"Asuma..."
Latriys' voice was unusually calm.
"Make a deal with me."
The wind drifted across the rooftop, carrying the scent of distant rain.
Asuma kept his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"...Am I making a deal with Latriys?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Or with the Noctyrix?"
She met his gaze without hesitation.
"Both."
The answer came so naturally that it unsettled him.
"Then I refuse."
She wasn't surprised.
"I expected that."
She looked back toward the moon hanging over the estate.
"You're still afraid of me."
"Can you blame me?" Asuma replied. "Even if part of you is Latriys... I don't know whether you're controlling the Noctyrix..."
"...or whether the Noctyrix is controlling you."
For a moment she said nothing.
"I don't know either."
The honesty of her answer made the silence even heavier.
Eventually she smiled faintly.
"It doesn't matter."
She folded her legs beneath her and sat comfortably on the roof tiles.
"Because you're going to accept my deal anyway."
Asuma frowned.
"And why would I do that?"
She gestured toward the estate below.
"I've been listening."
"My body may have been asleep..."
"...but my mind wasn't."
She looked down at the soldiers moving throughout the estate.
"I heard every conversation."
"The arguments."
"The plans."
"The debates over your execution."
Her crimson eyes returned to him.
"You only have two futures."
She raised one finger.
"You die."
A second finger.
"Or you become the Royal Family's weapon."
She paused.
"The second option sounds safer."
"But it's actually worse."
Asuma remained silent.
"If you swear fealty to Princess Urillia..."
"...you'll spend the rest of your life fighting a war that isn't yours."
"The succession conflict."
"The throne."
"The Royal Council."
"The civil war that's slowly forming beneath the surface."
She shook her head.
"You'll never search for your sister again."
"You'll become another sword in someone else's hand."
Asuma laughed quietly.
"I didn't expect a demon to understand politics."
"I understand them because I'm no longer just a demon."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"I have Latriys' memories."
"Her emotions."
"Her hopes."
"And unfortunately..."
"...human politics."
She looked almost annoyed by that last part.
"Asuma."
Her expression became serious.
"If you want freedom..."
"...then everyone in this estate must believe something that isn't true."
He stared at her.
"What are you suggesting?"
"You deceive them."
She smiled.
"Everyone."
"The Black Knights."
"The Princess."
"Serria."
She paused.
"Even Leon."
"Even Amira."
His expression hardened.
"I won't lie to them."
"You don't have to."
She stood.
"You only have to let them believe what they already fear."
Silence settled between them.
Asuma looked toward the moon.
Could he really trust her?
Was this Latriys trying to save him...
...or the Noctyrix manipulating him?
Either way...
He had reached a dead end.
Running was impossible.
Serving the princess meant surrendering his future.
Perhaps trusting a monster was the only move left.
"...Alright."
He finally spoke.
"What's your plan?"
For the first time...
She smiled exactly like the little girl who used to hide behind Sage Fionalla whenever strangers visited.
That innocent smile almost made him forget what she truly was.
Then she began explaining.
Every step.
Every risk.
Every lie they would have to tell.
And by the time she finished...
Even Asuma wasn't certain whether the plan would save him—
Or destroy everything.
⸻
The following morning...
Chaos erupted throughout the Lion Estate.
"Captain!"
A knight burst into Serria's office.
"The girl is gone!"
Serria immediately rose.
"What?"
"The Noctyrix's vessel has disappeared!"
Within minutes the estate was in an uproar.
Search parties spread across the grounds.
Barrier specialists inspected every seal.
Morgan stood inside the now empty room, staring at the broken silence.
"...How?"
He looked toward Serria.
"Your barrier should've been impossible to escape."
Serria examined every inch of the room.
"No..."
She muttered.
"My seal is still intact."
Morgan frowned.
"Then someone inside the estate helped her escape."
"Impossible."
Serria shook her head.
"No one here knows how to undo my barriers."
She fell into thought.
Then her expression darkened.
"...Not unless..."
She stopped herself.
"No."
She turned sharply.
"Mobilize the entire Lion Division."
Morgan immediately saluted.
"Yes, Captain."
"If the Black Guild finds her first..."
"...Talagra will happen again."
Morgan hurried from the room.
Left alone, Serria stared at the holy sigils carved into the walls.
"My barrier was created using a sacred artifact blessed by the Church..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"It could only be undone by someone capable of manipulating holy magic."
She slowly looked toward the window.
"...Who in this estate possesses such magic?"
⸻
Meanwhile...
The courtyard had become a hive of activity.
Knights prepared horses.
Supply wagons rolled through the gates.
Scouts received their assignments.
Princess Urillia approached Asuma, who stood fastening his sword.
"Your sentence has been postponed."
She looked toward the departing search parties.
"Finding that girl now takes priority."
"If the Noctyrix awakens again..."
"...another city will disappear."
Asuma nodded respectfully.
"Understood, Your Highness."
Before either of them could say another word—
Steel rang through the courtyard.
SHING!
A sword stopped inches from Asuma's throat.
The entire estate froze.
Denias stood before him.
His expression colder than anyone had ever seen.
"Denias!"
Urillia shouted.
Leon and Amira immediately rushed to Asuma's side, hands flying to their weapons.
"What are you doing?"
Neither knight moved.
Neither breathed.
Denias never took his eyes off Asuma.
His grip on the sword tightened.
"Tell me..."
His voice echoed across the silent courtyard.
"Did you free her?"
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
Every knight stopped moving.
Every conversation ceased.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward Asuma...
Waiting for his answer.