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

### Chapter 121: The Emergence of the Dark Dragon "awsl, this is just too cute." "With that embarrassed expression and awkward movements, are you sure she wasn't just pulled in last minute to be Aivina's backup dancer?" "Why do you care so much? Just admit if you enjoy watching it or not." "You've said that, what more can I say? Go ahead and kill me to entertain them." "Such passion, brother." Ever since Ian, dressed as a cat girl, took the stage, the discussions among the audience had not ceased. They were all admiring her cuteness and speculating about her identity. This is quite understandable. Seeing such an adorable dancer at a concert for the first time, who wouldn't be tempted to steal a few extra glances and engage in some discussion? On stage, Ian had her hands tucked into adorable cat paw mittens, placing them beside her blushing cheeks while balancing on the tip of one foot, striking a kittenish pose. "Meow~" Aivina skillfully accompanied with the second song, a lively tune that perfectly complemented Ian's dance performance. With this seamless performance, the initially chatty crowd fell silent. Their eyes were fixed on the stage, as if to look away even for a moment would be an injustice to the tickets they paid for. Meanwhile, Aelia, who had hurriedly left, stood solemnly on the city wall, listening to a report from a Holy Knight beside her who was clad in the order's signature armor. "Revered Saintess, according to the spies, a group of beasts has assembled not far from here, and it seems they're preparing to attack..." The knight’s voice was low, hesitating to continue. “They’re planning to attack the Holy City, aren't they?” Aelia pointedly interrupted. “Yes, Saintess,” the knight nodded, confirming Aelia's assessment. "From what we gather, tonight is the night they plan to assault the city." Upon hearing this, Aelia frowned. "You're telling me our intelligence network failed to notice their assembly until they’re poised for attack?" "Our spies have been numerous, but many didn’t return. It’s assumed most of them have perished." The knight choked up as he spoke of the spies, many of whom were comrades, even friends, now departed forever. "Alright, I understand. Go prepare; we’re in for a tough battle tonight," Aelia instructed. "Yes." With that, the knight turned to leave. "It’s right when Aivina's concert is happening, yet such events unfold." Whether it’s to support her childhood friend Aivina or to protect the citizens of the Holy City, she could not allow these beasts to breach the city. Under usual circumstances, Aivina’s concert would be postponed, but Aelia believed the initial assault wouldn't breach their defenses. Her primary concern was the unusual creature that seemed to be of another world. Back at the concert venue, on stage, Ian swayed her supple body like a real cat. In the audience, Lilian was blushing while holding a magic crystal ball, capturing Ian's dance—a scene she believed would be worth remembering. Seated beside her, a few masked men could be spotted. If Ian’s eyesight were sharp enough, she’d recognize them immediately. Weren't they the ones she encountered yesterday when she sneaked into Aivina's dressing room? She once thought they were devoted fans of Aivina, sneaking in early for a glimpse. Now, it seemed not entirely so. Time slipped by, and the concert's first half concluded. Ian and Aivina retreated backstage via the stage's lift, both taking a breather and preparing for the second half. Mostly, Ian needed the rest, as dancing was quite the exertion. Failing due to exhaustion would be less than ideal. "I'm so tired; maybe I should skip the second half, meow," Ian, laying her face on the table, tiredly complained to Aivina by her side. Aivina responded first with a soft laugh, "I don't want you to overwork either, but it's as Aelia required, I have nothing to do with it." "If she agrees to let you skip, I’d be all for it." "Ah, just thinking about it seems impossible," Ian replied with resignation. She only wanted this embarrassing performance to end soon so she could go sleep. Glancing at Aivina, Ian noticed the magic crystal ball she held, replaying her earlier performance. "Oh." In that instant, Ian's fur bristled. Her cat tail stood on end, shaking with the little bell ringing a crisp sound. “What’s that, meow?” Ian questioned. "Do you mean this?" Aivina gently covered her mouth with her hand. "Aelia had some urgent matters, so she asked me to record your performance for her." "No, absolutely not, meow!” Ian leapt toward Aivina, attempting to snatch the magic crystal ball from her. But it was all in vain; Aivina calmly extended her hand, holding the crystal in a place Ian couldn’t reach. "Ah, give it to me, this has to be destroyed, meow." "It’s no use telling me; it was what Aelia wanted." Aelia's request to have Ian perform as a cat girl was humiliating enough, and now recording the performance meant Ian felt trapped in its shadow forever. While Ian and Aivina tangled, chaos broke out in the audience. Nearby Lilian, the masked men appeared deranged, holding a black stone, chanting words as if conducting some bizarre ritual. Their aura mirrored the frenzied one Lilian had experienced in the past but with an unsettling reverence instead of madness. "Where are the knights? Someone, there are infected here!" "It’s no use; the security forces have been diluted." "What! So you're saying we’re left unprotected now?" "Mhm." Seeing their actions, Lilian sensed something amiss. As a student of the Saint Roland Magic Academy, she recognized their spell as summoning magic. Judging from the aura, they intended to summon the same creature Ian and she encountered in the forest. "No, I can’t let them succeed. I must stop them." Just as Lilian tried to intervene, a group of beasts emerged from their formation. "Roar." The beasts' howls plunged everyone into panic. The nearest, Lilian found herself surrounded by the ferocious creatures. "What’s happening?" Ian, belated to the scene, stood on stage observing the chaos below. She instantly recognized the figure encircled by beasts. "Is that Lilian?" Ian felt a pang of panic, desperately wanting to rush over, but the distance was too great. Lilian’s location was close to the exits but far from the stage. "What should I do?" Ian was torn. To reach Lilian in time, running was impractical. Flying was the only swift option. But if Ian unfurled her wings now, her identity as a demon would be exposed. The resemblance of her aura to the special creature's wouldn't go unnoticed, not to mention how Lilian would react upon learning her identity. Lost in thought, Ian saw Lilian knocked to the ground, the beasts' bloodied maws close to her white neck, threatening her life. "No more waiting." Ian knew if she delayed further, Lilian’s life would be severed from her world permanently. Suddenly, a formidable magical power emanated from Ian, her aura resembling the beasts', yet it lacked their purity. Ian hovered mid-air, crown-like silver dragon horns adorning her head, and a pair of jet-black wings unfurled behind her. In that moment, she resembled a queen of the night, gazing down regally upon all within the venue.