Chapter 4 – She Doesn’t Bet on Losing

Had it all been a nightmare? The Imperial Treasury, repository of the empire’s most precious and significant artifacts… how could I have possibly breached its defenses? Yet, the impossible had become reality, a stark and unsettling fact.

“So. The treasury doors were open. And unguarded?”

“…Yes.” There was so much I wanted to say, but now, facing my father’s stern gaze, my mouth was dry, my tongue thick with unspoken words. Explaining this would be difficult, even if I could shake the unshakeable anxiety that clung to me.

“Does that sound remotely plausible to you?” My father’s voice was unusually sharp.

“……” My mother, as always, remained silent. This private audience, granted by the Emperor’s swift intervention, was a small mercy. But the rumors would still spread.

“Tell me, what did you do in there? What did you see? What happened?” The Emperor’s tone, at least, was more curious than accusatory. His blue eyes searched mine, not for guilt, but for understanding.

But how could I tell them the truth?

–My, how they’ve grown. It seems like only yesterday… or perhaps a few centuries ago. Time is a fickle thing.–

We were in a reception room, not a formal office. And yet, the golden woman lingered in the air, observing us with an unsettling amusement. Her presence was a distraction, a constant irritant.

“I… heard a voice. And then I was inside. I tried to leave, but…”

“Cariel, speak up. Clearly, and with respect to His Majesty.” My mother’s sharp reprimand cut through the air.

“It’s quite alright, Ermina. I can hear him. There’s no need to rush.” The Emperor waved her off, his gaze returning to me. “So, you were drawn there by a voice. And the treasury was unguarded. The doors were open.”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.” My throat was dry, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Just maintaining a semblance of composure was an exhausting effort.

–Hmm…?– The golden woman, observing my distress with an amused smirk, shifted from playful grin to open mockery. But head bowed and consumed by anxiety as I was, I couldn’t decipher the nuances of her expression. My hands were clammy, slick with a cold sweat.

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“There’s no trace of magic,” the Empress announced upon returning to the reception room. “There’s evidence of… something, some external influence, but…”

The Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Still, we can’t simply attribute this to… supernatural phenomena, can we?”

“Perhaps demons, or heretics,” my mother suggested.

The Emperor nodded slowly. “We can’t rule anything out. I’ll handle this personally. Luelde, Ermina, please don’t be too harsh with Cariel.”

“It’s humiliating,” my father muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.

The Emperor chuckled softly. “Come now, between us…”

My mother, though clearly brimming with unspoken reproaches, remained silent.

“You all look exhausted. Go home and rest. Ermina, especially, you need to take care of yourself.”

“But…”

“I’ll have the Church send some attendants. Rest, not for your own sake, but for your child’s. You understand?”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

“And please, Ermina, no need for such formality between us.”

“Hah. If Ermina relaxed her guard, she wouldn’t be Ermina.”

“True enough.”

And so, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, I found myself in a carriage, riding home with my parents. The silence was heavy, suffocating.

–Not exactly a picture of domestic bliss, is it?– The golden woman, lounging in the air with her arms folded behind her head, observed us with open amusement. I gave no sign that I could see or hear her.

Only after we returned home and I retreated to the sanctuary of my room did I finally address her.

“…Who are you?”

–Now you ask?–

“There wasn’t exactly an opportunity before.” If I had revealed her presence in front of the Emperor, Empress, and my parents…

–Why not simply tell them you were hearing voices? Or seeing ghosts?–

“Because I know exactly how that would have gone.” My father would have berated me for weakness. My mother would have accused me of harboring impure thoughts, punishing me relentlessly. Even the Emperor, despite his usual kindness, might have reacted… unpredictably.

–And does hiding it solve anything?–

“Revealing it wouldn’t have solved anything either.”

–This goes beyond teenage angst. The… trust dynamics in this family are… fascinatingly dysfunctional.–

“You seem to know my parents, and the Emperor. From a past life, perhaps?”

–Oh, I knew them. Not fondly, mind you.– Her smile was captivating, despite the underlying mockery. Even through my anxiety, her allure was undeniable. Her speech shifted erratically from formal to flippant, her movements restless and unpredictable. Yet, there was a certain… freedom in her chaotic energy.

–Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Let’s make a deal.– She shifted, assuming a more formal seated position in mid-air. –We can do this the slow way, with questions and answers. Or I can simply share everything, instantly.–

“Some kind of… memory-sharing magic? In your current state?” She was clearly not… living. And yet, she claimed such power.

–Something like that. So, which do you prefer?–

Questions and answers… that left room for deception, for both of us. The second option, however… If she was as powerful as she seemed, she could easily manipulate me.

–Now, now, don’t worry. I’m not a tyrant. I believe in fair trade, mutual consent. Equivalent exchange. The foundations of civilized society, wouldn’t you agree?–

I knew those who spoke of such things. Fair trade. Mutual consent. Equivalent exchange. And the foundations of civilized society. This…

“Are you… a demon? Or one of the demonfolk?”

–So you’ve chosen questions and answers?–

“No. Let’s make a contract.”

With a snap of her fingers, glowing words appeared in the air.

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1. Full and truthful disclosure from both parties.
2. Disclosure will be in the form of shared memories.
3. Memories shared may be selectively chosen.
4. The contract is fulfilled when both parties are satisfied. No coercion, stubbornness, or emotional outbursts.

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–Review it, and then place your hand here.– A signature line glowed at the bottom.

I read through the terms carefully, then placed my hand on the line. My name appeared as if written in light.

–It’s not wise to enter contracts so carelessly, little bird.–

“If you intended to deceive me, you would have used a more… subtle approach.”

–And what if I intended to ensnare you, so completely that you couldn’t escape?–

“Enough with the hypotheticals. I’ve signed.”

–So bold now, in the privacy of your own room. Such a timid little thing before your parents and the Emperor.– She chuckled, a soft, melodic sound, then placed her own hand on the contract, sealing it. –Now then. Choose the memories you wish to share. I’ll reciprocate with something of equal value.–

“The contract didn’t specify an order.”

–Even if I consumed every memory of your short life, it wouldn’t amount to a fraction of mine. Don’t quibble. Accept my generosity while it lasts.–

“How… do I share them?”

–Focus your will. Organize the memories you wish to share, and… release them.–

Easier said than done. But I wasn’t about to give up before I even started. Following her instructions, I began to sift through my memories. Leaving out the hazy fragments of early childhood… from fifteen onwards should suffice. Roughly two years’ worth. I focused my intent, granting her access.

A torrent of unfamiliar memories flooded my mind, a sudden rush of information. Brief, almost… disappointingly concise.

Then, understanding dawned.

“You… you’re—?! But why… why are you attached to me?!”

–Don’t get your feathers ruffled, little bird.– The woman laughed, a sound like wind chimes. –I didn’t exactly seek you out. You came to me. Let’s be clear on that.–

She looked like nothing more than a beautiful woman. But her true identity… the Golden Beast, the Golden Calamity, the one who had plunged the world into a four-year reign of terror. One of the Great Demon King’s most powerful agents, who, after his disappearance, had unified the Demon Realm through cunning and ruthlessness. And now… here she was.

–Trying to fulfill your end of the bargain with just a name? That’s hardly fair, is it? I expected some outrage, some cries of injustice. You’re more composed than I anticipated. Interesting.–

“You said it yourself. If you intended to deceive me, you would have chosen a more… elaborate method.” She was the Demon King, after all. Not a brute, but a master strategist, a manipulator who had risen to power through cunning and intellect. Not that she was physically weak. The Nine Heroes had barely survived their encounter with her. Even now, she was a figure of fear, a taboo subject among warriors.

–I could have claimed to be the Spirit King, a god, anything. It wouldn’t have been difficult.–

“Then why didn’t you?”

–Because there was no need.– She exuded an almost unsettling calm. –I don’t need to play games. I deceive in war, not… in this. –

“But…” Was it regret that kept her bound to this world? Or something else entirely?

–Don’t worry about me. I know when I’m beaten. If I were alive, I would be plotting my return, but… as you can see, I’m not. No point in clinging to the past.–

“Aren’t you curious? About what happened to your people?”

–Why should I care? The dead don’t meddle in the affairs of the living. I’m not a vengeful spirit. I have no desire to relive my mortal failures.– It wasn’t callousness, exactly. Her words had a certain… logic. But perhaps it was just another layer of deception.

–I made preparations. My people will have adapted. Those who defied me… well, they reap what they sow. A king’s word is law. Disobedience has consequences.–

Was that the mindset of a tyrant, or simply a pragmatic ruler? I couldn’t say.

–Your memories, however… they’ve piqued my curiosity. I’d like to know more.–

“You’re dissatisfied with our agreement?”

–Not at all.– She was quick to clarify. –Reading memories and hearing them firsthand are two different things. I have the context now. Tell me… why is your life such a mess? What happened?–

–I’ll offer you something in return, of course. Whatever you desire most.– Her voice dropped, a low, seductive purr. –How about… power, Cariel? Power to change your wretched fate. Power beyond anything you can imagine. You could change the world, if you wished.–

It was the classic temptation of a devil. And devils, as they say, don’t bet on losing hands.

But…

“I don’t need it.”

–What?– Her brow furrowed, a flicker of genuine surprise in her golden eyes.