“Princess Regent Seraphina, today’s matters are all in your hands!”
Demon King Movira’s voice echoed like a nightmare, harshly dragging Seraphina out of her unstable dream.
Immediately, piles of official documents, endless internal disputes among the Demon Race, and… those sudden, bizarre orders from the Demon King flashed before her eyes.
Before her deep Violet Eyes could even fully open, her body had already begun to move, as if this had become a pitiful muscle memory.
Fragments of memories flickered through her mind.
Months ago, a human knight named Knight Reset was sent to purge the demons hiding in the human Border City.
The outcome was obvious—he was no match. On the brink of death, driven by the human desire to live, he signed some ridiculous Contract with the Demon King.
The deal was simple: the Demon King gave him life, and in return, he sold his labor to serve the Demon King…
Now it had been a year and a day. At first, she thought the Demon Realm was easy to handle—just casually deal with things.
In truth, the tasks were mostly mindless, but there was just too many of them!
She barely had time to eat or drink before the work piled up, and meanwhile, Movira kept feeding her strange medicines that left her body weak. The worst part was, if she didn’t take the medicine… she had to endure those tingling electric shocks—worsening with time!
Who could possibly bear that?!
As for her most precious parts… they were still intact for now, but according to Movira, they’d probably disappear in a few days!
The medicine was likely chronic; once a certain dosage was reached, parts of her would be deleted. Whether anything opposite would be added back… probably.
Like a remedy!
So Seraphina hadn’t been idle. Though Movira restricted her movements, she was still mapping the Demon King’s Castle from the start, even while suffering those shocks…
Seraphina shook her head and smoothed down the modified black Gothic dress she wore—its hem cut above the knee for easy movement… mainly for escape.
Around her neck was a slightly crooked dark red bow.
Her small leather shoes’ laces were often undone; she never had time to tie them, and frankly, it didn’t matter. She rarely took more than fifty steps a day, so tying them or not made no difference.
Maybe tomorrow, these shoes would be replaced overnight with something more feminine…
“Your Highness is so energetic today!” the maid dressing her said beside her.
“Oh… maybe.”
How the low, deep eyes saw such energy was beyond Seraphina; she had no energy to care. She dragged her untied laces and stepped out.
“Your Highness, your shoelaces are still untied!”
“Ha—” Seraphina yawned tiredly and glanced at the maid, “No need. Barefoot is fine…”
At a corner, she caught her reflection on the polished wall—a neat fringe, delicate face, but always carrying a cold indifference that warned “Strangers keep away.”
“Hiss—”
Seeing herself like that, a sudden surge of nameless anger flared up. She raised her fist, ready to smash the tiles, but thinking of the pain, she slowed and only lightly tapped them instead.
“Movira, you fiend!”
The low whisper barely escaped her teeth.
The legendary Demon King’s Castle wasn’t as dark as tales made it out to be; that was all human fiction. In reality, it was much brighter—who would want to crawl in shadows all day?
The Princess Regent’s Palace was right next to the Demon King’s Palace, or rather, embedded within it…
“Your Majesty…”
Seraphina wore a gloomy expression as she opened the door.
Inside, on the throne sat the tall, voluptuous, commanding Demon King Movira. Even before her figure, it was those pitch-black eyes like the night that struck Seraphina—constantly shimmering with starlight fracturing.
She was the peak of power in the Demon Realm, at least in name… and also the source of all trouble.
Though she probably didn’t think so herself.
If Seraphina had met her for the first time now, she might have been mesmerized by Movira’s figure, unable to move. But now… she only felt disgusted by those monstrous peaks.
“Oh, the Princess Regent has arrived. There are a few thorny issues today that I’m entrusting to you.”
Her voice was sweet but left no room for argument.
“Alright…”
Just a greeting, a formality. If it weren’t to put on a show for the demons, Seraphina wouldn’t have bothered looking at this demoness even once!
“Hey! Wait!”
“Hm? Does Your Majesty have more orders?”
The one on the throne didn’t speak but lazily propped her chin on her hand, a playful, lazy smile playing on her lips as she casually said what made Seraphina want to tear her hair out,
“I see you’ve been obediently taking your medicine all along. How good of you! You’re slowly no longer a boy!”
“Tch…” Seraphina shot a resentful glance at Movira. Only she dared speak like this in the entire Demon Realm. It was one of the few small acts of defiance she had left.
Movira paid no mind to the little tantrum; she found this version of Seraphina oddly cute—a tiny body that constantly radiated hatred yet was helpless against her.
“Done talking? I’m leaving now.”
Seraphina’s reply seemed calm, but the slight tremor in her arm betrayed how angry she truly was!
“Don’t be in such a hurry!” The Demon King’s voice rang again, now dripping with obvious mischief, “Tonight, let Erasia check your body, and in a few days, come to my bed all clean and ready!”
“You! Don’t push me too far!!” Seraphina finally roared, her nails digging deep into her palms.
…
Back in her great hall, Seraphina sat on the Princess Regent’s throne, the Demon Race leaders summoned by the Demon King gathered beneath her.
Yes, the court session once hosted by the Demon King was now held in the Princess Regent’s Palace, so naturally, Seraphina presided over it…
“Oh my…”
“Report if there’s something, or dismiss if there isn’t.”
But Seraphina’s manner was hardly one that invited reports. Before they finished speaking, she was already off the throne, pushing open the door to the back chamber and quickly leaving.
Leaving the ministers alone in the hall was a scene repeated many times. Some had even complained to the Demon King about this absentee Princess Regent.
But every complaint disappeared without trace—either postponed by the Demon King claiming ignorance or ignored due to “important matters.”