As the afternoon faded into the approaching night, the empress stood by the window, her gaze lost in contemplation. The maids moved about the room, tidying and arranging it to their master's precise expectations. Their coordinated movements were a stark contrast to the empress's stillness. With a furrowed brow, she delved into her thoughts, pondering the weight of the decisions that lay before her, each step she would take carrying immense consequences. She already took a massive risk with her previous gamble and it failed spectacularly.
Any day now it could come back to blow up in her face, the two men bound to use it to make a move in retaliation. Whatever she did next would have to be quick and bring a swift end to both of them one way or another.
She caught the sound of approaching footsteps, prompting her to turn her focus towards the source of the noise. Her eyes landed on her most trusted knight, the individual she relied on to carry out the most clandestine and challenging tasks on her behalf. The knight bowed before her.
"Your Majesty. I have taken care of the two hunters as you requested."
"Mm... good job," she acknowledged with a nod, her gaze fixed on the view beyond the window. Right, she'd almost forgotten about those fools. Idiotically thinking they held some significance in the eyes of the palace for informing them about Kim Dokja's tamed creatures.
The only reason she let those peons walk out of her palace alive was because of the prospect of having some leverage had put her in a good mood. But in the end those creatures were just the heir's useless pets. Though, perhaps they could serve another purpose.
The presence of the attentive maids in the room did not escape her notice, but she remained confident in their discretion. The unspoken understanding between them was clear – any sign of betrayal would be met with severe consequences.
"Is there anything else you wish for me to do, Your Majesty?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, the empress responded, "No, there is nothing else at this time. You may take your leave." The knight, ever obedient, bowed once more before turning to depart, leaving the empress to her thoughts and the quiet of the chamber.
Feeling a twinge of discomfort in her hand, the empress glanced down to find wrinkles etching their way across her skin.
Reflexively, she reached for the necklace adorning her neck, its dark purple glow casting a muted light in the dim room. "Looks like it's that time again," she murmured to herself before striding purposefully out to seek her son out. It was no hard task, given his current condition.
As the empress entered the prince's chamber, her eyes fell upon her son lying on the bed, his hand clutching his chest in obvious pain. Groans of discomfort escaped his lips, each breath a struggle as he writhed in agony. Drawing closer, the empress observed her son trembling, sweat glistening on his brow as he struggled to draw each labored breath.
The prince's body convulsed with relentless tremors, each movement a testament to the intensity of his suffering. His complexion, once rosy and vibrant, now resembled a sheet of paper, drained of color by the sheer agony coursing through him. Desperation etched across his features, he longed for respite from the unrelenting pain that gripped his chest, a sensation akin to sharp blades cutting through his flesh.
Beads of perspiration trickled down his pallid skin, each droplet a from the physical anguish that seemed to sear through him like a relentless, unforgiving edge.
As the prince writhed in agony, a distinct mark emerged on his skin - a black vein snaking its way across his chest. Despite the prince's suffering, the empress remained stoic. As regrettable as it was that things had to come to this, it needed to happen.
Raising her hand, the empress began to weave a spell, her eyes ablaze with an otherworldly light as the air crackled with energy. Her hand moved in intricate patterns, magic essence swirling around her in a mesmerizing display. With a flicker of her fingers, the spell took hold, enveloping her son in a dark shroud.
Her son's form contorted and twisted in a metamorphosis, his once-familiar features obscured by a darkness that consumed him. A horn sprouted from his brow, a stark contrast to the crystal-like structure that emerged from the center of his chest. His skin took on a diamond-like sheen, the luster it had shining through the shroud that enveloped his body before. Eyes devoid of any light opened to face the empress, awaiting her command.
The transformation was purely physical, for her son had always been a puppet under her control, only hers to use, manipulate, and control from birth.
"It's time to rise, little raven. There are souls to harvest."
The monster obediently rose and allowed himself to be shrouded in a cloak that concealed his altered form. With a flick of her hand, the empress conjured a cloak for herself as well, veiling her dark intentions in the shadows of the night. A teleportation spell carried them from the confines of the prince's chamber to a forest on the outskirts of the capital.
Arriving under the cover of night, the forest enveloped them in an eerie stillness, the hushed whispers of the trees serving as a backdrop to their ominous presence. Houses stood innocently near the outskirts, the naive souls inside unsuspecting of the grim fate that awaited them.
-----
Asuka Ren raced through the night, her heart pounding rapidly. She thought she was in the safe, the town's lights were still shining brightly around her by the time she chose to depart back to her master's abode. But now darkness cloaked her frantic movements as she hurried through the streets, the memory of her visit with friends fading into the background. With the curfew in effect and the looming threat of a killer haunting the empire, Asuka knew that every moment she remained on the streets spelled danger.
The weight of her masters' and coworkers' expectations bore down on her as she realized the consequences of her actions. Sneaking out, she now found herself in a race against time, her only goal to reach safety before the night claimed her as its next victim. Sweat beaded on her brow as her adrenaline-fueled sprint carried her through the moonlit streets, each step a desperate bid to outpace the shadows that threatened to consume her.
A distant yell pierced the night, causing her to freeze in place. The darkness pressed in around her, the shroud of solitude that heightened her anxiety. Another cry echoed through the night, drawing her attention to a narrow alleyway. Another unfortunate soul to be trapped in the night. If she ran away now, maybe she could escape with her life intact. Just chalk it up to some drunkards causing a ruckus, whatever would help her sleep at night. But for better or worse, just the thought of potentially ignoring people in the same predicament as her pulled at Asuka Ren's consciousness. If she left now, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
Steeling herself, she moved cautiously towards the source of the commotion, her steps measured. As she reached the edge of the alleyway, she dared to steal a glance around the corner, only to be met with a sight that churned her stomach. A cloaked figure was standing over a limp body. Some kind of essence was being extracted from the victim's body, being absorbed by the culprit.
A gasp escaped her lips, but she quickly stifled it with a hand pressed against her mouth. The culprit's outstretched hands, once covered in wrinkles and blue veins webbing out beneath their skin, underwent a miraculous transformation. All signs of age disappeared, their skin becoming as smooth and unmarred as a fair maiden's. Though, what was most telling was what that outstretched hand was wearing. On the ring finger was the unmistakable form of the empress's wedding band.
With the knowledge that she'd just witnessed something unspeakable, Asuka turned to run away from the scene— only to find a cold blade pressed against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Trembling with dread, she slowly turned her head, her eyes widening in terror as she beheld another figure cloaked that had appeared, as dark as the night sky itself. Beneath the cloak the mysterious figure seemed to shimmer with the ethereal glow of diamonds, casting an otherworldly light that danced like stars in the void of their attire.
The maid's eyes slowly trailed up to meet this… thing's eyes, only to find herself locked with eyes of pure gold.
"Hm? Where are you my little raven?" Asuka Ren's heart pounded in her chest as the empress's query echoed through the alley.
Raven…?
This… this was it, wasn't it? It was them, the person that cast the whole empire into a frenzied state of fear. This was the end of the line for her. She had been cocky enough to think she could sneak through the night. To take her chances and stretch out the time she had away from her job to the maximum. And now here she found herself, about to be another name on the growing list of Raven Veil's victims. What will her master say when he sees her mangled, lifeless body?
The clacks of heels draw right behind her "Oh, have you found another offering?" The empress's familiar purr sent chills down Asuka's spine, her complexion draining of color as she felt the weight of impending doom looming over her. "Face me," the empress commanded, her tone laced with an authority that brooked no defiance.
With a forceful push from the Raven, Asuka turned around, each second feeling like a march towards her own demise.
The empress's eyes shined with recognition as she gazed upon Asuka, a flicker of familiarity crossing her features. "Hm? Ah. You report to Yoo Joonghyuk. But more importantly, you serve as Kim Dokja's personal maid, don't you?" she remarked, her tone shifting to one of casual conversation.
"…"
Asuka Ren couldn't answer even if she wanted to. Her voice was caught in her throat and her whole body trembled. She bit down on her lip, her pride not allowing the fearful sob building up in her chest to escape. Unfortunately for her, the lack of response, made Raven Veil, or whatever that monster's name was, squeeze her arm in a death grip. Asuka Ren let out a pained cry, it felt like her bone would snap in half.
It was only at the empress's command that Raven stopped. The empress gave a pitiful smile to her.
"It's okay my dear, no need to feel forced to answer. I already know everything I need to know about your master."
As much a Asuka Ren wanted to question what she meant by that, she held her tongue. The woman was known to do things on a whim, one misspoken word and she would no doubt have her killed just like the other victims. The empress observed her with a tilt of her head and crossed arms, a picture of calculated composure.
"Now then, it'd be a waste of such a pretty face to have you killed right here, so why don't we have ourselves a little bit of an exchange?"
"…what do you want from me?" Maybe she was a coward for this. Asuka Ren had a vague idea of the things that the empress had tried to do to her master, how sickening of a human being she was. If she even was human at this point. She wanted to have the courage to say that she'd rather die than bow her head to the one who'd wronged her master so many times. But she just couldn't bring herself to. She wasn't ready to die.
The empress fixed her gaze on Asuka before taking a step closer. "Relay everything you witnessed here to Kim Dokja. Yoo Joonghyuk too if you're feeling generous."
Asuka Ren's eyes widened in disbelief at the empress's request, her voice pitched with confusion. "W-why? What do you gain from that?"
"Well... that's not for you to find out. Just do as I have asked." With a wave of her hand, the empress motioned for Raven, still holding Asuka Ren, to put down their knife and release her. With the figure stepping away from her, Asuka Ren let out a ragged breath, heaving in lungful of air in her moment of respite.
Raven still lingered behind her; she wasn't completely off the hook just yet. But as long as she complied, she could live to see another day. "Be grateful for my mercy, little girl. I've done much worse to people more important than you. Isn't that right, my son?"
She leisurely walked up to the hulking figure, placing a loving palm on its cheek. Raven Veil… no, the prince had no outward reaction. It could only stare ahead with its dead eyes, awaiting another command. Asuka Ren sputtered as she backed away from the two. Her eyes examined the figure wildly, her mind unable to connect how a human being could become… that, whatever the hell it was. Was he still human, did he still have any consciousness left? Not even the empress's own kin was safe from her machinations.
"Don't worry your little brain on the hows and whys of it all. You have all the information you need to report to your dear master. Go ahead and run along now, my dear, before I change my mind." the empress said to her dismissively, condescension dripping from her voice.
Taking a few steps back with her shaking legs, Asuka Ren whipped her body around and went into a frantic dash away from the scene, away from everything that had just happened. She almost tumbled over her own feet with how panicked she was, but she didn't stop. The only thing that mattered now was that she was alive, her steps ringing out against the stone path beneath her shoes and the wind rushing past her ears.
"Goodbye my dear, don't forget our deal!" the empress's voice called out from a distance. But Asuka Ren didn't look back, she didn't dare to. But if she had, she would've seen the empress waving at her with a giddy smile on her face. After a moment, the two disappeared in a bright flash of light, presumably returning home after completing their mission for the night.
Asuka didn't know how long she ran for, but by the time she could see the Underworld Duchy in the distance, her legs ached, and her lungs were heaving for breath. The familiar sight almost made her break down into tears then and there. But Asuka Ren didn't stop for a second. Only when she had made it to the manor would she truly be safe.
She sprinted towards the entrance gate, two guards stationed in front of it. They frowned in confusion at her unexpected presence, motioning for her to halt.
"The curfew has long passed, why are you arriving just now?" one of them gruffly questioned her.
Asuka Ren braced herself on her knees, her body exhausted from exertion. While taking in deep breaths, she tried to explain herself. "I-I'm sorry... I was visiting my friends, and I lost track of time."
The two guards traded looks, a silent exchange passing between them. One of the guards let out a sigh before relenting, taking pity on the young woman.
"Alright, proceed inside, but this won't happen again. Are we clear?"
Asuka Ren bowed deeply with gratitude, "Yes, it won't happen again. Thank you so much!" she exclaimed. With their permission given, the gates opened, allowing her passage back into the Underworld Duchy. As she hurried towards the main entrance of the manor, her path was intersected by the head maid.
"Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" The head maid's gaze bore down on Asuka Ren, her expression etched with a frown as her hands planted firmly on her waist, "There's been so much chaos in the manor, and you were nowhere to be found!"
"Where did you even go this ti–" Asuka Ren flung herself at the maid, enveloping her in a tight hug and cutting off the scolding that was about to follow.
The young maid's voice quivered as she sought refuge in the head maid's embrace. "Auntie, I-I thought I was going to die there," she confessed.
There was a brief moment of silence as the head maid processed Asuka's distress, blinking in surprise at her sudden actions before returning the embrace. Her arms wrapped her in a comforting hold as she gently caressed Asuka Ren's back. "Just what happened to you out there?"
Asuka Ren gently pulled away from the embrace, her grip still tight on the other woman's dress "Auntie... the Raven Veil killer... I saw him." She whispered her words, too afraid of anyone else overhearing them
The head maid's initial exclamation of shock was swiftly followed by urgency as she grasped Asuka's arm, her eyes wide with concern. "How? Did he do something to you?" Frantically scanning Asuka's body for any signs of harm, the head maid's eyes searched for wounds or injuries, her worry rolling off in waves as she sought reassurance from Asuka about the encounter. "Did he?" she pressed,
Asuka Ren shook her head, "No, but I saw him kill his victim, and then…I ran back here as fast as I could," she recounted the memory of the chilling encounter with the Raven Veil killer still fresh in her mind. She couldn't tell the full truth, not unless she wanted to unwittingly drag her auntie into this mess and endanger her life as well.
"Oh my goodness, thank God you're okay," the head maid breathed a sigh of relief, offering another embrace to comfort Asuka in the aftermath of the harrowing revelation. "Let's go inside, you need to rest now. Tomorrow I'll accompany you to see the duke and duchess to report what you saw—"
"NO!"
The head maid reeled back, shocked by Asuka's outburst. Even Asuka was taken aback at it. She hurried to explain herself.
"I-I mean, I don't think I can. Just thinking about it makes me feel like I'm about to throw up. Could you keep this to yourself for a bit and give me some time before I talk about it to anyone else…?" Asuka implored her meekly, cold sweat collecting on her nape as she prayed that the head maid believed her excuse.
Luckily for her, the older woman was sympathetic to her distress. "Of course, my dear," she reassured softly, "Take the time you need to recover from tonight, I'll be right here once you're ready to open up," she added, guiding Asuka towards the manor.
As they walked, a flicker of realization crossed Asuka Ren's mind, recalling the earlier events of the day, and how she had been forced to reveal Dokja's whereabouts to Joonghyuk. Asuka's thoughts swirled with uncertainty, pondering the repercussions of her actions.
"Auntie, has Young Master Kim Dokja returned from his outing?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.
The head maid nodded, opening her mouth to answer the question in full only to cut herself off with a cryptic pause, casting furtive glances around them. The head maid leaned in, her voice lowered to a whisper. "While I don't know the details of what happened during his time out, once he returned home, word got out that Sir Joonghyuk knocked up Young Master Dokja. The duke and duchess are already discussing a marriage between the two of them," the head maid disclosed in a hushed tone.
Asuka Ren's widened eyes betrayed a mix of surprise and realization at the implications of the news she had just received. It shed light on his mysterious behavior for the past few days. Her mind raced with questions and theories. "Does that mean that Young Master Namwoon will inherit the duchy?"
The head maid's only answer was a nonchalant shrug.
"Maybe, but don't say anything about this to the other maids, alright?" she cautioned. Asuka Ren responded with a soft acknowledgment, a simple "mhm,"
------
Asuka Ren's morning routine unfolded with purpose; her steps guided by the familiar rhythm of her duties as a maid within the manor. After putting on her uniform and making her bed neatly, she emerged from the maids' quarters to find the manor already bustling with activity as the other workers went about their assigned tasks. In addition to being one of Sir Dokja's personal maids, she was part of the rotation for some of the more general duties around the manor. Today she was tasked with cleaning the entrance and courtyard of the manor. Making her way to the supply room housing the cleaning materials, Asuka gathered the necessary supplies and cleaning implements in preparation.
The start of the day was so mundane that she could almost convince herself that the events of last night didn't happen at all. The thought crossed her mind of not saying anything at all, keeping everything to herself. Maybe she could go about her life like nothing happened.
But Asuka knew that it wasn't an option. There was no telling what the empress would do to her if she didn't follow through with the deal. Whatever witchcraft she used to turn her son into that monster could be turned against her. And with what she was willing to do to her own son, Asuka was sure the empress wouldn't bother holding herself back to punish her. Just thinking of the things the empress may be capable of ran a chill up her back
In addition to that… she couldn't just withhold the fact that the empress was the culprit behind the Raven Veil murders. If the empress could be properly caught and implicated, she could be locked away, punished for every wrongdoing leading to her ascension.
But… Sir Dokja and Sir Joonghyuk finding out what she saw that night… the empress wants that to happen, for some reason. If it's her goal for them to know, then she must have some trap or plan laid out for them for if they decide to go after her. Was the only option really to tell them and just hope they could avoid whatever the empress had prepared for them?
With those thoughts swirling nonstop in her mind. Asuka set out to fulfill her responsibilities, the soft swish of the broom against the floor echoing in the quiet corridors. The morning light filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the manor's grand entrance, illuminating her path as she worked diligently to ensure that the esteemed halls remained pristine and welcoming for the day ahead.
Asuka Ren meticulously cleaned the windows with a cloth, ensuring that every surface gleamed with an immaculate shine. Deeming the last of the glass panes she wiped down to be immaculate, Asuka looked towards the clock. Eight o'clock, right on time to wake up the young master. Making a quick stop to put away the supplies, she made her way to the young master's chamber, ready to rouse him from his slumber and attend to his needs.
Knocking gently on the door, she called out, "Young master? Are you already awake?" When met with silence, she knocked once more, her voice carrying a hint of concern as she repeated herself.
"Young master?"
A faint rustling from within the bedroom caught Asuka's attention, hinting that the young master had just awoken. But rather than a response to her call, the hushed sounds behind the closed door continued, giving way to approaching footsteps. As she went to knock once more, the door swung open unexpectedly, revealing not her young master, but Yoo Joonghyuk. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself, offering a respectful bow as she greeted him.
"Good morning, Your Grace... um... may I ask if the Young Master is present?"
From what she could tell, Sir Joonghyuk had awoken not long ago himself. While his eyes lacked any lingering traces of sleep, his normally stylized hair was messy, and his shirt was only buttoned up halfway. Asuka very pointedly made sure not to let her eyes linger anywhere beneath his collar bone.
Joonghyuk leaned to the side, and Asuka followed Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze as he peered into the bedroom, revealing Young Master Kim Dokja still nestled in slumber on his bed, his back turned to the doorway. Moving back into position, Joonghyuk addressed her directly.
"As you can see, he's still sleeping. What do you need?"
"Umm, well, I need to wake him up for his breakfast,"
Asuka Ren replied.
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze lingered on Asuka Ren for a moment before he spoke. "I'll do that myself. Prepare breakfast for the both of us and bring the platters here. We will eat together on the balcony," he instructed.
"Err... Yes sir," Asuka Ren responded with a nod. Bowing respectfully, she excused herself and went on her way to retrieve the breakfast provisions. Upon reaching the kitchen, she sought out the head maid to relay the arrangements for the morning meal.
"Auntie, the young master is still sleeping, but Sir Joonghyuk requested that they have their breakfast in the young master's bedroom."
The head maid responded affirmatively, before returning her attention to the rest of the attendants. Her authoritative presence guided the bustling activity in the kitchen as she coordinated with the maids and chefs to prepare morning meals not only for Duke Joonghyuk and the young master, but also for the entire Underworld family. The chaotic scene in the kitchen painted a picture of organized chaos, with voices snapping at each other and tasks being carried out with hurried urgency.
Amidst the flurry of activity, Asuka Ren patiently waited for the morning meal to be ready. Once the preparations were complete, she carefully arranged the dishes on a food trolley, ensuring that everything was in place for the meal to be served before wheeling the trolley back to the young master's bedroom.
"Young master, Your Grace, your meal is ready to be served. May I come in?"
"Come in," her master responded faintly, this time awake to hear her. Opening the door, she observed Young Master Kim Dokja seated on the bed, engrossed in a book as usual. Meanwhile Duke Joonghyuk occupied the spot beside him, massaging Sir Dokja's shoulders.
Asuka wheeled the food trolley onto the patio and tried to be unobtrusive to the two men as she set about arranging the breakfast spread. She meticulously laid out the dishes and utensils with minimal noise, ensuring that everything was in place for the young master and Duke Joonghyuk to enjoy their morning meal. In the background, the soft rustle of fabric and the turning of pages mingled with the occasional clinking of dishes.
"Young Master, Your Grace...I've finished setting the table for your meal." As they rose from their seats and made their way to the table, Asuka quietly retreated towards the wall to silently await any other request they may have. She watched with a neutral expression as Duke Joonghyuk gently guided Sir Dokja to the table, assisting him in taking his seat.
Asuka's gaze lingered on the pair, her features reflective of the quiet professionalism that defined her role as a maid in the service of the young master and the esteemed guest.
But soon her thoughts drifted to the empress, a shadow of uncertainty cast over her thoughts. The weight of the empress's cryptic request lingered in her thoughts. There was also Dokja's visit to the palace to consider. Seeing how careful Duke Joonghyuk was with Sir Dokja this morning, it was safe to assume that whatever ordeal occurred between them and the empress yesterday did not resolve peacefully. Those events may impact how hastily Sir Dokja and Duke Joonghyuk react to the information she had.
As she observed the young master and Duke Joonghyuk at the table, a sense of unease gnawed at her, prompting a flurry of conjectures about the empress's intentions and the potential implications of her involvement in the unfolding events.
"Asuka Ren...?" The sound of her name on the young master's lips snapped her back to reality, drawing her attention towards him. "Is there something you want to say?" he asked, his head tilted curiously to the side. Yoo Joonghyuk stared at her silently, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"You've been staring at us with this strange look on your face. Is anything bothering you?"
"Um... I..." Asuka hesitated, her words catching in her throat as she struggled to find the right way to broach the subject. The intensity of Dokja's gaze bore down on her, urging her to voice the unspoken thoughts that had been plaguing her mind. With a deep breath, she mustered the courage to speak, her voice steady yet tinged with uncertainty. "Well I—"
Asuka's attempt to gather her thoughts and speak was interrupted by the sudden entrance of a butler as he burst through the patio doors, his hurried arrival causing a momentary pause in the conversation. With his rather dramatic entrance, the butler was visibly flustered and perspiring.
"I apologize for entering your bedchambers without permission, but we have a problem, Young Master, Your Grace."