The world had been at peace for a long time, but this peace had only been achieved through the sacrifices of the planets, generation after generation.
"The planets have begun to appear," Duke Pristan announced with solemn seriousness.
A few silent moments passed before the Emperor calmly closed his eyes and offered a faint smile. "The time has indeed come." He then turned his gaze toward the void and spoke in a calm, resolute voice. "I've lived long enough and done everything in my power to preserve this Empire... It's time for me to rest as well."
The Duke spoke in an assessing tone. "You still have time. Only one of them has appeared so far."
The Emperor pondered for a moment before replying cautiously, "Then who is this planet?"
The Duke answered confidently, "It's Lucia Pristan, my only daughter."
The Emperor fell silent for a moment before a fleeting smile appeared on his face. "That girl... I knew her abilities were exceptional. No wonder she's the first chosen one."
The Duke added with measured seriousness, "But that's not the only reason I came... At my daughter Lucia's request, I will support the First Prince, Adrian. Even if he isn't the Crown Prince, I'll make him the one who holds the power to decide."
Curiosity appeared on the Emperor's face. "There was no opportunity for Lucia to meet Adrian. When did she get to know him?"
The Duke replied with calm determination, "They were together over the past few days, and she returned just a short while ago."
The Emperor remained silent for a moment before speaking in a cold, sharp tone. "Everyone wants Adrian... I can understand the nobles' insistence. They're clinging to baseless rumors like complete fools."
He fixed the Duke with a deep, scrutinizing gaze. "But I wouldn't expect you to believe something that hasn't been proven. On top of that, you want to support him simply because your daughter asked you to? Do you trust her that much, or have you lost your judgment?"
A cold smile appeared on the Duke's face. "Perhaps... but time will prove that His Highness, the First Prince, is not someone to be underestimated."
He bowed slightly and added in a calm, formal tone, "Then, allow me to take my leave now, with my wishes for your continued good health... until the very end."
The Duke turned and left the office, leaving the Emperor alone to silently swallow his anger.
The Emperor whispered inwardly, his expression growing stern. "Now that the first planet has appeared... it means I don't have much time left."
The Emperor was well aware of the truth, bitter as it was. The planets were born with abilities that distinguished them from all other humans, and they were granted lifespans exceeding a hundred years, while their youthful appearances remained untouched by time.
But everything must come to an end. Every hundred years, five new planets appear. With their arrival, the roles of the old planets come to an end. Their abilities begin to fade gradually, and their attributes betray them one after another, before they are afflicted by a deadly disease that tears their bodies apart until their souls finally go out.
The Emperor was the only planet who had remained alive for a hundred years. As for the other four planets... they had fallen during the war between humans and demons.
~~~
At the Count's residence.
Night had fallen, and the stars shone in the darkness of the sky. The atmosphere was quiet, and the gentle, cold breeze struck Adrian's face with a cruel tenderness.
Adrian stood in the middle of the garden, gazing calmly at the sky, as though the stars alone could tell the tales of the past.
He whispered with a hint of sadness, "Diana... I hate myself for still being able to live without you. I hate that I'm no longer angry for your sake."
"Perhaps what Lucia said is true... Perhaps I'm devoid of emotions."
"When I was reading books at the old woman's house, Lucia told me that Leo had eaten the contaminated food. Isn't that foolish? He killed himself for Lily and Bill."
"Is this what family is like? I envy them."
"If only I could kill myself, but I still want to live. So forgive me... I'll continue my revenge for your sake."
Several silent minutes passed before he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Adrian immediately recognized who they belonged to; those hesitant footsteps could belong to no one else.
Adrian spoke in a steady tone without turning around. "What do you want?"
Freddy trembled with fear.
"I... I..."
He couldn't finish his sentence, so Adrian took a step forward as though he were about to leave.
Freddy shouted hurriedly, "Wait, please!" He bowed hastily, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry! I deserve to die, Your Highness... I wronged you. I thought the prince was nothing but a demon, just as everyone says, and I'm ashamed that I believed those rumors."
Adrian stared at him in silence, noticing the bandages and bruises covering Freddy's body. He immediately understood that Albert hadn't let the matter pass without consequences.
Adrian spoke in a completely indifferent tone. "Go back inside... You'll get sick."
Then he continued walking without looking back, leaving Freddy standing where he was.
~~~
The place had been bustling with noise since early morning.
Lucia seemed unusually nervous and hurried as she rushed to get ready to leave.
She exclaimed excitedly, "I'm all ready! I'm leaving now!!"
Duke Pristan stopped her, looking at her in bewilderment. "What in the name of hell are you wearing?!"
Lucia was wearing a lightly embroidered white shirt, black trousers, and a black jacket adorned with gold along the edges and shoulders. She looked more like a young nobleman than a girl, and her appearance was hardly fitting for one.
She laughed confidently. "What do you think? Isn't it beautiful?"
The Duke furrowed his brows in annoyance. "This is inappropriate. Go change."
Lucia gasped in disappointment. "Whyyy?! It's beautiful!!"
The Duke repeated in an angry tone, "Go change!"
Lucia pouted and lowered her head, then turned around, entered her room, and closed the door. But she soon smiled mischievously, opened the window, and jumped out of it, laughing.
She climbed into the carriage and ordered the driver to set off, while the Duke noticed what she had done and shouted her name in a fit of furious madness, but he couldn't catch up with her.
Lucia was overjoyed at the thought of finally going to see Adrian.
She happily talked to herself. "He allowed me to call him Ray, so I should be happy... But I won't!"
"I'll call him Adrian, just like Albert does!"
She placed one hand over her heart and ran the other through her hair, her expression filled with emotion. "That's why I dressed up so nicely this time. He definitely won't refuse. I'm just a young nobleman who has become his close friend."
Three hours later...
"Whaaaat?!!! Are you saying he's already left?!" Lucia shouted in shock and disappointment.
Albert replied, "That's right. He left this morning."
Lucia asked hurriedly, "Where did he go? He must have told you! I'll just go after him, so tell me where he's headed!"
Albert answered, resting a hand on his chin. "He didn't tell me. He only said he was going to investigate something, and he didn't allow me to accompany him either."
Lucia collapsed in despair. "No waaay... After I dressed up like this! Why did he leave?!"
Albert whispered with an amused smile of understanding, "I was going to ask why you were wearing those clothes... but now I understand."
~~~
Where not a single bird could be heard and not a trace of life could be felt, Adrian emerged from the depths of the forest and stood before the barrier.
He glanced around. Traces of his blood were still smeared across the ground.
He whispered inwardly, "It was real... but it felt like a dream."
He turned his gaze back toward the barrier and reached out to touch it.
"I never intended to return here, but I have to learn the truth. Even though it was just a fleeting feeling, my heart beat strangely when I heard the name 'Naraka.' And the words of the Lord of Magic... I can't ignore them."
His words echoed through his mind like a distant reverberation:
"You resemble Naraka very much."
"It's not about your appearance..."
"What is a demon doing in the human world?"
"Naraka no longer exists... He disappeared a long time ago."
Adrian's eyes gleamed with unwavering determination. He gathered his thoughts, then lifted his foot and stepped to the other side of the barrier.
"The answer I'm searching for... will undoubtedly be here, in the Demon Kingdom."