The northern frontier had always been turbulent, but only once every few decades did the Abyssal Veins stir. Sohag sensed the disturbance long before any scout reported it. His divine senses—still sealed, still muted—flickered like embers beneath the surface. Something was watching him.
Not hostile.
But… intensely interested.
That was usually worse.
He sat beneath the ancient pine on the palace training grounds, lazily chewing a sweet apple, doing absolutely nothing productive—
which of course meant he was growing stronger.
His eldest sister, Princess Lysandra, sighed as she watched him float slightly above the ground.
"Little brother, how do you get stronger while resting? I've trained ten years to levitate and you do it while eating fruit!"
Sohag blinked.
"…Convenient."
She slapped her forehead.
"I swear, I should have joined your harem sooner. Maybe then I'd get this kind of cheat."
He choked on his apple. "S–Sis, not now."
But before Lysandra could tease him more, the sky tore open.
A rift.
Purple flames.
A magic pressure so thick the knights fainted instantly.
Lysandra tensed. "Sohag. Behind me."
He stood, brushing dust from his clothes.
"…No need."
From the rift descended a young woman—silver horns, flame-like hair, obsidian armor, and eyes glowing like amethysts.
A demon.
No—something higher.
She landed gracefully, one knee touching the ground, head bowed.
"Successor of the Primordial God…"
Her voice trembled softly.
"…I, Princess Velra Nightflame, Third Princess of the Demon Realm, greet my destined master."
Lysandra almost drew her sword. "Master?!"
Sohag froze.
"Why me?"
Velra looked up, cheeks pink despite her fierce appearance.
"Because the moment you were born, every abyssal creature felt your presence. You are the future ruler of all realms. My father—the Demon King—commanded me to observe you. But I…"
Her tail curled nervously.
"…fell in love instead."
Lysandra: "Fell—in—love—?! When? How?!"
Velra's eyes softened.
"I watched him from afar during my missions here. The way he walks slowly, talks softly, looks away shyly… He is too cute. Too precious."
She clenched her fists.
"When he shyly thanked a maid two years ago, I nearly fainted! How can anyone be this powerful yet this adorable?!"
Lysandra stared at Sohag.
"…Is that really what you look like to people?"
He hid his face behind his sleeve.
"…Stop."
Velra stood, stepping forward carefully, reverently.
"I have come to pledge myself to your side. As warrior, as protector… and if you'll accept me…"
Her cheeks deepened in color.
"…as part of your future household."
Lysandra's eyes widened.
"So—another one?!"
Velra nodded with complete seriousness.
"I will not fight the others. I know my place. I only ask for the honor of serving him."
Sohag looked away, flustered.
"…I don't need anyone to serve me."
Velra smiled gently.
"I know. That is why I'm choosing to stay."
The wind blew softly.
The air calmed.
But at that moment—
a dark shadow swept past the courtyard.
Someone… watching.
Velra immediately summoned a black flame blade.
Lysandra unsheathed her sword.
Sohag narrowed his eyes, expression sharpening.
The lazy prince was gone for an instant—replaced by something far older.
"…Come out."
A voice echoed from the shadows.
Cold.
Familiar.
Ancient.
"So the successor has begun gathering his pillars."
Velra trembled.
"That voice… impossible…"
Lysandra swallowed hard.
"Who… is that?"
The figure stepped forward—
But the chapter ends here.
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