"Why are you suddenly interested in a celebrity?" Nina asked curiously. "Are you a fan of Calin Ricci? She's been going wild lately, always trending online, and chased endlessly by paparazzi."
"I met her recently at a gathering," Yeri replied nonchalantly.
Nina's curiosity immediately ignited. After all, with Yeri's engagement to Shin Keir, it was natural she'd cross paths with powerful figures and celebrities.
"Is she really as pretty as everyone says? Who else did you meet?"
Yeri pondered for a moment when her phone suddenly vibrated.
Out of habit, she swiped the screen then instantly regretted it.
[Come out.]
This scoundrel had disappeared for days, and now he suddenly had the audacity to summon her?
Why doesn't he just drop dead? Yeri cursed inwardly.
She was about to ignore the message when Shin sent another one.
[Come out. Or should I pick you up myself?]
Yeri felt her scalp prickle. Was he planning to climb the dorm building again?
Before, she might have panicked. But this time, she wasn't alone.
Would he dare?
[We're having group study. Go ahead and climb up, let everyone see what a hooligan you are.]
Nina noticed her frowning as she typed.
"Is it your parents?"
Yeri shook her head. After sending the message, she turned off her phone without hesitation.
---
Outside, Shin stared at the screen. Slowly, his lips curved into an amused smile.
The auction items had arrived earlier that day. He'd intended to surprise her only to hear from her nanny that she was staying at the school dorm.
Recalling how he'd once overheard her complaining to the nanny about being overwhelmed with her studies, she really must be with her classmates.
With a sigh, he tried calling her.
Straight to voicemail.
Shin: "…"
She must still be furious about what happened.
That night, he hadn't been able to control himself. Jealousy had consumed him completely.
Shin knew Yeri had used her ability on him. Not only had it confirmed that she truly carried memories of her past life, but it had also disturbed something far more dangerous, something dormant, something he had buried deep within himself.
The madness surged uncontrollably, breaking through every restraint. And that was how he ended up crossing that line with her.
Even now, days later, he struggled to reclaim his sanity. He wanted her, all of her. To lock her away from the world. To have her belong only to him. To let her see only him, hear only him, speak only to him.
Her life, her world... everything should revolve around him.
The longer he stayed by her side, the harder it became to suppress his true nature.
He could still hear his own voice echoing within the vast corridors of his mind.
"It is what she owes me… Jewel owes me."
Sitting silently in his car, Shin pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the glow briefly illuminating his eyes in the darkness.
He made no move to drive away.
His gaze lingered upon the distant night, and in its obsidian depths he was dragged back into the past.
Back to the Demon Realm, to memories steeped in blood and shadow...
"My Empress," Emperor Hexion drawled with a lazy grin, though the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed something far colder, "can I not spend a single night with you without you attempting to kill me?"
Jewel stood at the edge of the bed, fingers curled around the hilt of a sword, no one knew where she had acquired it. The blade hovered a breath away from his heart, poised to pierce.
She smiled sweetly, wide-eyed and innocent, as though she truly did not understand his accusation.
"Hexi's ability can restore anything," she said lightly, tilting her head. "Even yourself. How could this be considered trying to kill you? Jewel merely wished to see how formidable your powers truly are."
A low smirk curved Emperor Hexion's lips. With the casual flick of a finger, the sword dissolved into nothingness, scattering like ash upon the air.
"I could also choose otherwise," he murmured.
Jewel only blinked, her expression untroubled.
"Help me prepare," he said, rising from the bed and gesturing toward his robes.
Jewel complied happily, as she always did, her fingers deft as she adjusted his attire.
"Hexi~ are the delegates arriving today?"
Sensing mischief beneath her sing-song tone, his eyes narrowed. "Do not cause trouble. Remain within your chambers."
She nodded obediently.
Emperor Hexion lifted a hand and caressed the exquisite face that had led many former emperors to their downfall, then pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips.
"Jewel," he commanded softly, "say you love me."
Jewel raised her gaze and smiled. "I love Hexi~ the most."
However, not a trace of sincerity lingered in her eyes, but it was enough for him.
---
The palace soon bustled with activity as delegations from east and west arrived. Demon knights patrolled endlessly, their armor ringing through the halls, while nobles streamed through the towering gates.
Within the grand council chamber, the Council of Elders gathered, led by the Emperor himself, to deliberate matters of state.
From afar, a demon knight came rushing toward the palace, his face drained of all color, terror etched deep into his features.
Paris Helle, standing at the Emperor's side as his general, intercepted him.
Upon hearing the report, Paris's expression darkened. After only a moment's hesitation, he leaned close and whispered into the Emperor's ear.
The vast hall grew stifling.
Emperor Hexion's aura erupted, vast and oppressive, flooding the chamber like a tidal wave of malice. Those of lesser power collapsed instantly, agony tearing through them as though thousands of ravenous beasts gnawed at their souls.
Paris cleared his throat carefully. "Your Majesty… restrain yourself. At this rate, the hall will become an unintentional slaughter."
Only then did Hexion retract his aura, yet by then, many had already fallen, including several foreign delegates.
"Speak," he commanded, his voice laced with barely contained fury.
The reporting knight dropped to one knee, trembling violently.
"Y-Your Majesty… there have been widespread reports of demons suffering horrific illusions. The capital is in chaos. Despite our efforts, we cannot restrain those affected."
"They are trapped within their greatest fears," Paris added grimly. "Their nightmares have taken form. Many are grievously injured, some have begun attacking indiscriminately. Crime and madness run rampant."
Hexion slammed his hand against the armrest of his throne. Before he could speak, another knight burst into the chamber, his face pallid with disbelief.
"R-Reporting to Your Majesty! We have discovered the source and a possible culprit!"
Hexion gestured for him to continue, but the knight choked, struggling to breathe beneath the Emperor's oppressive presence.
"Your Majesty," Paris interjected calmly, "he is here to report, not to die."
Hexion shot Paris Helle a murderous glare, silently questioning why such frail creatures were even allowed to serve him.
Terrified, the knight scrambled backward before continuing.
"T-The palace mages have determined the source to be the water supply. A forbidden method, stolen from a sealed tome was used- "
"Enough riddles," Hexion snapped. "Speak plainly."
The knight bowed even lower. "Yes, Your Majesty! A grimoire guarded by the palace mages was stolen. A forbidden ritual was conducted at the highest tower, but only demons with mental affinities could perform it. With the proper ingredients mixed into the water, even high-ranking demons become defenseless against the illusions. As for the culprit- we are uncertain, but we have brought- according- "
The knight's words devolved into incoherent rambling, his terror palpable. Hexion waved his hand dismissively, sending him flying out of the hall like a discarded rag.
"Bring them in."
A moment later, a group of knights entered, dragging a small demon who struggled violently in their grasp.
Hexion's eyes narrowed as he regarded the writhing figure.
The knights set the little demon down. The instant he broke free, three radiant orbs erupted into the air, morphing into vicious serpents, scales gleaming black, crimson, and gold, lunging straight toward the Emperor.
Without so much as flinching, the serpents froze midair.
A sickening chorus of cracking bone echoed through the hall as the little demon screamed in agony.
In the next instant, the serpents were severed into countless fragments, raining down like filth upon the marble floor.
With a flick of his finger, the little demon was yanked violently into Hexion's grasp. He seized him by the hair, suppressing his abilities entirely.
"Had I known you would be such a nuisance," Hexion said coldly, "I would never have ordered the palace mages to create a demon from Jewel and myself."
Prince Xati glared at him, feet dangling helplessly. Against the Emperor, he was nothing more than prey awaiting slaughter.
Paris Helle stiffened. 'Ordered' was a generous word, when Hexion had given the mages a choice: obedience or death.
"Xati," Hexion continued, "you dared to steal a forbidden tome and perform a ritual of this magnitude. Even as my offspring, did you truly believe I would spare you?"
"You have no proof!" Xati shrieked. "Put me down, you ugly demon!"
His limbs flailed uselessly. The destruction of his three orbs caused their soul essence to recoil into his body. Golden blood seeped from his nose and lips.
"Paris," Hexion said quietly, a sinister glint in his eyes, "summon the Empress."
If only mental demons could perform the ritual, then a little demon alone could never have accomplished this.
"What substance was found in the water?" he asked.
"A red liquid, Your Majesty," a knight replied.
Hexion rose slowly, his presence darkening. He slung Xati over his arm as though he weighed nothing.
At the edge of the Abyss, demons trembled, unable to draw any closer.
Just as Hexion moved to cast the screaming, cursing Xati into the void, a delicate, frantic voice rang out.
"Hexi! What are you doing?!"
Jewel rushed forward, her face pale with fear, pulling Xati into her arms. "Were you about to throw him in? How could you?!"
Xati clung to her, sobbing. "Empress Mother! He killed my serpents! I hate him! I hate him!"
Hexion remained silent, his gaze fixed upon them.
"My Empress," he chuckled softly, "I surrounded you with servants and knights so you could never escape the palace again. Yet I neglected one little menace."
His eyes gleamed with cruel certainty.
"That peculiar red blood of yours is a poison capable of corrupting any mind, even that of a high-ranking demon. To plunge the capital into such pandemonium… only you possess such power. Xati merely followed your bidding."
Jewel fell silent.
Without hesitation, Hexion easily reclaimed Xati from her grasp.
"For multiple crimes and the suffering of my subjects," he declared coldly, "the Abyss is the only punishment fit for his atonement."