Shortly after Braum approached me, he delivered a report:
"Lady Lilith, reinforcements are coming from the Frizt Kingdom. They'll be here shortly."
"What?! But we didn't call for reinforcements, and even if we had, it would take them days to arrive!"
He had realized something was wrong too. There was unease in his gaze.
I began to think about why they might be here. Each idea was worse than the last. My eyes suddenly widened.
"They're the ones orchestrating this war! They must have struck a deal with Aldas. This can't just be a coincidence."
"But why?! We pay taxes to the kingdom and have declared our loyalty. They have no reason to attack us."
At Braum's words, my eyes narrowed as the image of a blonde-haired, green-eyed man I loathed surfaced in my mind.
"It must be the second prince, Khartza. He proposed marriage to me, and I refused. He's probably seeking revenge."
"But the king wouldn't attack his own marchioness for such a foolish reason. If the nobles found out, they wouldn't stand idly by while he abused his power."
"You're wrong, Braum. All the nobles in the Frizt Kingdom despise us, and the king is so paranoid that he suspected we might betray him. When I rejected the prince's proposal, it gave him a perfect excuse," I said, biting my lip.
Honestly, I had no idea what the second prince saw in me. Short black hair, eyes darker than the night, and a body hardened by battle—features any warrior woman might have. Neither my personality nor my appearance was fit for a queen. I was blunt, overreacted to most situations, and my face was covered in scars from past battles. Even my name, associated with the progenitor of demons, seemed absurd for anyone to love me.
Braum's voice pulled me out of my thoughts:
"Lady Lilith, I recommend we retreat to the city."
"Braum, you know as well as I do that the city walls can't withstand a battle of this scale. If we retreat, they'll burn the city to the ground."
At my words, Braum lowered his head. I understood him. We were in a dire situation.
"We have no other choice. Braum, it's been an honor fighting alongside you."
Braum's eyes glistened as if he might cry, but he quickly nodded and squared his shoulders.
"The feeling is mutual, Lady Lilith."
I gave him a slight nod and turned to my army.
"Soldiers! The Frizt Kingdom has betrayed us, and enemies disguised as reinforcements are closing in behind us. Everyone, launch a full-force attack on the Aldas army and clear a path. Do not look back—just run!"
To have even a sliver of hope, we couldn't allow ourselves to be surrounded. Focusing our efforts on a single front would make resistance easier.
We charged forward at full speed. Braum and I led the vanguard. I cut down the enemies ahead of me as though slicing through branches in a forest. For a brief moment, the sound of the Frizt army grew louder behind us.
'A little faster. More. Even more.'
The wind power within me surged explosively. I could feel my veins swelling, almost bursting. But the results were undeniable. I had become so fast and sharp that the enemy soldiers couldn't see me. As I passed by, their bodies were slashed.
'This is it—we can still fight.'
A glimmer of hope ignited within me, only to be shattered entirely by what I saw.
The Aldas soldiers lying on the ground began to rise, their severed limbs regenerating and open wounds closing rapidly. Only those who had been completely obliterated remained motionless.
"T-THEY'RE DEMONS!"
I didn't know who shouted it, but I could tell at a glance it was true. Each one was undergoing a slow transformation. Black horns sprouted from their heads, wings and tails emerged from their backs, and their skin turned a hardened shade of red.
At last, I had found the source of my unease. Demons. I hated them so much that my instincts had kicked in. I should have realized it sooner, but their clothing, scent, and behavior had all seemed human. There was only one explanation.
I turned to the now-close Frizt army. My gaze locked onto a blonde-haired, green-eyed man.
"Greetings, Lilith. You've become even more beautiful since we last met," he said with a smirk.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have heard him, but as evolution progressed, every sense heightened.
"You're as revolting as ever," I retorted.
"Oh, come now, don't break my heart. Look at all I've done for you. In fact—"
"You performed a ritual, didn't you? That's the only way these vile creatures could appear so human. Tell me, how many humans did you sacrifice for something so foolish?"
"Oh, my! The Demon of the North is quite the saint. I'm sure the people you've killed shed tears for your kindness."
"Don't call me by that cursed nickname! And I don't kill innocent people! Do you think I don't know what demon rituals require?!"
Khartza rolled his eyes and looked at me seriously.
"Why does the life of a few worms matter? I'm willing to burn down entire villages for you. You and your swordsmanship haunt my dreams every night. Even the oldest warriors struggle with dual swords, yet you wield them as if they're extensions of your arms! How could I not covet such a treasure?"
His words made my eyes widen. I had finally understood the source of his obsession. My head throbbed. How someone so foolish had survived this long, I couldn't fathom.
"Haah, so that's the reason for your obsession. It's even more ridiculous than I thought."
Khartza's face twisted at my words.
"Ridiculous, is it? No matter. We don't have much time. Soldiers, attack!"
Just as I was about to leap at them, someone touched my shoulder. I turned to see Ars looking at me silently. His short black hair fell over his eyes, and his once-towering posture seemed hunched.
"Lady Lilith, you must flee."
"Don't mock me! I still—"
"My lady, if you don't escape, a fate worse than death will await you. The prince will use every method to turn you into his puppet. If you fall, so will Ahfar. The nobles will use the people to plunder Ahfar, a city rich in minerals, and do unspeakable things I dare not imagine. But as long as you live, there will be hope for all of us."
"But Ars, if I run now, I'll be abandoning everyone. How can I leave you behind just because I fear the prince?!"
"My lady, this has surpassed you. Everyone in this army has a family. If the lord of Ahfar falls, the fate of our families in the city will be grim. The only thing you can do for us now is to survive and protect our families from those vile nobles."
I couldn't argue against Ars' words. I could imagine what would happen if I fell into the prince's hands. And if I resisted, he could easily threaten me by endangering Ahfar.
"I will avenge you. I won't let you down. I'll destroy this kingdom and make them pay for their betrayal a thousandfold."
My words started as a quiet whisper but grew into a mighty roar. After catching my breath, I turned and ran straight into the forest. I couldn't bear to look at Ars or my army. My head hung low as I ran, tears streaming down my face.
I slapped my cheeks hard and focused on the task ahead. I wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain. When the time came, I would avenge them.
I quickly reviewed the region's features in my mind and increased my speed. In the middle of the forest lay a deep canyon. Perhaps I could lose them there…