As he finally seated himself upon the throne, an air of unease lingered in the grand ballroom—a silent reminder of the power he held over them all. The flickering candles seemed to dim beneath his presence, shadows stretching just a little farther along the marble floor.
The upper-ranked demon royals lined up before him and dropped to one knee in unison. There were eight of them in total—four boys and four girls—each radiating power in their own distinct way.
The first was a boy with striking black eyes and dark blue hair. His gaze was intense, sharp enough to feel as though it could pierce straight through one's soul. The deep hues of his hair contrasted starkly against his pale complexion, adding to his enigmatic appearance.
"Prince Ariel of the Serpentine Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," he said.
Beside him stood Laurel.
"Princess Laurel of the Saphyren Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," she greeted with practiced grace.
Next was another boy—a striking figure with fiery red hair that seemed to dance beneath the chandelier light. His hazel-green eyes sparkled with intensity, swirling like deep emerald pools that drew one in.
"Prince Andrew of the Arakidos Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," he greeted.
Beside him was Princess Aria herself.
"Princess Aria of the Nephridia Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," she said, her voice calm and dignified.
Next to Aria stood another boy. His piercing blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, drawing others in with their quiet intensity. Lavender hair framed his face, lending him an air of whimsy and uniqueness—a true embodiment of individuality and beauty.
"Prince Caleb of the Delphinia Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," he said.
Beside him stood a girl whose presence was nothing short of captivating. Her eyes were the color of deep red wine, rich and expressive, as though they held an entire universe of emotion within them. Long lashes framed that striking gaze, fluttering softly. Her soft pink hair cascaded down her back in a waterfall of curls.
"Princess Nyx of the Inamorta Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," she greeted.
Next was the boy who had pleaded on their behalf at Laurel's birthday party. Mystery radiated from his sharp features. His eyes were dark as midnight, deep and unreadable, while his light blue hair fell in loose waves like strands of cotton candy caught in the wind.
"Prince Asriel of the Serpentine Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," he said.
The final figure was Lyra.
She had mesmerizing amethyst-colored eyes that sparkled with hidden wisdom. Flowing platinum-blonde hair cascaded down her back like spun gold, her porcelain skin glowing softly beneath the lights.
"Princess Lyra of the Serpentine Kingdom greets His Majesty, the crowned prince," she said, a bright smile gracing her lips.
"Rise," he commanded.
They rose together.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," they chorused.
"My father apologizes for not being able to grace you with his presence," the crowned prince began calmly. "Something came up that required his immediate attention, so I stand here on his behalf. As for why you were all summoned on such short notice—the demon council has discovered that a power capable of destroying us has been born."
"What?!"
"Does this mean our enemies have finally obtained a weapon capable of destroying us?"
"Fear not, my dearest subjects," he said evenly. "It has not yet been determined whether this power belongs to a witch or a demon. If it is a witch, we will ensure it is eliminated before it falls into enemy hands."
"And if it is a demon?"
"Lucky us, then," he replied smoothly. "We will do everything in our power to find and nurture it. Whoever discovers this individual will be rewarded."
A murmur rippled through the hall.
"With that said, I am officially announcing the ongoing hunt for the source of this power. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the demon council immediately. Any useful information will guarantee a reward from the King himself. So prove yourselves useful."
He paused, then gestured.
"Now—let the ritualdance commence."
Princess Aria stepped forward.
She took the dance floor, her movements graceful and hypnotic as shadows swirled around her. As she danced, she began to recite incantations—ancient words laced with magic that pulsed through the air.
The dance ritual was sacred, performed on the birthdays of all demon princesses. The princess began alone, dancing and reciting spells. She was then joined by her fiancé. After that, the other princesses and their fiancés followed—until finally, the crowned prince ended the ritual with his chosen partner.
As Aria continued, Prince Andrew approached and stopped before her. He extended his hand.
She halted mid-turn and placed her hand in his with elegant ease. He pulled her close, and together they began to dance.
The ballroom filled with a pulsating rhythm as their bodies moved in perfect synchrony. They twirled and swayed, magnetically drawn to one another. Aria's hair cascaded down her back as she spun, her gaze locked with Andrew's in a fiery exchange.
As the music intensified, so did their movements—more passionate, more urgent. Andrew's hands settled firmly on her waist as they moved as one, every step charged with raw, primal energy that seemed to ignite the very air around them.
Soon, other pairs joined the dance floor, moving in rhythm as the ritual expanded.
"Where is Rylan?" Sabrina asked quietly.
"I think he's somewhere around here," Nikki replied—just as a boy approached.
At the same moment, the crowned prince rose from his throne and began walking toward Nikki.
"Nikki, why don't you let Rylan dance with Alison?" Amber whispered.
"Are you crazy?" Nikki hissed. "If the other demons see my sister dancing with my fiancé during the ritual, I could get killed."
"I was just kidding," Amber said with a grin.
"Don't joke about things like that," Nikki sighed.
A boy stepped before them.
"Greetings, Queen Sabrina," he said.
"What took you so long, Rylan?" Sabrina asked.
"I apologize for my tardiness, my queen," he replied with a smile.
"Take Nikki and join the dance ritual," Sabrina commanded.
"Yes, my queen. Nikki, let's go."
"I'll be right back, Amber," Nikki said, smiling.
"Have fun out there."
Nikki and Rylan moved toward the dance floor—only to stop short.
The crowned prince stood before them.
"If you don't mind, Queen of the Middle Chamber," he said smoothly, "I'd like to make a request."
"Prince Lucian?" Sabrina asked, surprise flashing across her face.
With one hand placed behind his back, the crowned prince bowed slightly and extended his right hand toward Nikki.
"May I have the honor of dancing with you?"