“Hoo. Do you desire power?”
Could it be… has she realized that Desmond is inside the doll?
I nervously held the doll tightly in my arms. Even Desmond, who would usually whine about feeling suffocated, stayed completely silent—perhaps he was nervous too.
Just as I was stiffening up with the unusually rigid Desmond in my arms—
“The doll… is rather dirty.”
“……”
“Would it be alright to gift a doll to a child?”
At the Empress Dowager’s words, I let out a breath I’d been holding.
Thank goodness. She hadn’t noticed.
Relieved, I loosened my grip around the doll.
“It would be the highest honor if it came from Your Majesty.”
“Very well. I’ll see that it’s sent soon.”
The Empress Dowager smiled softly and turned her head. Then she spoke in a gentle tone.
“Crown Prince, could we speak alone for a moment?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Dantellion nodded and cast a brief glance our way. Veronica, catching the signal, bowed while holding me.
“Then we’ll take our leave. Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
“Yes, travel safely.”
“We will.”
Veronica answered softly, then looked at Dantellion one last time.
He smiled and said,
“I’ll be in touch, Lady.”
“…Yes.”
A faint blush colored Veronica’s cheeks as she nodded shyly. Narrowing my eyes, I watched her.
“Phew, I thought we were caught.”
As we exited the room, I let out a sigh of relief. That was definitely not something I ever wanted to go through again.
[Hmph. Of course. No matter how ancient a demon she may be, she can’t compare to the Great Demon Lord’s power!]
…
Says the one who was scared out of his wits.
I quietly stared at Desmond, who was pretending to be bold. Avoiding my gaze, he looked off in another direction.
Still…
Veronica had seemed out of it for a while now. She was clearly thinking about Dantellion.
At this point, I had no choice but to acknowledge their relationship.
It looked like Veronica had feelings for him too.
My chest didn’t burn with jealousy like it did when I saw them embracing…
but it still left me feeling a bit bitter.
Had I, without realizing it, started to think of Veronica as my mother? Even though she wasn’t really Claudia…
Feeling gloomy, I wriggled deeper into Veronica’s embrace.
“My sweet Dia, you must be very tired.”
“Mmm.”
“Go ahead and sleep until we arrive.”
Still lost in thought, Veronica gently patted my shoulder. That warmth finally let me relax.
[Master! Don’t worry. You still have me!]
[That’s right! Some ancient demon isn’t even worth our time!]
Apparently thinking I was distressed over the Empress Dowager and the ancient demon, Desmond and Bibi began boasting loudly, trying to sound tough.
I let out a small laugh and gave them a slight nod.
Regardless, learning that the Empress Dowager had made a contract with a demon was a huge discovery.
Maybe I could use this to my advantage…
As the carriage rattled along, I fell into deep thought.
“Hoo…”
Late at night, finally alone, Dantellion sat on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
It had been a long day. Ever since he challenged Marquis Lionel to a duel, the entire capital had been abuzz with gossip.
People came to see him nonstop, and among those he met today were some truly unpleasant individuals.
“…A snake of a woman.”
He muttered, recalling those gleaming orange eyes.
Some called the Empress Dowager’s eyes warm and softly burning like a gentle flame,
but to Dantellion, they were anything but.
Eyes filled with filth and corruption—just looking at them made him feel nauseated.
“Are you still determined to duel Lionel?”
She had asked, feigning concern.
But Dantellion knew her intentions better than anyone.
If he showed any sign of backing down from the duel, she would throw him to Cedric bound hand and foot.
From the moment he became Crown Prince, his life had constantly been under threat from that woman.
And yet, she could pretend in front of others, acting as if she were worried—it was almost impressive in its brazenness.
“…But you’re becoming more and more like him. It’s as if he’s come back to life.”
…
The “him” she referred to was Dantellion’s father—the previous Emperor.
With eyes like she were dreaming, the Empress Dowager scanned Dantellion’s face. Her gaze sent shivers down his spine.
“I didn’t expect Your Majesty to mention my father.”
…
“I doubt he’d want to remain in your memory.”
After all, who would want to be remembered by the woman who killed them?
Frowning, Dantellion recalled the Empress Dowager’s ever-smiling face, even in the face of such cutting words.
The first time he met Gabriella, the Empress Dowager, was when she entered the palace as a concubine.
Back then, Dantellion’s grandfather—the previous Emperor—had strongly opposed bringing her into the palace.
But due to a series of scandals within the royal family, the public began demanding that a holy woman be made Empress.
That was how Gabriella entered the palace.
“What a cute royal child.”
…
Feeling embarrassed under her gaze, Dantellion hid behind his mother, the then-Empress.
The relationship between Gabriella, young Dantellion, and the Emperor and Empress at the time had always been awkward.
Naturally so. The empire practiced monogamy, and yet there was an Empress and a concubine.
Even for political reasons, it had made the royal family deeply uncomfortable.
When the Empress died suddenly and Gabriella took her place, things went from bad to worse.
Dantellion had long noticed that Gabriella harbored feelings for his father.
Her snake-like eyes had often ogled him with clear desire.
But his father, who loved his wife dearly, never once gave in to Gabriella.
In the end, both he and his beloved wife lost their lives.
“I’m sure he met his end because he rejected her.”
Now, the royal court was nothing more than puppets dancing to the Empress Dowager’s will.
Backed by the temple and the people’s support, Gabriella had ruled for far too long.
Most nobles now aligned themselves with her.
Only a few families, like the Duke of Winston, genuinely cared for the empire’s well-being.
Even the western faction that supported Dantellion did so out of obligation.
If they saw him losing to the Empress Dowager, they’d betray him without hesitation.
“I’ll be looking forward to your duel with Lionel.”
…
“Let’s hope that beautiful body doesn’t suffer too many scars.”
After giving him one last, lingering glance, Gabriella turned and walked away.
He still felt her repulsive gaze crawling over his skin.
Challenging Cedric to a duel had been an impulsive decision.
But now, it was the best chance he had to turn the tables.
No matter what, he had to win the duel against Cedric Lionel.
“If something happens to you, what will I do?”
He suddenly recalled tear-filled, bright red eyes.
Some feared the Winston family’s crimson eyes, calling them demonic.
It was only natural—red symbolized demons.
But Dantellion knew just how warm those red eyes could be.
He had known since long ago.
“I promise I’ll come back to you.”
“Brother…”
“So please, trust me and wait.”
…
The warmth of that embrace had been so comforting, so soft.
As he recalled that moment, Dantellion shivered without realizing it.
Clatter.
“Hm?”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Dantellion looked down at the small box that had fallen to the floor.
“You must win!”
It was as if he could hear her cheerful voice ringing in his ears.
Smiling faintly, he picked up the box.
“The Demon’s Jewel, huh…”
He muttered softly, raising the brooch inside high in the air.
The brilliant black gemstone gleamed under the light, giving off a strange, magnetic pull.
He stared at it for a long moment.
“Honestly, I do feel like borrowing a demon’s power.”
With a wry smile, he lowered the hand holding the brooch.
If there really was a demon inside, it might help in the duel.
But something that convenient was just wishful thinking.
Even the Winston family, who had once made a contract with a great demon, hadn’t been able to summon the demon sealed in this gem for centuries.
Just as Dantellion lost interest and was about to place the brooch back on the table—
[Do you desire power?]
A deep, rumbling voice echoed from within the gem.
