Lilith stepped into her office, the familiar scent of old parchment and incense lingering in the air. She moved to her seat and sat down with a soft sigh—until a sudden chill ran down her spine.
Her smile faded.
Something felt… off.
She stood up abruptly, her eyes scanning the room with sharp intuition. The air around her shimmered faintly. And then—
She felt it.
A presence. Familiar. Powerful. Unmistakable.
Lilith relaxed slightly, letting her guard drop, and turned around with a smile tugging at her lips.
"Well, what a surprise… to what do I owe the honor, Queen Mother?"
Behind her stood a woman of striking resemblance—tall, graceful, with long silver hair and eyes like moonlight. Her aura exuded elegance and authority, matured over centuries.
The woman turned, arms open wide. Without waiting, she pulled Lilith into a warm, dramatic embrace.
"Ahhh! What, I can't even come visit my daughter anymore? How rude! I'm heartbroken, truly!"
Lilith's lips twitched.
"Mother… don't start with the drama. I never said you couldn't visit me."
The Queen leaned back slightly, her smile turning sly in an instant.
"Oh? So that's what you meant? Then why didn't you say it properly, hmm?"
Lilith narrowed her eyes slightly, letting out a small sigh.Here it comes… her mother's legendary theatrics.
Lilith let out a long sigh, brushing a hand through her hair as she faced the elegant woman before her.
"Sigh... Mother, what are you doing here? And didn't Father come with you?"
The Queen placed a delicate hand on her chin, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
"Well, I was simply visiting my beloved daughter," she said sweetly. "As for your father… he went to see your sister. He's with your second mother for now. He'll be here tomorrow."
Her smile turned teasing. "And please, don't tease him again. You know how much of a tsundere he is."
Lilith chuckled, her fingers tracing idle patterns in the air as she leaned back against her desk.
"Come on, Mother, how about we tease him together this time? You know he only shows his 'deep affection' for you behind closed doors." She smirked. "It's kind of cute… in a ridiculous way."
The Queen stifled a laugh, her eyes glittering.
"Fufu~ That's a marvelous idea. Let's do it together." She leaned in with a mischievous grin. "He won't know what hit him."
The two burst into shared laughter, their voices echoing warmly through the chamber—mother and daughter, vampires by blood but partners in playful crime.
Suddenly, the Queen's expression shifted. A teasing smile spread across her face as she leaned closer, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Hmm~ I wanted to ask you something, dear," she said in a singsong voice. "Who was that girl you were fighting just now?"
Lilith raised a brow, not missing the sly tone in her mother's voice. "She's just a friend," she replied casually. "She's been living here with me."
The Queen nodded slowly, as if mulling over the answer, then rested her hand on her chin and tilted her head with a playful hum.
"Ohh, I see… Just a friend, is it?" Her smile deepened. "But I could've sworn I heard someone shout 'WORTH MY TIME!' earlier."
Lilith's face twitched. "Mom… you don't have to say it in such a dramatic way."
The Queen chuckled. "I'm just saying what I heard~"
Lilith looked away, a small smirk playing at her lips. "Well… she is kind of interesting."
The Queen raised an eyebrow, her teasing eyes narrowing.
"Oh? Kind of interesting?" she repeated with a grin. "Now that's something I haven't heard you say in a very long time."
Lilith turned her back slightly, arms folded, pretending not to hear.
"Stop reading into it," she muttered.
The Queen merely laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
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Elarion World — Demon Continent
Inside the grand, shadowed halls of the Demon Empire's castle, two imposing figures sat upon twin thrones. The oppressive air of mana swirled faintly around them, held in check by the sheer strength of the individuals seated.
Abyrion, his crimson hair cascading like fire and eyes gleaming with ancient power, turned his gaze toward the figure beside him—Kharzun, dark-haired and cold-eyed, his aura sharp like a blade sheathed in silence.
"Kharzun," Abyrion spoke, voice low and steady. "Has your power recovered?"
Kharzun shifted slightly, his expression as frosty as ever. "Just a little more time," he replied. "Then I'll be back at full strength. But what about you? If your mana doesn't return soon, we'll lose our window."
Abyrion looked down at his hand, slowly clenching it into a fist. "My injury wasn't severe. But… restoring my mana to its peak will take years. We can't move yet—not until we're both ready."
Silence lingered between them before Abyrion spoke again, his tone distant, almost haunted.
"Kharzun… You remember, don't you? Years ago… when my consciousness briefly escaped the seal."
Kharzun's brow furrowed, and irritation crept into his voice. "Abyrion… are you still clinging to that foolish fantasy about her?"
He turned his gaze sharply, eyes narrowing. "I told you back then—don't let your heart grow soft. Demons cannot afford such weakness. Can't you understand that?"
Abyrion's jaw tightened. He said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes.
Kharzun continued, his voice laced with scorn. "Emotions like that… they'll be your downfall. That girl, whoever she was, should've been forgotten long ago."
Abyrion finally met his eyes, a strange glint flickering in his red gaze. "And yet… I still remember her. Even now."
Kharzun leaned back on the blackened throne, a mocking smirk curling on his lips. "Then what about your son, Abyrion?" he said, voice soaked in sarcasm. "Still fantasizing about that girl while you've got an heir running around?"
Abyrion's eyes darkened, his expression growing cold. "You know that marriage was political. There was nothing between us. I hold no attachment to the woman… or the child."
Kharzun let out a low, humorless laugh, as if he'd just heard a joke from a drunk commoner. "Hah! Abyrion, you truly amuse me sometimes. When did demons start talking about love as if it matters?"
He leaned forward slightly, his crimson gaze narrowing. "We don't wed for affection. We don't breed for sentiment. Every union in the Demon Realm is forged with purpose—power, alliance, survival. You think you're special just because a girl made your sealed consciousness flutter for a few moments?"
Abyrion's fingers tightened on the armrest of his throne, the dark metal creaking beneath his grip. "This is different."
"Is it?" Kharzun sneered. "You let a human—or whatever she was—slip past your walls, and now you're speaking of her like some tragic prince. You're the King of Wrath, Abyrion. One of the Five Demon Lords. Don't tell me you've gone soft."
Abyrion stood, his long cloak flowing with a whisper of power. "I haven't gone soft," he said, voice as sharp as a blade. "I simply… haven't forgotten."
Kharzun's smile faded, just for a second. A flicker of something unreadable passed behind his eyes, but he didn't challenge the words further.
Instead, he leaned back again and sighed. "Fine, fine. Just don't let your 'memories' interfere with the plan. Once your mana is restored and I recover, we'll free demon king and kill those deities who destroy our realm… together."
Abyrion turned his gaze to the horizon beyond the high, arched windows, where a blood-red moon hung in the sky.
"I know," he muttered. "And when that time comes… if she's truly still alive…"
He clenched his fist, eyes glowing like dying stars.
"I will find her."