My days passed slowly and quietly, since I had to do many personal things. I spent my time reading the Kingdom's files and talking to officials who looked at me with disdain because I was a woman. They certainly did not know that a wrong move would tear out their hearts. My truth did not matter, I did not even know it. What's really important is, 'In the moment of bloodshed, who will protect your tattered body?' But they are old fools. I bet they do not understand this. They think that their sons will protect the nation, while they and their sons are worthless.
After finishing the foolish meeting, in which they discussed their plots towards each other, waiting to see which side had been taken, while I prevented myself from extinguishing the fire in them and in this accursed hall, I walked, but the door of the hall for family gatherings or important guests that only rarely opens. Because we were a broken family, I noticed how quiet the place was. No guards, no servants, no one at all. Not even the officials passed this way. Except me, no one. I approached the door that almost reached the sky. My uncle, Xin, was sitting above in the The chair, while underneath, sat very unwelcome people. I walked in and gave my uncle a slight bow and looked at them out of the corner of my eye. Then I went to sit in front of them on the other side of the hall. I said mockingly, "Why do you come without a visit?"
The old man cleared his throat in annoyance. They were the leaders of the Demon Clan, the eldest master, who was the father of the three Brothers, the domineering, boastful, insensitive tycoon, beside him was his cunning brother who was often good at nothing, and some family members who didn't seem different at all. As time passed, I was able to tell the intention of others towards me just by their looks. My uncle's laughter was tempered by the fiery sparks in the room, "Ah, Shushin! It's good that you came. You were in a meeting and we didn't want to disrupt you." My uncle got up from his place to come down, but I raised my hand. "No need, please have a seat, I can just sit here."
My uncle nodded, knowing that I did not like to prolong matters. The leader laughed mockingly, "You are the queen, but you do not care about the rules, you are a special girl."
I raised my right eyebrow in astonishment, "A special girl? Would you like me to teach you some rules on the occasion of your presence here with us today? Since I am a queen, do you mind me flogging you for disrespecting me!"
He forcefully lowered the cup that was in his hand onto the table and looked at me angrily, "You are a queen, but you are sitting underneath, and you are speaking immorally to your elders?"
I put on a forced smile, "We are a royal family. Rarely does anyone deserve to be in a room with one of us, what about two of us? I don't do it because he is bigger than me and he shouldn't sit underneath, but because you are not in his place to sit in front of him, but I do. I am younger, so I can forgive you."
They were obviously very uncomfortable. My smile was like a knife in their ear. My uncle said, "So, what brings you today?"
The clan leader cleared his throat again, "During our queen's last visit to us, we discovered something very exciting." He finished with a malicious look.
The hall was silent for a while. I fought the silence, "What is this, clan leader?"
He laughed lightly, "I heard that the queen had a special race..." My uncle's face turned, as I tightened my hand, knowing where this conversation was going, but not quite at the same time, only two people knew this. I didn't trust them completely, but they didn't seem like loyal birds at all.
"So? What race?" I said, I would rather die in glory than live as a contemptible mouse.
"I heard, you are a demon... of level 4."
My uncle slammed his palm on the table. Everyone present bowed down to the ground. I looked at him, immersed in anger, while I knew that I could not die no matter what happened, but what was coming might resemble death. To be sold.
My uncle said in an angry voice, "How dare you!!! Is the Demon Clan declaring rebellion?"
The clan leader stepped forward and bowed, "Of course not!! You know I don't dare, I'm just telling the truth, I didn't believe it either, there's no logical reason for that… right? But it's true in the end!"
"So? What if it's true? What do you want coming here!"
The clan leader raised his head, "I would like a deal."
My uncle shouted angrily, "Guards!!!"
In an instant, the room was filled with guards pointing their weapons at the Demon Clan from all directions. Despite the kingdom under our hands, every city is like a country. Most other cities do not even use magic, and hate magicians like us. Some sanctify us and spend their lives dreaming of coming to the capital or... For them to learn magic, killing an entire clan means killing an entire city, and that city, with its army and people, will pose a threat to the kingdom and the world, so reckless. I had to intervene. I said calmly as I took cup of tea. "So... are you threatening us now? Do you know what the consequences of threatening the Queen are?"
He looked at me and bowed, "Of course not, if we talk about the law, then I also came to make a deal. All demons walk under the law of the City of Demons. Any demon is under our control, except the City of the Dead, which formed a war against us and decided to disband. Therefore, according to the law, any demon must To register as a citizen of Demon City, those above Level 3 become a member of the Demon Clan..."
"So, you're saying that if I'm truly a demon, I should join you? Are you saying that's for me and I'm a queen?"
His second brother finally spoke, "We understand why you're worried. It must be embarrassing to tell the people about this, so we came up with another solution.." He smiled maliciously.
My uncle motioned for him to speak, he continued, "Demons from our clan should only marry into the clan, and depending on you being a demon, you should marry one of the men in our clan."
My uncle's eyes widened at his words. I looked at him and said "Why should I do that?"
He smiled, "Your brother is a devil. This is a sin in our kingdom that brings us shame. What if the people knew that their queen is also a devil? There will be war, my queen! Would you like that!"
The clan leader looked at him to be silent, then he spoke."Please excuse my little brother's rudeness. If you marry one of the clan's members, you will be the queen of the city of demons and the entire kingdom. Imagine that our entire army and our people belong to you. You will be our citizen!"
I smiled out of the corner of my mouth, "The Demon Clan has always wanted to rule, why would you make such a big sacrifice? I can only assume that you have malicious intentions."
"One of my sons will be the ruler, and since we have a queen on our side, we will be powerful. Of course this is to our advantage." Of course this sounds like nonsense.
My uncle said to a servant, "Show them to their room. Our family will discuss this matter, and then tell you their response." My uncle is not a man who decides in stages, so I knew. I lost. I lose endlessly, and what if I were the queen? Even if I were a god, as long as I was myself, I would never win. If we refuse, war will break out, and if we accept, there is no doubt that we cannot stop the war, there is no safe option. I am nothing but a girl without a voice in a world that never stops singing.
I'm on my way now, towards a burning journey. Week after week, the edges of my clothes catch fire more and more.