Teaser: Ryosei living off a diet of straight coffee to stave off his hunger while rationing out the remaining bodies Eika had saved, only to receive a phone call...
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"So, Lilith, how are you? I assume well? Get enough exercise lately; you're practically glowing! Is that what 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 does to you? Maybe I ought to try it sometime..."
A tick mark graced Lilith's smooth forehead as she wished to murder this insolent child that was the byproduct of a messy affair that continued to be a thorn in her side.
She found the fact that Eika was able to retain some of her father's more stellar features while still being able to be considered a carbon copy of her mother to be annoying; the children that she had with her father rarely seemed to take after him and more so her, with her second daughter inheriting her eyes instead of her father's.
Perhaps what was even more irritating was the fact that her husband ruled her daughter—the actually legitimate one—unable to be a proper princess and or successor to the throne, and named the brat in front of her his princess and the official successor.
However, as much as she protested, she was forced to admit to her eternal shame that the twit was actually an ingenious future monarch.
It had been proven to her savagely and cruelly, for her shame had been brought about by her own pride.
Lilith had brought up that fact that having an uneducated and inexperienced girl sit on the throne because of an impulsive and ultimately emotional decision, would bring shame to the kingdom, and that having one of his legitimate sons who had been studying for centuries to take over the throne would be far more sensible and feasible.
Her words had put her husband, Satan, in a tough spot, forcing him to prove Eika's worth since he had proclaimed her his successor—however, the contorted and seemingly worried face she'd seen that day had been a lie. He had already sensed that Eika would be opposed due to his decision, so he chose to play with her emotions, winding her up so that she would suggest a test of her abilities rather than him, making him an unbiased spectator.
The challenge had been simple: every one of the Royal Families children would be isolated with a group of individuals from the other races, and within a months time, they had to create an orderly environment, a functioning temporary government, gain loyalty from all of the other races, and even forge life-long bonds with peers who would all benefit the kingdom rather than seek benefit themselves—a controversial ideology, given how all of the races present were there for only benefit.
This competition was obviously geared solely and entirely towards the pre-existing heirs, as with their reputations they had already attracted peers who would respect and follow them, whereas Eika was a child who had just been introduced to the family; she had no reputation, no power, no influence, no defining traits aside from her looks, and all authority had come from her father, she had no backing save for him.
In a world where strength, wit, charm, and ingenuity is what begets leaders, a bumbling, naïve, 8 year old child who had just learned how to write and was always isolated, with no notable friends, connections or even social skills, she would fail as surely as the sun rises and falls in the day and as the moon dances across the starlit sky; it was hopeless.
Or was it?
The first thing Eika did with the group of individuals was destroy them.
Several of them had attempted to strong arm the hidden, illegitimate child of no consequence, believing much like Lilith had that it would be easy.
And who could blame them?
A young child—though almost beautiful beyond compare—was skinny, small, her body thin and fragile, not a days work of muscle in them, her somber, quiet nature and seeming humility almost charming if not for the annoyance it caused them. Plus, she had no formal education, and barely knew how to speak when they first met her.
The thought that she would be able to beat them when she didn't even know how to fight was inconceivable, and initially, it had gone well for them in general, with them being able to beat her up effectively.
But no matter what they did, no matter how hard they hit her, no matter the damage inflicted on her, she always got up. And that scared them, and made them wonder: how terrible was it in her early life for her to have such monstrous stamina and regeneration? Once, they even stabbed her through the heart, a devastating blow for a demon.
Her reaction?
She pulled out the blade, laughing before running away with it.
It was at that point things had turned around. She'd actually been observing their muscle movements and weaknesses the entire time, her dual colored eyes always serene and calm as she was beaten to the ground, their intense gaze never wavering.
If they performed a high kick, she got in close and broke their legs before breaking their jaws.
If they punched her, she caught the blow and broke their elbows and then their ribs.
If they tackled her, she maneuvered around them with her small build before breaking their spines.
No matter what they did, she broke them done, an emotionless expression on her face—a face that was almost terrifyingly similar to her fathers. Beautiful, cold, calculative, calm. It was horrifying seeing such a mature and emotionless expression an 8 year old's face.
The reason why her father was not worried over her winning was because out of all of his children, Eika had a very similar attitude and approach to life, her perspective on everything much like his, but with hints of her mother sprinkled in it.
After making them thoroughly scared of her, she yet again did the unexpected.
With all of them groaning on the ground, she knelt down in front of each of them, and with a gentle expression, murmured in a soft but beautiful voice with perfect articulation, "Answer me this, you childish ingrates. You've seen what I can do. I can break bone—I can easily break your minds if I so wished. A little twist here, a little magic here, and what do you know, your fragile, pampered minds are nothing.
"I can do much worse to you, keep that in mind. However, this ridiculous exercise that my rather horrible and cheap step-mother—who really isn't at all half as smart as she believes herself to be—has some merit. Probably because papa's a sneaky b*st*ard. The merit is meeting you fine young folks and building connections that could help me later on."
She laughed, a smile that was shockingly attractive on her youthful face, leaving all of the youths temporarily distracted by her charm. Here they were, in pain, and just because the usually stone faced girl smiled at them, they felt like they'd been given a gift.
"You've only seen the worst I can do—you have yet to see the best I can do. In this month, I will befriend all of you, I will treat you better than you treat yourselves, I will heal you, and with all of you supporting me, I will conquer all of my siblings. I will never forget what you have done for me, nor will I ever betray you—I take business dealings seriously. Will you let me treat you well?"
All of them were shocked. Usually, a dominance display led to rule by fear, and although effective, rule by dominance is more tenuous, since fear breeds hatred and anger. But compassion? Showing what she was capable of, then promising to treat them well? It was inconceivable for the children who had only known conflict.
Their hearts had been moved, and they had agreed, spell-bound by her.
And her promise? She fulfilled it, and to this day, those same children adore her to death.
That's why Lilith couldn't exactly insult her to her face, and held her tongue. A princess, having more authority than a queen? Infuriating...
Eika's expression dropped, becoming bored as she muttered, "No reaction, huh? How boring... at least entertain me if you show up in front of me... Did papa get pissed at you again? He must've if your makeup has anything to say about it—just look at it, being vandalized like that! The poor makeup, having to be on your face of all people..."
Lilith clenched her hands into fists, her sharp nails biting into the palm of her hand as she grit her teeth, trying to not allow Eika to mess with her; she truly was just like her father, the two of them were professionals at infuriating people...
Eika however noticed this immediately, and smirked at her suppression, finding it amusing. She enjoyed pushing Lilith's buttons, finding it funny when she exploded when she tried not to.
Eika was not a good person. Kind maybe, perhaps too kind, but good?
Not very much.
Eika, being a person who hated Lilith, had no qualms snorting at her attempt to hold back before walking away from her, not a single ounce of care or respect in her dual colored gaze; only disgust, amusement, and ridicule within them. Lilith trembled as she left, kneeling in the flower field in a horrible picture of humility.
She screamed, her hand punching against the ground and tears coming from her eyes and falling to the ground like rain.
Eika smiled.
ⅠⅠⅠⅠⅠ
Eika stood within the office of her father, her expression serene, calm. The office was large, bookshelves lined the walls, floor to ceiling like the place Ryosei had awoken in. Like father like daughter.
Her father sat as his desk, a book over his eyes as all the documents that he had to sign floated in the air, thousands of golden nub fountain pins signing the documents as her father tapped his desk with his long, black fingernails. He was waiting for her to speak, for the initiation of the conversation, like Eika was.
Like father like daughter.
Eika smiled, her soft voice floating to her father as she says, "Long time no see, Father."
Satan lifted the book from off of his face, his eyes like Eika's left, pentagram eye, two golden pentagrams set within obsidian night, all within a face of clear, sharp, and prominent angles from his sharp jaw and his high cheekbones. His full lips gave a small smile, his voice like a thousand instruments in perfect harmony sounding as he whispered, "It's indeed been a long time, darling."
He was beautiful; she was beautiful; both smirked a smile that spelt disaster of the most euphoric quality, and although silence reigned prominently in the office, a thousand words were exchanged between their eyes.
A silent agreement prompted Eika's bow of her head, her soft voice scarcely saying, "Understood." Satan did the same, his gentle voice resounding, "Good."
Like father like daughter indeed...