LOGINThe portal shimmered once, then sealed behind them with a low hum that echoed through the palace corridor.
Althea staggered the moment her feet touched solid ground.
Zander was quick to steady her, his hand closing around her arm as a faint glow passed between them. She felt it instantly. A warm current threading through her veins, steadying h
Beatrice’s heart nearly stopped the moment Uriel pulled her closer and led her away from Lord Evan.What puzzled her even more was that he wasn’t guiding her back into the dance circle. Instead, he was leading her away from the center of the ballroom floor entirely.Unlike the other attendees, he wasn’t wearing a mask. She could clearly see the dark expression on his face.“Where are we going?” she asked in surprise. “There are still several gentlemen I’m supposed to dance with.”She had already danced with two, and there were still three more before the scheduled break. The masquerade ball had been carefully arranged so she and Riela would have time to speak with each gentleman during the dances. After that, they were expected to share drinks and light refreshments with another group of five candidates each. There were even games planned later in the evening to make the gathering more relaxed and enjoyable. The gentlemen’s names had all been listed in advance, assigned to each acti
Beatrice looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She looked magnificent in her gown for the masquerade ball.It had been days since she last saw Uriel, and she hoped he would attend the gathering tonight.Princess Riela had told her that Uriel had suddenly asked for leave for two days, and no one knew where he had gone.“Seriously… was it really that hard for him?” she muttered in annoyance as she stared at her reflection. “Why is the wall he built around himself so difficult to break?”At this rate, all the hope she once held was slowly beginning to crumble. She had thought everything would go smoothly according to her plan, but it seemed she had overestimated herself.She believed competing with a dead woman wouldn’t be so difficult. But she had been wrong.Uriel still seemed convinced that he didn’t deserve happiness… not when he believed he was the reason a woman lost her life and her future.Beatrice felt like she was only going in circles, especially after the way Uriel sim
“Take him down right now,” Althea cried to Gavriel. She could no longer bear watching Kael being poisoned and slowly consumed by the darkness.“Strike through his heart,” she added when she saw the black heart coiled around Kael’s own, pulsing like a parasite feeding on him.Gavriel did not hesitate.He moved instantly and drove his still-sheathed sword straight toward Kael’s chest.The moment the blade struck, a burst of white flame erupted from it and spread across Kael’s body in a swirling wave of holy light. Althea watched as Lionel’s power surged forward, crushing the black, beating heart wrapped around Kael’s own.Kael screamed.But the scream that followed was not entirely his.Another voice rose with it… sharp, furious, and filled with agony as the demonic spirit inside him was forced into the light.By the time Kael collapsed to the ground, Althea quickly ran to his side and knelt beside him, taking his hand tightly in hers.“Kael, renounce it,” she urged softly but firmly. “
The deliverance was supposed to happen tonight after dinner. That had been their plan once Althea confirmed whether there was any demonic or unclean spirit inside Kael’s body. They intended to invite Kael and the other contestants to dine with them, then quietly ask everyone else to leave afterward so Kael could remain behind. That was when they would begin the deliverance. It was meant to be their first operation.Originally, it would have been Gavriel and Osman performing the deliverance with Althea guiding them. But Gavriel had already refused to let his wife become physically involved. Unfortunately for him, Althea was stubborn.They had already begun forming a small group of gifted individuals who could see and sense demonic and unclean spirits. In the future, this group would assist during deliverance rites under Gavriel’s lead together with Althea. However, the members were still undergoing training and screening. Elior himself would arrive in two days to personally guide the
The next morning, Althea attended the court session with Gavriel, seated beside him on the royal dais. It wasn’t her first time attending a meeting like this, yet somehow she still felt nervous.Gavriel had been unusually quiet since morning, and she already knew why. Even now, she could hardly believe how petty the once ruthless Gavriel could be when it came to her. He was truly waiting for her to show everyone, right there in court, how much she doted on him.The great doors swung open as the guards announced the arrival of the four remaining candidates for the position of Minister of Justice.Althea’s eyes immediately found Kael among them. At the same moment, his gaze searched for hers as well.Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the hem of her gown.‘No,’ she gasped silently under her breath. She had to blink several times to make sure she was seeing it correctly.She couldn’t believe it.A dark demonic spirit like a serpent was latched onto Kael’s back, its long shadowy b
The marketplace was especially lively that day. More merchants than usual had arrived because of the week-long celebration for the Queen’s pregnancy. The King had opened the borders to traders for the occasion, though strict protocols were still in place to maintain security.Beatrice found herself enjoying the outing far more than she expected. She wandered from stall to stall, looking at different goods and occasionally buying small items. Lord Evan accompanied her closely, and to her surprise, Uriel was there as well… carrying most of her purchases.“Are you sure you don’t need to go, my Lord?” she asked Uriel deliberately while browsing through a boutique that displayed neatly folded scarves. “I thought you needed to buy medicines.”“Right, my lord,” Lord Evan added politely. “I will make sure Lady Beatrice remains safe with me around.”Beatrice caught the brief gloomy look that crossed Uriel’s face before he quickly masked it with his usual calm expression.“Gustav and Juno are h
The morning sun had barely climbed above the palace towers when a soft flutter echoed through the open window of Uriel’s office.Uriel looked up from the stack of documents spread across his desk, irritation already etched on his face. He had barely slept. Between the continued calming of nobles, m
Gavriel nodded without hesitation. “Yes. I’ll leave nothing to chance. I need your assistance to coordinate the preparations—summon the council, ensure the ceremonial grounds are ready, and confirm the elders and witnesses are present. Everything has to run smoothly.”Zander let out a low whistle,
Zander shook his head the moment he spotted Gavriel and Osman outside. He had been buried under countless responsibilities, and only now did he finally find a moment to check on them again.Gavriel and Osm
Althea’s lips parted as she stared at Melva, her eyes widening while Melva continued to recount the story her memories refused to give back to her.The last thing Althea remembered clearly was preparing to escape with Melva. News had reached them that her father, Cain, had failed in his attempt to







