episode_0038

The moment Luciferia’s sweet whispers lingered in my ears, a hard voice that seemed to remind me of reality was heard from beyond the door.

“Queen, Lucius Solaris is requesting a meeting with you.”

The maid’s voice was polite, but there was a strange sense of tension. There was an ominous vibe, like the calm before a storm.

Luciferia, who was smiling brightly like a child as she looked at Hyeonseong, suddenly looked annoyed.

The sweet atmosphere disappeared as if cold ice water had been poured, and the queen’s majesty and frosty coldness enveloped the surroundings.

“Tell them they can’t see it now.”

“But queen… .”

The maid hesitated and trailed off. It certainly seemed to imply that Lucius had come for some urgent matter.

“Solaris said that it was very urgent, and that he had to report it to the Queen in person.”

At that moment, a sharp flash of light passed through Luciferia’s red eyes. Hyeonseong took a deep breath, feeling intimidated as if a sleeping beast had awakened.

“My, the fun times end too quickly.”

It was a voice full of affection for Hyunseong, but there was anger inside it that could not be hidden.

“There must be a good reason to interrupt my precious time.”

Luciferia spoke in a cold and drowsy voice, like a snake entangling its prey. There was a mixture of threats, warnings, and anger inside.

Her eyes turned to Lucius, who was beyond the door, out of sight.

Luciferia stretched lazily, wrapping herself in a soft silk towel placed on the edge of the bath. Water droplets flowed down her skin, which was as smooth as white porcelain, adding a subtle sheen.

There was no trace of the sweet feelings that had been shared with Hyeonseong just moments ago, and only the majesty of the queen and the coldness of frost were in the air.

“Lucius Solaris, how dare you…”

A cool life flashed in her red eyes.

“Is that urgent matter more important than bowing down to Mya’s cuteness?”

Luciferia muttered in a mocking voice.

“I don’t dare allow you to be rude in front of me. If there is no good reason…”

Dark red magic glowed faintly from the tips of her fingers.

“You will pay a price for that rudeness.”

Luciferia came out of the bathhouse with a cruel smile. Her steps conveyed the majesty of a queen and the calm before the storm.

“Tell him to wait. I will grant you an audience soon.”

Her voice was as cold as ice. Solaris will make you pay dearly for daring to steal his time.

The moment Luciferia tried to leave the room with graceful but determined steps, hiding her cold anger, she felt something was missing. She looked back.

“What is it? Mya, you are going too.”

Luciferia called Hyeonseong with a gentle gesture.

“The time we spent alone is gone, but we can still be together.”

Luciferia said playfully and narrowed her eyes. I was curious about what Solaris had to say, but it seemed like it would be a little less boring with Mya.

Maybe it would be fun to see his cute reaction.

“Well, welcome.”

Luciferia reached out her hand to Hyeonseong.

“I need you to comfort me about how boring the story of Solaris is.”

‘Ominous.’

Lucius Solaris. The moment I saw her, my instincts sharply warned me. The huge wings, made of feathers as black as hair, were gloomy, as if they were wrapped in darkness itself.

However, the source of ominousness was not simply the black wings, evidence of a fallen angel.

She looked like a living crow.

Her pale, white skin was bloodless and cold, and her short, ebony-like hair revealed her sharp jawline.

The pitch-black clothes were loosely draped over the body, but the slender neck and wrists exposed beneath them gave off a rather dangerous beauty.

‘Solaris.’

Despite her name, which means the sun, not a single ray of light could be seen from her. Rather, as if mocking the word ‘light’ itself, she was the darkness itself, absorbing all the light around her.

A woman whose very existence seems to embody misfortune.

Hyunseong was overcome by an unknown sense of anxiety. An ominous feeling enveloped his entire body, as if her shadow was casting over him.

Luciferia rested her chin and looked down at Lucius.

“Do not omit the greeting. What is your business? Lucius.”

Luciferia’s eyes flashed.

“It must be a very important business.”

Her voice was soft, but the pressure in it made the air in the room freeze.

Lucius slowly raised his head. Her eyes were fixed on the queen. But in that moment, a very brief moment, her eyes landed on Hyunseong.

Gray eyes as opaque as fog. It was empty, as if it contained nothing. Like a deep well, an eerie feeling that seems to suck everything in the moment you look into it.

The glance that passed by was so cold that Hyunseong took a breath without realizing it.

Lucius opened his mouth. Her voice was low and dry, but strangely enough, it had the power to weigh down the surrounding air.

“Celestial intervention has been detected.”

It was a dry feeling, as if an old machine was forcing its rusty gears to turn.

“You must stop the Mya Management Competition right now.”

“Hmm, Solaris. Aren’t the movements of the heavenly world so clear that even demonic corps commanders and soldiers on the front lines don’t know about them? Are you saying you took away my and Mya’s precious time just to report that much?”

Luciferia shrugged her shoulders and continued.

“Of course, I admit that the movements of the heavenly bastards are unusual. But don’t worry. Because we are already fully prepared.”

She stared at Lucius sharply, her red eyes shining.

“There is still enough time. If the heavenly world dared to cross the threshold of the demon world, it would take at least a month just to prepare supplies and deploy troops. All-out war doesn’t happen that easily. You stupid angels dare to invade the demon world. This is incredibly foolish.”

Her words were a mixture of confidence and outright contempt.

“If you didn’t come all this way because you were truly afraid of heaven’s movements, it would be better to give a more convincing reason. Solaris.”

Luciferia turned her gaze back to Hyeonseong and smiled softly.

“Mya, you don’t have to worry about what that rude guy says. Because you will never be touched by the dirty hooves of Heaven.”

Lucius met Luciferia’s gaze without wavering.

“I received news through my spy that Heaven is targeting ‘Mya’.”

Her every word seemed to quietly cut through the room like a sharp blade.

At that moment, Luciferia’s expression was seen to subtly harden. Hyeonseong was also surprised by Lucius’ words.

‘me?’

“The Heavenly World will stop at nothing to obtain Mya. If Mya is in a crowded place… she may be kidnapped.”

There was an eerie confidence in her words.

“How dare those heavenly bastards… !”

A cold flame appeared in Luciferia’s eyes. But she quickly regained her composure and sneered.

“Hmph, interesting story. But how dare they kidnap Mya in the middle of the capital? On the subject of less than a handful of celestial spies?”

Her voice was full of sharp mockery.

“No matter how bold the Heavenly World bastards are, do you think they would dare to kidnap Mya in the capital, the heart of the Demon World, and even right in front of me? Solaris, your concerns are greatly exaggerated.”

Luciferia stared at Lucius as if she were looking down at an insignificant insect.

“Or… is it possible that you look down on my strength and are shamelessly lying in front of me?”

Every word she said was filled with powerful magic. The air in the room became heavy, and there was such pressure that it was difficult to even breathe.

However, Lucius was not intimidated at all.

“Celestial special forces have already infiltrated the capital.”

“Special forces?”

Luciferia’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Her voice was still full of suspicion, but without the blatant contempt it had before.

Lucius continued calmly.

“Yes. This unit is comprised of some of the most skilled soldiers in heaven. Heaven must have known that we would notice that fact. Still, I sent it. That means that he is willing to make any sacrifices to obtain Mya.”

Lucius’ gaze once again landed on Hyeonseong. It didn’t just pass by, but this time it was clearly heading towards Hyeonseong.

Her eyes were still hazy, hazy, but she sensed something sticky and dark inside them. Her gaze, scanning Hyunseong’s entire body, felt like a sticky spider web.

Lucius slowly raised the corners of his mouth.

It was too cold and sharp a curve to be called a smile. Like a sharp blade, her smile had a beauty that seemed threatening to the viewer.

“You are an interesting being…”

Lucius muttered quietly. Her voice was low and calm, but strangely enough, it had a strange resonance that seemed to pierce deep into Hyeonseong’s eardrums.

“For such a fragile and insignificant being…”

Her eyes were still fixed on Hyunseong. It felt as if every inch of Hyunseong’s body was being examined.

“…The heavens are moving.”

The words that came out of her lips were self-talk whose meaning was unknown, but the strange emotions contained within them could not be hidden.

It’s an obsession.

And possessiveness.

Hyunseong turned his head to escape Lucius’ gaze. But her gaze was binding Hyunseong like shackles.

Like shackles that cannot be escaped.