William

Painful… painful… painful.

Lia gasped from the intensity of the pain.

A faint whisper echoed, tearing hearts apart:

“Master Yu, didn’t I order you to take care of her until we returned? How could you be this careless? Hm?”

Vitalia harshly scolded old Yu after they had been summoned for an important meeting, leaving him with the task of “watching over her” inside the imperial library.

And of course, watching over her meant preventing her from reading things she was never supposed to know.

Old Yu fell to his knees, trembling under the tyrannical pressure released by his mistress.

“M-My Lady, I swear I hid that book well… but…”

“The audacity!”

Vitalia pressed down with her power, causing old Yu to explode into a feast of flesh and blood before being revived again. Thus, he experienced death and life thousands of times over.

“M-My Lady… mercy, please…”

Yu sobbed, begging her to end his miserable life once and for all instead of torturing him.

Vitalia’s anger reached unprecedented levels as she roared:

“How dare you—”

“M-Mother… I’m scared… hng… hng… don’t leave me…”

That trembling, tearful whisper quickly extinguished her fury, replacing it with pity.

And suddenly—

Lia’s features twisted in pain.

“M… Max… i… mus…”

Vitalia panicked.

“What are you waiting for?! Do something!” she screamed at the physician.

For the first time in thousands of years of service, the physician cursed his profession.

“M-My Lady, this exceeds my abilities. The damage is psychological… I think that—”

In the next moment, a dense force swirled around the suffering girl.

Black mist covered her small figure, and before Vitalia could gather her power to disperse it—

It vanished… as if it had never existed.

The girl appeared half-conscious.

“Auntie, don’t worry… I—”

She coughed up a massive amount of black blood, and her vision darkened.

This time, she didn’t suffer from nightmares…

She slept like a newborn child.

It was too much for a little girl to bear: the rejection and cruelty she endured in Estia, the fact that no one cared even after her disappearance, the existence of a mysterious man she knew nothing about, that looming marriage… and… that book…

The only thing she remembered from the book was that it said something like:

“You must stay away from Lucifer and protect the essence of her life and power.”

But… who was Lucifer?

And what life essence was she supposed to have when not even a single trace of magic existed inside her body?

And what exactly was she supposed to protect?

If it referred to Maximus… then why had that strange book clearly said “Lucifer”…?

After waking up and making countless attempts to discover what had happened to her and what she had seen… she failed.

Even the book had disappeared as if it had never existed.

…

Amid heavy silence broken only by the sound of spoons clinking against plates, three people sat eating without mentioning what had happened.

“Auntie?”

“Yes, darling? Does… something hurt? Maybe—”

“No, I wanted to ask you… where were you and uncle last night when that happened?”

Lia asked at the dining table, referring to the strange incident. After waking up, she remembered nothing, and was shocked to learn she had apparently wandered miles away from the palace without guards. They told her they found her in the back courtyard…

Among everyone, Lumias and Vitalia were the only two she felt comfortable around, so she affectionately called them “uncle” and “auntie.”

Vitalia looked at her husband, and when she saw the same question in his eyes, she sighed lightly.

“We were at… a meeting. Yes, a private meeting.”

Vitalia’s expression darkened when she mentioned that “private meeting,” or more accurately: a cold war against…

Lia suspected nothing and continued:

“Did you and uncle come back after being informed… or was it just a coincidence?”

A genuine glimmer of confusion flashed through the couple’s eyes.

“I-It’s not for any reason, I’m just curious—”

Lumias set down his spoon and said:

“Yes, Lia, we returned after being informed.”

He was naturally a man of few words, yet he always showed Lia a special affection, like a father caring for his youngest daughter.

“Then… it wasn’t you.” Lia said softly.

Lumias noticed her confusion and didn’t want to embarrass her with more questions, so he said:

“I’m finished. Continue your meal, ladies. I’ll return to my office. Good night.”

Originally, he had planned to spend time working in his office after his partner decided to stay beside Lia during the night, afraid she might fall sick and no one would notice. She no longer trusted the servants much… especially after what happened.

Lumias had barely bid the two farewell when the imperial announcer declared:

“Greetings to Your Majesties, may your light endure forever. The Crown Prince has arrived and requests an audience with Your Majesties.”

“Let him enter.” he replied.

The doors opened, and two people entered.

The first caused a joyful shock for Lia, but the second…

Lia’s eyes widened behind her mask, which had been lifted earlier so she could eat.

“So it wasn’t a dream…” (Inner thoughts)

“My beloved son… come hug your mother.” Vitalia said with a sweet smile after closing the distance between herself and the second young man, who looked exactly like Lumias.

“Mother, don’t you think I’m too old for hugs? It would be better if we maintained—”

The Spirit of Life embraced her only son while saying:

“It seems traveling affected your brain! Hmph! Had I known your thinking would become this terribly extreme, I would never have allowed you to leave. Hmph! Did you forget I’m your mother? What distance are you talking about?”

“Hahaha, how could I dare commit such a sin? It’s good to see you, Mother.”

The young man laughed lightly at his mother’s unique way of “welcoming” him.

Meanwhile—

Lia’s gaze shifted toward the first young man, and her whole body trembled as she spoke in a choked voice:

“B-Big brother… is that really you?”

Carlos smiled tenderly at his little kitten, who was waiting for a signal to bury herself in his neck.

“Maybe… come and confirm it yourself.”

Gasp—

Lia ran as fast as she could. Even when she nearly stumbled, she didn’t stop, and then—

Carlos opened his arms to receive his little sister into his embrace.

Gasp—

“Brother… I missed you so much…” Lia said tearfully.

Her tears flowed, but she held them back for another time. After a long hug, she turned toward the other pair.

“Greetings to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. May your light endure forever.” Carlos greeted respectfully.

“Rest, my son. There’s no need for formalities.” Vitalia said gently.

“Ahem… what do you think, my son? Why not introduce yourself first?” Lumias said to his son.

“Yes, Imperial Father… greetings to you, little lady. Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is William Loren, Crown Prince of the Second World.”

William said with a polite bow before adding:

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again… my lady.”

A strange silence followed William’s words.

A silence that was not comforting at all.

Lia froze in place, her eyes fixed on his face.

There was something… something unnatural.

Her heart beat rapidly for no clear reason.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again… my lady.”

Again…?

The word echoed inside her mind like a distant reverberation.

“H-Have we met before?” Lia asked hesitantly while clutching the edge of her dress.

William’s smile widened slightly, but his eyes…

They did not smile.

“Perhaps.”

He answered calmly, then added:

“Or perhaps… it happened somewhere you no longer remember.”

Lia’s body trembled unconsciously.

Lumias and Vitalia exchanged a quick glance, one that did not escape Carlos.

He stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Lia’s shoulder.

“You seem tired, Lia. Perhaps you should rest.”

Vitalia nodded immediately, as if grasping at an excuse she had been searching for.

“Yes, darling… you’ve been through a lot today.”

But Lia did not move.

Her eyes were still locked onto William.

“That… mist, on my fourth birthday…” she murmured almost inaudibly. “It looked like—”

“Enough.”

Lumias’ voice suddenly dropped, firmer than usual.

Silence fell.

He looked at her deeply before speaking more softly.

“This is not the right time to discuss that.”

Lia bit her lip and lowered her head.

“…Alright.”

But inside her…

Nothing had calmed down.

William smiled again, this time slightly wider, and said:

“I’ll be staying here for a while, my lady. I hope we can speak at length later.”

She didn’t reply.

She simply felt coldness spreading through her body.

Something inside her was telling her to stay away from him…

Not because he was bad…

But because that feeling of aversion had appeared with every man she met…

Except one.

Later that night…

Lia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling with wide-open eyes.

Darkness filled the room…

But sleep never came.

“Lucifer…”

She whispered the name.

Suddenly—

An icy chill swept through the room.

Her breathing froze.

Her eyes widened.

She was not alone.

“Finally…”

A low, deep, masculine voice echoed through the darkness.

But it wasn’t the voice of that “man.”

A familiar voice that made you want to…

Run.

“I found you.”

Her heart stopped for a moment.

Slowly…

Very slowly—

She turned toward the source of the voice.

But…

There was no one there.

Only…

A black shadow that disappeared quickly.

“What… is happening to me?”

“I don’t understand anything…”

Who was Maximus?

Why hadn’t he appeared all this time?

Who was Lucifer…?

And what connection did William have to what happened to her during her fourth year?

Patience and time…

That was what she needed…

Lia told herself firmly.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Lia quickly stood up and opened the door.

“Big brother!!!” Lia exclaimed happily.

“Did I disturb you? Were you sleeping?”

Lia shook her head and moved aside to let him in.

Carlos entered carrying a gift box.

He invited her to sit down and opened it.

Inside the gift—

Scientific books and magical books!!

Yes.

Books.

Besides her brother, books were the only things she truly cared about.

“Brother, this…”

Carlos’ smile widened as he said:

“How could I not notice your love for this type of book? If I didn’t, how could I be your favorite brother? Don’t you think I deserve a reward?”

Lia’s eyes filled with tears behind her mask, which she wasn’t allowed to remove even in front of him, and she hugged her brother tightly.

“Thank you… brother.”

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s my duty.”

And the rest of the night was filled with Carlos’ voice as he recounted what he had experienced…

And Lia listening, occasionally commenting.

If only they had known what was coming…

They would have searched for a hidden world to live in…

Just to escape what was approaching.

…

The night was quiet…

Unnaturally quiet.

Inside the room, their conversation gradually faded until nothing remained except uneven breathing.

Lia slowly lifted her head.

“Brother… did you feel something?”

Carlos stopped speaking and stared at her.

“What do you mean?”

She didn’t answer.

Something…

Something was pressing on her chest.

As if…

Something was watching her.

Slowly…

She turned toward the window.

The curtains were still.

But—

Her shadow on the floor…

Wasn’t moving like her.

She froze.

“Lia?”

She couldn’t answer.

Her shadow…

Was smiling.

Her eyes widened in shock as the shadow slowly stretched and cracked…

Like a separate entity.

Then—

It detached.

Carlos instinctively stepped back, his arm moving protectively in front of Lia.

“Stay behind me.”

But the voice that followed…

Didn’t come from outside.

It came from—

Inside her.

“Finally…”

The same voice.

The same coldness.

But this time…

Clearer.

“You were very close to death.”

Her entire body trembled.

“W-Who are you?”

A quiet laugh…

Deep.

Dark.

“Strange… that you would ask such a question.”

Silence lingered for several seconds, then—

“After calling my name yourself.”

Time stopped.

Her eyes widened slowly as true terror began forming inside her.

“I… didn’t—”

“Lucifer.”

The name fell like a final judgment.

The air froze.

Carlos stepped back again, his eyes narrowing with genuine danger.

“Stay away from her.”

But the shadow didn’t move toward him.

Instead…

It slowly returned—

Merging into Lia’s feet.

“Don’t worry.”

The voice whispered inside her again, this time with terrifying gentleness.

“I won’t hurt you.”

It paused briefly before adding:

“Because you… are all I have left.”

Lia collapsed to her knees, her breathing uneven.

Her heart…

No longer beat normally.

And the last thing she remained conscious of—

Was a single name echoing within her depths:

“Maximus…”

And somewhere far away…

A man opened glowing eyes in the darkness.

A cold smile formed on his lips.

“So…

It has finally begun.”

Written by Bradis. Wait for me.