The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1658 - 468: Luring the Enemy into the Trap

The night is deep, and the moonlight flows like water, casting a vivid silvery glow over the bustling hall of the Governor's Mansion in Twilight City.

In celebration of Erin Campbell, who saved the Twilight Province, all the notable figures of Twilight City lavishly showered her with praises at this victory banquet.

As Erin dealt with those compliments, her ears felt like they were growing calluses. Her face maintained a polite smile, sipping her drink sparingly, while her thoughts drifted outside the city.

If only Prince Colin were here...

At this moment, her greatest regret was not being able to share the glory of victory with the prince who had fought by her side.

According to Prince Colin, he is now the Duke of Colin Duchy, and it's not suitable for him to appear in Twilight Province at this sensitive time.

Back then, the reason he rushed day and night to the front lines was merely out of concern for her. Now that the chaos has subsided, he will wait for her triumphant return in Thunder City.

Erin completely understood Prince Colin's reasoning.

If anything, she found it incredible, even touching, that he was by her side during her most critical moments.

Prioritizing the interests of the family is the basic duty of any Imperial noble.

Yet, he had made decisions against his ancestors for her time and again, even boldly speaking words before the Lords of the High Mountain Kingdom...

As Erin's thoughts wandered further into the distance.

"...Your Highness?"

Noticing the blush on Erin's cheeks, Theresa, standing by her side, grew slightly worried that she had drunk too much and softly called out.

"What happened?" Snapped from her daze, Erin reflexively placed her right hand on the sword at her waist.

Nearby, a gaudily dressed Baron cleared his throat, intending to engage in conversation, but was startled by her sudden action and awkwardly turned to chat with a pillar.

"No, Your Highness, nothing's wrong," Theresa, also taken aback by Erin almost drawing her sword, hurried to reassure her and then quietly asked, "Are you... alright?"

"...I'm fine, Theresa, no need to worry about me."

Realizing her abruptness, Erin blushed and coughed.

To show she was indeed fine, she deliberately drank the Champagne in her hand in one go, but gulped it down too fast, choking on the bubbles and coughing several times before stopping.

"Alright then..." Having never seen such impulsiveness from the princess, Theresa grew increasingly concerned.

...

Determined not to disappoint her brother in Campbell Duchy and Prince Colin, Erin quickly regained her composure and immersed herself in the still ongoing banquet.

While Princess Erin gathered her spirits once more, another found themselves languishing, like a frost-stricken eggplant, drinking alone in the courtyard.

The man was none other than Thelon Gard, who had earlier made a spectacle of himself in front of everyone.

The Earl sat sprawled alone on the cold stone bench, with two nearly empty bottles scattered on the table.

"Damn it! Where are the maids of the Governor's Mansion? Are they all dead on the city walls? Why is no one here to pour me a drink!"

"Someone! Fill my glass!"

His swollen cheeks bellowed with coarse grumbling, his flushed face resembling a tomato, making it hard to tell if it was due to anger or intoxication.

No servant dared approach him; no one wished to end the joyous day with wine splashed across their face.

Besides, the servants were adept at reading the room.

Everyone had seen Governor Ailarike's sullen look earlier that day. Without his summoning, no servant would dare attend to the Earl.

Having received no attention after his commotion, Thelon muttered a couple of curses and fell silent.

Through the stained-glass windows, the distant noise gradually faded, and the elegant sound of the piano became like a candle blown by the wind. The banquet seemed to be winding down.

Everyone circled around Erin Campbell, leaving the courtyard feeling increasingly desolate and cold.

Thelon felt as though the whole world was against him, his teeth clenched tightly, but he soon released them in defeat.

It... no longer matters.

Erin had rejected his invitation to dispatch troops, even though he had promised "ten years of Earl Domain's tax revenue" in exchange, it was to no avail.

And without military support from Campbell Duchy, no one in Twilight Province would help him reclaim his land; he was destined for the defendant's seat in the Judicial Court.

Judicial Court...

Just the thought of the name sent shivers down Thelon's spine, like having a bucket of ice water poured from head to toe.

If those people learned that he had handed over the lands entrusted by Saint Sis to the so-called "Salvation Army," he wouldn't just lose his land but the thousand-year accumulation of honor and wealth of the Gard family!

The King and the Church Court would roast him like mutton, stripping every piece of meat from his body.

The King wouldn't consume him like those peasants.

But only not directly consume him.

"Saint Sis above... I, Thelon Gard, have been kind all my life, never harming anyone, why must you punish me so?"

Just as Thelon lamented his tragic fate, a soft laugh suddenly sounded from behind him.