The stone walls that had once confined her now stood as a distant memory, but their weight pressed heavily on her chest. Luminous Valentine stood before a mirror in her quarters, staring at her reflection with a quiet intensity. Her snow-white hair cascaded over her shoulders like a veil, her once regal countenance now tempered by the passage of time and the scars of betrayal. She had been a queen—a ruler, feared and revered. But those days felt like they belonged to someone else, someone who no longer existed.
The freedom she had gained in joining Dante's kingdom was not without its costs. The air in this new life was lighter than what she had once known, yet there was an undercurrent of unease that lingered. She had been free of the dungeon for two months now, yet she could not shake the feeling that she was still shackled—by her own doubts, her own hesitations.
In the quiet moments of solitude, when the weight of her past pressed down the hardest, Luminous would return to this reflection, searching for the woman she used to be. The woman who ruled over an empire, whose word was law, whose power was unquestionable. But that queen was gone, her kingdom shattered, her legacy tarnished. In her place, a broken soul lingered, one who had been abandoned by those she trusted most. And yet... Dante's offer of freedom, of loyalty, had stirred something inside her—a spark of hope that had long been buried.
But that hope came with a price.
Freedom. The word echoed in her mind, but it felt like a bitter concept. Could she truly be free? Free of her past, of her own burdens? Every time she tried to step forward, a part of her clung to the darkness of her past, the wounds of betrayal. She had given her loyalty before, only to be crushed beneath the weight of deception. How could she trust again? How could she offer something so sacred to those who might ultimately turn their backs on her, as her own people had?
The truth was, Luminous was afraid. Afraid that loyalty, once given, would again be used to bind her, to place her in a cage more elaborate than the one she had just escaped.
She had learned to be wary of trust, and while Dante's actions had shown her kindness, a part of her could not yet accept that sincerity. She had not yet forgotten the taste of betrayal.
It wasn't just the past that weighed on her, though. It was the present, too. She was no longer a queen, no longer the ruler of vampires. In this new life, who was she? Where did she belong in this strange, tight-knit family that Dante had formed? The other members of his peerage treated her with respect, but there was an invisible distance between them.
Velzard, she noted, had been kind to her. More so than anyone else, the dragon queen seemed to understand her in ways that no one else could. There were no demands from Velzard, no expectations. The two women had spoken little, yet there was a quiet understanding between them—an unspoken recognition of shared pain. Velzard's gaze often lingered on Luminous with a knowing softness, a quiet empathy that neither forced nor pried.
Shuna, on the other hand, was always gentle, offering small acts of kindness that Luminous could never quite bring herself to refuse. A warm meal, a hand placed on her shoulder in silent reassurance—things that were simple but spoke volumes. Still, Luminous remained wary. She had allowed herself to trust once, and look where it had gotten her.
Then there was Shion, whose fiery spirit and unwavering loyalty to Dante were undeniable. At times, Luminous found herself looking at the demoness with something akin to jealousy—jealousy of the ease with which Shion gave her heart, the way she had made a place for herself among Dante's ranks. How could she, Luminous, ever be so certain of her place again? How could she offer loyalty when it felt like the most fragile of promises?
And then, of course, there was Benimaru. His skepticism toward her had not gone unnoticed. Beneath his stoic demeanor lay a deep suspicion, an unspoken challenge to Luminous's motives. She could feel it every time their eyes met—he did not trust her, not yet. She did not trust him either, but there was something about him that kept her on edge. His sharp intellect and strength were undeniable, and she found herself oddly compelled by the quiet fire in his gaze.
A soft knock at the door pulled Luminous from her thoughts. She turned toward it, straightening her posture. It was Benimaru.
"Luminous," he said, his voice flat. "Dante requests your presence in the council room. There's something he wishes to discuss."
Luminous didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave him a once-over, noting the cool professionalism in his stance. It was clear to her that Benimaru still viewed her with distrust, but she did not mind. In fact, it was a strange comfort. She knew well the walls of mistrust, and in many ways, they were easier to navigate than the web of kindness and sincerity that Dante seemed to weave so effortlessly.
"I'll be there shortly," she replied, her tone measured but not unkind.
Benimaru didn't linger. He gave a slight nod and turned to leave, but Luminous caught a brief flash of something—perhaps curiosity, perhaps caution—in his eyes. She shook her head, dismissing the thought. He was not the focus of her attention right now.
As she made her way toward the council room, Luminous found herself grappling with the ever-present question: Could she trust them? Could she accept this life that Dante was offering her, the one where loyalty did not mean subjugation but rather a bond formed out of mutual respect? Was that even possible for her? Could she truly let go of her fear and embrace the possibility of a new purpose?
When she entered the room, Dante was already seated at the table, his expression as unreadable as ever. But there was a softness in his eyes, a glimmer of understanding that made her pause for a moment.
"Luminous," he said, standing to greet her. "I wanted to speak with you privately. About something important."
Her heart quickened, but she didn't let it show. "What is it?" she asked, her voice cool but steady.
Dante's gaze never wavered as he met her eyes. "I trust you, Luminous. And I believe you're ready for the next step. This is a place where you can be free—not just in body, but in spirit. I'm not asking for your loyalty out of obligation. I'm asking for it because I believe in what you could become. Together, we could achieve greatness."
Luminous felt something stir within her at his words. She had not expected him to be so direct, but there it was—the truth in his voice, in his very being. He wasn't asking her to kneel. He was offering her an equal partnership. For the first time in months, Luminous felt a stirring of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in centuries: hope.
"I'm still… not sure," she admitted, her voice softer than she intended. "I've given my loyalty before, and it ended in ruin. How do I know this won't be the same?"
Dante stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "Because you're not alone anymore. Because you have a choice. And because, for the first time in a long time, I'm asking for your trust—not because I expect it, but because I believe in you."
Luminous took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of her decision. She was no longer a queen, but perhaps, for the first time, she could become something else. Something more.
And maybe, just maybe, that something could be enough.
Luminous took a long, steadying breath, her mind swirling with doubts, questions, and fears. Dante's words echoed in her thoughts like a melody she had long forgotten, one she wasn't yet sure she could sing again. I trust you. I believe in what you could become.
Those were words of promise, words that could heal or wound. It was too early to tell, but she would not allow herself to be swayed so easily. For centuries, she had placed her trust in others, only to watch it crumble before her. How could she offer something so precious again?
The silence between them stretched, but it was not uncomfortable. Dante seemed to wait, giving her the space to decide without pushing. And for the first time, Luminous found that she could not hide behind the cold, emotionless mask she had worn for so long. There was something about Dante—something earnest in his gaze—that made it impossible to remain entirely distant.
Still, she remained cautious. This was not a world she understood, and the idea of relying on others, depending on them for strength, was foreign to her. For so long, she had been the one to lead, the one to command.
"I'll need time," she said finally, her voice steady, though it betrayed a hint of vulnerability she had not meant to show. "Time to understand this world… and my place in it."
Dante nodded, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here when you're ready."
His words were simple, but there was an assurance in them that resonated with her. She had lived centuries alone, but for the first time, she felt the barest possibility that she might not need to.
As the meeting continued, Luminous found herself listening more than speaking. The discussions between Dante and his peerage were earnest but practical, focused on the continued strengthening of their territory. Their plans for expansion, protection, and alliances were nothing like the pomp and grandeur of her former life. There were no grandiose speeches or elaborate declarations of power. Instead, it was all about progress, stability, and balance. It was... peaceful.
After a while, she found herself drifting into the background, her mind occupied by the thoughts that still haunted her. What is it that I want from this new life? She was so lost in her own reflections that she almost missed it when Dante turned toward her, his expression thoughtful.
"Luminous," he said, breaking the quiet. "There's something I'd like to ask of you. It's not about loyalty. It's about partnership."
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the shift in tone. "Go on."
"I need your perspective on something," Dante continued. "We're planning to expand into new territories, and I want you to help me navigate the political landscape. You've ruled before. I need someone who understands how to lead, not from the front, but from the shadows, making sure we don't repeat the mistakes of the past."
Luminous felt a strange flutter in her chest. He wants my mind, not just my strength. It was a revelation that made her pause. It was not her power or her fearsome reputation he sought—it was her intellect, her ability to maneuver through the intricate webs of influence. That, at least, was something she could offer without fear.
"You wish me to become your strategist?" she asked, her voice quiet, yet not without a hint of curiosity.
Dante's smile was small but sincere. "I believe you could be more than that. You're a queen in your own right, Luminous. And I need someone who can help us grow, not just in size, but in wisdom."
Her chest tightened as she felt the weight of his words. She had ruled before, yes, but that was in a world of absolute power, of fear and submission. This world, though… it was different. This was a world where leadership was not just about ruling—it was about guiding, about shaping the future not through domination, but through careful, strategic alliances.
For the first time, Luminous found herself considering what she could offer to a cause that did not require her to sacrifice everything for her own survival. It was the first step in what she knew would be a long and difficult journey—learning to trust, learning to work with others again.
As the meeting broke up, Luminous lingered by the door, watching the others as they left. The faintest of smiles tugged at the corner of her lips. There was still much she did not understand, but she had a sense now—a sense of belonging, however fragile.
"Luminous," Dante's voice broke her reverie as he approached her, his footsteps steady. "I hope you know you don't have to make any decisions today. Take your time. But when you're ready, I'd like to work together."
"I will think about it," she replied, her tone softening. She was no longer the queen she had been, but perhaps… perhaps there was something to be said for this new kind of power.
As Dante left her to her thoughts, Luminous found herself contemplating her next steps. Could she truly trust him? Could she trust herself again?
Time will tell. But for the first time in years, she felt like the woman she was becoming was someone worth trusting.
(A/N: if you have any questions or if you find any mistakes in grammar or information please do not hesitate to write that in the comments, I will try to answer all of the questions and edit the mistakes I made.)