109 - The Butler Dismissed by the Saintess Couldn’t Possibly Be the Demon Dragon Princess

Chapter 109: The Infected Beneath the scalding sun, Ian raced along a road so hot it could probably fry an egg. Sweat soaked her back, and whenever she spotted someone with golden hair, she paused, only to be disappointed upon realizing it wasn't Lilian. The bustling streets were alive with voices—shouts of hawking and bargaining filled the air. "Excuse me, have you seen a little girl with long golden hair?" Ian stopped a flower vendor, struggling to catch her breath after the run, her voice slightly trembling. "About this tall." Ian gestured Lilian's approximate height, hoping to jog the woman's memory. The woman shook her head. "Haven't seen her." Ian ran further, asking several people, but they all gave the same response as the flower woman—no sight of her. "Where could she have gone?" As the sun dipped towards the horizon, Ian sat wearily by the roadside, having spent half a day searching without finding a trace of Lilian. Ian felt dejected, knowing Lilian's plight was her fault. If she hadn't reached a breakthrough in her bloodline development at Lilian's villa, resulting in their absorption into the trial grounds, Lilian might not have been dragged into this. If only she hadn't fixated on that peculiar creature, perhaps Lilian wouldn't have been infected. If she'd been more vigilant this morning, maybe she could have stopped Lilian from vanishing and kept her from running off. Ian couldn't bear to imagine Lilian's current state—whether she was struggling against the invading presence or if she had already succumbed, transformed into a mindless machine of slaughter. Hugging her knees, Ian's face, one that could be described as devastatingly beautiful, wore a look of sorrow that could evoke a deep-seated protective instinct in anyone. While Ian brooded, a group of fully armored individuals in silver-white passed by swiftly, as if on urgent business. Ian recognized them—the Holy Knights she'd encountered before, their insignia unmistakable. Although she wasn't sure if they were the exact group she had met, Ian had no choice but to follow. The knights only concerned themselves with significant matters, typically related to the infected. With great effort, Ian, exhausted from her afternoon exertion, forced herself to keep up with them, driven by the thought of Lilian's suffering, which she felt responsible for. After crossing several streets, the knights finally halted, turning into a secluded alley. Before Ian entered the alley, she heard shouts fraught with fear and anger. Without hesitation, Ian rushed into the alley. The first things she saw were civilians, clutching makeshift weapons, cautiously advancing into the darkness ahead. "Old Wang, we don't need you now," someone shouted. "The Holy Knights are here, fall back." The man at the front stopped. Originally pushed forward to deal with the infected, the arrival of the Holy Knights meant there was no longer a need for his bravado. "I didn't retreat out of fear," he said defensively, "but with the knights here, there's no need for me to show off." "Understood; no one will mock you." "The Holy Knights are handling this; all non-essential personnel must withdraw immediately." A commanding voice rang out from a brawny man at the forefront of the knights. It wasn't arrogance speaking, but concern for civilian safety, as they had received intelligence about an infected here. Although it hadn't yet harmed anyone, there was no room for complacency. If an individual were harmed under their watch, they'd be punished. With that warning, the alley quickly cleared, save for the curious who lingered at its entrance, eager to witness something rare. Forced to the back of this curious crowd, Ian couldn't see what was happening. Anxious, she squeezed her way through, heedless of the complaints and shoves from others until she reached the front. The sight broke her heart. Lilian, curled in agony in the corner, her golden hair sprawled on the ground. The Holy Knights edged closer, weapons drawn. "Lilian!" Ian called out instinctively. Lilian snapped her head up, revealing eyes of crimson. "Stand back! She's infected!" a knight barked. "No, she can be saved," Ian pleaded as she leaped towards Lilian, disregarding the danger. Lilian's body trembled violently, as if two opposing forces were waging war within her. Her eyes flickered, locking onto Ian's with fluctuating clarity. In a final surge of lost control, Lilian launched at Ian, biting her shoulder fiercely. Pain washed over Ian, who grunted but did not push Lilian away. Instead, she embraced her tightly, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I was too careless." Her vision blurred, a heavy lethargy settling in as consciousness slipped away. Her last memory was the fleeting clarity and desperation in Lilian's eyes. "Ian!" When Ian awoke, she and Lilian were bound together with coarse ropes, surrounded by Holy Knights and the onlooking townsfolk.