathe more easily.
"There won't be a next time." Ren said coldly.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, King Ren."
Alice forced a smile, but in her heart, she deeply regretted her reckless action.
'Perhaps I've been dealing with Alec for too long... and forgot that Campiones are people who dare to face Gods with mortal bodies.'
Alice laughed at herself. It wasn't that she had never interacted with other Campiones. On the contrary, she had interacted with almost all the Campiones of this era. However, having worked with the Black Prince Alexander Gascoigne for over a decade, she had grown accustomed to using Alec's character as a benchmark for all Campiones.
And that was a huge mistake.
Some Devil Kings on Earth had gloomy and cruel natures, making their actions increasingly unpredictable.
Take Marquis Voban, for example—the old man had slaughtered hundreds of witches, knights, and sorcerers who opposed him, only to turn them into Death Servants.
Or the Eastern Leader Luo Hao, who controlled nearly half of China's mage. Anyone who dared to oppose her would only end up dead without mercy.
"I thank you for your magnanimity, King Ren." Alice forced a smile.
But in her heart, she would never try something like this again.