The Crown
I don't know what got into me last night and I said those things to the Demon lord Vermillion. It felt like I was possessed by some evil spirit. Maybe I was. Possessed by the need for survival. I don't know how I got the courage to look him dead in the eyes and say those bold words.
But it was all worth it. He is letting me live. And I wasn't just bluffing. I was serious. I will do anything for the demon lord Vermillion for the next two years. I will do anything for him unless he tells me- anything except die.
As much as I dislike my fate, I love my life. I don't give a damn that I will have to become the Emperor and shoulder the responsibility of the whole Empire. I just want to live and see what I haven't seen yet. People can make me their slave or the ruler all they want, I just want to live until I die.
I know it sounds stupid but this is the truth. Dying is something I could never choose for myself. This is why I need to make sure no people choose it for me either.
After contemplating all the things that I will do not to piss off the demon lord, I roll off the bed. I grew up in a royal palace and it was huge but the palace I am currently living at is enormous, way much larger than the royal palace of Blade. But my home was warm and filled in and out with people. This place is quite the opposite.
It is cold and devoid of any emotion and warmth. Since the moment I stepped into this place, I haven't spotted a single soul here. And the temperature here feels like, it is dropping by a degree every hour. It's getting colder and colder.
Not expected any less from the ruthless demon lord's palace. It's just as cold and merciless as him. The first time I saw him last time, I was paralyzed by fear underneath his red orbs' heated glare. Now come to think of it, I find it quite unfair that how can have such a scary aura when he is so pretty.
Yes. I find the demon lord pretty because he actually is pretty. In fact, he is the prettiest thing I have ever seen. His bright red eyes, snow-white hair, and almost equally white skin. But he is way too tall. At least a foot taller than me. I had to crane my neck just to look him in the eyes. His height now makes me doubt if I am too small.
He is just like a rose. Dangerous but pretty. You are fine just by watching him afar but the closer you get and try to touch him, he will pierce your hand with his thorns.
Suddenly, I feel a dark aura lurking outside my room and I flinch. Then there are two firm knocks on my door and a call follows suit. "Your Highness," Phillip's indifferent voice calls, "I have brought you some clothes. Please open the door."
I quickly swing the door open for him and take the clothes from his hands, "I apologize for the inconvenience." I apologize as an obedient and trained royal should.
But Phillip looks like he couldn't care less about my apology, "Lord Vermilion awaits your arrival at the dining hall. He wishes to talk to you." And his tone changes from nonchalant to threatening, "And you better not make him wait."
"O-Okay." I quirk my eyebrows at the sudden change in his attitude.
He strides off and I shut the door and heave a sigh. Phillip doesn't seem to like me at all. He is a tall black person. Everything about him is black, except for his skin tone which is so pale that it makes me wonder whether he has any blood flowing through his veins. He has short black hair and I think he is at least two or three inches taller than me.
I feel so short around these demons.
I get dressed in the clothes, Phillip just got me and they are awesome. They are similar to what I used to wear at the palace, just a bit lighter. I like them. I get out of my room and then realize I have another problem. I don't know where the dining hall is. And I don't see a single soul to ask them about it. What should I do now?
Okay, I don't think anything good will happen if I just stand around here so, I start to wander around the palace, hoping that I will find the dining hall sooner or later.
I start to wind down the halls. There are many closed doors around the halls and the floor and walls are crystal clear blue. I can see my reflection on the. Icy blue and cold.
And it's been at least an hour of finding nothing but a big stroll around the place. This place is huge and now I think I am lost. I look around me. I am currently standing in the middle of a long red-themed hallway. It's very shady here since the sun doesn't get to show its dazzling face in the demon realm.
Suddenly the temperature drops and I feel the same way I did last night. An overwhelming pressure envelopes me in its deadly embrace and sniff the breath away from my lungs. I break into a cold sweat and my body starts to tremble as my heart starts to bang against my rib cage almost audibly.
The palace was already cold and I could still feel the overwhelming pressure faintly all this time but now when it is approaching me, I have a feeling that is trying to crush me beneath its sovereignty. I try to gulp down the fear that is creating a lump in my throat but it doesn't seem to be working.
"Your Highness, so you are here." A cold domineering voice washes over me, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
I stiffly spin around, tension rigidity in every muscle on my body. "My lord."
"May I inquire the reason you did not attend the breakfast?" Vermilion jumps straight to the point. His snow-white hair is dazzling in the shady atmosphere and his ruby-like red eyes are drilling into me. They are staring at me as if they can see through me and I am pretty sure they actually can.
"I-I didn't know which direction to go. And when I tried to find the right way, I got lost." I stammer to explain myself.
"You got lost?" He raises an eyebrow, stuttering the remaining breath out of me.
"Yes." I keep my gaze fixed on his chest.
How ironic. Every time I get lost, he is the one who always finds me and takes my breath away.
"Very fine." Vermilion heaves, "It is my mistake that I did not instruct Phillip to escort you to the dining hall." I breathe at his statement. "However, if you do not wish to disappoint me ever again then I suggest you remember my palace's layout. I will not forgive your insolation next time. Now you may follow me." He whips around and starts to walk down the hallway with large and languid steps.
Fear washes over me anew, but I force it down and start to follow him silently. I don't have a death wish to get on the demon lord's nerves, thank you. I keep my distance as I follow him. The atmosphere is filled with so much tension and silence that I can even hear and see my breath puffing out of my mouth. After a few minutes, we arrive at a throne room. A huge one.
Phillip is standing beside the throne, weaning a very sour expression on his face.
I stop at the middle room and watch Vermillion ascend the throne at the end of the room. He fists his black-gloved hand, props his elbow on the armrest, and rests his chin on his fisted hand. "I have a very important thing to discuss with you, Your Highness."
"May I know what the matter is that we are about to discuss, My Lord?" I ask very politely. I don't remember being this polite with any person in my life.
"You may but before that, I want to know if you have any wish that you want to be fulfilled." He asks, his tone and expression are unreadable.
Is he asking for my last wish before I die? No, no, it can't be that.
"A wish, I would like to be fulfilled…" I repeat under my breath as I contemplate my answer. "Yes, there is indeed a wish I would like to be fulfilled, My Lord."
"You may request."
"I would like to contact my servant, Edward Millers, My Lord." I request. I can imagine it in my head that Edward is banging his head against a beam with worry. I am sure he is about to lose it from worry about me. And I too am very worried about him. I haven't seen him since the last morning.
"Very well." Vermilion casts a glance toward Phillip and he nods in acknowledgment, "Now then let us get into the real discussion. I believe Your Highness, you remember the vow you took last night."
And this is enough for my throat to go dry in tension, "Yes I do, My Lord."
"So, I want you to investigate a specific matter." Vermilion states coldly.
And so, it's only my first day at the demon realm and I am already getting assignments. This is how my adventure starts in a completely unfamiliar place. So, this is the reason, he asked me if I had any wish that I wanted to be fulfilled. Now only the Gods know what this Demon Lord is plotting to do with me.
"What do I have to do, My Lord?" I ask, keeping my mind in place.
"You have to go to the Southern Demon College and investigate the missing incidents of students there." He states.
I freeze in my spot and the moment these words spill out of his mouth, I know that I am fucked.