News of King Axe's wedding plans spread fast. In the demon world, especially in the Tiger Demon Clan itself, there was an uproar about the news that King Axe wanted to marry a human woman.
King Zabir, the father of Princess Zeraz, who had delivered a proposal letter to Axe, openly protested Axe's decision during a large meeting at Olmomos Castle.
As the Supreme King of the Tiger Demon clan, Olmomos looked stern. But no one knew what he was really thinking.
On the one hand, Olmomos rejected the marriage of the two realms, fearing it would create a rift in their clan. On the other hand, Olmomos was happy because by marrying Axe and Siora, Axe consciously refused to become the next Supreme King.
That meant Olmomos would be the supreme Tiger Demon Clan in the Demon World.
An argument between King Zabir and King Axe ensued, but the harsh argument was cut short by Axe's one stern sentence, "Don't touch her, or I'll destroy you all!"
Axe's anger was feared by King Zabir and his followers. That's because King Zabir knew his position under Axe. Although both were from the White Tiger demon clan, King Zabir was just an ordinary King who held the Northern region, unlike Axe's leadership level as the Head of the White Tiger Demon Clan in the demon world.
If anxiety was on Axe's side, it was different for Siora.
After the decision to marry Axe, many demons began to secretly peek at Siora as if they wanted to know what kind of human would become King Axe's companion queen.
Today, Siora helped her mother harvest shallots as instructed by Mrs Betty yesterday. However, her work was interrupted when someone called out.
"Siora!" someone called from behind.
"Ah, Stu again," Siora muttered when she saw that Stu had called her.
Stu was Mrs Betty's son who had tried to get close to Siora before the news of Siora and Aiden's marriage broke. Now, he's approaching Siora again because she's single.
Cliff's family is poor, but he has three beautiful and diligent daughters. Siora, Neia, and Maylin can be said to be the Village Flower. So, it was no wonder many men wanted to get close to them.
"Siora, can we go to the back of the garden for a moment? I have something to give you," Stu asked gently and kindly.
'Alright, I'll come along, and while I'm there, I'll tell him my refusal. I'll refuse to go out with him,' Siora said silently.
"Yeah, sure. I have something to say to you, too," replied Siora with a simple smile.
'I have a strange feeling when I'm near him like this. For some reason, the aura I feel on Stu is very creepy.' Siora muttered as she felt strange around Stu.
The innocent Siora thought Stu approached her because he wanted to date her. She was that naive until Siora dared to open her voice to Stu first.
"Stu, I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think I can accept your…'
"You're already alone, right?" Stu cut Siora off while reaching into the pocket of his sweatpants.
"Hmm, yes. But I'm fine, and I don't think we should meet like this." Siora replied reluctantly.
"Really? You don't need anything? Like... protection?" said Stu as he turned to face Siora by raising his hand while opening the folding knife he had just taken out of his pocket.
'Sreeet'
The knife was quickly thrown at Siora and struck her on the cheek. Even Siora realised what Stu had just done to her because of the fast movement.
"Ah, it hurts!" squealed Siora as she touched her cheek, which was stinging.
"Stu, what are you doing... ah, what is this? It's blood…" Siora's speech was cut short when she touched her cheek, which was stinging and oozing. Siora was surprised when her hand was already red with her own blood.
Not answering yet, Stu attacked Siora's body again by strangling Siora strongly.
"I approached you to ask you out, but that reason is not the main one. I want to make you my mate, but you're uncomfortable with me. So, why else would I keep a valuable item like you that could be snatched up by another demon?"
"Demon?" Siora asked silently.
"Are you so stupid you don't know anything about demons, or are you hiding the fact about your relationship with one of the Tiger Demon Clan Chiefs?" Stu said in a half-whisper, tightening his grip around Siora's neck.
"Just so you know, Siora. At first, I was just idly wondering what kind of woman from the human race could make the King want to marry you so much that I was willing to possess this stupid man's body."
The words of Stu, who now admitted to being possessed, left Siora dumbfounded. No one knew her relationship with Axe except the two of them, but who was he to know about that?
The stranglehold on Siora's neck, which was getting stronger, left her with no time to think. The weak woman could only cry, feeling the pain and difficulty breathing.
"Don't you know you're actually a delicacy for demons like us? But I can understand why King Axe wants you. It's because your heart is clean, as clean and beautiful as your face,"
Stu leaned closer to Siora's bleeding face. He sniffed there.
"Hmm, how fragrant the blood of this Moon Fairy's incarnation is. I've only ever smelled blood that smells so good. It must taste very sweet, too." said Stu as if inhaling the most fragrant scent in the world.
"You know what, Siora? Your fragrant blood at this ripe age is not only food for demons. More than that, if our clan leader drinks your blood, then his life will be greatly extended, and if the clan leader eats your flesh, then his strength will increase even more. The human body he uses will always be more youthful!"
"And as for the ordinary demons, they will have a taste too after our clan's Supreme King has had his fill of you. Although what we get is not as much as what our leaders get, it is more than enough. Immortality and more power will make it easier to tempt the human race as we please. Haha!"
Stu laughed demonically as he released his grip from Siora's neck.
Siora coughed as she tried to suck in as much air as possible. Stu's stranglehold almost caused her to suffocate to death.
"But your birth is not just food for the demon nation. You are more useful if you live longer," Stu continued, "By marrying the leader of a demon clan, that demon clan will prosper and become the top clan among the demon clans on this earth. At least for a hundred years to come until the Moon Fairy incarnation is reborn at that time,"
"Y-you, why are you doing this to me? I-I don't understand what you mean! What kind of nonsense are you saying to me?!" with difficulty, Siora raised a voice to answer the ridiculousness that Stu was doing to her.
"I'll explain later after I bring you to my place. I have to save you first. Your fragrant blood is inviting the demon leaders to this place. And that's not a good thing for me right now." Stu responded with his stealthy grin.
Stu's eyes turned red. The knife in his hand fell as his palm opened and visibly stiffened. Siora could see long, sharp, animal-like nails from his fingertips.
"I don't want to die silly by him. I have to run and get out of here!" Siora said to herself and tried to get up to run. But after just a few steps, she fell like she had hit a hard wall.
Siora thought that Stu's silence, which had become more strange with his eye colour changing and his nails growing longer, had caught her off guard. That was completely wrong.
Despite trying a few more steps, with one jump, Stu could reach Siora by grabbing Siora's long hair backwards, and the woman's body tumbled backwards.
"You want to run, huh? No way! Your blood is already smelling all over the place. If it's not with me, then you'll be caught by other demons who might be of a lower level. And if they get you, then there won't be a day you breathe longer because they'll eat you right then and there!"
"I told you I would take you and keep you until the time comes. So don't act rashly, or you'll die in vain!" Stu warned Siora not to try to escape.
"If we're both going to die, why do I have to choose whose hand to die by?! I won't choose to die by any of you! You bastard demons!" Siora shouted and swore. She was not willing to let her life become a piece of meat for the demons to sacrifice.
Stu did not answer as his hands spun to pull and roll Siora's hair back without him bothering to drag Siora closer.
And by the time the roll of hair in Stu's hand had reached the base of the hair, the other hand again grabbed and strangled Siora's neck tightly.
'I've survived all my life with poverty, my father's lack of affection and my failed marriage. But why is it that when I was starting to be happy with my family, I had to die in the hands of a demon nation like you? No. I don't want to!'
Siora could only cry and scream inwardly as her strangled neck grew stronger and breathing became difficult.
'I don't want to die... Help me...' Siora whimpered silently, 'Whoever helps me...' she continued to whimper.
With her eyes closing along with her tears, Siora took the time to mention the name of the person she remembered instantly again.
'Axe... help me...' Siora murmured in fear.