For the first time in a century, the Demon King's face went pale. Then it turned ghastly like a white sheet of paper as Sevianna flew closer, pivoting mid-air to expose her wings fully for him to see.
They were real, not illusions.
She was a fallen angel.
Everyone reached this conclusion simultaneously. Their weary hearts trembled and sweat formed on their foreheads. No wonder she had been so confident earlier. No wonder she could meet the Demon King's gaze without flinching.
A fallen angel—one capable of annihilating a country if she ever went berserk. Immune to dark magic and blessed with unparalleled physical strength, even the most skilled martial artist would crumble before her raw power.
While the onlookers stared at Sevianna, torn between fear and awe, the Demon King trembled ever so slightly. His gaze upon her shifted completely. It now held loss, pain, and guilt. He could no longer summon the will to oppose her.
At last, he believed Adounis' words.
He knew.
He knew it was a curse. When angels fell in love with someone outside their kin, their love was tested, and they became fallen. He understood this all too well—because the one he had truly loved had suffered the same fate. They had fallen in love, and she had fallen from grace.
The severity of this curse was amplified by how prideful the angels were. The angel he had loved could not accept her new identity, and—
The Demon King closed his eyes to suppress the pain. She had been so carefree, so lovely, so tender. To him, she burned even brighter than the sun. But because of him, she had chosen to leave the world. It felt like everything had been just a dream.
Unfortunately, Adounis' younger brother served as a constant reminder of his greed—and the fact that she was no longer here.
It felt as though a cold bucket of water had been dumped over him. He had wronged his own son terribly. What a terrible father he had been.
"Forgive me," the Demon King said softly. Even he didn't know to whom he was truly asking for forgiveness—Sevianna, his lover, or his son. But seeing those familiar black wings had stripped him of all his mental strength.
Despite believing he had no right to be forgiven, he couldn't help but ask.
Everyone was stunned speechless by his quiet apology. What had they just heard? Had they gone deaf?! Why was today's banquet so absurd!?
Sevianna glanced dully at the Demon King but neither accepted nor rejected his apology. She seemed too indifferent, too lazy, to acknowledge him. Those who witnessed her reaction couldn't help but feel a flicker of anger rise in their hearts. Even if she was a fallen angel, he was still their Demon King, ah! To insult him was to insult them all!
Yet, to their utter disbelief, the Demon King sighed in relief at Sevianna's response. At the very least, she hadn't rejected him. What he feared most was her anger, for he knew all too well that fallen angels were notorious for their short tempers.
Sevianna turned away from him and cautiously went back to Adounis' side. Her eyes were vigilant, clearly telling him not to touch her wings again.
But for some reason, the more she showed a lively reaction against her wings being touched, the more Adounis wanted to. He'll have to wait for the perfect opportunity though. His stubbornness prevented him from giving up on this amusing discovery.
Sevianna didn't seem to feel assured at his silent affirmation, so she had half of her attention on Adounis while half was spent munching on food for the most part of the banquet.
The birthday party finally officially started and the storm ended. There was still uneasiness in everyone's hearts but they dared not show it in front of the King. Immediately, everyone put on their business smiles and fake laughter as they started to mingle.
Sevianna watched the fiasco from afar. She couldn't find any motivation to be a part of the celebration, so she stayed on the balcony. Adounis, reluctant to be apart from her, was forced to momentarily divert his attention to present his gift to his father.
Sevianna leaned leisurely on the balcony railings.
The moonlight shone on her, and its bright red rays reflected on her off-white dress, creating a striking contrast. People who saw her suddenly found themselves mesmerized. She looked like a beauty bathed in blood and it was such a tempting sight for the devilish personalities present.
"May I know this lady's name?"
A young, androgynous voice brought Sevianna back to reality from her deep thoughts. She looked at Adounis' younger brother and felt a twinge of trouble in her heart.
Sevianna was grateful to this man for granting her the freedom in her original fate. She had confronted him under Brand's command, knowing that only those bearing dual auras held the dreadful power to extinguish others of the same kind.
"Sevianna," she replied, finding her impression of him somewhat favorable, especially since she could sense his dual aura.
He must not have expected her to reply, as his eyes widened in surprise before narrowing with satisfaction. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sevianna. I am Herald," he said, reaching for her hand, clearly intending to kiss it.
However, Sevianna disliked physical touch—except from Adounis. She quickly stepped back, her wings dragging behind her.
Herald's outstretched hand froze midair, his expression shifting into a mix of awkwardness and hopelessness. Was she disgusted by him too?
Sevianna, seemingly oblivious to the effect of her actions, stated plainly, "I don't like physical touch." Her gaze drifted to the garden outside, entirely dismissing Herald's sparkling, hopeful eyes. What was wrong with this guy?
"Sevi~" Adounis called out from the balcony entrance, his voice brimming with warmth. His eyes seemed to sparkle, and his expression was radiant with happiness.
Even when Adounis left her alone, half of his attention remained fixed on Sevianna. So, the moment he saw Herald approach her, he immediately abandoned the prime minister he was speaking with and rushed over. He could never feel at ease leaving her alone—not when he hadn't yet won her heart.
But just as he was only a few steps away, he caught her words.
His heart soared with such elation that, when he called her name, he couldn't help but draw it out sweetly.
Sevianna felt her heart waver. What was wrong with this guy too?! What did they all want from her? Her brows furrowed in annoyance.
Adounis, oblivious to her displeasure, reached out and interlocked their fingers. Under Herald's disbelieving and slightly pained gaze, Adounis gently led Sevianna back into the ballroom.
Sevianna, indifferent as always, didn't resist. She let Adounis do as he pleased.
In the end, it was like this. She might not have been disgusted by him, but it was clear she didn't want any man to touch her—except Adounis. His older brother had claimed she didn't love him, but Herald begged to differ. Her actions spoke louder than any words, a testament to the feelings she harbored for Adounis.
Herald smiled bitterly. He hadn't wanted to oppose his older brother at first. But when he discovered her true identity, his resolve strengthened. He was prepared to fight for her. Yet, as he had suspected all along, their feelings were mutual.
On the dance floor, Adounis turned toward Sevianna and bowed gracefully. "May I have this dance?" he asked, reaching for her hand and brushing a fleeting kiss across the back of it.
Sevianna trembled and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Adounis' grip tightened. She glared at him, her frustration meeting his curved, smiling eyes. Helplessness surged within her as she realized there was no reasoning with someone this stubborn.
With a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumped. "Fine," she muttered in annoyance.
Adounis beamed at her reluctant reply. Without hesitation, he placed one hand around her waist and held her hand with the other—his fingers purposefully brushing against her wings. Sevianna shuddered at the touch, shooting him another loving glare. Adounis met her irritation with a sugary sweet smile, then gently led the red-faced girl into a slow dance.
The orchestra, ever attentive, noticed the Prince leading his lady to the floor. Without missing a beat, they shifted from lively jazz to a slow, classic melody, with a violin taking the lead in the accompaniment.
Sevianna's face burned with a mix of anger and embarrassment. She might have been the Chieftain's daughter, but she had always been treated coldly, left to fend for herself in the shadows of society. Social etiquette was a foreign concept to her. Her presence in the ballroom tonight had been guided purely by instinct.
But this? This was different.
She didn't know how to dance!
Adounis quickly noticed her sloppy steps. Amusement danced in his eyes as he pulled her even closer—practically lifting her slightly so that the flat soles of her shoes rested on his feet.
Sevianna's eyes widened in surprise. The unexpected gesture left her momentarily stunned, so much so that she failed to notice how close they had become. Their faces were mere inches apart. Her cold heart softened, and before she realized it, she had subconsciously leaned her head against his chest.
Adounis' heart began to race, each beat loud and frantic.
Sevianna could hear it clearly.
The Demon King observed the scene from afar, his gaze tinged with sadness but also faintly alight with hope. If he couldn't win the love of his life, perhaps his son could find the happiness that had eluded him. Regret weighed heavily on his mind. Why hadn't he investigated more thoroughly before acting?
He silently vowed to ensure nothing would interfere with their future.
Then, he paused.
Was it too late for him and Herald?
"Your Majesty!" A man in his late thirties, with dark green hair, stood before the Demon King, his brows furrowed in dissatisfaction.
The Demon King narrowed his eyes dangerously. He knew there would always be those who wouldn't let his son have his way—especially this ambitious individual. "What?" he snapped, his tone icy.
The prime minister was momentarily startled by the curt response. "My own daughter came home on the brink of death. Isn't Prince Adounis going to take responsibility for this?" He had planned to confront Adounis earlier, but before he could speak, the prince had swiftly left to return to the girl. He needed to ensure his daughter became part of Adounis' harem before the fallen angel interfered—or it would be too late. The prime minister knew his limits; he understood he had nothing to match against a fallen angel.
How could the Demon King fail to understand his thoughts? But the King had already wronged the girl from the very beginning, and he knew making another mistake would be a sign of disrespect to his lover.
The Demon King's expression darkened as he scrutinized the prime minister, his mind already calculating the best course of action.
"Jaquis, you are said to be the second strongest."
The Demon King's voice was cold, but Jaquis didn't notice, for he was being praised by the Demon King himself. "I am not worthy. I am not worthy. His Majesty is the strongest."
A sneer escaped the Demon King's lips. This fool didn't even try to deny it and merely proclaimed he was still number one. Then, he grinned from ear to ear.
"Perfect timing. I heard the Lychnus Kingdom just sent a hero to kill me. Why don't you wait for him at the border?" he said unhurriedly, observing Jaquis' expression turn from delight to pallor in a split second.
"Y—Y—Your M—Majesty?" Go to the border? Jaquis didn't mind being tasked with a mission—it was normal. But what terrified him was the Demon King's request for him to go to the border! This was essentially banishing him!
The Demon King didn't spare him another glance, raising his hand to seal Jaquis' fate.