CHAPTER 154: ALLIANCE [2]

I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence stretch for just a moment longer — long enough for both of them to feel it pressing against their thoughts.

"Cooperation," I said finally, my voice low but cutting through the stagnant cave air. "That’s what this is. Whether you like each other or not doesn’t matter. Whether you trust me doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that we walk out of here with the same target and the same goal."

Velra arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And you’re the one who decides the goal?"

"I’m the one with the plan," I corrected smoothly. "Which means I’m the one who decides the path. The destination is something you can both agree on — survival, victory, and for each of you, the chance to get exactly what you want."

Amelia’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes flicked to Velra for a brief moment — not out of respect, but as if gauging just how much she’d have to tolerate before this was over.

Velra noticed. She always noticed. Her smirk was sharp, but she didn’t speak this time.

"Good," I said, reading the unspoken silence between them. "Since both of you already point out your desires or goals? Whatever you called i think it’s my turn now."

At that, Amelia turned her full attention on me.

For her I was demon but she doesn’t know that I am pretending to be the one.

"As lady Velra already know I am a Parasite demon and—"

"Wait minute!"

As I was in the middle of my explanation, suddenly, Amelia cut me in.

I frowend and looked at her and found out that there was looking of surprises and... horror?

"What is it?"

"You said you are parasite demon?"

"And?"

What is she getting at?

"That means.... you are inside of this human body, Julies Evans?"

Ohh...Now I get what is she getting at.

Yeah, she thinks I am demon but which one? She didn’t know.... till now.

So, as soon as, she gets to know I am a parasite demon her face shifted in her horror.

Because parasite normally control the human inside from their body and no one would ever know.

I really liked the playing demon part for sure. It’s fun.

Anyway, back to topic.

I held her gaze, watching the gears turn behind those wide, startled eyes.

Velra tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued now. "So that’s what’s rattling around in your head, little princess. Took you long enough."

Amelia ignored her, her attention locked on me. "If you’re... possessing him, then where is the real Julies Evans?" Her voice was sharp, but I could hear the faint tremor beneath it — not fear for me, but for what this meant for Alice.

I let the silence hang for a beat too long, just enough to make her uncomfortable.

"Sleeping," I said finally, the word drawn out. "Resting. Call it whatever you like. His mind is... somewhere quiet, while I take care of things he never could."

Her nails dug into her palm, and her expression flickered between relief and disgust. "So you’ve stolen his life."

I smirked. "Yeah. I did. And let’s be honest — you don’t care about his life. You care about where I stand in relation to Alice."

Her breath hitched. I didn’t need to read her mind to know I’d struck right where she didn’t want me to.

Velra chuckled low in her throat, clearly enjoying the tension. "Oh, this is getting delicious."

Amelia turned on her with a glare, but Velra just waved a lazy hand.

I leaned forward, letting my voice drop to a near whisper.

"If you’re worried I’ll ’take her away,’ you’re wasting your time. I’m not here for her heart. It’s just happened to be when I possessd Julies’s body he was already half way to Draken Duchy, So I have to play the part of servent...for now But if you keep pushing me away, Amelia..." My eyes narrowed just slightly. "Then maybe I’ll decide to take more than I originally planned."

The flicker of fear in her eyes was subtle, but it was there. She straightened, composing herself, but her voice betrayed her. "You wouldn’t dare."

I smiled faintly. "Wouldn’t I?"

Velra’s grin widened. "I think I like you after all."

It was in that moment I realized the alliance had shifted — not in trust, but in balance. And Amelia knew it too.

Amelia’s jaw worked, but no words came out at first.

Her eyes darted between me and Velra — weighing pride against necessity, resentment against the gnawing truth that without this alliance, she wouldn’t make it out alive.

When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter, stripped of the sharp edge she’d been clinging to. "...Fine. I’ll work with you."

Velra’s smirk was instant. "Oh? No screaming, no grand declarations about honor and purity? I’m almost disappointed."

Amelia shot her a glare sharp enough to cut glass, but didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she turned back to me, her expression steeled. "But hear me, parasite — the moment you step out of line, I will end you. Whatever’s left of Julies Evans will have a proper burial, and you’ll be nothing more than a bad memory."

I chuckled softly — not out of mockery, but because her threat carried more resolve than I’d expected.

"That’s a good idea you’ve got there," I said, leaning forward slightly, "but why not take advantage of it?"

Amelia’s eyes narrowed, her suspicion immediate.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Let me finish," I replied, my tone calm but deliberate. "My actions are precisely what will fulfill your desires."

She tilted her head, frowning. "...What?"

"Think about it," I said, my voice dropping lower. "Who would Alice turn to when she’s hurt? When she finds out I’m not human, but a demon?"

Amelia didn’t answer, but the name was obvious.

Her.

Unfortunately, Alice’s pride didn’t help her much when it came to human relationships. Even in the game, she was practically a loner.

"Family?" I went on. "She’d feel too ashamed to confide in them. Friends? She barely has any — and as a noble, showing weakness is unthinkable. Except... with you."

That part was true. Aside from Amelia, there was no one Alice could truly call a friend without the weight of politics hanging over it.

Amelia bit her lip, a faint sound of frustration slipping out. "Ugh... but this would be betraying Alice."

"What are you talking about?" I countered smoothly. "I’m the one betraying her, not you. All you’d have to do is be there for her afterward. Comfort her. Counsel her. You’re not lying to her — you just... didn’t tell her. Because you were threatened."

I let that last part linger like bait on a hook.

Amelia was a noble, but she was also a merchant. She knew the value of weighing profit against principle, and the word "threatened" gave her a perfect escape route if things ever went south.

Her sharp eyes scanned me carefully, suspicion still there but now mixed with calculation. "What do you want from me?"

Just as I expected — she was too quick to be led blindly. If she’d agreed without question, I’d have been wary.

"There’s only one thing I want," I said. "Don’t interfere with my prey."

"Interfere?"

"In other words... don’t use a political marriage as an excuse to push me out of the duke’s residence."

To drive the point home, I let a wave of dense mana spill through the [Echo Rod] in my hand.

Amelia stiffened, her breath catching as she felt the shift in the air. She swallowed hard before forcing herself to nod. "...Alright. I won’t interfere."

"That settles it," I said.

Now that she understood my plan, she would’ve already weighed the risks and benefits.

In her mind, keeping me close to Alice probably seemed like a safer — and more profitable — move than trying to drive me away.

Velra leaned back, resting her chin on her palm, her eyes glinting with predatory amusement.

"Well, isn’t this cozy? Enemies yesterday, allies today. I can’t wait to see how long it lasts before one of you tries to stab the other."

"Probably sooner than you think," Amelia said flatly, though she didn’t look at Velra — her eyes were still fixed on me, measuring every breath, every twitch of my expression.

I shrugged. "That’s fine. Try to stab me. But remember... parasites adapt. I’d just find another body. And the next one might not be so polite."

Her jaw tightened. She didn’t like the reminder that I could outlast her, not in years or decades, but in generations if I wanted.

"Don’t think that makes you untouchable," she said, voice low. "Even parasites can be cut out if you know where to slice."

Velra’s laugh was sharp, like glass breaking. "And here I thought you two were going to start holding hands."

I ignored her. "Good. Keep that fire. It’ll make you useful."

Amelia’s glare deepened, but she didn’t rise to the bait this time. She was already thinking ahead — how to keep me contained without losing the potential advantage I offered.

It was a delicate balance. One wrong move from either of us, and the whole arrangement would collapse into blood and ash.

"Then it’s settled," I said, pushing away from the table. "You keep your distance from my business with Alice, and I’ll keep my teeth out of yours."

Amelia crossed her arms but gave a sharp nod. "Fine. But remember — if Alice ends up broken because of you, I won’t wait for permission to act."

"Noted," I replied smoothly.