Lilith nodded thoughtfully. So it was true—her transformation into a frog was directly linked to Alucardo.
Though she had narrowly escaped his sorcery that morning, she knew it was only a temporary reprieve. When her coming-of-age ceremony began, she would inevitably face him again.
"And what if I do succumb to the sorcery?" Lilith asked the mirror, her voice calm but pressing. "How would I undo it?"
"That," the mirror's chaotic eyes spun as it responded, "would be… tricky. You'd need to corrupt or shatter the witch's heart. Unfortunately, her heart doesn't fear water, fire, electricity, or blades. It fears only curses. But alas, no one here understands curses."
Lilith sighed heavily.
Another problem she couldn't solve. She could only hope the mirror was lying.
"Alright then, another question," she said, her mind whirring.
"Am I missing a guest?"
"Oh, of course," the mirror replied without hesitation. "Your father must be terribly troubled about it by now. After all, it's your mother's prophecy—missing or gaining even one guest will bring calamity upon you. But I assure you, your father won't let this happen. He adores you too much to allow such an oversight."
Lilith frowned. The mirror and Father were aligned on this point.
But both could be lying.
After all, Aunt Mary's warnings were clear: The third painting in the hallway always lies. And Don't trust your father—he'll kill you.
Moreover, in her first "Glimpse of the Future," the strange apparition of herself had mockingly said: I am your 100th guest.
This directly contradicted the mirror's claim of a missing guest.
Lilith also recalled the blank nameplate, which had eerily displayed her own name once her transformation was complete. She couldn't ignore the feeling of dread creeping up her spine.
"How many Liliths are in this castle?" she finally asked, voice low.
The mirror stilled. Its many eyes turned to focus on her, as though trying to pierce her very soul.
"That," the mirror whispered, "is a question for you, my clever princess. Tell me—how many Liliths are there?"
Her breath hitched. How many versions of myself exist?
She was certain she was the only one—yet she had seen another.
Her breaths came heavy and uneven. Each of the mirror's answers delivered another blow to her composure, forcing her to wish, once again, that it might be lying.
Determined to confirm the truth, she placed her hands behind her back and asked with calculated calm:
"Alright. One last question: How many hands do I have?"
A simple test. If the mirror answered "two," then Aunt Mary's warning had referred only to the painting, not the mirror. The mirror could be trusted.
If the mirror answered otherwise, then every word it had spoken was a lie.
"Why, two hands, of course, Princess Lilith," the mirror replied with a toothy grin.
Relief washed over her.
"An honest mirror."
"And a clever princess."
"If I invited you to my ceremony as a guest," Lilith asked carefully, "would you truly bless me with sincerity?"
"Absolutely! If I became your guest, I would offer you my most genuine blessing. But…"
"But?"
"I regret to inform you," the mirror said, its eyes darting nervously in every direction, "that I cannot accept your invitation, dear princess. My game of hide-and-seek isn't over yet."
The mirror trembled. "Shhh! I sense the little girl with the teddy bear is nearby… Forgive me, Princess, but we must continue our conversation another time."
Before Lilith could respond, the mirror's eyes and teeth disappeared, leaving behind a smooth, silent surface.
"Master! Why are you here?" a sweet yet eerie voice called from down the hallway. "Nini was so lonely. Do you want to play hide-and-seek with Nini?"
The blood doll, clutching her stuffed bear, stared up at her with wide, hopeful eyes.
"No."
"Waaahhhhhh!"
[Nini's Favorability -3]
Lilith ignored Nini's wails and scanned the blood-soaked walls around her. Unlike before, the streams of blood didn't fade in response to the doll's screeches.
This time, the mental corruption was stronger.
The doll's voice couldn't suppress the horrors that clawed at her mind.
Was the mirror right? If she truly faced a powerful foe, was survival even possible?
"Master, your portrait looks so funny! Hahaha!" Nini giggled, pointing at a painting on the wall.
Lilith turned, and her blood-red eyes widened.
It was a portrait of herself—her silver hair, mischievous gaze, and smug grin. But the elongated nose made her resemble a grotesque caricature.
[Portrait: The Clever Princess]
That damned thing…
She clenched her teeth and strode past the hallway, entering the grand hall.
Nini darted off, clutching her teddy bear, leaving Lilith to survey the room.
Outside, the storm raged on, rain hammering against the windows. Inside, candlelight illuminated the hall, casting a glow on its crimson-stained walls. The oppressive atmosphere felt heavier than ever.
Lilith ignored the blood-soaked illusion and focused on the guest seating. She approached the seventh table, seventh seat.
As expected, the nameplate was blank.
No guest.
Her brows furrowed. In her "Glimpse of the Future," the other "Lilith" had mockingly declared: I've always been here. Why can't you see me?
Even when she had invited the Bloodbane Flower as her guest, the nameplate had remained blank until after her transformation. Only then had her own name appeared.
Was her invitation invalid?
Or… was the guest truly always there—waiting to replace her?
She exhaled shakily and lowered herself onto the chair.
Her crimson eyes locked onto the blank nameplate.
Nothing happened.
"Lilith, are you inspecting the hall's arrangements yourself?"
A smooth voice broke the silence. Her stepmother, Margaret, entered the room with the castle's head butler in tow.
Lilith stood gracefully, clutching her gown in a practiced curtsy. "Aunt Margaret, did you just come from Father's chambers?"
Margaret paused, then sighed dramatically. "Indeed. I assume you've noticed that you're missing a guest? Your father is quite beside himself over it."
"I'll speak with him."
"Good." Margaret nodded and moved to walk past her, only to stop abruptly.
"Oh, by the way," she added, voice sharp. "Have you already seen Alucardo this morning?"
Lilith's crimson gaze lifted. "I have not, Aunt."
Margaret inhaled sharply, then snapped, "This is unacceptable! He hasn't escorted you from your room? That's a breach of etiquette! He should be at your side every moment!"