The sound of the system prompt echoed in Lilith's mind, and her smile grew ever brighter and more dazzling.
At the same time, the Portrait: The Shrewd Goblin in her World Cognition interface shifted to reveal a new identity: The Illusory Mirror.
[Illusory Mirror]
Age: Young
Level: 61
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Abilities: Piercing through illusions
Weakness: Obsession, obsession, obsession…
Description: The third painting in the castle's hallway, which may actually be a mirror. Its presence has gone unnoticed for ages; no one remembers when it was hung or whether it was originally a painting or a mirror.
Lilith's laughter continued unabated, her bright red lips curling in delight.
It's all fake. Everything!
The blood rain, the crimson-streaked walls, the pervasive stench of blood—all illusions. Only she could see, smell, or sense them.
If it were real, why had the passing vampire maid not reacted? In the First Glimpse of the Future, such illusions would have driven the castle's vampires into a frenzy.
Even the Third Painting was a lie.
The reflection of her own face in its glass, cast by a flash of lightning, was too sharp and clear. None of the other portraits on the wall had reflected anything at all.
The moment one illusion is uncovered, others follow suit. Lilith had to thank the "rational" vampire maid for opening her eyes.
"Your smile, Princess, is breathtaking," came a voice from the painting-now-mirror. "It fills me with… a twinge of fear."
The goblin in the portrait melted away, revealing a polished mirror. A line of disembodied eyes blinked along the frame's top, while razor-sharp teeth gnashed below.
"But you truly are a clever princess," the mirror hissed. "You've pierced through your own illusions and uncovered mine as well."
Lilith smirked. Finally, the Third Painting had broken its silence. However, its Chaotic Neutral alignment gave her pause.
Dark World Survival Rule #4:
Never converse with a creature aligned to Chaos, even if they are Chaotic Good. However, if a Chaotic creature initiates dialogue, you must respond.
In other words, chaotic entities are dangerous lunatics. Engage only when necessary.
Since the mirror had spoken first, Lilith was obligated to respond.
"For a mirror, you sure love pretending to be a painting. You're quite the liar," Lilith teased.
"No, no! My radiant Princess, you're mistaken," the mirror retorted indignantly. "I am the most honest mirror in existence. No one is more truthful than I!"
"Then why disguise yourself as a painting?"
The mirror sighed, its jagged teeth clinking together. "A long story, but also a short one. A charming little girl once wanted to play hide-and-seek with me. I boasted that if I hid, no one would ever find me. She didn't believe me, so I've been hiding ever since—out of sheer spite! Who would've thought you, Princess, would be the one to find me? Truly, you are remarkable."
"And how long have you been hiding?"
"Five years? Ten? Maybe longer. I've lost track," the mirror admitted, its many eyes darting nervously.
Definitely a chaotic lunatic.
But could she trust anything it said?
Mary's First Warning: The third painting in the corridor always lies.
Then again, Mary had said "painting," not "mirror."
"Anyway, I don't trust you. Let's end this conversation here. Goodbye." Lilith pivoted sharply on her heels, the echo of her stilettos filling the hall.
"No! Wait, wait, my noble Princess! You must believe me! I am the most honest mirror in the world!" The frantic eyes on the frame darted wildly, pleading for her attention.
Lilith paused, a sly smile curling her lips.
[Illusory Mirror's Weakness]: Obsession, obsession, obsession…
Whether it was obsessed with convincing her of its honesty or persuading her to accept its lies didn't matter. What mattered was how much valuable information she could extract from this overly eager mirror.
"Fine," Lilith said with a mock sigh, turning back. "Let's test your so-called honesty."
All the mirror's eyes fixed on her, gleaming with anticipation.
"First question: Why do I see, smell, and sense blood all around me when it's clearly not real? Blood should only appear in goblets, after all."
"Ah, my Princess, you are under a mental contamination effect," the mirror explained, its voice smug. "Your greatest fear—blood—is being used against you. But you, clever as you are, have already realized this and are actively resisting. Am I right, my Princess?"
Mental contamination?
Feigning calm, Lilith pressed on. "And why am I being mentally contaminated?"
"A powerful entity," the mirror answered, its tone tinged with unease. "Fearing your Father's wrath, they dare not attack you directly. But their determination to see you dead remains unwavering. You are in grave danger, my Princess."
A powerful entity?
Her stepmother? Alucardo? Someone else?
How many people want me dead, for blood's sake?!
"Who is this entity? Why do they want me dead? And how can I survive?" Lilith asked in rapid succession.
The mirror's eyes spun nervously. "To be honest, I cannot answer. This entity's strength rivals that of your Father. But I can tell you this: your chances of survival against them are almost nil."
Almost nil…
Whoever it was, it couldn't be her stepmother or Alucardo. No one in the castle could match her Father's power—not even collectively.
Then who in the world is this cursed enemy?!
Lilith felt a wave of despair. Why is simply staying alive so impossibly difficult?
"Next question," she said, refusing to give up. After a moment of thought, she asked, "What's the connection between Alucardo and the frogs?"
The mirror chuckled, its teeth glinting. "This morning, as Alucardo passed me, I noticed a trace of sorcery emanating from his cravat. It was crafted from a witch's heart, imbued with her life's power. Such magic can induce transformations, but only in humans. To vampires, the enchantment is harmless."
"In this castle, you, Princess, are the sole human. By custom, Alucardo would have been tasked with greeting you. Yet when he returned, the sorcery on his cravat remained active. This tells me that you, my clever Princess, detected the magic's influence—and even its connection to frogs."
Lilith's crimson eyes narrowed.
So… a witch's curse?