The Crown
"I-I am sorry but can you please repeat?" I stammer as cold sweat forms on my hairline.
The Southern Demon College or in other words, Syx. It's for all the demon nobilities residing in this southern domain. And southern domain of this land is the home to all humanoid demons, such as werewolves, mermaids, vampires etcetera.
But there is another thing too. Werewolves, mermaids, and vampires are very high-ranking demons who can transform and other demons usually have horns and some demonic attributes but can't transform to their true forms from their human forms.
In the comparison of humans and demons, demons are far more powerful in both martial and magical aspects. And the reason is dark magic. As mentioned before, dark opposes light. Humans can't wield dark magic because it's not suited to their souls. Dark magic feeds on human life power. Meanwhile, demons are specially made to wield dark magic. They are souls are different from humans this is why they can't wield light magic. It will drain their life force. But a powerful white magic wielder can oppose a dark magic wielder easily unless he is like Vermilion who can wield three attributes at once.
Other than that, these humanoid demons are sharp and cruel. They tend to be heartless and their hatred for humans runs deep. Let alone the fact that I am the motherfucking prince.
Is this demon trying to throw me at the lion's mouth?!
"I said that you will be assigned to the task of investigating the missing incidents occurring at Syx." He repeats nonchalantly.
"B-But my lord…if they find out I am a human then… they will devour me!" I exclaim in horror, breaking into cold sweats and something glints in Vermilion's red ruby-like eyes that I can't put my finger to. It disappears as soon as it appears.
"Your Highness, we humanoid demons don't devour something as lowly as humans, so please rest assured, and at the maximum, they will only rip off your limbs and curve you into a human stick." He straightens up on his throne and shiver jolts down my spine like electric. My chest tightens.
"My lord…" I whine, "Please don't be so cruel. They will tear me apart if they find out who I am. There must be another way…" I plead, "Can you please send Phillip there?"
"I have my portion of work so I can't go and if you can't go then just let yourself be executed. You bare no worth for us." Phillip sneers but he quiets down when Vermilion gives him a look.
"Phillip is right." Vermilion concludes expressionlessly, "So, which one would you prefer, Your Highness? Dying by my hands or in the hands of the students in Syx? I can assure you that I am far more cruel than them." His voice carries an overbearing authority and an effortless power in it, there is a hint of cruelty in his red eyes.
A bone-chilling cold shoots up my spine and I shudder in place. Adrenaline is surging through my veins, reminding me just how much I am scared of this lord's superiority. "I chose neither of them, My Lord. I will go there and come back with an appropriate result." I fall to one knee and show him my respect as I try to control the uncontrollable tremor of my body and try my best not to crumble beneath the immense pressure of Vermilion's presence.
"This is the courage I expect from the crown of the great Blade Empire." Vermilion nods, his face blank but I swear I saw the corner of his lip twitching. "Now then, Your Highness"- He lifts his index finger and draws something in the air languidly. It's a blood-red slave magic circle- "I expect you to take your vows." He flexes his finger and the magic circle appears before me. It's a rose-patterned magic circle. Must be his stigma.
Slave magic circles are usually used to bind someone as your slave for a mentioned time. It's a personal magic. Can only be used by noble blood or someone who has a significant amount of experience in magic. I have my own slave magic circle which is sword-patterned.
I try to gulp down the lump forming in my throat but it's futile. I am feeling highly disgraced right now. I am a royalty and royalties are not meant for someone's slavery. I fist my hand to keep my mouth shut from disobeying his words and losing my life but I definitely am not pleased at his actions.
So this is what he meant from the beginning. Me to be his slave.
I repeat the things I said last night to save myself from Vermilion and the magic circle glows brightly and then disappears, and I grit my teeth to endure the burning pain that is forming on the side of my waist. It's scorching on my skin from the inside and making itself efficient. It was inevitable I assume.
Magic circles decide where they want to be placed and his circle chose to be on the side of my waist. There is another information about this circle that is that when you already have a circle on your body, another circle cannot be placed on your body.
So basically I am all Vermilion's for the next two years. Sounds weird… and unpleasing.
The ache slowly subsides to sting and a familiar voice explodes in my eardrums. My head whips around to spot Edward standing at the huge, slightly curved double door of the throne room, his face is as white as a sheet. Heavy bags are disgracing his perfect black eyes.
"You Highness." He exclaims, heaving but his breathing stops and I witness him shudder in fear. If I didn't see Edward's face now then I would never be able to imagine how pale a person can go.
My bottom lip quiver and I turn my face toward Vermilion, "M-My Lord?"
"You said you wanted to see your servant but I cannot let you go to the Human realm therefore, I brought him here instead." He explains shortly. His black-gloved hands are resting on the armrest of his throne, there is nothing on his face that can be called human.
"B-But how?" I blurt out and instantly regret it.
Vermilion's eyes narrow, "I see no need to inform you on this matter, Your Highness." I shiver for another round. "Please talk to your servant and then be back here. Phillip will elaborate on the details of your first assignment."
"Yes, My Lord." I lower my head and acknowledge.
Then I quickly get on my feet and scurry out of the throne room, dragging the blank Edward with me. When we turn around a corner, I let go of Edward.
It takes him a few good minutes to come to and he sputters, "Your Highness! What's happening here? Why are you in the Demon realm? Was that person sitting on the throne the Demon Lord Vermilion?! Please will you care to explain the situation, Your Royal Highness?!"
"Clam down first, Edward." I rub my temple and explain the whole situation to him.
"So you are telling me that you are the demon lord's slave for the next two years?" Edward repeats, bewildered, "You Highness, have you completely lost it?!" He exclaims, "I can't believe this."
"Nor do I can. But what I could do otherwise? Let myself be killed?" I sigh, a faint headache blooming in my temple.
"Your Highness, why do you summon trouble everywhere you go?" He heaves a heavy breath as he runs a frustrated hand through his already disheveled hair. I guess, he has already run a thousand hands through his hair.
"Edward, I guess you should go back to the palace," I suggest, changing the topic.
"And then what, Your Highness?" Edward is clearly pissed, "Tell the Emperor and Empress that you have become a slave to the Demon Lord Vermilion? Do you seriously think that they will be able to take the shock, Your Highness?" There are only a few times when Edward talks to me like this. And every time he does, he make me cry.
"Then what should I do?" I sniff, trying my best not to shed a tear forming on my rim.
"Oh my Gods, Your Highness please don't cry," Edward's voice softens, "I am just pointing out your mistakes. And as for what should we do? We will request Lord Vermilion to let me stay by your side, okay Your Highness?"
"Are you really going to…" I trail off as something clicks in my mind, "But it's dangerous! You can't!"
"I believe that I am more than capable of handling dangerous things, Your Highness." He assures, "So please give me the honorable chance to stay by your side and assist you." However, the words he doesn't say or doesn't need to say are, "Because you are a trouble summoner. You will get yourself killed in no time."
"Alright." I sigh, "I will talk to Lord Vermilion." I know that as Edward has stated his claim, he is not backing down. To him, I am like a brother he can't afford to lose. So it's whether he dies or I live for him.
We re-enter the eerily silent and cold throne room. I notice the silver chandeliers hanging from the ceiling have frozen from the exceeding cold temperature that only seems to be increasing not decreasing. I suppose it is the impact of Vermilion's ice magic. His presence is freezing the whole area around him and making him even more impossible to approach.
I fall to one knee, and so does Edward. "My Lord, this servant of yours has another selfish request. I want_"
"You want to keep your servant by your side?" Vermilion concludes and I flinch.
"H-How…" I trail off.
"May I remind you this is my palace, Your Highness." He states, his expression remains the same, laid-back.
"T-Then w-will you…?" I stutter, sweat trickling down my forehead even in this bone-chilling weather.
"I do not mind." He stands, "However, the moment I will detect anything that is not in my favor I will slaughter him. So please act accordingly. I will not tolerate any mistakes, Your Highness."
Black dots fill my vision and my body starts to shake again, this time more violently then before, "Yes, My Lord."
Vermilion climbs down the stairs and walks past us. He stops briefly while passing by me and narrows his eyes. My heart freezes in the place and I stop breathing. He lifts his eyes after a forever-like second and walks off. The coldness decreases in the room and I heave a huge breath, and so does Edward. He is even paler than before.
We get on our feet.
"Now," Phillip appears before us and hands me a huge scroll, "There is all the information you need for your first assignment, Your Highness." He says sternly. "We will escort you to the school tomorrow. So, I expect you to study the scroll within today."
Oh no.