Princess Aliynn POV
I watched the deep red liquid drip from the knife I had concealed. My eyes lazily drifted from my brother's body… then to my parents.
My arm—stone-still until now—began to tremble despite my convictions.
I needed to kill them. But despite my disdain, they still shared my blood. I wasn't exactly pleased with the method of death, nor with what the next stages of the plan would require.
"My princess—no, I suppose now my queen... Shall we proceed?"
Mark's tone was casual. It always struck me as strange, considering his nature—but I suppose that's what happens when you work with a devil instead of some lesser demon. He was a master of deception. I knew he probably intended to use me for his own ends. But little did he know—I was doing the same to him. Or rather, It. I wasn't sure devils even had a gender.
"I—I promise I won't fail you, my queen."
...came the simpering voice of none other than the medical director. I needed a witness—someone expendable—to help solidify my claim. I glanced at him, gave a curt nod, and shifted my gaze toward the door. He already knew his role in this. Without another word, he rushed off to find Kushim. I needed him to convince that kindly instructor to break the rules—just enough to justify the final phase of the plan.
I looked over at Mark, holding his gaze for a moment.
A long breath escaped me as I shook out the last of my nervous tension.
"Yes. Let's get this over with. I don't want to waste any more time than necessary on this."
I walked to the edge of the viewing platform and looked down. Edric was locked in battle with the lich—and losing. Not by much, but it was clear he couldn't truly hurt it.
"My queen… if you would wish it, this lowly servant has a suggestion…"
His voice was close—just over my shoulder.
"You have my permission to speak,"
I replied, my voice strong and steady. Just like a true ruler's voice should be. Just like my father's voice had been.
"Thank you, my queen. You see, Edric is struggling not due to skill, but due to the very nature of the lich. If the fight continues as it is, he will eventually lose. He's unable to fully tap into the gifts bestowed upon him. But fortunately… It seems something has changed. He's no longer as restricted. So, might I suggest… we offer the bodies of your family to him?"
I turned sharply toward Mark, my face twisted in confusion and annoyance.
"Offer the bodies of royalty to him? Need I remind you that dead or not, they are still of royal blood. And he is a slave. One I want—but still a slave. So explain yourself, carefully."
I was ready to unleash my fury over such a grievous overstep.
"Your Highness… Edric is not unlike the lich. He consumes souls to grow stronger. Though his method is different, the result is the same. Your family's souls—royal as they are—would be cleansed and reborn through a Deva. That… is considered one of the highest honors possible, my queen."
"Mmm… I see."
I turned my gaze to the lifeless bodies slumped where I had left them. They still bore the expressions they died with. Confusion on my mother's and brother's faces. But my father… There was something else. Something close to disappointment. I couldn't quite name it, but it lingered.
As I spoke, the crowd erupted with cheers. My eyes snapped toward the arena. Kushim had entered the fight. A smile curved my lips. That was perfect timing. He was swiftly arrested—and because the plan already accounted for his presence here, a new idea bloomed in my mind.
My royal guards—loyal to me and me alone—dragged Kushim into the viewing chamber moments later.
He didn't fight. But the horror in his expression when he saw the corpses… It was genuine.
"Gods above! What have you done?!"
He shouted. But no one could hear him. The chamber was sealed, and those present offered no answer. I looked back down. Edric was nearly beneath the viewing box now.
"Mark. Do it."
Then I turned to Kushim.
"Alas… dear Kushim. It's not what I did. It's what you did. Oh, such a tragedy—how you smuggled in a blade… And in a crazed, fevered rage, murdered the royal family. Well—almost. Thanks to my brave guards and loyal retainer, you failed to kill me…"
I didn't bother looking at him after that. My guards would handle it. Instead, I turned my focus to the aftermath of what I had done. I stepped toward the ledge of the viewing box and looked down. What I saw left me stunned.
Edric...
He was engulfed in flames—or rather, a faint outline of flame that had taken on substance. What began as a vague shimmer had become very much real.
His head was veiled in fire that flowed like water, cascading down in waves. Above it, a halo of light hovered—brilliant and beautiful. From his back, two massive wings unfurled, glowing reddish-orange like those of a mighty hawk. Embers and ash drifted steadily from their feathers, falling like burning snow.
I felt something inside me tremble.
He had always been unique—but now… now he was divinely beautiful. I forgot any pain or hesitation over my actions. All that remained was want—no, more like a need. I desired him more now than ever.
This transformation had done more than change his appearance. It had seemed to empower him. He fought the lich again, just as before—but this time, he could hurt it. Wound it. His strikes left lasting damage, and the lich… faltered. And then, after only a few blows, it just… died?
I'm not even sure that's the right word. A creature like that doesn't simply die, but whatever it was… it lost. Easily. And Edric just stood there afterward—still, silent, unmoving. Almost like he couldn't believe it either or something like that.