Chapter 25: Big Sister Is Just Overacting

Eight years ago, Gabriella had fought a life-or-death duel against Isabella inside the Demon King’s Castle.

It was a clash between the strongest of humanity and demonkind.

The Demon King possessed combat prowess and magical skill that left every other demon in the dust. 

Compared to demon generals, the precision and accuracy of her mana control made her the most troublesome opponent imaginable.

Gabriella had been certain of victory; and in truth, she had every reason to be. 

She knew every single one of the Demon King’s moves by heart, and both her combat technique and raw magical power far surpassed Isabella’s.

Yet the moment Isabella realized she was about to lose, she awakened a power Gabriella had never seen before.

Gabriella tried to fight it. 

After a long, grueling battle, she was still defeated.

A few days ago, Gabriella had told Isabella about the Heavenly Hammer Sage’s prophecy and the fact that human forces were about to march on the Demon King’s Castle.

Yet Isabella had shown no surprise at all, as though she already knew that the so-called Evil God was herself… or at least, that she possessed the same power as the Evil God.

Now, with war between humans and demons on the horizon, the tension in the air felt exactly like eight years ago, as if a storm of blood could break at any moment.

“That power made me violent and bloodthirsty. It filled me with the urge to slaughter everything. It turned me into a monarch that all things feared.”

As Isabella spoke, a clear shadow of gloom and hesitation passed over her eyes, as though the memory itself was painful.

Gabriella simply smiled gently.

“But that was the power you used to defeat the Silver-White Sword Empress~ I don’t think there was anything wrong with it.”

“…Is that so?”

Isabella gazed deeply at Gabriella.

There was a trace of hesitation in her eyes, but far more sorrow.

“Gabriella… if you ever regained your memories, would you hate me?”

Truthfully, she was not particularly afraid of the power sleeping within her body.

What terrified her most was the thought that Gabriella might leave her.

Ever since Elsa had entered the Demon King’s palace, Isabella had barely eaten or slept.

Before the wedding, she had returned Gabriella’s memories. 

She had tossed and turned all the way until the wedding night itself.

She had even suffered a nightmare.

In it, Gabriella had become a radiant Goddess bathed in divine light, raising a sword to her throat.

How ironic.

In her moment of greatest desperation, the only person who loved her was a human girl whose mind she had twisted.

Yet the deeper she fell in love, the less she could bear the thought of those feelings being false.

That was why, before the wedding began, she had lifted the memory seal.

She returned Gabriella’s power and waited anxiously for the outcome.

Would she come with sword in hand to slay the Demon King, or would she love her as a wife?

But the scene she feared never came.

There was no sign that Gabriella had regained her memories.

So Isabella began testing her. 

Yet every single time, Gabriella acted exactly the same as before.

It left her both worried and secretly happy—an incredibly complicated emotion.

Gabriella saw every bit of it.

Yet she smiled calmly and said:

“Lady Demon King, you already asked me that question before.”

“…Yes.”

“Besides, if I truly hated you, the moment I regained my power I would have drawn my sword against you, wouldn’t I?”

Gabriella continued her explanation, thinking her answer was absolutely flawless.

The Demon King had no proof whether she had recovered her memories or not, nor could she confirm her loyalty.

Unless she could read minds, Gabriella could keep this secret buried in her heart forever, and Isabella would never discover it.

This was the ultimate humiliation a stronger being could inflict upon a weaker one~

Still… the Demon King looked rather pitiful…

Seeing the hesitation in Isabella’s eyes, Gabriella honestly felt a little bad watching the person she was manipulating suffer. 

It was a strange, uncomfortable emotion.

If one day I really do leave her… just how heartbroken would she look?

The Demon King hated war.

And she was fated to be killed by someone called the “Goddess.”

Gabriella would never allow that to happen. If anyone was going to kill the Demon King, it had to be her, and only her.

With that thought, Gabriella gently kissed Isabella’s cheek.

“Lady Isabella, I will remain loyal to you until your very last moment.” 

She gave the Demon King a meaningful look.

She hoped Isabella would understand the hint, though she wasn’t sure if she did.

After all, she had already decided how to deal with the humans.

A blush spread from Isabella’s cheeks all the way to her neck. 

She nodded softly at Gabriella, took her hand, and stood up.

“And I will love you forever, Gabriella~”

“Have you cheered up? That’s more like the Demon King I know.”

“Nn… Gabriella, you still haven’t answered my last question. When are we having a child?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Laughing and chatting, the two walked out of the palace together.

Only Elsa remained behind, clutching her chest as she watched their retreating backs.

Big Sister is just overacting.

That was the only way she could reassure herself.

She had no idea what effect the curse Liya had engraved upon her body would have.

“Ah…” She pressed a hand to her chest and let out a soft moan.

Could it be… that she would end up just like her big sister?

…

“Who are you?”

During the knight order’s march, the knight known as the 【Ice Saint】—Tina—raised a single command, and the entire column halted.

Standing in the path of these elite knights, who moved like a fortress of steel, was a lone girl wrapped in a cloak.

Tina, temporarily acting as Grand Commander, walked at the very front of the formation.

She looked up at the back of the girl standing atop a small hill of black stone and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Demon? Human?

“Tell me who you are, or die.” 

Tina drew her sword and pointed it at the mysterious girl.

The girl merely removed her hood with graceful ease.

The autumn wind lifted her flowing silver hair. 

That delicate nose, flawless porcelain skin, and soft cherry-pink lips all proclaimed a beauty that could topple cities. 

Yet her lovely brows and eyes were bound by a strip of black silk, inviting endless imagination.

Her voice was clear as a nightingale’s song. “Knights, I order you to stop.”

At that moment, offensive ice armor had already formed over Tina’s body; she was ready to fight at any second. 

The knights behind her received the signal and drew their swords as well.

She only felt the girl was familiar, yet she could not recall her name.

“State your name, human! Friend or foe?”

The girl gave a serene smile, not removing her blindfold. 

In a flash too quick for anyone to notice, she appeared directly in front of Tina, leaving only a silver-white afterimage where she had stood.

“Gabriella.”

Lady Isabella does not wish for war.

Then let it begin here.