Case 151: Upon the final banquet.

Cecilia felt as though she was trudging through a limbo.

As Lyra's birthday approached, she could sense her body's condition deteriorating further than it already had. The days flew by while she was bound to a bed, her hazy consciousness drifting. Between those fleeting hours when her eyelids barely lifted and the long stretches of sleep, all she could remember was a vague sense of purpose.

And when that day came, Cecilia snapped awake.

Even though each breath for her was a painful gust, each step she took felt flimsy... she still had something to do.

''Hah... hah... hah...''

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cecilia shakily hugged herself, hissing from the pain in her lungs. Her back was already damp with cold sweat,  limbs trembling. A strong desire to let everything go and return to that dreamless slumber tugged at her mind, but Cecilia bit her lips and stood up.

Slowly, she walked to the window, showered in the moonlight.

''Time to act.'' She muttered.

In an instant, the cuffs on her body snapped in half, falling crudely onto the ground. An intense source of demonic power arose from the depths of Cecilia's essence, temporarily easing the searing pain.

She took another deep breath, then stared at the dark crimson flame in her hand. It burned ravenously, seeming ready to devour anything it touched.

'Astaroth...'

The archdemon demanded her presence as the demon queen to fulfill his desires. After a moment of thought, Cecilia quietly accepted the power.

[Cecilia! Are you alright?!]

At the same time, a small silhouette emerged from her shadow—a miniature, fluffy version of a black sheep. She frantically circled Cecilia, seeming lost for words.

''Long time no see,'' The blue-haired woman replied with a faint smile. ''Lucy.''

[You...]

''I couldn't let you out earlier. Sorry.''

In Cecilia's eyes that were looking at her, Lucifer saw something reminiscent of bitterness... and a burning determination. As her Soul Guardian, she instinctively realized—her host was about to do something drastic. And, even though she had been sealed away for the past year, Lucifer could tell the girl's intentions right away.

At that moment, Cecilia reached out her hand to pet Lucifer's small head, ''As you can see... I probably won't be able to keep our promise like this. I'm sorry. Still, will you accompany me until the end?''

Lucifer stared back at Cecilia with complicated eyes. The girl had made a vow to one day set her free from Astaroth's grasp, and Lucifer chose to trust her.

Holding back a sigh, the black sheep replied,

[...Fine, then. I have nowhere to go anyway.]

''Heheh. Thanks.''

Both of them turned back to the window, through which the early nightlife of Syrus could be observed.

The silence was presumed for a while as Cecilia didn't proceed with her plan immediately. She wanted to give her Soul Guardian some time to gather her thoughts, and that Lucifer certainly did.

It would be a lie to say that Lucifer didn't have regrets. Yet, much to her own surprise, she came to terms with it rather easily. After all, Lucifer had been trapped by Astaroth for far too long. She had accompanied many generations of demon monarchs and saw countless struggles.

Perhaps her demonic greed had been weakening, but Lucifer no longer saw herself obsessing over the mortal world as Astaroth did. After so long, perhaps she had become... kinder. The thought, to Lucifer, sounded ridiculous, that an ancient demon learned kindness and compassion, though it was undeniably true.

A part of her still longed for freedom, but she was also glad that she could accept a demise.

'The old guards have to go down at some point, huh.' She thought.

But what Lucifer couldn't accept was...

[...Girl.]

''Hm?'' Cecilia turned around. ''Did you... change your mind?''

[No. I just want to say—it's fine if I die doing this, but I can't let that fucker be without him suffering. I'll kill him, if not, I'll cripple him! You with me?!]

Cecilia looked at the fuming Lucifer in amusement. After a moment, she chuckled, ''Of course. Of course I'm with you.''

There were no further words needed between them. Under the full moon's light, Cecilia left the room. Her quiet steps resumed across the hallway while her eyes lingered on the interior. Every path, every corner seemed to reflect a different memory. The living room where Cecilia used to receive her lovers for the first time. The garden where she and Lyra frequently sat together, musing on ordinary talks while enjoying tea. The dusted piano that Cecilia used to play on while Lyra stood nearby, watching with curiosity.

She had spent those long years in this place... and it was now time to let go.

It was only after she had sneaked out and looked back at the cold building that the longing suddenly burst.

''...Goodbye.''

Cecilia held back her tears and turned toward the bustling city. Along the way, her white gown transformed into an exquisite black dress, adorned with flurries of diamonds, a swimming river of stars in the night sky.

Her destination was the imperial palace, where the grand banquet was slowly underway.

Past the mansion's vicinity, Cecilia slipped into the busy streets of Syrus. Her dainty figure faded into the flows of pedestrians, lost amidst the heavy traffic. Not a soul noticed the woman's alluring presence, nor her hurried yet determined steps.

But the woman could see the world and its panics.

Many anxious families trudged in the opposite direction, perhaps fleeing to other countries in the face of a potential war. Many chose to pray, their hopeful gazes directed at the brightly lit palace. Many carried weapons, gathering around busy government establishments, putting on a serious air. Many saw the chaos and sought to take advantage of it.

Petty thieves, ordinary citizens, mercenaries, officials, nobles, commoners.

Everybody moved with a purpose, not excluding Cecilia. To think that this would be the last time she could see the beautiful Syrus before becoming its enemy...

Cecilia smiled bitterly, but her steps hadn't stopped once.

Before long, she had arrived at the imposing imperial palace. Soaked in its glamour, Cecilia calmly walked past the long line of vehicles trying to make it through the checkpoints, straight into the main building.

She could see many unfamiliar faces, likely delegates and hired combatants from other nations. In a sense, it was both the heroine's birthday banquet and a gathering before the forces departed for war.

Cecilia headed toward the banquet hall's entrance, and her concealment magic slowly came undone. Many locked onto her figure, though none seemed to suspect anything. In the end, she was standing before the final door that separated her from the main stage.

The two guards, upon seeing Cecilia's dazzling appearance, momentarily startled. Only after a brief moment did they recognize the infamous femme fatale of several years prior. They exchanged glances before pushing open the door, announcing in unison—

'''' Lady Cecilia of House Orleans has arrived! ''''